Albums – Page 38 – Real 80s CCM

The Predators – The Predators – 1982

Throughout the 80’s The Predators released three albums of authentic, frantic and believable new wave/pop punk rock geared directly at the lost but from a distinctly Christian worldview. Two of the albums will make this list, including this, the debut from 1982. I did not have a chance to hear them for several years after this released because of the limited distribution in the US and even more limited Christian Bookstores willing to carry the album. Though not as strong as the follow up, Social Decay, this release does have more energy and a distinctive garage appeal. Borrowing liberally from the post punk and new wave of England at the time, the band forged a trail few would follow. Not only high energy and driving rhythms, but a social awareness of topics that ranged from racism to personal vanity to emotional and mental struggles. The album kicks off with “Sunday Boy,” a fun punk rocker dealing with maintaining faith amidst the insanity that surrounds us in the culture. It also serves as a stark warning to the lost. “You Better Run” is more reminiscent of the pop side of Undercover’s first two albums. In fact, the lead vocals are eerily similar to Bill Walden. Again, the theme that runs throughout the album of warning of a short life and need for Christ, is present here. “Don’t Burn That Cross” deal openly and obviously with racism. It is couched in a world music rhythm similar to The Police. It is a tough and unflinching song, especially for the time it was released. “Maybe Tomorrow” remains a favorite some 40 years later. It is the most commercially accessible song on the album and Christian radio most likely would have embraced it in some areas if it was available.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Sunday Boy – 2:42
2 – Man Of The War – 3:12
3 – Don’t Burn That Cross – 4:43
4 – Don’t Mess Around – 3:41
5 – Maybe Tomorrow – 3:50
6 – Never Said A Word – 2:50
7 – Plastic Surgeon – 3:11
8 – Emotional Upset – 4:17
9 – Where You’re Going – 4:42
10 – You Better Run – 2:52
11 – Drift Away – 6:06

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Chris Thompson
Drums – Francis Johnson
Guitar – Kelvin Allwood
Keyboards – Christopher Norton
Lacquer Cut By – BilBo
Plated By – PAG
Producer – John Pantry
Vocals – Kevin Smith

Companies, etc.
Lacquer Cut at – Tape One

Amy Grant – Heart In Motion – 1991

This may be the most successful CCM album of all time. It made it to #10 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Christian albums chart for 32 weeks. It also went 5 times platinum in the United States, selling over five million copies. Her biggest hit “Baby Baby” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also received a nomination for the Grammy Awards of Album of the Year but lost out to Unforgettable… with Love by Natalie Cole. I’m not the biggest Amy Grant fan but she was robbed of that Grammy and I personally feel there was some internal politics in play. But aside from maybe the numbers you knew this was a very successful album already. So as I struggle to write something about this album that others haven’t covered all I could find was some interesting names on the credits. Dann Huff played some guitar and as usual Michael Omartian was heavily involved in the album. The credits actually appear to include just about everyone in the Nashville music scene. Obviously Myrrh and A&M Records pulled out all the stops for this album and I shudder to think of the production costs. But as it went 5 times platinum and sure those costs were well covered.

Tracklist
1 – Good For Me – 3:59
2 – Baby Baby – 3:57
3 – Every Heartbeat – 3:32
4 – That’s What Love Is For – 4:17
5 – Ask Me – 3:51
6 – Galileo – 4:19
7 – You’re Not Alone – 3:49
8 – Hats – 4:09
9 – I Will Remember You – 5:00
10 – How Can We See That Far – 4:26
11 – Hope Set High – 2:48

Credits
Amy Grant – Executive Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
David Ahlert – Engineer
Jeff Balding – Mixed
Brown Bannister – Producer
Steven Bishir – Engineer
Michael Blanton – Executive Producer
Robbie Buchanan – Keyboards
Gary Chapman – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Terry Christian – Engineer, Mixed
Simon Climie – Songwriter
Gardner Cole – Songwriter
Todd Culros – Engineer
Bill Deaton – Engineer
Diana DeWitt Hanna – Background Vocals
Mark Douthit – Saxophone
Chris Eaton – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Rob Fisher – Songwriter
Kim Fleming – Background Vocals
Barry Green – Trombone
Jay Gruska – Songwriter
Mark Hammond – Drums, Percussion Programming
Vicki Hampton – Background Vocals
Mike Haynes – Trumpet
Ron Hemby – Background Vocals
Tom Hemby – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Kurt Howell – Background Vocals
Dann Huff – Guitars
Gordon Kennedy – Guitars
Don Kirkpatrick – Guitars
Wayne Kirkpatrick – Songwriter
Sam Levine – Baritone Saxophone
Laura Livingston – Engineer
Bob Loftus – Engineer
Chris MacDonald – Horns Arranger
Pat MacDougall – Mixed
Brian Malouf – Mixed
Blair Masters – Keyboards
Chris McDonald – Horn Arranger
Donna McElroy – Background Vocals
Chris McHugh – Drums
Jerry McPherson – Guitars
Todd Moore – Production Assistance, Engineer
Dennis Morgan – Songwriter
Cliff Norrell – Mixed
Michael Omartian – Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Drum Sequencing
Charlie Peacock – Songwriter, Horns Arranger, Keyboards, Programming
Kelly Pribble – Engineer
David Raven – Drums
Chris Rodriguez – Background Vocals
Susanne Schwartz – Background Vocals
Tommy Sims – Bass
Tom Snow – Songwriter
Brian Tankersley – Synth Programming
Keith Thomas – Producer, Songwriter, Synthesizers, Bass, Drums, Percussion Programming, Background Vocals
Mimi Verner – Songwriter
Bill Whittington – Engineer
Rick Will – Engineer

Commissioned – Go Tell Somebody – 1986

I’ll be honest I have never even heard of Commissioned before but again I believe I grew up in a Funk free zone. That said I found this album to be more easy listening than funk but it is classified as a funk album. This was the second album from Commissioned and I think they turned down the funk a little bit for this one. This album peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Top Gospel albums chart which is pretty good for a second album but it is indicative of the quality of this album. There are 7 more albums by these guys so expect to hear more of them.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XRgP3bTTSfJ8dfbQDCjRQXx

Tracklist
1 – Victory – 4:59
2 – Love Isn’t Love – 5:13
3 – Go Tell Somebody – 4:43
4 – Cry On – 5:09
5 – Who Do Men Say I Am – 4:32
6 – Hide The Word – 4:51
7 – Learn To Pray – 4:01
8 – Running Back To You – 4:45

Credits
Fred Hammond – Vocals, Bass Guitar, Synclavier, Synthesizer
Keith Staten – Vocals
Mitchell Jones – Vocals
Karl Reid – Vocals
Michael Brooks – Keyboards, Piano, Horn Arrangements, Synthesizer, Synclavier, Roland Synthesizer, WX7 Wind Controller, Percussion
Michael Williams – Drums, Latin Percussion, Percussion
Eric Brice – Electric Guitar
Earl J. Wright – Keyboards, DX7, Moog Synthesizer, Synthesizer
Michael Wright – Electric Guitar
Michael J. Powell – Classical Guitar

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc.

First Degree – Youth – 1987

While some will probably say this is a Metal album I respectfully disagree. In my opinion it’s a straight up Rock & Roll album. This is one that I just recently discovered and wow do I like it. No one I know even knew these guys existed so this is probably going to be one of those oddball albums no one ever heard of but I could be mistaken. I can’t find anything about the band or any f the members. So this is one of those mystery albums but this one is a little different as it is really really good. Right from the opening riff (which is great) you know you are in for a good Rock & Roll album and the rest of it doesn’t let you down. I think my favourite track is Jenni, Jenni which personally I think could have easily played on secular radio. Anyway I’ll say it again, if you missed this one in 1987 be sure to give it a listen now.

Tracklist
1 – Youth – 3:43
2 – Last Forever – 4:27
3 – Every Time – 3:50
4 – Turning Point – 4:31
5 – Don’t You Know – 4:31
6 – Don’t Be Afraid – 3:28
7 – Jenni, Jenni – 4:11
8 – True Love – 4:11
9 – Don’t Do It – 4:24

Credits
Kent Bradley – Guitar, Keyboards
Howard Conder – Producer, Engineer
Dan Kilbourne – Drums
Lance Rowland – Bass, Vocals
Paul Sisemore – Guitars, Vocals

Phil Driscoll – Power Of Praise – 1985

I’m probably going to infuriate Phil Driscoll fans when I say this but I really wish he would have done a Rock & Roll album. To be clear Phil is probably one of my favourite vocalists of the CCM genre but his voice is just screaming for a Rock and Roll album. That said I haven’t listened to all his albums yet so maybe he did one and I just haven’t listened to it yet. To be clear there are a few upbeat tracks on this album but it they really don’t highlight his vocals all that much. Maybe the reason I love his voice is due to the ballads anyway. One quirk of this album is that it appears that part way through the pressings on this album Sparrow replaced the album cover which was a huge improvement. No disrespect to the picture of him with his signature trumpet but it was a horrible cover.

Tracklist
1 – All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name – 4:20
2 – He’s Alive Again – 4:06
3 – Jesus I Love You – 4:34
4 – Worthy Is The Lamb – 5:52
5 – Doxology – 3:20
6 – Messiah – 2:50
7 – People Of God – 3:42
8 – I Will Celebrate – 4:36
9 – Every Knee Shall Bow – 4:12
10 – Fallin’ In Love With You – 5:22
11 – The Rest Of My Days – 4:30

Dennis Welch – Man Of Steel – 1987

Dennis Welch is a lesser known singer songwriter who lives in Austin, Texas who deserves to be much better known. This album was originally self released in 1984 but in 1987 micro label Dark Records picked up the album and had Dennis add 3 tracks to make it a full length album. It was apparently distributed to radio stations and I have read 2 different ex DJs say it was one of their favourite albums. It deserves the attention it gained in the industry. I had never heard of Dennis before I stumbled across this album and that’s a real pity because I would have loved it in the day. Well actually I love it today and I can honestly say there are a few tracks, in particular the title track, that are going into my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Antinomian Nights – 3:51
2 – Carry Me Away – 6:12
3 – Alien Shoes – 3:34
4 – Change Of Heart – 4:16
5 – Man Of Steel – 3:35
6 – Ordering My Private World – 5:34
7 – Don’t Touch My Genes (Algeny) – 3:52
8 – Deep In The Night – 3:48
9 – Crystal Sea – 2:11

Eddie DeGarmo – Phase II (Afterlife Guarantee) – 1990

This was the second solo album from Eddie DeGarmo. I remember listening to his first one which was OK but didn’t strike me as any special but this album is different. This is a great rock/pop album with some rhythm and blues overtones and it is much better than his first effort. As I dug through the credits I discovered some pretty big names. Larry Howard contributed on guitar, and Russ Taff and Mark Farner contributed some back up vocals. The title track is the standout track in my opinion and I think this may be the closest CCM track ever to a ZZ-Top sound and it isn’t just good because of the imitation, it’s because this is a great track. Definitely going into my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Fragile Heart – 4:15
2 – Can’t Stand Still – 4:09
3 – My Way Home – 3:58
4 – Phase II – 4:59
5 – There’s Something About That Name – 3:54
6 – Prayed For A Woman Like You – 4:45
7 – Make It Count – 4:17
8 – Profession Of Faith – 4:13
9 – Shoreline – 5:03
10 – Forgive Me For Doubting You – 4:06
11 – Beyond The Tears – 5:09

Credits
Dan Brock – Executive Producer
Commissioned – Background Vocals
Eddie DeGarmo – Producer, Engineer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Vocals
The Duncan Sisters – Background Vocals
Michael English – Background Vocals
Mark Farner – Vocals
Gloria Gaither – Songwriter
William Gaither – Songwriter, Piano
Joy Gardner – Background Vocals
Ron W. Griffin – Producer, Engineer, Mixed
Chris Harris – Background Vocals
Mark Heimermann – Background Vocals
Larry Howard – Guitars
Tom Laune – Additional Engineer, Mixed
Dennis Lolorriere – Background Vocals
Willy Lucius – Drums
Carl Marsh – Orchestra Arrangements, Keyboards
Rusty McFarland – Additional Engineer
Jerry McPherson – Guitars
Marty Paoletta – Saxophone
Warren Pease – Bass
Russ Taff – Vocals
Michael Tait – Background Vocals
Hank Williams – Mastered

Hokus Pick – Snappy – 1997

Hokus Pick is apparently a Canadian expression of surprise. And this record continues to surprise. The court jesters of CCM, the Canadian rock band Hokus Pick had a ten year career that, given the quality of their output, should have garnered the band a longer tenure. It is with “Snappy” that the band it its full stride with a complete album of memorable, funny, serious and, well…weird…songs. The track that informed the albums title also sports one of the greatest videos ever. After the more U2 influenced “Faith, Hope and Love” starts the album, it is “I’m So Happy” that steals the show. As mentioned the video is simply hysterical, but deep within the ska grooves is a positive message of hope. This theme will permeate the album. It was really a shame when I was working for Diamante Distribution that we could never really garner the sales and the radio response necessary and that the band deserved. Even touring with Steve Taylor (a perfect fit) could not break the band nationally, another in the long line of disappointments in this industry. “We Are the People” drives a 60’s influenced rock that would later prove successful for the previously reviewed “Rock n Roll Worship Circus.” “The ska influenced “Our God” should have been a late 90’s youth anthem…should have been! A personal favorite is “True Believer,” a song reminiscent of then labelmates, The Kry. A great, straight ahead and emotional song about the struggles of faith and the desire to be a competent follower of Christ. The CD did also contain a hidden bonus track, if you want to call it that. It is more of a radio play called “An Appointment with Stupidity.” Hysterical, but not necessarily meant for repeated listening.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Faith, Hope And Love – 3:59
2 – I’m So Happy – 2:51
3 – Naturally – 2:52
4 – Nothing More – 4:58
5 – We Are The People – 3:15
6 – This Time – 4:16
7 – Our God – 3:18
8 – True Believer – 4:18
9 – God For One Day – 3:27
10 – Silver – 2:44
11 – Let Go, Let God – 4:20
12 – Comfort Song – 1:01
13 – (Hidden Track) – 29:49

Credits
Art Direction – Keith Hamilton
Bass Guitar – Dave Strilchuk
Drums [Ayotte] – Rick Colhoun
Engineer – Rick Colhoun
Engineer [Second] – Riley Armstrong
Lead Guitar – Matt Pierrot
Photography By – James Copp
Producer – Hokus Pick
Vocals, Guitar – Russ Smith
Written By – David Strilchuk, Matthew Pierrot, Richard Colhoun, Russell W. Smith

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Soundcastle
Manufactured By – Malaco Music Group
Distributed By – Malaco Music Group

Steven Curtis Chapman – First Hand – 1987

This was Steven’s debut album. He was under contract to Sparrow records as a songwriter and was very successful so I guess Sparrow thought they would give him a studio band and see how he did. The album was very successful with the single track “Weak Days” which peaked at #2 on the CCM charts. I was actually a little surprised at this album as I had dismissed Steven Curtis Chapman as a worship album artist but this is actually a pretty good pop album. The sound would have been better suited as an early 80’s album but it wasn’t that outdated in 1987. This is one I ignored in the 80’s but I’m glad I tool the time to listen to it now.

Tracklist
1 – First Hand – 3:35
2 – Weak Days – 4:18
3 – Hiding Place – 4:58
4 – Run Away – 3:53
5 – Do They Know – 4:00
6 – Tell Me – 4:19
7 – Who Cares – 5:06
8 – Dying To Live – 3:35
9 – Said And Done – 5:08
10 – My Redeemer Is Faithful And True – 3:47

Credits
Arranged By [Background Vocals] – Chris Rodriguez, Phil Naish, Steven Curtis Chapman
Arranged By [Rhythm] – Phil Naish, Steven Curtis Chapman
Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn
Backing Vocals – Chris Rodriguez, Herbert Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman, Wayne Kirkpatrick
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Coordinator – Cindy Wilt
Design – Buddy Jackson
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer – Jeff Balding
Engineer [Assistant] – Bill Whittington, Mike Clute
Executive-Producer – Greg Nelson
Guitar – Jon Goin, Steven Curtis Chapman
Illustration – Beth Middleworth
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Orchestrated By [Strings] – Alan Moore
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer – Phil Naish
Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright © – The Sparrow Corporation
Pressed By – Capitol Jax
Designed At – Jackson Design
Engineered At – The Bennett House
Engineered At – OmniSound Studios
Engineered At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Engineered At – Gold Mine Studio
Engineered At – Center Stage Studio
Engineered At – Downstage Studio
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters

Paradise – Paradise – 1980

This is the introductory album from funk band Paradise. As far as I can tell it was only released in the U.K. I find this incredible odd as it is a fantastic album and the largest funk market is the United States. I’m often confused by the CCM record companies and this album is an example of what they got wrong. As near as I can tell the album was released on their own label so obviously they would have signed a deal for U.S. distribution. Oh well I’m ranting again. Anyway this album is probably one of the best Christian funk albums and it came out in 1980. An added plus is that I didn’t get any disco feel from any of the tracks which was typical in funk albums released at this time. Give this one a listen even if your not the biggest fan of funk, you just might think different after listening to this one.

Tracklist
1 – Keep The Fire – 3:15
2 – Love Is Not A Mystery – 4:22
3 – It’s Up To You – 4:44
4 – I’ll Meet You There – 4:35
5 – We All Need – 4:20
6 – Light Of The World – 5:10
7 – Give Thanks – 4:05
8 – With You – 4:11
9 – Spread The Word – 3:50

Credits
Backing Vocals – Desr’ee Hoyte, Elaine Bent, Jasmine Cohen, Lorrane Greenaway, Monica Knight, Novlette Davis, Yvonne White
Bass – Junior Edwards
Design, Artwork – Mick Payne
Drums – Bobby Clarke
Engineer – Colin Owen, Paul Robbins
Guitar, Keyboards, Horns – Raymond Dennis
Horns – Charles Pinder, Neil Pinder
Illustration – John Coster
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Phillip Edwards
Lead Vocals, Horns – Doug Williams
Percussion – Devon Burke, Karl Edwards
Photography By – Tony Martin
Producer – Paradise
Producer, Art Direction – Mick Martin
Saxophone, Flute – Hugh Thomas

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Marshall Morgan & Scott
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ebony Records
Copyright © – Ebony Records
Published By – Coronation Music
Recorded At – The Old Smithy Recording Studio