This is the third album from Vengeance Rising and at this point the only original member left in the band was Roger Martinez who apparently was very difficult to work with. Joining him on this album are Derek Sean who worked with Mortification, and Chris Hyde the former drummer of Deliverance and Holy Soldier. Neither of them made it onto the next album almost confirming that Martinez was in fact nuts. I will cover his bizarre behaviour in the late 90’sd when I review their next and last album. As for the album it’s a rather typical thrash album. Other reviewers have panned it as having poor production but I’ll be honest I have no idea how you can tell as it all sounds like screaming and strumming to me.
Tracklist 1 – You Can’t Stop It – 3:13 2 – The Rising – 5:11 3 – Before The Time – 2:57 4 – The Sword – 3:15 5 – He Don’t Own Nothing – 3:07 6 – Countless Corpses – 5:31 7 – Thanatos – 5:04 8 – You Will Bow – 4:09 9 – Hyde Under Pressure – 1:08 10 – Raegoul – 6:51
Credits Bass – Roger Martinez Drums – Chris Hyde Engineer [Assistant] – Brandon Harris, Craig Brock Engineer [Tracking] – Doug Beiden Engineer, Mixed By – Gil Morales Guitar – Derek Sean, Roger Martinez Mastered By – Eddie Schryer Producer, Mixed By – Roger Martinez Synthesizer – Roger Martinez Vocals – Roger Martinez
As regular readers of this and the previous blog can attest, Adult Contemporary and Inspirational titles do not find themselves here very often. The album itself has to be more than just a collection of praise and worship, hymns and traditional gospel favorites. Something has to set the album apart more than just possibly the greatest voice on the planet. Sandi definitely has the latter. But fortunately, the album also has some great songs that make it stand out against most of the other albums in the genre. The opening track sound like it could have easily fit on a Twila Paris from the same timeframe, with “Let There Be Praise” sounding more like a pop worship/hymn than Patti’s more traditional big songs. “Hosanna” follows suit with the same sort of sound. Like most of the album, there is limited, over-dramatic anthems, but rather more pop infused inspirational music. This song also benefits from a guest appearance from Matthew Ward (who may be able to sing higher). “Love in Any Language” may be Patti’s finest song. Though not as big and dramatic as “Via Dolorosa” and “We Shall Behold Him,” this song of unity has more of a “We Are the World” feel throughout. “King of Glory” sounds more like Farrell and Farrell while “Face to Faith” starts off sounding like Amy Grant’s “Fat Baby,” but ends up sounding more like something from First Call. “Morning Like This” serves to be the most contemporary pop album, which makes it the obvious choice for inclusion on this list.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Let There Be Praise – 3:03 2 – Hosanna – 3:37 3 – Unshakeable Kingdom – 5:48 4 – Shepherd Of My Heart – 4:01 5 – Love In Any Language – 4:51 6 – King Of Glory – 2:35 7 – Face To Faith – 4:21 8 – Was It A Morning Like This – 3:22 9 – In The Name Of The Lord – 5:00 10 – There Is A Savior – 4:42
Credits Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Alan Moore Arranged By, Orchestrated By, Conductor – David T. Clydesdale Bass – Craig Nelson (tracks: A3, B4, B5), Mike Brignardello Brass – Barbara Hutchins (tracks: A3, B4), Eberhard Ramm, Michael Buckwalter, Richard Ricker, Robert Heuer, Tom McAnich Drums – Mark Hammond, Paul Leim Executive Producer – John Helvering Guitar – John Darnall, Jon Goin Keyboards – Phil Naish, Shane Keister Leader, Strings – Carl Gorodetzky Percussion – Farrel Morris Piano – David Huntsinger Producer – Greg Nelson, Sandi Patti Helvering Strings – Carol Walker, Cathy Umstead, Charles Everett, Chris Teal, Connie Heard, Craig Nelson, David Boyle, David Vanderkooi, Dennis Molchan, Edgar Meyer, Gary Vanosdale, George Binkley, Grace Bahng, Inez Boyle, Jack Jezioro, Janet Hazen, Joann Cruthirds, John Borg, Katherine Plummer, Lee Larrison, Linda Alosco, Mark Tanner, Mary Katherine Parker, Nathan Kahn, Pam Sixfin, Pauli Ewing, Phyllis Mazza, Rosemary Harris, Roy Christensen, Sara Fogel, Stephanie Woolf, Teresa Fream, Nashville String Machine, Virginia Christensen Vocals – Beverly Darnall, Bonnie Keen, Craig Patty, David Maddux, Jane Sherberg, Jon Mohr, Jon Sherberg, Leah Taylo, Lynn Hodges, Marty McCall, Melodie Tunney, Mike Patty, Rick Gibson, Sandi Patti Helverin, Steve Taylor, Tammy Boyer, Tammy Taylor, Keith Moore
In over 3 years we failed to upload a single Cliff Richard album so we decided to start out with a compilation album. This album features tracks from 1976 to 1984 from 6 different albums. Strangly the US version of this release only had 10 tracks but everywhere else it had 12 tracks with the addition of “Under The Influence” amd Cliff’s excellent cover of Larry’s “Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music”. Of interest on the album is that there are 3 B Sides from various singles. If you hadn’t been buying 45’s you wouldn’t have had these 3 tracks which would have made this album a must own for Cliff Richard fans. Here is the list of what songs came off what albums;
Better Than I Know Myself – Wired For Sound Such Is The Mystery – I’m Nearly Famous Every Face Tells A Story – Every Face Tells A Story Love And A Helping Hand – B Side Little Town You Got Me Wondering – Every Face Tells A Story Walking In The Light – B Side Hot Shot Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music – Small Corners Under The Influence – The Only Way Out Lost In A Lonely World – Wired For Sound You Me And Jesus – B Side Little Town Summer Rain – Wired For Sound Thief In The Night – Now You See Me… …Now You Don’t
Tracklist 1 – Better Than I Know Myself – 3:43 2 – Such Is The Mystery – 5:10 3 – Every Face Tells A Story – 3:20 4 – Love And A Helping Hand – 3:06 5 – You Got Me Wondering – 3:35 6 – Walking In The Light – 3:15 7 – Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music – 4:35 8 – Under The Influence – 2:49 9 – Lost In A Lonely World – 4:03 10 – You Me And Jesus – 2:17 11 – Summer Rain – 4:18 12 – Thief In The Night – 3:56
There are several recordings of DA live in the 80’s but this should be the definitive one. You can tell from the mix that they intended for this to be a recorded concert. Apparently we can attribute that excellent mix to Bruce Brown who is an obscure engineer from Australia but his work is excellent. Anyway, setting out to record a live album can be a complicated thing as you need to convert visual to audio. DA nailed it on this one and this may actually be one of the best concerts I have ever heard. Definitely top 10. Of real interest are 3 unreleased songs on the album “I’m On Your Team”, “Everyone’s Fallen Down”, and “Love Has Open Arms”. All 3 are excellent tunes. The album also has a version of their concert famous “Surf Suite” which is absolutely excellent. Think Devo meets the Beach Boys. No really. Apparently there was an “Uncut” version of the album released with additional tracks. We’re on the lookout for it already. This a is a top notch release and should be given the time it deserves for a listen.
Tracklist 1 – I Love You #19 – 3:15 2 – I’m On Your Team – 2:27 3 – Faces To The Window – 2:23 4 – Mall All Over The World – 3:05 5 – Everyone’s Fallen Down – 3:25 6 – Baby Game – 2:34 7 – Through The Speakers – 2:43 8 – ¡Alarma! – 2:41 9 – Love Has Open Arms – 3:25 10 – Hit Them (With Love) – 2:37 11 – Hound Of Heaven – 3:50 12 – Ghost Of The Heart – 2:32 13 – The Surf Suite – 8:37
Credits Artwork, Layout – Court Patton, Tom Gulotta Bass, Vocals – Tim Chandler Coordinator [Project Coordinator] – Tom Gulotta Drums, Vocals – Ed McTaggart Engineer [Final Mix] – Gene Eugene Lead Guitar, Vocals – Jerry Chamberlain Lead Vocals, Guitar – Terry Taylor Mastered By – Doug Doyle Producer – Terry Taylor Producer [Live Concert Production] – Bruce Brown Recorded By, Mixed By – Bruce Brown, Tom Brooks Written-By [All Songs Written By] – Terry Taylor
Many readers may be more familiar with Paul Field as a member of Nutshell for four albums, with two different incarnations. A very popular British folk trio, Nutshell was referred to by some as the British Second Chapter of Acts. But Field is quite the prolific songwriter, including writing a number one CCM single for pop group Avalon called “Testify to Love.” Winona Judd would actually cover song as it was used on the popular “Touched By An Angel” television series and made it a Top Ten Billboard Hit! But here we are discussing his first solo album, and the one that most may be familiar. He would later record a few other solo projects and spend much of his time writing musicals. Field is a prolific songwriter and has produced scores of albums though many reached widespread distribution in the US. Immediately “Restless Heart” sounds like it could just have easily been released by Cliff Richard. It also reminds me of the “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” album by Richard, and not only because Richard would cover a song from this album (“Has to Be You, Has to Be Me”). Like the previously discussed Mark Williamson composition, Richard’s version is a bit more upbeat. The album kicks of with what would be the one single KYMS in Southern California really jumped on. “Rock with the Best of Them” is a fun song to start the album with a great horn section a la Chicago. If the world of CCM radio at the time had any justice, this would have been a monster hit! “Radio” follows with a much more mid-tempo feel very reminiscent of the sound for that day. Darker, more somber, I always saw the metaphor of the radio as being related to the Holy Spirit. The song always reminds me more of what the late 70’s Steve Winwood music was like. The album’s 12 songs (quite a few for the day) bounces back and forth between uptempo pop/rock and ballads. One stand out in the Loggins & Messina vein is “The Storm Is Over.” Something that perhaps Scott Wesley Brown would have done at the same time, it may be the most obviously evangelical song on the album. At the same time, it should have been a hit. The whole album is filled with great songs, but the last song I would like to highlight is the most upbeat song on the album, “Fair Fight.” This could just as easily fit on an album from Mark Williamson/Lyrix or even Morgan Cryar or David Edwards, both musically and lyrically. Never released on CD that I know of (at least in the US) and missing from virtually every streaming service (like much of early 80’s Myrrh releases), the album is worth tracking down. I have seen it for a reasonable price on Amazon and Ebay.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Rock With The Best Of Them – 3:23 2 – Radio – 3:56 3 – Has To Be You, Has To Be Me – 4:42 4 – Solo – 3:48 5 – Positive – 2:57 6 – The Storm Is Over – 3:51 7 – Fairfight – 2:46 8 – Stranger In Your Eyes – 3:45 9 – Just Around The Corner – 3:04 10 – You’re The One – 5:12 11 – Nearly Midnight – 3:48 12 – Restless Heart – 3:46
Credits Paul Field – Vocals, Guitar and Piano Graham Jarvis – Drums Mark Griffiths – Bass Martin Jenner – Guitar Dave Cooke – Piano, Keyboards, Guitar and Backing vocals Luís Jardim – Bass Linda Jardim – Backing vocals Marilyn David – Backing vocals Tom Blades – Guitar Colin Larne – Drums Bill Thorpe – Violin Martin David – Percussion Barry de Souza – Drums Ray Russell – Guitar Henry Lowther – Horn Nick Pentelow – Saxophone Nick Firkle – Trumpet Steve Jones – Violin Penny Thompson – Viola Jan Sharpe – Cello
David & The Giants returned with their 8th Christian album. This album wasn’t all that well received but they did achieve their first CCM chart single. “I Can Depend On You” made it to #30 which isn’t too bad I guess but it’s not really the best track on the album. Considering what David Huff is capable of the album is just a little boring. If I didn’t know Huff was on the album I probably would have liked it more as I wouldn’t have held it to as high a standard. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Huff was help back by the band. Considering what he achieved away from The Giants I just don’t think this was working. That said there are some solid Rock & Roll tunes here but most have a 70’s flavour and it was 1984. To be clear I don’t hate the album I just don’t love it. It’s well worth listening to and I’ll be honest, “I’ve Been Drinking” has made it into my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Are You Ready? – 3:43 2 – Higher – 3:59 3 – I Can Depend On You – 3:16 4 – Moving On Up – 4:03 5 – To Know Him Is To Love Him – 4:29 6 – Fire – 4:10 7 – I Am Persuaded – 3:31 8 – Holy Rain – 4:23 9 – I’ve Been Drinking – 2:52 10 – You’re Gonna Be Somebody – 4:02
Credits Arranged By [Horns] – Donnie Sanders, Wardell Quercerque Art Direction, Design – Kent Hunter Backing Vocals – Cindy Richardson, Lenny LeBlanc, Mylon LeFevre, Susan Slade Baritone Saxophone – Quitman Dennis Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Engineer – Clayborn Huff Drums, Congas, Percussion – Keith Thibodeaux Engineer – Dennis Richey, Jerry Masters Guitar, Clavinet, Backing Vocals, Engineer – David Huff Mastered By – George Marino Percussion – Kellye Huff, Lance Huff Photography By – Mark Tucker Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Oberheim, ARP Quadra, Synclavier, Mini Moog], Backing Vocals, Engineer – Rayborn Huff Producer, Arranged By – David & The Giants Synthesizer [Synclavier] – Paul Davis Tenor Saxophone, Saxello, Soloist – Donnie “Sax” Sanders Trombone – Wayne Butler Trumpet, Arranged By [Horns] – Wayne Jackson
Jerusalem’s 4th album “Can’t Stop Us Now” was a departure from their previous style. Up until this album they had been a 70’s style rock band. Surviving in the 80’s required an updated sound and they easily achieved it. The new pop rock sound was poorly received by their regular listeners but gained new users like myself. The album sold much better than their previous offerings proving their direction change to be a good idea. The album was released in both Swedish and English with the Swedish version retaining 3 English tracks. There does appear to be some minor mix changes between the two versions but for the main part it sounds like they used the same instrument tracks. The English version was reissued in 2018 with 2 bonus tracks. A new song “Time” which is more their traditional style and a remix of “Heartbeat”. We have included those tracks in oar playlist.
Tracklist 1 – Can’t Stop Us Now 4:02 2 – Loves You More 3:58 3 – The Wind Is Blowing 4:24 4 – Tomorrow’s World 5:34 5 – The Waiting – 4:33 6 – Let’s Go (Dancing) – 3:41 7 – Mourner’s Parade – 4:35 8 – Read Between The Lines – 4:08 9 – The Missing Piece – 3:43 10 – Heartbeat – 3:15 Bonus Tracks 11 – Time – 5:50 12 – Heartbeat (Light Remix) – 3:15
Credits Bass – Peter Carlsohn Drums – Mikael Ulvsgärd Keyboards – Dan Tibell Vocals, Guitar – Ulf Christiansson Composed By – Ulf Christiansson Layout, Design – Scott Waters Producer [Produced By] – Andy Kidd Remastered By – Rob Colwell
This is the Swedish version of Jerusalem’s 4th album “Can’t Stop Us Now” instead titled “Vi Kan Inte Stoppas”. It was a departure from their previous style as up until this album they had been a 70’s style rock band. Surviving in the 80’s required an updated sound and they easily achieved it. The new pop rock sound was poorly received by their regular listeners but gained new users like myself. The album sold much better than their previous offerings proving their direction change to be a good idea. The album was released in both Swedish and English with the Swedish version retaining 3 English tracks. There does appear to be some minor mix changes between the two versions but for the main part it sounds like they used the same instrument tracks.
Tracklist 1 – Vi Kan Inte Stoppas – 3:58 2 – Loves You More – 3:58 3 – Vinden Blåser… – 4:27 4 – I Skuggan Av Det Förflutna – 5:37 5 – Kärlekseld – 4:35 6 – Let’s Go (Dancin’) – 3:42 7 – Sorgsnas Parad – 4:37 8 – Regn – 4:09 9 – Pusselbiten – 3:36 10 – Heartbeat – 3:15
Credits Bass – Peter Carlsohn Drums – Mikael Ulvsgärd Keyboards – Dan Tibell Vocals, Guitar – Ulf Christiansson Composed By – Ulf Christiansson Layout, Design – Scott Waters Producer [Produced By] – Andy Kidd Remastered By – Rob Colwell
I’ll say this about Dallas, he worked his butt off. I was looking at his discography and wow did he get a lot of albums out. This was actually the last album using the artist name of “Dallas Holm & Praise”. I really think Dallas should have kept using this name as it was probably one of the top 10 best known Christian artist names of the time. There might have been some legal reasons to drop the name but who knows. As for the album it only had 2 singles on the CCM chart. “Prayer Warriors” made it to #12 and Mystified to #11. I kind of feel there were a couple more singles on this album but this isn’t exactly my genre music so I probably shouldn’t be picking singles. As far as Dallas Holm & Praise albums this is probably the most upbeat and several tracks fall solidly in the Pop category, up a couple steps from Easy Listening and I actually enjoyed listening to this album.
Tracklist 1 – Prayer Warriors – 4:23 2 – Just Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ – 3:42 3 – It’s War – 3:10 4 – Live What You Say – 3:53 5 – While I’m Standing Here – 4:33 6 – Change The World – 4:40 7 – This Breath Of Life – 3:02 8 – Care For The Wounded – 3:39 9 – Mystified – 4:12 10 – We Have Overcome – 3:25
Credits Art Direction – Bill Brunt Backing Vocals – Rick Crawford, Tim Johnson Backing Vocals [Additional] – Gary Janney, Marty McCall, Melody Tunney, Neal Joseph, Wayne Watson Bass – Mike Brignardello Drums, Percussion – Dennis Holt, Ric Norris Engineer, Mixed By – James Kenneth Baird Guitar – Greg Jennings, Hadley Hockensmith Keyboards – Smitty Price Lyricon – Dennis Solee Mastered By – Hank Williams Percussion – Farrell Morris Photography – Ron Keith, Scott Bonner Producer – Neal Joseph, Smitty Price Strings – The Kris Wilkinson Strings Vocoder – Shane Kester Written By – Dallas Holm
Companies, etc. Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc. Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc. Recorded At – Bullet Recording Mastered At – Mastermix
If you like footsteps you’ll love this album. I ride Terry pretty hard for his conceptual album ideas because a lot of the time it just comes off as silly to me but in this case it really worked on this album. I feel he thought through his idea and didn’t silly it up and because of it this is probably my favourite solo album from Terry. One of the odder tracks on the album is “Long, Long, Long” which is actually a cover of a Beatles song. I didn’t like the original so I kind of struggle with this track but I will say for the record that I believe Terry’s version is much better than the original. That said the song fits where it is on this album. At one time artists and producers really thought about the order of tracks on their albums and this album is an example of a perfectly structured album.
Tracklist 1 – A Briefing For The Ascent – 4:34 2 – Somewhere To Elsewhere – 2:02 3 – Beyond The Wall Of Sleep – 3:13 4 – The Wood Between The Worlds – 3:49 5 – Changeless – 4:02 6 – My Love, My Love – 4:18 7 – Wars Of The Heart – 0:45 8 – Capture Me – 4:08 9 – Where Dreams Come True – 2:59 10 – Long, Long, Long – 3:38 11 – Prelude – 1:26 12 – Going Home – 2:08
Credits Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Backing Vocals – Crystal Lewis, Jerry Chamberlain, Montebello First Baptist Church Choir, Rob Watson, Terry Taylor, Tom Howard Bass – Tim Chandler Concept By [Conceived By], Directed By – Terry Taylor Design Concept [Album Cover Concept] – Ed McTaggart, Terry Taylor Drum Programming – Ed McTaggart, Ed McTaggart, Terry Taylor Drums – Ed McTaggart, Steve Hindalong Engineer – Dave Hackbarth Graphics [Photographics] – Ken Baley Guitar – Greg Flesch, Terry Taylor Keyboards, Synthesizer – Greg Flesch, Terry Taylor Mastered By [Digitally Remastered] – Doug Doyle Mastered By [Originally Mastered] – John Matousek Mixed By – Doug Doyle, Terry Taylor Mixed By [With] – Greg Flesch Orchestrated By [Orchestrations Constructed By], Arranged By [Orchestrations Arranged By] – Greg Flesch, Terry Taylor Percussion – Alex MacDougall, Greg Flesch Photography By – Bob Rowe Producer [Produced By] – Greg Flesch, Terry Taylor Synth [Treatments] – Greg Flesch, Terry Taylor Vocals – Terry Taylor
