Category: Albums

Kenny Marks – Fire Of Forgiveness – 1992

This is Kenny’s 6th album. While his style was waning a bit this was still a pretty successful album and one of my personal favourites. Personally I don’t think Kenny got enough recognition as a song writer. Yes I know he was popular among the CCM media but they never really gave his song writing the credit it deserved. This album is more an example of his song writing skills than a great music album. The album did do well though with 2 singles on the CCM charts, I Need A Savior made it to #22 and Like A Father Should Be to #12.

Tracklist
1 – Fire Of Forgiveness (Ashes Of Love) – 5:39
2 – When Love Comes Clean – 4:30
3 – I Need A Savior – 3:16
4 – Turn My World Around – 4:00
5 – Someone To Come Home To – 5:04
6 – Promises To Keep – 4:13
7 – 1932 – 3:33
8 – Like A Father Should Be – 3:19
9 – Tell Me You Love Me – 3:07
10 – Forever Love – 2:50

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Dave Perkins, Don Potter
Art Direction – Amy Linde
Bass Guitar, Synth [Bass] – Tommy Sims
Design – Tufts Design Studio
Drums – Paul Leim
Electric Guitar – Kenny Greenberg
Engineer [Assistant] – Ed Simonton
Engineer [Lead Vocal] – JB
Engineer [Overdubs] – Bert Stevens, Dennis Ritchie
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Marc DeSisto
Mixed By [Assistant] – Greg Parker
Percussion – Eric Darken, Paul Leim
Photography By – David Roth
Producer – Bubba Smith, Kenny Marks
Recorded By – Brent King
Synthesizer, Organ [Hammond B-3] – Mike Lawler
Twelve-String Guitar [Electric] – Dave Perkins

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Communications Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Recorded At – Treasure Isle Recorders
Overdubbed At – Quad Studios
Mixed At – Mastermix
Mastered At – Mastermix
Manufactured By – JVC

Petra – No Doubt – 1995

This is the 15th album from Petra which is rather amazing when you think about it. Many popular secular bands didn’t even put out this many albums. The album is more pop oriented than their previous album and as such a broader appeal. Strangely the guitars on the album were played by founder Bob Hartman but as he had quit touring with the band so new guitarist David Lichens played the tour and appeared on the album cover and all promotional pictures. Now my criticism. Who thought this album cover was a good idea? The colour is horrible and the artwork is incredibly dull. Looks like the cover was just mailed in if you know what I mean. A part of me feels like the whole project was mailed in. I’m not really hearing anything that jumps out at me as a great track which is really surprising as the Elefante brothers produced and engineered the album. For those of you who say I don’t know anything about music well here’s your proof that you are correct. An album I found to be bland, not bad, was Nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1995 and actually won the Dove Award for Rock Album in 1996. So I admit my taste does not jive with the industry.

Tracklist
1 – Enter In – 5:00
2 – Think Twice – 4:19
3 – Heart Of A Hero – 4:10
4 – More Than A Thousand Words – 4:58
5 – No Doubt – 4:54
6 – Right Place – 3:38
7 – Two Are Better Than One – 3:43
8 – Sincerely Yours – 4:16
9 – Think On These Things – 4:24
10 – For All You’re Worth – 4:14
11 – We Hold Our Hearts Out To You – 4:11

Credits
A&R – Bubba Smith, Lynn Keesecker
Backing Vocals – John Schlitt
Bass – Ronny Cates
Drums – Louie Weaver
Executive Producer – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – Jim Cooper
Lead Guitar – David J. Lichens
Lead Vocals – John Schlitt
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Vocals – David J. Lichens, Jim Cooper, Ronny Cates

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Epic Records
Distributed By – Epic Records
Glass Mastered At – DADC – DIDP-087033

Bryan Harden – Against The Tide – 1988

I can’t really find much info about Bryan. He was on several albums over the years a background vocalist but put out this self released cassette in 1988. It is apparently quite rare and only available on cassette if you can find it. The album is very Easy Listening with a strong emphasis on Bryan’s vocals which are very good but not really my style. Bryan is still performs with The Voices Of Liberty and is the Music Director of the Orlando Presbyterian Church.

Tracklist
1 – New Song – 3:34
2 – God Is – 2:35
3 – A Hiding Place, A Holy Place – 4:41
4 – Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing – 4:18
5 – Against The Tide – 3:48
6 – You’re My Friend – 3:13
7 – Lazarus Arise – 3:51
8 – Exalt Him Evermore – 2:30
9 – I’m Undone – 3:09

Various – California Metal Volume II – 1988

This 1988 Regency Records sampler featured some of the best California Metal bands of the time and some very exclusive tunes. I have listed below where you can find the albums with the songs. Note that the CD and the cassette have one more track than the vinyl version.

Tracklist
1 – Vision – Runaway – Unreleased
2 – Emerald – Traitor – Unreleased until 2001 then bonus track on Armed For Battle re-release CD
3 – Recon – Light The Fire – Only released on a 1989 Demo
4 – Soldier – Borderline – On 1988 album Babylon
5 – Judea – Heart Of Stone – Unreleased Band
6 – Mastedon – Get Up – On 1989 album It’s A Jungle Out There
7 – Ransom – Sin Killer – Unreleased
8 – Emerald – Born To Die – Unreleased until 2001 then bonus track on Armed For Battle re-release CD
9 – Judea – Knock – Unreleased Band
10 – Soldier – Tears – Unreleased until 2002 then bonus track on The Definitive Collection 1985-1989 CD
11 – Recon – Dreams – On 1990 album Behind Enemy Lines – Different Version

Tracklist
1 – Vision – Runaway – 4:56
2 – Emerald – Traitor – 2:39
3 – Recon – Light The Fire – 3:25
4 – Soldier – Borderline – 3:33
5 – Judea – Heart Of Stone – 4:32
6 – Mastedon – Get Up – 3:58
7 – Ransom – Sin Killer – 4:34
8 – Emerald – Born To Die – 4:17
9 – Judea – Knock – 4:24
10 – Soldier – Tears – 3:57
11 – Recon – Dreams – 4:59

Watchmen – Can’t Stop Talkin’ – 1981

You absolutely have to give credit to the Abraham brothers for putting out albums. They were getting little or none label support so they just kept self releasing their albums. This is one of those self released albums. It’s really a pity they couldn’t get a proper record deal because they were easily as good as anything else in the genre at the time. The lead track on this album is a fun pop track with a hook intro that probably would have done quite well with proper distribution. Anyway it’s a fun easy listening album from a group of guys who knew how to make music. You probably never heard this one so give it a listen. The lead track should hook you in.

1 – Can’t Stop Talkin’ – 4:40
2 – I Don’t Wanna Be the One – 4:07
3 – Previews of Coming Attractions – 4:55
4 – The Cross Calls Today – 4:28
5 – Good News Tonight – 4:15
6 – Song to An Unsaved Father – 6:28
7 – Lonely Out Tonight – 3:15
8 – Superman – 4:27
9 – This Generation/Any Day Now (I Shall Be Released) – 9:58

Vigilantes Of Love – Jugular – 1993

Vigilantes of Love was formed in the late 80’s by Bill Mallonee featuring other members from the local Athens, Georgia area. The band actually started as a side project of Bill’s band Cone Ponies. Their name was inspired by the New Order song “Love Vigilantes” which is one of my favourite songs. This is their first album and they actually first self released it in 1990. In 1992 Mark Heard’s label Fingerprint Records picked up the album and they also did a re-release in 1993. The album is a folk acoustic heavy album but is very good for that style. It’s not a style that was prevalent in the Christian market so I’m sure many found it to a refreshing sound at the time. I also give the band credit for packing 15 tracks on the album. I have noticed that most if not all of their albums had well over the usual 10 tracks. Kudos to them for giving their fans great value for their money. As I said I think it a pretty good album and I enjoyed listening to it. My one comment is that the name is horrible. I understand the band was trying to achieve some secular success but the name is horrible for a Christian album. I’m quite surprised that Mark Heard did not rename the album when he took it into his label. Oh well it’s all history now.

Tracklist
1 – Weak One Now – 3:23
2 – Songs On The Radio – 4:02
3 – Something To Hold On To – 4:12
4 – As Big As Christ – 4:43
5 – Love Cocoon – 3:46
6 – In The Morning – 6:32
7 – Thorn In Your Flesh – 2:13
8 – Take No Prisoners – 4:16
9 – Watching The Moonlight – 3:52
10 – Flames Of Hell – 4:29
11 – America – 5:57
12 – Drunk On The Tears – 5:31
13 – Losin’ It – 4:43
14 – Words Of Love Spoken – 3:59
15 – Who Knows When The Sunrise Will Be – 4:50

Credits
Accordion – Mark Hall
Backing Vocals – Oglethorpe County Tree Frog Chorus
Drums – Slap Happy
Engineer – Cam Mullally
Executive-Producer – Chuck Long, Dan Russell
Guitar, Vocals, Drums – Bill “Malice” Mallonee
Harmonica – Jonny “Dog-Mess” Evans
Mandolin, Bass, Backing Vocals – Billy Holmes
Producer – Peter Buck, V.O.L.
Producer, Engineer – Mark Heard

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Fingerprint Records
Recorded At – Saturn Recording Studio
Recorded At – Maxwell Sound Recording Studio
Mixed At – Fingerprint Recorders
Remastered At – Fingerprint Recorders
Copyright © – CyBrenJoJosh
Pressed By – Disctronics USA – 118807

Wayne Watson – Workin’ In The Final Hour – 1980

This is Wayne’s first album, kind of. This was his first album on a label with proper distribution actually. He actually had a self released album in 1978 that we have but I haven’t listened to yet. But essentially as far as most people are concerned this is indeed his first album. As the story goes after college Wayne was playing music in area churches and was leading worship at an area youth camp when one of the parents recorded his music performance. That tape ended up on a desk at Milk & Honey records. They must have liked what they heard as Wayne went on to release 4 albums with them. This album gave him his first CCM charting single with “One Day” making it to #9. The album is pretty easy listening so it’s not really for me but for the style it’s a great album that was a sign of things to come in Wayne’s career.

Tracklist
1 – One Day – 3:33
2 – Because Of Whose I Am – 4:59
3 – Make A Wish – 3:19
4 – I Don’t Want Your Money – 3:47
5 – Trust In The Lord – 2:55
6 – Touch Of The Master’s Hand – 4:37
7 – Lay Them Down – 3:54
8 – How He Loves Me – 3:18
9 – No Need – 3:18
10 – One More Song – 3:01

Credits
Arranged By – Greg Nelson
Backing Vocals – Al Moore, Dennis Wilson, Don Gant, Donna Sheridan, Mike Albrecht, Mitch Humphries, Scott Roley
Bass – Ernie Collins
Drums – Bob Mater
Engineer – Scott Hendricks
Engineer [Assistant] – Bill Deaton
Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow
Guitar – Brent Rowan, Joe Wilson, Mike Noble
Keyboards – Alen Steinberger, Buddy Skipper, Mitch Humphries, Shane Keister
Percussion – Bill Wiggins, Terry McMillan
Photography By – Michael Borum
Producer – Greg Nelson
Saxophone – Donnie “Sax” Sanders
Synthesizer – Shane Keister

Companies, etc.
Record Company – The Zondervan Corporation
Recorded At – Glaser Sound Studios, Nashville
Lacquer Cut At – Masterfonics
Designed At – Michael Harris Design
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Milk & Honey
Copyright © – Milk & Honey
Published By – Group Seven
Published By – Takalofme Music
Published By – Libris Music
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
Published By – Cooga Music
Published By – Crosswalk Music

The Pilgrims – Telling Youth… The Truth – 2004

I have decided I’m going to quit crediting people with being the first recorded Christian artist. Every time I think I’ve found an old album I find an older one. This release is interesting in that besides a couple of singles these guys didn’t have an album in the 60’s. Their album didn’t come out until 2004. That said they were out there playing Christian music to the youth as early as 1961 and this album is a compilation of recording form 1962 to 1967. They formed the band as teens and hit the road playing anywhere that would have them They were declared the loudest Christian band of the time. I can only assume they were one of a very very few doing this style and genre of music. They of course were ostracized by organized religion but when asked about this said they didn’t care, they were there for the youth. I can not imagine how a teenage Christian in 1964 would have reacted upon hearing their music but I can only imagine it was the same relief I hear when I listened to my first Resurrection band album. Luckily the tapes were saved over the years and now we can appreciate what these pioneers did, and yes I’ll dare say it, before anyone else.

Tracklist
1 – Hey You! – 2:54
2 – Thank You Lord – 3:24
3 – Heaven’s The Place For Me (Version 2) – 3:19
4 – There’s Someone In Your Life – 3:07
5 – I Didn’t Care – 2:34
6 – Think It Over (Version 2) – 2:16
7 – Wait And See – 2:35
8 – Do You Believe In God? – 2:24
9 – Heard It All Before – 4:41
10 – Any Time Of The Day – 2:09
11 – Who’s Your Lord? – 1:56
12 – I Know I’m Going To Heaven – 2:36
13 – He Wants You – 2:31
14 – I Don’t Need You – 2:03
15 – What Are You Doing With Your Life? – 2:34
16 – Think Of God’s Love – 2:30
17 – I Praise The Lord – 2:59
18 – Don’t You Think It’s Time – 3:42
19 – Heaven’s The Place For Me (Version 1) – 2:39
20 – I Found A Special Friend – 2:40
21 – Think It Over (Version 1) – 2:24

Credits
Bass, Vocals – John Hubbard
Coordinator [CD Coordinator] – Ed Nadorozny
Drums, Vocals – Ian Wilkie
Layout [Graphic Layout] – Bon Henderson
Lead Guitar, Bass – Don Sanders
Restoration [Sound Restoration] – Alec Palao, John Dahlin
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Derrick Phillips
Vocals – Chris King
Vocals, Lead Guitar, Harmonica – Tony Goodman

Sleepy Ray – Under The Mighty Blood – 1994

Sleepy Ray has an interesting back story. His parents were only 15 years old when he was born and as a result he grew up in a relatively impoverished home. But growing up Ray says he knew he wanted to be a preacher at the age of 6. He dedicated his life to the church at age 10. He did however struggle with the usual teenager musician stuff and was actually caught with drugs in high school. He actually met Chris Lizotte in music school in California in his early 20’s and performed with him in the LA area. This is his first album and what an album it is. While for the main part it’s a blues rock album the track “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout” is a fantastic Stevie Ray Vaughan style track and easily the best track on the album. I’m looking forward to his second album as this one is definitely in my top 50 albums.

Tracklist
1 – Station To Station – 4:08
2 – Love That’s Really Real – 5:01
3 – Cloud Rollin’ In – 4:16
4 – Magi’s Lead – 4:33
5 – Greatest Of These – 4:05
6 – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout It – 3:22
7 – Way Into The House – 4:00
8 – High Time – 3:12
9 – That You Are My Lord – 4:32
10 – Lord Rescue Me – 2:44
11 – Let It Flow – 3:13
12 – Dancin’ On A Heavenly Hill – II Samuel 6 – 5:33

Michael Been – On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakthrough – 1994

I have written extensively elsewhere regarding the sad and sudden death of Michael Been of The Call. He was a brilliant, amazing, passionate, powerful artist. His work with The Call will be discussed several times throughout this countdown and his impact on CCM and the music world at large cannot be overstated. The call was simply the most underrated band in history…period! Much hyperbole? Nope. He also created an amazing solo project here that unfortunately went overlooked both in mainstream and CCM circles. The lead track, Us, is so good, so very, very good, that if it was the good song on the whole album it would still make this list! But fortunately the entire album is filled with amazing and powerful tracks. I find the album to be “heavier” than the albums by The Call, but still just as passionate, melodic and poignant. It’s also just as spiritual, introspective and authentic. Been had this amazingly uncanny ability to make deep spiritual truths sound simple and not so “preachy” while stating very blatant and undeniable truths. To list the “highlights” I would simply just cut and paste the entire track list! This is most definitely an AYSO!

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

Tracklist
1 – Us – 3:48
2 – When You’re With Me – 4:48
3 – Nearly Fell – 3:55
4 – This World – 4:43
5 – In My Head – 5:02
6 – This Way – 6:59
7 – Luminous – 5:37
8 – She – 4:14
9 – Worried – 4:16
10 – For Your Love – 3:18
11 – Invitation – 3:57
12 – Now I Know High (Part 2) – 7:43
13 – To Feel This Way – 4:56
14 – To Feel This Way (2006 Remix) – 6:00

Credits
A&R – Hugo Burnham
Bass – Robert Been
Bass Guitar – Dave Allen
Drums – Hugo Burnham
Drums, Percussion – Scott Musick
Engineer – Joel Jaffe
Engineer [Additional] – Bruck Dawit
Engineer [Assistant] – Alfred Brand, Larry Brewer
Guitar – Tom Ferrier
Guitar, Drums [Additional], Vocals – Ralph Patlan
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards – Michael Been
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Michael H. Brauer
Producer – David Z, Michael Been
Producer [Associate] – Ralph Patlan
Vocals – Eli Braden

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Studio D, Sausalito, CA
Mixed At – Quad Recording Studios