Category: Albums

Bryan Duncan – Mercy – 1992

To say this was a successful album is an understatement as it had 2 #1 hits and 4 #2 hits. Yet it did not get a Grammy or Dove award nomination. Until the end of time I will never ever understand the Christian Music industry. When 60% of an album goes to #2 or #1 it obviously should have been in the running. Furthermore the best track on the album, “Five Smooth Stones”, a duet with Crystal Lewis, wasn’t even released as a single. I am again left speechless by the industry. Anyway, the album has a few tracks where we get to hear that big band sound that Bryan loved and perfected and other than that we have some very solid pop tracks. I feel the album leans a little more to the ballads than his previous ones but it’s not a problem. This is a great album and several tracks are on my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Mercy Me (Love Is My Responsibility) – 3:17
2 – Step By Step – 4:41
3 – Into My Heart – 3:55
4 – You Don’t Leave Me Lonely – 3:59
5 – When It Comes To Love – 5:58
6 – Looks A Lot Like Me – 3:45
7 – Love Takes Time – 3:51
8 – Faithful To You – 5:04
9 – I’ll Not Forget You – 4:27
10 – Five Smooth Stones – 3:31

Credits
Arranged By, Keyboards [Arranged By] – Michael Omartian, Peter Wolf, Robbie Buchanan
Art Direction – Diana Barnes
Backing Vocals – Alexis England, Darrell Brown, David Pack, David Robertson, Diana DeWitt, Gene Miller, Leslie Smith, Suzie Benson, Tom Burns
Bass – Neil Stubenhaus
Brass – Bill Reichenbach, Dan Higgins, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Design – Larry Vigon, Rowena Rivera Curtis
Drums – John Robinson
Engineer – Mike Mierau
Engineer [2nd] – Slamm Andrews
Engineer [Additional] – Al Phillips, Paul Erickson, Terry Christian
Guitar – Glenn Pearce, Paul Jackson Jr.
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Daren Klein
Organ [B-3], Keyboards [Additional] – Alan Pasqua
Percussion – Mike Fisher
Photography By – Denise Milford
Producer – Dan Posthuma

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Embassy Studios, Simi Valley, CA
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 – Soundhouse Studios
Recorded At – Bunny Hop Studios
Recorded At – Ocean Studios
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Recorded At – Hollywood Sound Recorders
Recorded At – Pack’s Place
Mixed At – Westlake Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus

The Archers – The Archers – 1973

This is the inaugural album from The Archers. At this point they were just brothers Steve and Tim along with Nancy Short. It was originally self release in 1972 but this is the commercial release a year later on Impact/Heart Warming Records. The brothers started out singing in their Fathers church in the mid 60’s. but by the early 70’s they were touring and even played EXPLO ’72 in Dallas, Texas to a crowd of 250 thousand. Most of the tracks on the album were written by Billy Masters who also played guitar on the album. “God’s Love” and “Jesus Is The Answer” both reached #1 on the CCM charts which is pretty good for your first album. As for my view on he album I actually think it’s pretty good. Normally I’m not a big fan of The Archers as they are a little too easy listening for me but quite frankly given the time period this is a really good album and strangely I think this will go down as my favourite from them.

Tracklist
1 – God’s Love – 4:12
2 – I’ve A Friend – 3:19
3 – Put On Jesus – 2:27
4 – Life In Jesus – 3:05
5 – It Won’t Be Long – 3:47
6 – As Long As I Know – 4:01
7 – Basically Roamin’ – 3:55
8 – Jesus Is The Answer – 3:24
9 – God’s Throne – 2:12
10 – For Me, For You – 5:00

Credits
Arranged By – Clark Gassman
Art Direction – Bob McConnell
Bass – Tim Jaquette
Drums – Tim Short
Engineer – Ami Hadami
Guitar [Uncredited] – Billy Masters
Keyboards – Tim Johnson
Photography By – Bill Grine
Producer – Gary Archer
Vocals – Nancy Short, Steve Archer, Tim Archer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Impact Records

A.D. – Art Of The State – 1985

This was Kerry Livgren’s first album calling his band just AD. This album bumped up against the mainstream record label and rumour has it that the legalities of Kerry getting this album out was a nightmare. Kerry stated that the complete name change to AD was because he wanted to credit the whole band but behind the scenes it is fairly well known that his contract with CBS records meant he couldn’t even use his name. This release was on Kerygma Records and distributed by Sparrow. The album itself has a bit of a Kansas feel but not as much as you might think. Kerry’s songwriting skills are strong on this album and that helps the album stand out from his work with Kansas.

Tracklist
1 – All Creation Sings – 4:22
2 – We Are The Men – 4:41
3 – Lead Me To Reason – 3:56
4 – The Only Way To Have A Friend – 4:16
5 – Games Of Chance And Circumstance – 4:18
6 – The Fury – 5:34
7 – Progress – 4:39
8 – Heartland – 3:42
9 – Zion – 3:26
10 – Up From The Wastland – 4:25

Credits
Bass Guitar – Dave Hope
Design Concept, Executive Producer, Management – Ken Marcellino
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Dennis Holt
Engineer [Additional Assistance] – Gary Westman
Executive Producer, Management – Mark Ferjulian
Guitar, Keyboards – Kerry Livgren
Illustration [Front Cover Illustration] – Tim Wild
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Design Concept, Engineer – Michael Gleason
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Woodwind, Harmonica – Warren Ham
Management – FM Management
Mastered By – Glenn Meadows
Producer, Engineer – Kerry Livgren
Written-By – Kerry Livgren, Michael Gleason, Warren Ham

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow Records
Produced For – GrandyZine Productions Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Kerygma Records
Copyright © – Kerygma Records
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman
Published By – Don Kirshner Music
Published By – Blackwood Music Publishing
Published By – Kerygmatic Music
Published By – Warren Ham Music
Recorded At – Camp Dunwoody Studios
Mixed At – Camp Dunwoody Studios

Wanda Jackson – Rockabilly Fever – 1984

Wanda started her gospel music career in 1973 but she is best known for being a rockabilly star in the early 60’s. She really was a Rock & Roll Queen of the era. As time went on her sound mellowed out and eventually she turned to gospel country. In 1984 upon urging of Tab Records out of Sweden she did another rockabilly album in 1984 as the genre had come back into style. It’s not really a gospel album but does have one gospel track. In 1986 Varrick Records grabbed the album rights for release in Canada and the U.S. They re titled the album “Rock ‘N’ Roll Away Your Blues” and did a completely different and better album cover. As for the album it’s a mix of classic and new tracks and while they are well done the album just doesn’t capture the quality of her work in the 60’s.

Tracklist
1 – Rock A Billy Fever – 4:07
2 – Stupid Cupid – 2:27
3 – Rock’n’roll Away Your Blues – 2:27
4 – Sweet Nuthin’s – 2:27
5 – It’s Only Make Believe – 2:25
6 – Oh Boy – 2:14
7 – Rock A Billy Hound Dog – 2:44
8 – Breathless – 3:00
9 – Sad Love Song – 2:27
10 – Rave On – 1:53
11 – Meet Me In Stockholm – 3:23
12 – Ain’t It The Gospel – 2:31

Credits
Accordion – Christer Olund
Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ann Persson
Backing Vocals – Anette Bengtsson, Curt & Roland, Lars Bengtsson, Pelle Bengtsson
Bass – Sven-Inge Neander
Double Bass [Upright Bass] – Östen Eriksson
Drums – Gunnar Norsten
Electric Guitar – Per-Olof Ahslund
Harmonica, Percussion – Björn Alriksson
Piano – Bert Östlund, Per Erik Jonsson
Piano, Organ – Stephan Berg
Saxophone – Benny Lawin
Steel Guitar, Electric Guitar – Kenth Larsson

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Music Mill Recording Studio, Kumla

Denny Correll – Something I Believe In – 1982

This is Denny’s third solo album and his best so far. While it definitely leans easy listening there are a couple pretty good pop tunes also. The whole album has a bit of a funk feel which works very nicely with his vocals. Unfortunately the album didn’t do well on the CCM charts which is yet another mystery of the 80’s as there are at least 2 top 40 quality songs on this album. The album cover features him getting in a cab. Is it just me or were there a lot of albums in the 80’s with Taxi’s on the cover? Anyway this is a good album that deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Wake Up Everybody – 3:58
2 – Too Many Lonely People – 4:05
3 – Keepin’ My Eyes On You – 3:33
4 – Eternally (The Wedding Song) – 3:36
5 – You Can Depend On Jesus – 3:41
6 – Your Love – 3:34
7 – The Promise – 3:26
8 – Jesus Is Everywhere – 4:57
9 – Goin’ Up – 3:32
10 – Changin’ My Heart – 4:48

Credits
Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Bruce Miller
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements] – Hadley Hockensmith
Art Direction – Paul Gross
Backing Vocals – Howard McCrary, Linda McCrary, Phyllis St. James
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Willie Harlan
Engineer [Assistant] – Brook Johnson
Engineer [Horns] – Peter Haden
Guitar – David Williams, Dean Parks, Eric Turner, Hadley Hockensmith
Guitar [Solos] – Hadley Hockensmith
Layout [Sleeve] – Dennis Hill
Mastered By – Bruce Leek
Other [Taxi Driver] – Arnold Johnson
Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell, Daryl Burch
Photography By – Sam Emerson
Producer – Bill Maxwell
Synthesizer – Tom Keene
Trombone – Bob Payne
Trumpet – Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Walt Johnson
Woodwind – John Mitchell, Justo Almario

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc. – 1982
Copyright © – Word, Inc. – 1982
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – International Automated Media
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – International Automated Media
Mastered At – International Automated Media

Evie – A Little Song Of Joy For My Little Friends – 1978

Sometimes the hardest part of what we so here is doing these little reviews of these albums. Take this album for example. Evie does a children’s album. That’s about all their is to say. It’s not bad, it’s just a children’s album and it’s a little hard to get excited about that. I checked all the contributing musicians and it’s an excellent collection of quality Studio musicians but no one really notable so nothing there to talk about. Anyway so here it is the best children’s album Evie ever did.

Tracklist
1 – Step Into The Sunshine – 3:09
2 – Why Complain – 2:16
3 – Tree Song – 2:57
4 – His Will – 1:31
5 – All Day Song – 3:10
6 – I Am Safe – 1:15
7 – Jesus I Believe What You Said – 3:23
8 – It’s Not Just A Story – 2:06
9 – Will The Circle Be Unbroken? & This Little Light Of Mine – 2:50
10 – Creature Praise – 2:46
11 – Into My Heart – 3:35

Credits
Backing Vocals – Becki Byrd, Catherine Snider, Gwenn Robertson, Karen Robertson, Laura Warren, Lee Warren
Bass – Jack Williams
Drums – Bill Harris, Jerry Carrigan
Flute, Saxophone – Billy Puett
Guitar – Billy Sandford*, Jerry Shook, Pete Bordonali, Weldon Myrick
Harmonica – Charlie McCoy
Keyboards – Kjell Ohman, Randy Goodrum
Percussion – Farrell Morris

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – The Sound Lab, Nashville
Remixed At – Europa Film

Wanda Jackson – Closer To Jesus – 1977

50’s Rocker Wanda Jackson is back with her 6th Christian album and her 26th album overall. Yes this is her 26th album. Now she may have been a rocker in the 50’s but she certainly mellowed out by the 70’s and in fact this album would be best described as country but you can still hear hints of her great work in the 50’s. As good as this album was again she missed out on having a charting CCM single. In fact she never had a charting CCM single. For the life of me I am completely bewildered at this and there had to be some politics involved as her music was for the main part exactly what CCM was looking for. Now if this album doesn’t really appeal to you hang in there because she soon actually did a few more Rockabilly albums and we will be highlighting them soon.

Tracklist
1 – Where I’m Going – 3:13
2 – The World Didn’t Give It To Me – 3:03
3 – The Carpenter’s Son – 3:21
4 – Grandma Sang Off Key – 2:48
5 – He Was There All The Time – 3:24
6 – Closer To Jesus – 3:19
7 – Learning To Lean – 3:51
8 – Gaither Praise Medley – 2:29
9 – Walkin’ In The Spirit – 2:28
10 – He’s Been Through It Too – 3:39

Lenny LeBlanc – Say A Prayer – 1983

Lenny LeBlanc is a very interesting story. He was actually quite a successful secular artist in the 70’s and was under contract by Capitol Records. He had recorded and released the first of that 2 record contract in 1981. However also 1981 he became saved after having a talk with his newly saved friend who was, and I quote here “… a big-time drug smuggler”. Lenny subsequently wanted to do Christian music which Capitol Records wasn’t much interested in. They did however agree to release him from his contract of he could find someone to buy it out. The Christian music labels were certainly not interested in this so he was stuck being unable to do music and actually made a living doing stained glass which was another one of his skills. In 1983 it became obvious to Capitol that no one was going to buy out his contract so they agreed to release him. He immediately signed with Heartland Records and recorded this album. The album is a relatively easy listening 80’s pop album but there are a few pretty good upbeat tracks of which the best is probably “Give Your Heart To The Lord”. The single for the album was “Say A Prayer” which reached #9 on the CCM charts.

Tracklist
1 – Say A Prayer – 3:51
2 – Have Mercy – 3:59
3 – Preacher Man – 3:53
4 – Give Your Heart To The Lord – 3:12
5 – New Tomorrow – 3:45
6 – Angel Of The Lord – 3:33
7 – Asleep In The Boat – 4:02
8 – I Don’t Understand – 3:41
9 – Soul Searching – 3:37
10 – I Believe In You – 3:58

Credits
Backing Vocals – Ava Aldridge, Cindy Richardson, Mac McAnally, Michele Pillar, Robert Byrne, Sherrie LeBlanc
Bass – David Hood, David Hungate, Mike Brignardello
Blues Harp – Bill Darnell
Drums – Larrie Londin, Roger Hawkins
Engineer – Gary Platt, Greg McNeily
Engineer [Mixdown] – Gary Platt
Guitar – Jon Goin, Wayne Perkins, Will McFarlane
Keyboards – Clayton Ivey, Shane Keister, Steve Nathan
Lacquer Cut By [JG in runouts] – Joe Gastwirt
Management – Rip Pelley
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Producer, Backing Vocals – Jon Phelps
Producer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Lenny LeBlanc
Saxophone – Ronnie Eades

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Heartland Records
Copyright © – Heartland Records
Recorded At – The Full Sail Dream Machine
Recorded At – Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Remixed At – Fifth Floor Recording Studios
Mastered At – JVC Cutting Center

Randy Rose – Healing – 1993

I think it’s safe to say that Randy was addicted to the recording studio. While recording with MATW he went into the studio in 1991 to do a solo album and then in 1993 to do this album with a version of the band he called simply Rose. For some of his fans this is their favourite album. I must admit that while not necessarily my style of music this album is very well done. Lyrically there are several tracks that are some of the best writing of the era in my opinion. As I said this album isn’t my style but I find myself liking it more and more every time I listen to it. This is one of those cases where the quality of the music outweighs my preferences for a different style.

Tracklist
1 – R.I.P. – 0:53
2 – Fallen – 3:08
3 – When I Let You In – 3:11
4 – Seeds Of Sorrow – 3:16
5 – My Lies – 3:41
6 – Hooked – 4:13
7 – Healing – 3:31
8 – D.O.P. – 4:11
9 – Demons – 2:58
10 – Never Enough – 3:30
11 – On My Knees – 5:14

Credits
A&R – Matthew Duffy
Art Direction – Brian Godawa
Bass – Mike Link
Drums – Don Richart
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Ben Jacobs, Steve Kumada
Mixed By – Randy Rose
Photography By – Patrick House
Producer – Randy Rose
Vocals – Randy Rose

Seventh Seal – Messengers Of Love – 1990

Seventh Seal is a Norway Metal band that actually started out as Revelation in 1985. They recorded a couple demo’s which lead to a contract with CNR records. The band hit the studio and started recording this album. Along the way it was discovered that there was another band on the label using the name Revelation so a name change was in order and they went with Seventh Seal. Now this is where this get a little odd. Apparently CNR records would not release the album and judging from the production quality it doesn’t look like they put any money into the album. I’m not saying the production is bad but it’s not record company funded good. That said I think I actually prefer the raw feel of the production, it really suits the band. So in the end the band released the album themselves but unfortunately all the drama took a toll on the band and they split before they were able to tour in support of the album.

Tracklist
1 – Messengers Of Love – 5:00
2 – Fantasy – 2:13
3 – Revelation – God Has The Power – 4:46
4 – Your Love – 6:00
5 – Free – 3:22
6 – Sparkling Diamond – 4:21
7 – The Seventh Seal – 1:28
8 – Visions Of Tomorrow – 4:22
9 – Born Again – 4:40
10 – Break Out – 4:39
11 – Eternal Love – 3:58
12 – The Calling – 4:41

Credits
Art Direction – Aud Vikor, Dynamo Krohg, Marianne Thulin
Backing Vocals – Trygve Hanssen
Concept By [Cover Concept] – Jan Rustad
Drums, Percussion – Trygve Hanssen
Engineer – Jan Egil Lovbak
Keyboards – Sjur Lundstein
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass – Geir Knutsen
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass [Fretted & Fretless Bass], Backing Vocals – Geir T. Ugland
Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals – Mark Bjorvand
Photography By – Fin Serck-Hanssen
Remastered By [Digitally] – Rob Colwell
Voice – Roger Avenstrup

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Loud Level Studio
Published By – Frost Music