This is the 4th and final album from The Wall Brothers. As I have said in other reviews of this band I really can’t find much info on them. This album continues on similar to their previous albums. It has an easy listening seventies sound and stays away from anything close to Rock & Roll. That said it’s a great album for this style and I quite like it. Unfortunately I don’t think any tracks will make it into my regular rotation but I did quite like the track “I Am Free” which I think is really well written and performed though it’s not really my usual style.
Tracklist 1 – Open Up – 3:21 2 – What’s Your Hope In – 3:37 3 – Right In Your Light – 3:10 4 – I Am Free – 3:51 5 – He Loves You So Much – 4:12 6 – Finally Found My Heart – 4:21 7 – Where Do We Go From Here – 4:22 8 – Just Another Day – 3:50 9 – He Must’ve Planned It That Way – 4:46
Credits Mastered By – Hank Williams Producer – Phil Johnson
This is the fifth studio album from the guys. Strangely it’s also the last one that founding member Mike Pendleton and guitarist Brent Gordon are on. Nothing has ever been officially said about their departures but to quote Roger Rose, “they didn’t really quit the band–they kinda quit and got fired all at the same time.” Anyway that aside this album continues there new Rock/Grunge style we were introduced to on their previous album. It’s not as good as their previous album which I found kind of odd as I thought they would be perfecting this sound but it’s still a pretty darn good album and if you really like this style of music this is probably still in the 10 of this style.
Tracklist 1 – That Lonesome Road – 4:27 2 – Trapped – 3:44 3 – Lost In The Forest – 3:35 4 – If I Lose My Way – 3:31 5 – Always Be My Love – 4:08 6 – M.A.T.W. (Reprise) – 4:22 7 – Alone – 5:45 8 – I’ve Got A Heaven – 4:25 9 – I’ll Never Go Back There – 3:54 10 – If I Can Dream – 2:53
Credits Art Direction – Brian Godawa Bass – Mike Pendelton Cover – Brent Gordon Design – Brian Godawa Drums – Randy Rose Guitar – Roger Rose Lead Guitar – Brent Gordon Lyrics By – Roger Rose Photography By – Patrick House Producer – Roger Rose Rhythm Guitar – Brent Gordon Vocals – Mike Pendelton, Randy Rose, Roger Rose
This is Twila’s 1992 compilation album. I really think she might hold the record for her amount of compilation albums. The album did contain two new tracks including the title track that was a charting single. I have indicated the original album for all the tracks below.
1 – A Heart That Knows You – New Track 2 – Destiny – New Track 3 – How Beautiful – Cry For The Desert – 1990 4 – I See You Standing – Cry For The Desert – 1990 5 – Every Heart That Is Breaking – For Every Heart – 1988 6 – Prince Of Peace – Same Girl – 1987 7 – Wandering Pilgrim – It’s The Thought… – 1989 8 – Runner – Kingdom Seekers – 1986 9 – The Warrior Is A Child – The Warrior Is A Child – 1984 10 – Holy Is The Lamb – From Dick Tunney album Twila Paris Piano Classics 11 – Sweet Victory – For Every Heart – 1988 12 – True Friend – For Every Heart – 1988 13 – Bonded Together – Same Girl – 1987 14 – Release Of The Spirit/He Is Exalted – Kingdom Seekers – 1985 15 – Lamb Of God – Kingdom Seekers – 1985 16 – Do I Trust You Medley – The Warrior Is A Child – 1984
Tracklist 1 – A Heart That Knows You – 4:41 2 – Destiny – 5:12 3 – How Beautiful – 4:42 4 – I See You Standing – 4:05 5 – Every Heart That Is Breaking – 4:12 6 – Prince Of Peace – 4:37 7 – Wandering Pilgrim – 4:06 8 – Runner – 4:04 9 – The Warrior Is A Child – 4:09 10 – Holy Is The Lamb – 3:26 11 – Sweet Victory – 4:29 12 – True Friend – 3:00 13 – Bonded Together – 4:59 14 – Release Of The Spirit/He Is Exalted – 5:59 15 – Lamb Of God – 4:11 16 – Do I Trust You Medley – 5:50
Credits Art Direction – Buddy Jackson, Toni Thigpen Design – S.Combs Executive-Producer – Darrell A. Harris, Jack Wright Mastered By – Doug Sax Photography By – Mark Tucker
If you were like me and was yearning for more from After The Fire then this album could be one for you. Iva Twydell is actually Ivor Twidell, the drummer of After The Fire. He was joined by fellow ATF member Nick Battle who played bass and produced the album. The album was financed by Redsky music who released it in The UK and New Zealand. It was also released in Canada on license by Tunesmith Records. The album is very Synth heavy and those duties were handeled by Anthony Phillips who was actually the original guitarist for Geneses. This is rather odd as I can’t find that Anthony was ever involved in any other Christian project. Anyway this is a great album and if you like ATF then you will likely enjoy this album even if it doesn’t have Peter Banks on vocals.
Tracklist 1 – The Man Inside – 3:37 2 – The Warning – 3:20 3 – Teaching Me The Hard Way – 3:43 4 – See No, Hear No, Speak No Evil – 3:58 5 – Final Fuse – 4:27 6 – Decline And Fall – 4:17 7 – Hear Me – 3:36 8 – Addicted – 3:03 9 – Get It Right – 2:58 10 – Abdication Day – 4:06
Credits Backing Vocals – Annie McCaig, Colin Blunstone, Mo Turner Drum Machine Programming – Richard Scott Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar – Nick Battle Synthesiser, Keyboards, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass Guitar – Anthony Phillips Vocals, Synthesiser, Electric Guitar, Percussion – Iva Twydell
From the outset it should be duly noted that this is my all time favorite album…ever! And now that the disclaimer has been provided let’s get on with the review. Before DA sounded the Alarma. Before Taylor built a Clone. Before the Choir, Lifesavers, Altar Boys or Undercover. There always has to be a first. And most often, the first is either soon forgotten or remains unknown for decades. This happens more often in Christian music because an artist is not only breaking down musical barriers, but spiritual and self-righteous one as well. If there was a Top 50 “Albums You Should Own, But Probably Don’t” this one would top the list. David Edwards’ self-title debut topped Campus Life Magazine as one of the best releases of the year at a time when Christian music was dominated by Amy Grant, Evie and the Sweet Comfort Band. Then along comes this little album on Myrrh Records with a pink rising sun backdrop and a guy wearing a loosened thin tie, looking either quite tired or possibly stoned. I was a Freshman in High school when the album came out and it was life changing. I wasn’t familiar with David Edwards’ history in Christian music at the time as I later discovered he played bass for J.C. Power Outlet and was friends with Keith Green, Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. All i knew was that he looked pretty cool on the cover and Campus Life Magazine compared him to Elvis Costello. I bought the album as soon as I found a Christian Bookstore that was willing to carry it. I ended working at that same store a couple of years later. After listening to the first song I lifted the needle of the record and put in a tape to record it as I knew right away I would want to listen to this album everywhere I went. Three years later after the release of his follow-up album, “Get the Picture” I wrote a letter to him and told what an impact his first album had on me and that his lyrics had encouraged me to start publishing my poems and I sent a few of them along in the letter. Not only did he respond but began an occasional correspondence that continued for some time. Later that same year he performed at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa during one of their famous Saturday Night Concerts. I went up afterward and introduced myself and he in turned introduced me to the rest of his band who he had mentioned my letters to. I was overwhelmed. My wife and I even went to visit him in upper state New York several years ago on his farm and introduced me to a great recipe for scrambled eggs that remains a favorite in our household.
Contributor – David Lowman https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Best Friend – 2:13 2 – Rather Be Wrong – 2:26 3 – Commercial Suicide – 4:26 4 – Nagging Optimism – 2:39 5 – Hollywood High – 2:54 6 – The Getaway – 3:36 7 – Kicks – 2:44 8 – Disposable Love – 2:25 9 – The Tongue Is A Fire – 3:25 10 – Don’t Ever Say – 3:18 11 – Not Going To Fall Away – 3:11 12 – Song Of Wholeness – 3:24
Credits Art Direction – Art Hotel, Leo McIntire Drums – Craig Krampf Electric Bass – Eric Nelson Electric Guitar – Dan Jacob Electric Guitar, Sitar [Electric] – Ira Ingber Layout [Inner Sleeve], Design – Dennis Hill Organ [Hammond & Vox] – Dave Garland Piano, Synthesizer, Arranged By – Barry Kaye Producer – Buddy King Recorded By, Mixed By – Bill Bottrell, David Marquette, Mitch Gibson Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Arranged By – David Edwards
After the demise of his two previous bands (Sea Stone and Intransit) Simon Law started up Fresh Claim and this is their first album. The name of the band came from a counter at the local unemployment office with the designation “Fresh Claims”. Simon has also established Plankton records which was originally just his own label to release his first band Sea Stone but developed into a full fledged record label. The album is often labelled as alternative but personally I find it to be more New Wave. At times I get a “The Keep” feel from a few tracks but I’m pretty sure this is coincidental as The Keep were only released in Canada and Fresh Claim were from the UK. This is another one I missed in the 80’s and really wish I had heard back then because I absolutely love it.
Tracklist 1 – Strong Enough To See – 3:06 2 – There’s Someone Loving You – 2:54 3 – Sunday Morning Dawn – 4:50 4 – Yesterday’s Hero (Is Tomorrow’s Fool) – 2:51 5 – Enough Is Enough – 3:31 6 – Visions Never Sleep – 3:50
Credits Bass, Vocals – Derek Llewellyn Composed By – Derek Llewellyn, Simon Law Design, Keyboards – Mags Law Drums – Ali Byworth Engineer, Producer – Nigel “Chopper” Palmer Guitar, Vocals – Simon Law
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Scarf Studios Duplicated By – Selecta Sound
We actually don’t know very much about Rushing Wind. I was able to see that member Dave Hodel did have a solo album in 1983 which we are currently hunting for. Other than that I don’t have much info so lets talk about the album. It has a pretty good mid 80’s pop sound. In fact I’m kind of surprised the band didn’t do better. The album was produced by Paul Clark who did an excellent job in my opinion. As near as I can tell the album was self released and distributed. The band did tour in support of the album and here was even a slight scandal involving Dave’s father you was actually the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. It was a nothing burger however so don’t I don’t hold anything against the band. So this is one you should give a listen to in my opinion, it deserves some attention.
Tracklist 1 – Don’t Be Like The World – 3:13 2 – Distinctions – 3:22 3 – Shadow of Your Doubt – 3:01 4 – Giver Of A Bad Report – 3:11 5 – You’re The One – 3:14 6 – Just This Once – 4:12 7 – Give It Away – 3:22 8 – True Love – 3:45 9 – We Wait In Hope – 3:22 10 – Praise – 2:38 11 – Take My Heart – 4:16
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – John F Shaw Drums, Percussion, Electric Piano, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dean Baskerville Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Joel F Shaw Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dave Hodel Engineer – Wally Grant Engineer [Second] – Terry Lang Producer, Engineer – Paul Clark Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals – Rob Farley Woodwind – Rod Martin
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Weddington Studios Mixed At – Weddington Studios
This was the introductory album from Phil & John. It is probably one of the oddest choices for an premier album in CCM. The entire side 2 of the album is a live recording. Now this may sound like a very strange thing to do but in this case I think it was brilliant. Phil & John really did shine in their live work as they were essentially a comedy team that played music and it really set them apart frm the rest of the industry at the time. I personally love their style which on this album can be best described as 70’s Beatles. Unfortunately I did not give them the the amount of listening time they deserved in the 80’s. If you’ve never heard Phil & John live you should at least listen to side 2 of this album as it’s live where they really shine.
Tracklist 1 – Wasted Years – 2:57 2 – Teenage Millionaire – 3:13 3 – Saturday Night And Sunday Morning – 3:35 4 – You Wouldn’t Let Me Go – 3:25 5 – I Remember – 2:49 6 – Holding On – 4:16 7 – What Do You Do? – 3:10 8 – The Gnome Song – 7:06 9 – Factory Blues – 4:43 10 – Times I Find – 3:45 11 – Watch And Pray – 3:16
This album is actually the sound track to a film/movie about Christ hosted by Dallas. I know absolutely nothing about the film and never saw it or even heard of it until I was researching this album. Obviously it wasn’t much of a success as I would have heard or seen this in 1979. Anyway the album is billed as a Dallas Holm album as opposed to Dallas Holm & Praise though Tim Johnson did join him on the album. The album is pretty standard fare for Dallas with nothing that really stood out to me. Not saying it’s a bad album. In fact for this style it’s excellent.
Tracklist 1 – What Will You Do? – 3:06 2 – Hosanna – 3:54 3 – Do You Believe In Me – 3:28 4 – Father – 5:49 5 – Betrayal Scene (Spoken) – 2:00 6 – Calvary – 3:26 7 – Mary’s Song – 3:40 8 – What Kind Of Man Is This? – 3:52 9 – Rise Again / Hosanna (Reprise) – 6:15 10 – What Will You Do? (Reprise) – 2:15
Credits Terry Blackwood – Vocals Bob Clark – Engineer Jackie Cusic – Vocals Jon Goin – Guitars Dallas Holm – Songwriter, Vocals Ladonna Johnson – Vocals Phil Johnson – Producer Tim Johnson – Vocals Shane Keister – Keyboards Larrie Londin – Drums Norman Neeley – Engineer Steve Schaeffer – Bass Jack Williams – Orchestra and Choral Arranger
Awhile ago I reviewed an album by a band called Freeway that had a limited release in Canada. I remember us listening to the album in the 80’s but it wasn’t really our style. Then recently Artie Dison from the band contacted me to let me know he actually had 2 solo albums in 1989 and 1997. This is the 1989 album. Now I’ll be honest, I was not very excited going into this album as his previous work wasn’t my style. Wow was I surprised as this is a fantastic Rock album. This was several years after his Freeway work and boy did he mature. The album almost has a Kansas feel in places but I hate pigeon holing albums. Listen, it’s just a great Rock & Roll album that deserves to be heard. The best track on the album in undoubtedly “What About Home” which has a great message. That said my favourite track is “I Feel Love” which has an excellent commercial radio sound. If you missed this one in the 80’s don’t miss it now.
Tracklist 1 – Lonely Heart – 3:25 2 – Don’t Run – 4:42 3 – What About Home – 6:01 4 – Crying In The Night – 3:48 5 – Conquest Of Love – 2:45 6 – I’ll Show You The Way – 3:42 7 – Forgiving Eyes – 4:31 8 – Mysteries Of The Sky – 3:43 9 – I Feel Love – 3:06
Credits Art Direction, Design – Pete Claproth Bass [Additional] – Darrell Cook Drums [Additional] – Jim Ripley Drums, Backing Vocals – Donny Henderson Engineer [Assistant] – Brian Davis, Josh West, Steve Vaughan Executive-Producer – Lewis McVay Guitar – Bob Somma Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Artie Dison Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Yabo Obien Photography By – Dave rigg Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals – Tim Jaquette Synthesizer, Programmed By – Dave Spurr
