Category: Albums

Douglas Trowbridge – Songs Unspoken – 1985

When I first listened to this album I didn’t really think there would be anything interesting to write about but I was surprised that the story of this performer is actually quite interesting. This performers real name was Richard Douglas Trowbridge Souther. He put out both albums on piano and synth. On his piano albums he used the name Douglas Trowbridge and on his synth albums he used the name Richard Souther. This being a piano album we’re listening to Douglas Trowbridge. Anyway this album is a nice piano instrumental album that may lull you to sleep but he is definitely a good pianist. Apparently the whole album was played on a 1940 Steinway. It’s a good album but don’t listen to it while operating heavy machinery.

Tracklist
1 – Daybreak Communion – 3:36
2 – A Most Remarkable Meeting – 3:48
3 – Beyond The Shadows – 4:44
4 – Unending Melody – 2:08
5 – Where Dreams Are Born – 3:33
6 – For A Season – 2:44
7 – Finlandia – 3:57
8 – Matters Of The Heart – 2:25
9 – Upon His Arrival – 2:35
10 – The Farewell – 5:58

Credits
Arranged By – Douglas Trowbridge
Composed By – Douglas Trowbridge (tracks: A1 to B1, B3 to B5), J. Sibelius (tracks: B2)
Design – Buddy Jackson
Engineer – Bernie Kirsh
Engineer [Assistant] – Ira Rubnitz
Mastered By – Bernie Kirsh, Steve Hall
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Piano [Improvisation] – Douglas Trowbridge
Producer – Peter York

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Capitol Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – Birdwing Music
Published By – Birdwing Music
Recorded At – Mad Hatter Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
Designed At – Jackson Design
Manufactured By – The Sparrow Corporation
Marketed By – The Sparrow Corporation
Distributed By – The Sparrow Corporation

DeGarmo & Key – Commander Sozo And The Charge Of The Light Brigade – 1985

The 8th album from D & K wins for their dumbest named album. In fact it’s in my top 5 worst album names in CCM. That aside it is one of my favourite D & K albums. It is more synth driven than their earlier work and this is one of the things I like and D & K. If I’m in the mood for rock I can listen to them. If I’m in the mood for synth I can listen to them. If I’m in the mood for New Wave I can listen to them. For most bands these varying styles would probably be a negative but as they they did all these styles so well it worked for them. The album did have 2 chart singles. Destined To Win made it to #5 and most people from this era will well remember that song. Casual Christian also singled but only made it to #20. This album was a solid effort and should be fondly remembered by most from this era.

Tracklist
1 – Activate
2 – Competition
3 – Temporary Things
4 – Apathy Alert
5 – Charge Of The Light Brigade
6 – Destined To Win
7 – No More Goodbye
8 – Jesus Is Coming
9 – Rise Up
10 – Casual Christian

Credits
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Carl Marsh
Art Direction, Design – Susan De Garmo
Bass, Backing Vocals – Tommy Cathey
Drums, Backing Vocals – Greg Morrow
Engineer [Strings] – Frank Baratta, John Timperley
Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock
Management – Brock & Associates, Inc.
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Photography By – Dean Dixon
Producer, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Written-By – Ed De Garmo
Producer, Lead Vocals, Guitar, Written-By – Dana Key
Recorded By, Mixed By – John Hampton
Strings – London String Orchestra
Vocals [Duet] – Jessy Dixon (tracks: B1)

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Power Discs
Copyright (c) – Power Discs
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
Recorded At – Ardent Studios
Recorded At – Angel Studios
Mixed At – Ardent Studios
Mastered At – Masterdisk

Larry Howard – Into the Light – 1989

This is the 3rd solo album from Larry Howard. This album was between labels (Refuge & Forefront) so it’s a one record deal with Spark Music. Strangely this album was only released in Europe. I’m a little confused at this as Larry was well liked and popular in North America, but with record companies you never really understand what’s going on. Anyway here it is yet another great blues album from Larry. Blues was not well represented in CCM in the 80’s though in the 90’s Kaiser and Mansfield brought it to the forefront. Yes I understand there was lots of Christian blues songs but full fledged CCM Blues artists were a very thin crowd. This album has a more classic blues sound with overtures of Big Band. In places it has a musical Blues Brothers feel but the vocals are all Larry. This one didn’t make it to North America so if you haven’t heard it you should, it is a great album.

Tracklist
1 – Why I Sing The Blues – 2:46
2 – A New Heart – 5:16
3 – One Day At A Time – 3:46
4 – I Need To Know For Sure – 4:15
5 – Livin Example – 3:08
6 – Trouble No More – 2:10
7 – Into The Light – 5:03
8 – Overcomer – 4:09
9 – Holy Ground – 3:38
10 – Guess Who – 3:15
11 – Find Out For Yourself – 4:15
12 – Jesus Is Here – 4:34

Credits
Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Tony Dorsey
Backing Vocals – Barbara Ice, Charles Jones, Karen Barlow, Kim Welch, Sherri Nunmmally
Bass Guitar – Slim Powell
Design – Gransch Bakker Design
Design Concept [Cover Concept], Artwork [Graphic Art] – Andy Anderson
Drums – Clarence Roddie*, Rick Burnett, Willie Smith
Piano [Acoustic Piano], Organ [B-3 Organ], Synthesizer, Producer, Recorded By, Remix [Re-Mix] – Paul Hornsby
Synthesizer – Kenny Smith, Steve Sawyer
Tenor Saxophone – David Klee
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Elbert Durham
Trombone – Kelly Graves
Trumpet – Jerry Mullins
Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Sitar, Producer, Remix [Re-Mix] – Larry Howard

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Spark Music
Copyright (c) – Spark Music
Distributed By – GMI Records
Recorded At – Muscadine Studio

Farrell And Farrell – Choices – 1984

Bob and Jane Farrell, the married couple that make up Farrell & Farrell were responsible for some of the most memorable and successful pop music in CCM history. For two decades they toured the world and consistently released top selling albums, moving in many different musical direction while never leaving the safety net of worshipful tunes set to very accessible pop arrangements. Choices was the first of several very technologically driven pop albums where synthesizer and techno dance beat reigned supreme. Earlier works were more traditional 70’s and 80’s acoustic pop music with an occasional rock edge. After a live album the duo returned in 1984 with a new look and decidedly new sound. Influenced by the technology of the day and desire to reach a wider and younger audience, the couple embraced the new technology with abandon. The album starts off with what is probably the couple’s most recognizable song and biggest hit, Hosanna Gloria. An upbeat worship tune with electronic drums and keyboard string arrangement, the song became a long time favorite on Christian radio. “He Reigns” duplicates the success of the former. The song the best seems to use the technology is the hit, Get Right or Get Left. The popular jingoist bumber sticker chorus about the popular rapture view uses an electronic recorded vocals as well as instrumentation. The duo has re-released this album along with all of their earlier works on CD, which none of the early releases had seen before. Bob has proven to be a great songwriter over the years and for ten years or so they were amongst the best selling and most popular groups in CCM.

Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Hosanna Gloria – 3:07
2 – He Will Always Make A Way – 3:55
3 – Get Right Or Get Left – 3:45
4 – Through Your Eyes – 3:46
5 – Ransome – 3:16
6 – He Reigns – 3:23
7 – The Greatest Of These – 3:08
8 – Choose To Love – 3:24
9 – Give Me The Words – 3:55
10 – He Is There – 3:24

Credits
Arranged By [Track Arrangements] – Carl Marsh (tracks: A1 to A4, B1 to B5)
Art Direction, Design – Joan Tankersley
Choir [Rock Choir] – Bob Farrell, Dana Key, David Mayo, Debbie Cathey, Jack Holder, Jayne Farrell, Jimi Jamison
Coordinator [Tour Coordination] – Pamela Muse
Drums [Acoustic And Simmons] – Chad Cromwell, John Hampton
Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock
Keyboards – Carl Marsh, Ed DeGarmo, Keith Thomas
Layout – Lori Cooper
Lead Guitar [Electric], Rhythm Guitar [Electric] – Dana Key
Lead Vocals – Bob Farrell, Jayne Farrell
Management [Management / Direction] – Dan Brock Associates
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Ed DeGarmo (tracks: A1 to B2, B4, B5), Jonathan David Brown
Orchestrated By [Orchestration Conceived, Arranged And Performed By On The Fairlight CMI] – Carl Marsh
Photography By – Craig Stewart
Producer [Produced By] – Bob Farrell, Ed DeGarmo
Recorded By [Overdubs] – Brian Tankersley, Ed DeGarmo
Recorded By [Tracks] – John Hampton

Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – Star Song Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Star Song Records
Produced For – Mint Productions
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Ardent Studios
Recorded At – Rivendell Recorders
Mixed At – Rivendell Recorders
Mixed At – Weddington Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – StraightWay Music
Published By – Warner Bros. Music
Published By – Bob Montgomery Music Inc.
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
Published By – Yellow House Music
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △26434

Cruse – Cruse 2 – 1984

This was the second album after the Cruse Family renamed themselves “Cruse” to sound more hip and young. There really isn’t much info out there on the family and really the only member to go on to success was Cindy Cruse. The album is definitely Easy Listening synth driven music with the exception of “Roads” which has a good Rock sound. Unfortunately they didn’t let any of that sound sneak into any of the other tracks. The album is good in an Imperials kind of way but there is no way I would have owned it in the 80’s. I am kind of surprised that it didn’t have a single on the charts as it’s everything CCM magazine was looking for at the time.

Tracklist
1 – Angel Song – 3:14
2 – Sign Of The Times – 3:34
3 – Dancin’ In The Light – 3:35
4 – Unfailing Love – 3:51
5 – Love Of The Lord – 3:02
6 – Rise And Fly – 3:59
7 – Roads – 4:09
8 – Under Wings Of Love – 4:18
9 – Magnify The Lord – 4:03

Credits
Karen Cruse Adams – Vocals
Dennis Belfield – Bass
Claire Cloninger – Songwriter
Robert Cotton – Engineer, Mixed
Becky Cruse – Songwriter
Joe Cruse III – Vocals
Paulinho da Costa – Percussion
Wally Grant – Engineer, Mixed
Ed Greene – Drums
Steve Hall – Mastered
David Huff – Songwriter
Abraham Laboriel – Bass
Rhett Lawrence – Synthesizer Programmer
Larry Mohoberac – Arrangements, Keyboards
Smitty Mohoberac – Arrangements
Smitty Price – Keyboards
Cindy Cruse Ratcliff – Songwriter
Don Rogers – Songwriter
John Rosasco – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Keyboards
Mike Ross – Assistant Engineer
Janice Cruse Stone – Vocals
Carlos Vega – Drums
Marty Walsh – Guitar

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Nissi Records
Copyright (c) – Nissi Records
Distributed By – Sparrow Distribution

Mike Warnke – Stuff Happens – 1985

The humour continues as Mike returns for his 8th album.

It should be noted that Warnke was revealed as a liar and fraudster in 1991 by Cornerstone magazine. This recording is offered as a historic record of what was being listened to in the Christian community in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Tracklist
1 – Potty Training – 6:35
2 – Stuff Happens – 4:19
3 – Fat Fight – 2:27
4 – Cleaning Up For A Bath – 12:06
5 – Concepts Of Christ – 8:44

Credits
Design [Album Design] – Bill Brunt
Edited By – John Barker, Neal Joseph
Engineer – Malcolm Harper
Executive-Producer – John Barker, Steve Adams
Illustration – Jim Osborn
Liner Notes – Rose Warnke
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Photography By – Ron Keith, Scott Bonner
Producer – Neal Joseph
Written-By – Mike Warnke

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Reelsound
Mixed At – MasterMix
Record Company – Word Records Limited
Record Company – Word (UK) Ltd.

Holy Soldier – Last Train – 1992

This was Holy Soldier’s second album and in my opinion was a step up from their first album. Turns out most fans at the time disagree with me. The album did not sell well. In fact it sold poorly enough that Word records dumped the band. After reading up on this I personally believe Word in fact dumped them as they wanted to take a turn at trying to attract a secular audience. If you were in the industry at the time Stryper was the only band allowed to do this for some reason. When anyone else tried it usually the label was not interested. It was a strange time in the industry. The cut that also probably caused them some problem is a cover of the Rolling Stones Vietnam era song “Gimme Shelter”. I actually think it’s a pretty good cover though they could have put a little more of their own signature on it. Anyway, that said this album leans to a more hard rock feel on several tracks and overall I think is well done.

Tracklist
1 – Virtue & Vice – 4:30
2 – Crazy – 4:44
3 – Hallow’s Eve – 4:18
4 – Gimme Shelter – 4:23
5 – Love Is On The Way – 4:54
6 – Dead End Drive – 3:53
7 – Tuesday Mourning – 4:23
8 – Fairweather Friend – 3:25
9 – Last Train – 4:34

Credits
Bass – Andy Robbins
Drums – Terry Russel
Guitar – Jamie Cramer, Scott Soderstrom
Producer [Produced By] – David Zaffiro
Vocals – Steven Patrick

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright (c) – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word Communications Ltd.
Copyright (c) – Word Communications Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Produced For – Zaffiro Productions

Daniel Winans – Brotherly Love – 1989

This album originates from a side of Christian music I never had much interest in. In fact I had no idea who this guy was until I noticed that this album won the Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Vocal Performance Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus in 1989. I was pleasantly surprised how much I actually enjoyed this album especially considering the soul sound is not usually in my listening list. While the album won a Grammy it wasn’t all that successful in the CCM market with only one single, “Let Brotherly Love Continue” which only made it to #27. Now to be clear I doubt I would have been even vaguely interested in this album in the 80’s but right now I kind of enjoyed it. Maybe this was something we were missing out on in the 80’s.

Tracklist
1 – Better Things For You – 3:48
2 – Let Brotherly Love Continue – 4:02
3 – When Love Shows – 3:34
4 – You Got A Choice To Make – 3:56
5 – Walk In The Light – 4:17
6 – One Of A Kind – 4:36
7 – No More I – 4:24
8 – America’s My Island – 3:08
9 – Chinatown – 4:20
10 – Just Fine – 2:15

Credits
Art Direction – Terri Short
Design – Bill Brunt Designs
Engineer – Hal Sacks
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Bill Maxwell, Doug Rider, Mike Ross
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer – Bill Maxwell

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc.
Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc.

The Choir – Chase The Kangaroo – 1988

Many Choir fans don’t consider this their best work. Hardcore fans loved it but casual fans were looking for a fun follow up in the style of “Diamonds And Rain”. I admit the first few times I listened to it I found it to be disappointing. That said I came around as I listened to the lyrics. The album is much better written but I don’t think people could get past the dark feel the album had and I will admit that while I like the lyrics I don’t think this was a musically strong album. It is said that it took 6 month to record the album and I almost wonder if they didn’t over think the album. There is a point in any recording that you have to say “I think that’s it”. If you keep going you can actually over think the songs and I believe that is exactly what happened here. More evidence of this is even the thought process of the album cover. The CD, vinyl, and cassette all have slightly different covers which are based on the same picture. I don’t know if they were trying to imitate Amy Grant’s Unguarded but to me it’s just another example of over thinking things. The CD version of this release has 5 bonus tracks which further proves my point. Some of these tracks were obviously destined for the cutting room floor but they had probably invested so much energy into them they felt they had to release them. Now that I have criticized this album I will step back and say there is some real good tracks on this album. It is by far their best produced album up to this point and lyrically it is probably their best. In the end it’s just a little dark for my liking.

Tracklist
1 – Consider – 4:08
2 – Children Of Time – 5:10
3 – Clouds – 7:00
4 – Sad Face – 7:14
5 – Cain – 5:18
6 – The Rifleman – 3:43
7 – Look Out (For Your Own) – 3:28
8 – Everybody In The Band – 1:36
9 – So Far Away – 5:07
10 – Chase The Kangaroo – 4:10
CD Bonus Tracks
11 – Fade Into You – 3:59
12 – 15 Doors – 3:05
13 – More Than Words – 2:36
14 – Tears Don’t Fall – 3:49
15 – All Night Long – 5:03

Credits
Artwork [Additional Graphic Assistance] – Phillip Foster, Stewart Ivester*
Artwork [Art Direction & Coordination] – Tim Alderson
Artwork [Cover Concept And Design] – John Joseph Flynn*
Artwork By [Additional Graphic Assistance] – Ed, June, Marcella at Slides And Print, Canoga Park, CA
Bass – Tim Chandler
Directed By [Choir Direction] – Brian Martin
Drums – Steven H.*
Executive-Producer – Tom Willett
Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Derri*
Lyrics By – Steven H.*
Other [Tried To Keep Peace Among The Brethren] – Bill Batstone
Photography By – Stewart Ivester*
Producer – Derri Daugherty, Steven Hindalong*
Producer [Additional] – Gene Eugene, Steve Griffith
Recorded By – Dave Hackbarth, Derri Daugherty, Gene Eugene, Mark Heard, Steve Griffith
Recorded By, Mixed By – Mike Mierau (tracks: 11 to 15)
Saxophone, Lyricon – Dan “Buck” Michaels*

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Neverland Studios
Mixed At – Neverland Studios
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios
Manufactured By – JVC
Designed At – OZ Graphics
Designed At – Slides and Print

Rick Cua – Can’t Stand Too Tall – 1988

This was Rick’s 5th album and his first with Reunion records. It is rumoured that Rick was a very diligent negotiator with his record deals so I think we can assume this album was a good earner for him. That said this album unfortunately falls into “that Cua album with that song” category. I don’t feel that way as I think this is a very good album. Furthermore this album introduced Rick to the CCM magazine charts. “Forever Yours” made it to #5 and “For The Love Of God” to #25. Now it almost goes without saying that these are not the best tracks on the album. My personal favourite is Hard Times which was written with Dino and John Elefante. Personally I love the female vocal (scream) at 22 seconds, it feels like we’re about to hear a metal song but alas it’s a good Rock & Roll tune in which you can definitely feel the Elefante brothers influence. To sum it up a great album, perhaps not his best but I still think it’s great.

Tracklist
1 – Hard Times – 4:43
2 – Can’t Stand Too Tall – 3:45
3 – Tunnel Vision – 4:08
4 – For The Love Of God – 5:31
5 – Reckless Faith – 4:43
6 – Crash The Party – 3:42
7 – We Are All The Same – 3:56
8 – Shakedown – 4:07
9 – Forever Yours – 4:01

Credits
Joey Cigainero – Programming
Rick Cua – Songwriter, Bass, Vocals
Bill Deaton – Engineer, Mixed
Nick Distefano – Songwriter
Dino Elefante – Songwriter
John Elefante – Songwriter
Michael English – Background Vocals
Rob Frazier – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Bob Halligan, Jr. – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Vicki Hampton – Background Vocals
Chris Harris – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Mark Heimermann – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Ron Hemby – Duet Vocals (For the Love of God)
Tom Hemby – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Programming, Guitar
Terry Hemmings – Executive Producer
Wayne Kirkpatrick – Songwriter
Mary Lee Kortes – Songwriter
Carl Marsh – Fairlight
Donna McElroy – Background Vocals
Mike Mead – Drums, Percussion
Jeff Moseley – Executive Producer
Denny Purcell – Mastered
Chris Rodriguez – Background Vocals
Ron Sorbo – Percussion
Keith Thomas – Songwriter, Synthesizers

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Reunion Records
Copyright (c) – Reunion Records
Manufactured By – A&M Records
Distributed By – A&M Records
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio
Recorded At – 16th Avenue Sound
Recorded By – Down Stage
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Reflections
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios