I really can’t find much info on this album. As near as I can tell it was only released in Canada on New Born Records which was a division of Praise Industries Corp. Abraham is Abraham B. Cardenas and Moses is Moses Perez. I can not find that they recorded or even assisted on any other albums. Strangely the studio support musicians are mainly from the band Glad but there appears to be no other connection. The album was recorded at Susquehanna Sound productions in Pennsylvania which is the same state as Glad came from. That’s it, that’s all I got for this worship oriented album. It’s actually pretty good and while we owned almost the entire Praise Industries library back in the 80’s we did not own this one as I’m guessing the name scared us away.
Tracklist 1 – Upon You Lord – 3:10 2 – ‘Till You Came In – 4:03 3 – Natural High – 3:22 4 – You Send Me Love – 3:06 5 – I’ll Follow You – 4:15 6 – Cool – 3:20 7 – We Should Fly – 4:52 8 – Open Your Heart – 4:42 9 – A Prayer For You – 1:40 10 – Work – 3:45
Credits Arranged By [Strings And Horns] – Walt Straiton, III Arranged By, Bass – Don Nalle Arranged By, Drums – Mark Farley Arranged By, Piano, Keyboards – Bob Kauflin Design – Craig Heisey Flugelhorn – Jim Gambini Lead Guitar – Chris Davis Percussion – Craig Lauterbach Photography – Nick Frey Producer, Arranged By – Moses Perez, Abraham B. Cardenas, Ed Nalle Producer, Engineer – Scott Gelnett Rhythm Guitar – Moses Perez, Abraham B. Cardenas Vocals – Moses Perez, Abraham B. Cardenas
Edin-Ådahl finished out the 80’s with what might be their best album. Now to be clear I know it did not sell well but this is often blamed on distribution problems and not on the quality of the album. Unfortunately right around the time this album was released there were problems over at Refuge records. This album is a superb pop album that was the exact right sound for the time period. The lead tracks sets the feel for an album that is a solid pop effort. I will admit that I missed this one in the 80’s but I’m sure glad I got to hear it now. It feels as fresh and fun today as it did back then.
Tracklist 1 – Going Back – 3:50 2 – Missin’ You – 6:05 3 – Wider Than The Ocean – 4:04 4 – Man Of The Street – 3:56 5 – Big Talk – 3:50 6 – Mystical Moments – 5:25 7 – Write It On The Wall 3:25 8 – Utopia – 3:27 9 – Lonely Without You – 4:37
Credits Frank Adahl – Songwriter, Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals Simon Ådahl – Songwriter, Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Vocals Bertil Edin – Songwriter, Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Vocals Lasse Edin – Keyboards, Vocals
This is one big time serious ALBUM YOU SHOULD OWN! (AYSO) But good luck with that. It’s nearly 50 years old and has been out of print for most of those 50 years. For those fortunate enough to track down a copy by hook or by crook know just what a gem this funkadelic soul masterpiece truly is. It is legit with a capital “L” and sounds so good even right now as I listen to it. As far as I have been able to track down, this is the only full length release, while there are some singles floating around. It also appears that in the decade since I first reviewed this album, some streaming services have added their music. The title track kicks off the album with such a soulful jam, tight harmonies and a blistering lead vocal. Very few Christian label releases ever matched this mainstream release. Songbird was a traditional Gospel label that was eventually sold to ABC. I have asked everyone I know from that era and no one can remember any distribution to Christian/Bible bookstores. The soul styling of the title track only hints at what is to be found inside. The members share lead vocal duties and the interaction between them is fun and funky. The cover of Parliament’s “I Want to Testify” is worth the price of admission. The slower soul tunes are packed with real emotion, something sorely lacking in the general world of CCM and the Jesus Music of the time. Even Andrea Crouch and the Disciples never quite reached the authenticity of this great album. In the review over a decade ago I neglected to give kudos to the musicianship that fills this album. Most notable are the amazing bass lines and soulful, gospel organ that permeate the project. Check out “Standing in the Need of Prayer” for evidence. It’s almost unfair to review and so heavily promote this album since for most it will be nearly impossible to find. For those that have it and those that do track down a copy, they will know exactly what I’m talking about. I have seen the vinyl on-line for anywhere from $50 to $100. For some it may be worth it!
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Do You Know Him – 3:33 2 – I’m Sorry – 3:20 3 – I Just Want To Testify – 3:40 4 – Standing In The Need Of Prayer – 3:24 5 – Where Could I Go – 3:25 6 – Didn’t Think I Could Make It This Far – 3:52 7 – Here I Am Jesus – 2:13 8 – Don’t Let The Devil Fool You – 2:50 9 – A Letter – 3:27 10 – Get On Up – 4:00
New Zealander Steve Apirana is back with his second album and while I liked his first album this is a huge improvement from that album. This is a straight up blues album and it is good, real good. Again this album wasn’t released in North America which is a pity because I think it would have sold pretty good. Most people will recognize the title track as done by DeGarmo and Key bur in fact it’s a traditional so they didn’t get credited. That said this version is very good and I think I prefer it to the D&K version. Track 7 is kind of an instrumental but has some humming. The real gem of the album is the last track “It’s No Miracle”. It’s a spoken word track over a fantastic instrumental score and at 10 minutes long it’s definitely one not to miss. All in all this is probably the best album I have listened to this month and if you like blues I bet you’re gonna love this one.
Tracklist 1 – That Same Old Road – 4:54 2 – Hear Me Knocking – 3:51 3 – Postscript – 5:45 4 – No Turning Back – 4:19 5 – Song For The Bride – 6:33 6 – I Choose To Follow – 4:58 7 – E Te Ariki – 5:31 8 – It’s No Miracle – 10:02
Credits Steve Apirana – Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Guitars, Lead and Background Vocals Alison Ahu – Background Vocals Ainsley Apirana – Lead and Background Vocals Kuru Apirana – Drums Tai Brown – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Leza Corban – Background Vocals Graham Flaws – Bass Steve Garden – Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards Dallas Graham – Keyboards John Misky – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Pepe Nahu – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Stuart Pearce – Keyboards Donna Tai Rakena – Flute, Background Vocals Jay Tamati – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Ray Totorewa – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
Keith is an artist from South Africa and while this is his only solo album it dies not represent his contribution to the music industry. In 1993 he received a Grammy Nomination for the album “Heat, Dust and Dreams” while he was in the group Johnny Clegg and Savuka. He has also been responsible for a plethora of film scores throughout the 2000’s. As for this album it is a conceptual jazz album with only 4 tracks. I’m not really too sure this is a CCM album as it’s instrumental but it was released on Refuge records and that’s how I found it. The album isn’t my style but it is very well done and if you like Jazz fusion conceptual music this is the one for you.
Tracklist 1 – Alpha I – 3:32 2 – Alpha II – 7:42 3 – Alpha III – 12:06 4 – Omega – 18:48
Credits Bass – Denny Lalouette Drums – Kendall Kay Guitar – Joe Willis Percussion – Romeo Avelino Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Oberheim Obxa], Flute, Composed By, Orchestrated By, Conductor, Producer – Keith Hutchinson Soprano Saxophone – Chris Vernon Strings [Lead] – Jurgen Schwietering Trombone – John Davis, Mark Seldon, Pat Bertram, René Laanen, Steve Hurlin Trumpet – Billy Kerker, Hansel Von Brüggen, Robin Finley
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Universal Studios, Johannesburg
Bride were originally known as Matrix and actually recorded 4 demos using that name. They got their break when they were booked to open for Daniel Band in Pottstown, PA. Apparently there were executives from Refuge records at the show and they subsequently signed the band to their new metal sub label, Pure Metal records. The band went into the studio with a budget of $2500 and it shows. The album has a very thin production but fans if Bride cite this as one of the reasons they love this album. I’m actually a little surprised that Refuge didn’t throw some money at them and give them a producer. While I love Refuge they made some very questionable business decisions during their existence. The album is a little darker than their subsequent work that they were better known for. The real star of the album is Dale Thompson’s guitar work which is some of the best in the industry and we also got a little introduction to Dale’s excellent vocal abilities coming on subsequent albums.
Tracklist 1 – Evil That Men Do – 3:38 2 – Now He Is Gone – 3:50 3 – Fly Away – 4:12 4 – Forever In Darkness – 3:44 5 – Follow Your Heart – 4:29 6 – Show No Mercy – 3:37 7 – I Will Be With You – 4:29 8 – Thunder In The City – 5:53 9 – No Matter The Price – 4:19 10 – The First Will Be Last – 4:07
Credits Bride – Producer, Arranger Gary Barnes – Background Vocals Howell Gano – Background Vocals Scott Hall – Songwriter, Bass Steve Osborne – Lead Guitar David Pitt – Background Vocals Stephan Rolland – Drums Billy Sutherland – Guitar Special Effects, Voice Box Dale Thompson – Vocals Michelle Thompson – Background Vocals Sharon Thompson – Background Vocals Troy Thompson – Songwriter, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Piano, Violin Eric Tripton – Lead Guitar
I guess it’s rather silly to point out that this is a live album from Don Francisco but I have to open the paragraph some way. It was recorded at the Huffman Assembly of God in Birmingham, AL on September 20, 1982 and released later that year. At this point in his career Don was established as THE folk artist of CCM music. At the time this album came out I was not a big fan of folk music but I liked this album. Let that be a testament to how good it is. In fact I would say it is probably one of the best live albums of the 80’s regardless of style. I can honestly say that I would have loved to have seen him live as it sounds like it was a really good show. Years later I have listened to most of his albums now and most of the versions he did live are the best versions of these songs.
Tracklist 1 – Since I Met Him I Can See – 3:24 2 – Got To Tell Somebody – 5:11 3 – Jesus Is The Lord Of The Way I Feel – 2:34 4 – Steeple Song – 3:01 5 – I’ll Never Let Go Of Your Hand – 3:28 6 – Adam – 4:30 7 – I Don’t Care Where You’ve Been Sleeping – 3:12 8 – Give Your Heart A Home – 3:52 9 – Too Small A Price – 5:52 10 – Christmas Song – 2:44 11 – Come And Follow Me – 4:10 12 – I Could Never Promise You – 3:03 13 – Love Is Not A Feeling – 1:57 14 – Beautiful To Me – 4:22 15 – The Package – 3:08 16 – Jehoshaphat – 3:01 17 – Closer To Jesus – 3:22 18 – He’s Alive – 4:50
Credits Art Direction, Design – Bill Barnes, Randy Martin Backing Vocals – Duann Hall, Gary Dunham Bass, Acoustic Guitar – Louie Hall Engineer – Noah White Executive-Producer – Michael B. Suttle Keyboards – Gary Dunham Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Don Francisco Mastered By – Ken Perry Mixed By [Remixed By] – Louie Hall Photography By – Dean Dixon Producer – Don Francisco, Louie Hall
Companies, etc. Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc. Mixed At – Spectrum Recording Studios, Birmingham, AL Mastered At – Masterfonics
Larry was a member of Grinderswitch through the 70’s and early 80s. They were a southern rock band and toured with all the big names of the style and time. Larry left the band in the mid 80’s and started his solo career. This is his first solo album. Larry brought a sound to CCM music that was needed in the period. Yes their were some blues bands but not of this caliber. Quite frankly this album is as good as anything in the secular market at the time. Playing harmonica on the album is Buddy Greene who is probably second only to Darrell Mansfield as a harmonica player. The rest of the band is a who’s who of some of the best studio musicians in the CCM genre of the time. I am really surprised at how good they were at the blues as none of them had actually recorded in that style that I can find any way. This album does a rather odd track though. The intro end exit track “Sanctified Blues” is exactly the same song but with the stereo tracks reversed. Have to admit that’s a first.
Tracklist 1 – Sanctified Blues – 1:30 2 – Lost Ship – 3:21 3 – Love Ain’t What You Say – 2:56 4 – Cool Rain – 3:34 5 – I Gave Jesus My Blues – 4:20 6 – Shuffle On Home – 2:49 7 – One Night – 3:31 8 – Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven – 3:38 9 – Friend In Jesus – 4:34 10 – Sanctified Blues – 1:30
Credits Art Direction – Michael Pierce Artwork [Handwriting] – Michael Pierce Backing Vocals – Ava Aldridge, D. Bergen White, Cindy Richardson, Dorothy Moore, Lisa Silver, Wendy Suits Bass – David Hood, Ed Cain, Michael Joyce, Michael Rhodes Design Concept [Album Cover Concept] – Gary F. Montgomery, Michael Pierce Drums – Eddie Bayers, James Stroud, Roger Hawkins, Willie Smith Engineer – Pat McMakin, Paul Hornsby, Steve Melton Executive-Producer – Gary F. Montgomery Guitar – Larry Byrom, Steve Gibson Harmonica – Buddy Greene Horns – Charles Rose, Don Sheffield, Harvey Thompson, Jim Horn Keyboards – Kenny Smith, Mitch Humphries, Randy McCormick Lead Guitar – Jimmy Nalls, Larry Byrom, Larry Howard Lead Vocals – Larry Howard Piano – Randy McCormick Producer – Bucky Jones, Gary F. Montgomery, Larry Howard, Pat McMakin Rhythm Guitar – Jimmy Nalls, Larry Byrom, Larry Howard Saxophone – Elbert Durham, Jim Horn, Ronnie Eades Slide Guitar – Jimmy Nalls Synthesizer – Randy McCormick Vocals – Bob Bailey, John Whittaker, Larry Howard, Robin Johnson
Roots is Jan’s 3rd solo album and was released in the U.S. by Refuge Records. Jan was far better known in Scandinavia than in North America but he deserved to be better known in North America. This album is a straight up Rock & Roll album and Hard Rock albums were what I was listening to at the time. Unfortunately I grew up in Canada where we struggled to hear the complete catalogue of U.S. artists never mind foreign acts. Anyway, I this this is Jan’s best album and I wish so much I had heard it back in the 80’s. At least I have the opportunity to enjoy it now.
Tracklist 1 – I Can’t Fly – 3:11 2 – How Do You Know – 3:21 3 – That’s Why I Long For Tomorrow – 3:49 4 – So Good To Be Me – 3:32 5 – And The Show Goes On – 4:37 6 – Lie Is Not Truth – 4:02 7 – Looking For You – 3:10 8 – For Real – 4:11 9 – Lighthouse – 3:40 10 – I’m Going Home – 3:27
Credits Bass – Dave Markee , Rick Cua Drums – David Dix, Henry Spinetti Executive-Producer – John Pac Guitar – Freddie Salem, Norman Barratt Photography By – Jan Pethrus Producer – Jan Groth, Ray Nenow Written-By – Jan Groth
Companies, etc. Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
This album is very tough for me. As readers of the original blog can attest, the Nashville music machine that put out very similar sounding, country infused, safe pop music was never in my wheelhouse. For decades the same singers, songwriters, record companies would put out similar sounding albums and then take home armfuls of Dove Awards. It was an industry that gave the “Rap Dove Award” to Carman! So, as a result, I came to this album very , very late. The first few Steven Curtis Chapman albums were so wrapped up in that world, that when “The Great Adventure” was released I just ignored it. I knew that hits that were incessantly on Christian radio and as a record representative that sold accompaniment cassettes, I knew virtually every song. But they meant very little to me. It wasn’t until I began the painstaking process of creating the original “Top 500” blog that I decided to familiarize myself with the album and tried to listen with new ears. It still did not make the original blog, but I did gain a higher level of respect for the singer/songwriter himself. I then saw Chapman in a solo acoustic concert several years ago where he performed several of the songs from this album with just his guitar, and even acapella. I started to discover the songs behind the processed production and my appreciation grew even more. But albums have to be judged according to their time and the way they were produced. And so the album is included here. But let’s be honest upfront…”Got to Be True” is just an awful, awful song! Most are very, very familiar with the bigger hits from the album like the title track, “Where We Belong,” and “Go There With You.” All are deserving of their success and I struggle to really be too critical here. For me the John Mellencamp ( or was he Cougar then?) inspired “That’s Paradise” is the stand out cut on the album. If Chapman only didn’t have such a pleasant voice, it could have been a mainstream radio single. Chapman also really shines here and throughout his career when accompanied by a more simple, sparse production as heard on “Don’t Let the Fire Die.” Chapman excels on simple ballads, especially when they are more focused on relational issues. “Maria” falls into the same category. Even this song has just too much going on musically. A stripped down acoustic guitar and nothing else would have been plenty. “Hearts Cry” is the very best example of what I am referring. No strings needed! With “The Great Adventure” Chapman truly broke as an artist. He had quite a bit of previous success, but this album was certified gold pretty quickly and brought previous albums along with it. It was from this point that the Gospel Music Association just backed up the Dove Award delivery truck to the Chapman estate annually. This isn’t the last album to be discussed here, but it is the one that fit the most securely in the Nashville Music Machine category, but worthy or more.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Prologue – 2:37 2 – The Great Adventure – 4:35 3 – Where We Belong – 4:19 4 – Go There With You – 5:21 5 – That’s Paradise – 4:59 6 – Don’t Let The Fire Die – 4:48 7 – Got To B Tru – 4:18 8 – Walk With The Wise – 4:34 9 – Maria – 5:01 10 – Still Called Today – 6:00 11 – Heart’s Cry – 5:10
Credits Accordion – Jo-El Sonnier Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Steven Curtis Chapman Arranged By [Strings, Brass], Conductor – Don Wyrtzen, J.A.C. Redford Backing Vocals – Brent Lamb, Chris Rodriguez, Herb Chapman, Kip Raines, Lionel Cartwright, Mark Heimermann, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman, Trace Balin Backing Vocals [Yells] – Chad Ballantyne, Chris Moore, Herb Chapman, James Isaac Elliott, Jason Cole, Marty Funderburk, Phil Naish, Steve Charles, Steven Curtis Chapman, Todd Robbins Bass – Jackie Street Contractor [Orchestra] – Carl Gorodetzky Design – Carol Bobolts, Red Herring Design Dobro – Scott Sanders Drum Programming – Mark Hammond Drums – Paul Leim Engineer – Ronnie Brookshire Engineer [Additional] – Carry Summers, Patrick Kelly, Steve Bishir Engineer [Assistant] – Carry Summers, John Kunz, Patrick Kelly, Todd Robbins Executive-Producer – Peter York Guitar – Dann Huff, Jerry McPherson Keyboards – Phil Naish Lap Steel Guitar, Dobro [Additional] – Rusty Young Mixed By – Bill Deaton, Ronnie Brookshire Orchestra – The Nashville String Machine Photography By – Frank W. Ockenfels Piano – Cheryl Rogers Producer – Phil Naish Rap, Guest – Toby McKeehan Soprano Saxophone – Mark Douthit Vocals [Duet] – BeBe Winans
