This “gem” of an album showed up in 1990 and was released on Star Song records with much mystery. As far as I can tell we still don’t know who actually did this album. They used monikers and don’t ever appear to have taken credit for it. Personally I wouldn’t have taken credit either but I do not like Rap music. Apparently the track “I Can Sing Higher” is making fun of Sandi Patti which at least shows a good sense of humour, Anyway here it is, an 80’s style Rap album in the CCM music genre.
Tracklist 1 – Fresh Fish – 4:20 2 – Back In A Big Way – 3:53 3 – Step Off (The Stage) – 3:36 4 – Say What? – 2:40 5 – Brother-Brother – 5:03 6 – I Can Sing Higher – 4:42 7 – VG Veggies – 3:32 8 – We’re Stupid – 3:00 9 – Johnny Fencerider – 4:28
Credits Art Direction – Toni Thigpen Design, Illustration – Tufts Design Studio Mastered By – Brian Gardner Performer – TMOK (tracks: A5, B3), The Dean Producer – Mix Master Mighty White Recorded By, Mixed By – M.M.M.W. Vocals [Guest] – Tiny Tina (tracks: A2, A5) Written-By – Mighty White*, The Dean
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Star Song Copyright (c) – Star Song Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution Recorded At – Queen Bee Studios Mixed At – Queen Bee Studios Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering Copyright (c) – Ariose Music Copyright (c) – Shepherd’s Fold Music
To say this was a successful album would be an understatement. Bryan squeezed 3 number 1 singles off this album. “We All Need”, “Blessed Are The Tears”, and “I Love You With My Life” all made it to number 1. I was a little surprised there wasn’t a fourth single that charted lower but nope. Don’t know that there’s another album with 3 #1’s and nothing lower. “I Love You With My Life” is actually a cover (is it really a cover when you performed it in the first place) from the 1979 Sweet Comfort Band album Breakin’ The Ice. This song actually made myself ask myself what if SCB actually had kept going and gone in the direction Bryan was headed. There was such great talent in the band that I would have far preferred hearing them back Bryan. That said I don’t want to take away anything from Bryan on this album. It really was the best album of 1990.
Tracklist 1 – Sunday Go To Meetin’ – 4:23 2 – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Now – 4:05 3 – Leave Your Light On (Hopeless Moon) – 4:28 4 – We All Need – 3:27 5 – Lunatic Friend – 4:24 6 – All Is Forgiven – 4:21 7 – Puttin’ In The Good Word – 4:23 8 – Walkin’ – 4:12 9 – Mr. Bailey’s Daughter – 4:03 10 – Blessed Are The Tears – 4:30 11 – I Love You With My Life – 4:40
Credits Bass – John Pierce, Nathan East Brass – Dan Higgins, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Larry Williams Composed By – Bryan Duncan Drums – Jeff Porcaro Executive-Producer – Tom Willett Guitar – Dan Lee, Michael Hodges, Tim Pierce Keyboards – Alan Pasqua, Jerry Peters, John Van Tongeren, Michael Omartian, Peter Wolf, Randy Kerber Mastered By – Steve Hall Mixed By – Csaba Petocz, Jeremy Smith Percussion – Dan Posthuma, Jeff Porcaro, Rafael Pidilla*, Sandra Crouch Producer – Dan Posthuma Saxophone [Solo] – Dave Boruff
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Manufactured By – Word, Inc. Mastered At – Future Disc
On November 16th, 1994 Reverend Dan Smith died. He was 84 years old. To most of the world, including the world of CCM, the passing went by without much of an acknowledgement. But for 80 of his 84 years, Smith was a blues crooning, harmonica blasting, Gospel/folk, street preaching treasure. I challenge people to try to listen to this amazing album with being moved emotionally or spiritually. His life was filled with difficulties, trials and pain. Born in Alabama under Jim Crow laws he faced racism, depression and financial hardship. He struggled to educate himself while living the life of southern sharecroppers. He eventually landed a decent paying job the 1940’s, but was blinded in an industrial accident. All the while he played, sand and preached anywhere and everywhere. He even joined Pete Seeger in the fight to clean up the Hudson River. But despite all that, it is hard not to feel, sense, experience the sheer joy he expresses in every note. His love for his Savior is so obvious it drips from every note. His harmonica playing was very influential in the 60’s folk and blues world. The album being discussed here was recorded intermittently at his home as he was in poor health. The album was produced by Buddy Miller and features Miller’s wife and CCM icon, Julie Miller along with Victoria Williams and Bryan Duncan. Almost 30 years after it’s unheralded release and over 25 years since Smith’s death this masterpiece reminds us not only of a great musician, preacher, singer, but hopefully reminds of a long and treasured tradition of this truly American musical expression. If you do not own this amazing album…just find it!
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – God’s Radar – 3:23 2 – Just Keep Goin’ On – 2:48 3 – Introduction – 0:59 4 – I’ve Never Been To Seminary, But I’ve Been To Calvary – 4:38 5 – I Walk By Faith – 3:24 6 – To Another Room – 4:51 7 – Dan Speaks – 0:15 8 – It Takes God To Build A Home – 3:37 9 – When Your Time Comes To Die – 2:52 10 – Jesus Knows My Name – 4:06 11 – This Is The Lord’s House – 3:14 12 – Down Through The Years (Testimony) – 8:47
Credits Acoustic Bass – Denny Croy Acoustic Guitar – George Ward Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass – Buddy Miller Backing Vocals – Dexter Dickerson, Julie Miller, King Cotton, Mark Heard, Victoria Williams, Willie Greene Jr. Dobro, Mandolin, Fiddle, Banjo – Dennis Caplinger Drums – Scott Babcock Mastered By – Doug Doyle Organ [Hammond], Piano – John Andrew Schreiner Percussion – Steve Hindalong Producer – John Flynn Producer, Mixed By – Buddy Miller Resonator Guitar – Michael Hackanson-Stacy Vocals [Duet] – Bryan Duncan Vocals, Harmonica – Rev. Dan J. Smith Written-By – Rev. Dan J. Smith
Companies, etc. Manufactured By – Word, Inc. Distributed By – Word, Inc. Made By – JVC
Leon recorded this album in 82 or 83 while on tour to support his “I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You” release. It includes most of his big hits up to this point along with renditions of Amazing Grace and This Is The Day. Strangely Leon played the entire concert by himself using backing tracks of Bass and Drums recorded by himself earlier. I found this rather odd and was wondering if it was a tad egotistical but I decided in the end that it was simply a money decision. Normally of course you’d have to pay a support band for the tour as well as their expenses. Doing every thing yourself avoids this splitting and additional costs. Pretty smart financial move but I would think it would have hurt the live experience. If it did you can not tell from the recording. The fans are quite into the concert and it does sound like it was a great show.
Tracklist 1 – Born Again – 5:04 2 – Flesh Of My Flesh – 3:02 3 – Dance Children Dance – 6:46 4 – Amazing Grace – 1:55 5 – Don’t Give In – 4:36 6 – Star Of The Morning – 4:02 7 – Cornerstone – 4:05 8 – Visions (Talk) – 8:00 9 – We Must Believe – 6:17 10 – This Is The Day – 4:46 11 – Go – 5:15
Credits Design, Layout – Dennis Hill Engineer – Skip Konte Engineer [Assistant] – Biff Vincent Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Photography By – Roger Hanlon Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Bass, Drums – Leon Patillo Producer – Leon Patillo, Skip Konte Programmed By [Horns, Strings, Percussion] – Leon Patillo Vocals – Leon Patillo
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Mixed At – Front Page Studio, Costa Mesa, CA Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △26047
This is one of the odder releases I’ve stumbled across while researching Christian Metal music. This album was only released in Australia though it was reissued in Greece in 2020. Even though it was released in 1990 it was only issued on Vinyl with only 1000 copies printed. The album is a self release gatefold with the lyrics on the inside. I was told they were a thrash band so I prepared myself for that horror when I sat down to listen to the album. Instead I found a project as opposed to an album with several of the tracks having a progressive feel. At best I would describe the thrash tracks as thrash lite. It is actually quite a bearable album and I admit that there are a couple really good tracks here. Remember I detest thrash so this is saying a lot. I was also delighted to hear a female vocalist on a “thrash” album. This is a fascinating project and I congratulate the band on a job well done. Again not my style but really this is a pretty good album.
Tracklist 1 – The Light Is Struck – 2:29 2 – Heavy And Loud – 4:37 3 – Sinner – 4:07 4 – Transmuter – 4:24 5 – Magician – 5:18 6 – Metallic Frenzy – 6:53 7 – Apocalypse Riders – 5:07 8 – Burn In Hell – 5:36 9 – The Darkness Splits – 0:39
Credits Mick Johnson – Bass Scott Cooper – Drums Adam Johnson – Guitars Craig Vine – Guitars Cindy Greenwood – Vocals
Scott’s sixth studio album strongly leans to the Worship music genre. Not saying this is a bad thing it’s just where Scott positioned himself in the industry. I’ll be the first to admit I never listened to his work back in the 80’s but he was still well known to me and my circle of friends. It’s strange that wile we would never listen to artists like Scott we always had a strong respect for what he did. Let’s remember that it was guys like him that made the money for the labels so they could experiment with the artists that I liked and wanted to listen to. This album wasn’t one of his most successful with only two charting singles. “Learning To Live Like Jesus” made it to #6 and “This Little Child” made it to #20. Certainly a good album by good metrics but for Scott is wasn’t his usual dominance of the charts. Now that’s it’s years later and I am more able to recognize good music whether I like it or not I do recognize that Scott was probably one of the best artists of the period. While his vocals weren’t the best his songwriting was top notch.
Tracklist 1 – Learning To Live Like Jesus – 3:38 2 – Someone’s Got A Hold Of Me – 3:32 3 – This Little Child – 5:46 4 – The Lord’s Prayer – 2:58 5 – Your Word – 3:41 6 – Fall On Me – 3:36 7 – My Treasure – 4:51 8 – Out On A Limb – 4:09 9 – Close To You – 4:12 10 – Keep The Son In Your Eyes – 3:06
Credits Jonathan David Brown – Engineer Scott Wesley Brown – Guitars, Vocals Pete Christleib – Sax Dan Collins – Producer, Background Vocals Keith Edwards – Drums Leon Gaer – Bass Bruce Hibbard – Songwriter Hadley Hockensmith – Guitars Alex McDougall – Percussion Larry Muhoberac – Keyboards Chip Orlando – Engineer Jamie Owens-Collins – Background Vocals Jack Joseph Puig – Engineer Billy Walker – Guitars
The UK’s Malcolm & Alwyn, the Simon and Garfunkle of Christian music, return with their second album that was released in both the UK and the US. Their first album sold well and developed a following for this duo and this album continues the sound from their first album but is a little more upbeat. Personally I came to the Malcolm & Alwyn train late after I heard Alwyn doing work with Larry Norman in the 80’s. Luckily I got caught up on their work and while I think their live work is their best this album is certainly a must listen to. In 1999 Footstep Records reissued this album on CD and added 3 bonus Live tracks which we have included.
Tracklist 1 – I Feel Fine – 3:48 2 – I Love You More Today Than Yesterday – 4:15 3 – Spaceman – 4:15 4 – Someone To Sing To – 2:21 5 – I’ll Carry You Through – 3:47 6 – Buried Alive – 3:27 7 – Stay With Me – 3:27 8 – I Love – 3:50 9 – Wildwall – 2:48 10 – England Goodbye – 5:18 CD Bonus Tracks 11 – I Feel Fine – 4:29 12 – Morning Star – 3:21 13 – Fool’s Wisdom – 2:54
Credits Acoustic Guitar – James Litherland, Roger Hand Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals – Alwyn Wall Arranged By [Brass] – Roger Ball Arranged By, Co-producer – Rod Edwards Arranged By, Producer – Jon Miller, Roger Hand Autoharp, Lead Vocals – Malcolm Wild Backing Vocals – Rod Edwards, Roger Hand Bass – Johnny Gustafson Drums – Mike Giles Electric Guitar – Davy Johnson, James Litherland Engineer – Denny Bridges Engineer [Remix] – Bill Price, Denny Bridges Keyboards – Rod Edwards Music By [Additional] – Rod Edwards, Roger Hand Saxophone – Malcolm Duncan, Roger Ball Sleeve – Paul Welti Trombone – Chris Pyne Trumpet – Henry Lowther Written-By, Composed By – Alwyn Wall, Malcolm Wild
Companies, etc. Published By – Thankyou Music Recorded At – Redan Recorders
This is the third album from Canadian artist Arlen Salte. Again it appears that it was only released in Canada which absolutely astonishes me as it should have had a worldwide release it’s that good. This is another great Rock Pop album with tons of good catch lines and riffs. I have to admit that I just don’t understand how Arlen wasn’t widely known for his work. I hear music here that could have easily charted in secular radio if secular radio wasn’t terrified of Christian music in the day. Unfortunately I am unable to find a credits list for this album other than it was produced by Roy Salmond who produced so many great Canadian acts. Arlen’s credits are usually a who’s who of Canadian Christian artists and I’m sure it was the same for this album.
Tracklist 1 – Love Won’t Walk Away – 4:07 2 – Make No Mistake – 3:45 3 – Here I Stand – 2:50 4 – Strength To Be Weak – 4:00 5 – Heaven Is My Home – 4:33 6 – God Loves – 3:49 7 – Someone’s Waiting – 3:46 8 – Doctor Of My Soul – 3:42 9 – I Know – 4:49 10 – Two Thousand Years – 6:21 11 – Touch Our Hearts – 4:09
Released just as the rage of male duo pop acts was waning, Limpic and Rayburn’s sophomore and final release as a duo hit the CCM marketplace. Bridging the gap of Jesus Music and CCM, Gerry Limpic and Mark Rayburn, created a record that both pointed back to the simplistic sounds and messages of acoustic Jesus Music while also pointed forward toward Gerry Limpic’s future solo work. Immediately recognizable as a late 70’s folk/pop duo replete with wide collars and leisure suits, the duo would fit in quite nicely with Loggins & Messina and England Dan & John Ford Coley. The music contained in this now classic is immediately likable and recognizable. Christian radio was very favorable to “Good News,” “Crossfire” and the popular wedding song, “Time for Joy.” The latter would become a very good seller in the fledgling accompaniment track industry and a top seller for sheet music. Limpic was the primary songwriter and would soon leave to pursue a solo career. Gerry got his start in music as a member of the band, The Random Sample, along with his brother Ted. The Random Sample recorded on Tempo Records, the contemporary arm of Impact Records in the early to mid 70’s. Side two is a bit more progressive musically with “Coming Soon” and the album’s closer, “How Long.” The standout, though, is the passion play song, “Mary’s Song (He is Alive).” A slow building story song, the first chorus is a powerful admission that many of us would be equally guilty of joining the crowd calling for Christ’s crucifixion. The final chorus is equally powerful, but the words are changed to declare the resurrection. A great song that should have been an Easter classic, but I honestly never recall anyone performing it. For fans of 70’s acoustic rock with the California country vibe (Poco, Eagles) mixed with radio friendly ballads, this one has the markings of a regular listen.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Crossfire – 3:40 2 – Mr. Good News – 3:21 3 – Domino – 4:19 4 – Time For Joy – 2:50 5 – Guide My Steps – 2:44 6 – Mary’s Song (He Is Alive) – 5:17 7 – Coming Soon – 3:48 8 – Love Songs (To the Father) – 3:41 9 – How Long – 5:35
Credits Bass – Dave Pollard Design, Illustration – Craig McNair Wilson Drums – Semaja Photography By – John Jordan Piano – Jim Crow Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals – Gerry Limpic, Mark Rayburn Producer, Orchestrated By, Engineer, Mixed By, Mastered By – Ron Compton
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Produced For – Home Free Productions Recorded At – Fanfare Studios, El Cajon, California
Though this was Steve’s first solo album he wasn’t new to the music scene. He had been in the band Butler in the 70’s who had one album. They were the go to opening act for bands touring through New Zealand in the early 70’s. Steve played gospel music through the earl 80’s and went full time in 1987. In 1989 he released this album. It was not released outside of New Zealand which I’m not surprised at as I really don’t think it’s that good. That said his second album is fantastic and we’ll be uploading it soon. Anyway this album has a bit of a blues style that Steve would perfect on his next album. I don’t want to be too negative about this album however as it is relatively good and it’s great to hear something from a music market I didn’t even know existed.
Tracklist 1 – Something Beautiful – 4:38 2 – The Ant Song – 5:50 3 – Cross Over – 3:56 4 – Of All The Wonders – 1:09 5 – Living Sacrifice – 4:40 6 – Cast Your Cares – 7:14 7 – Ruth’s Song – 3:02 8 – David’s Theme – 3:22 9 – Psalm 61 – 6:08
Credits Backing Vocals – Donna Tairakena, Graham Flaws, Jacobien Birch, Jenny Newbery, Kit Grenon Bass – Graham Flaws Drums – Wally Tairakena Flute – Donna Tairakena Guitar – Kit Grenon Keyboards – Donna Tairakena, Stephen Bell-Booth Lead Vocals – Ainsley Apirana Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Steve Apirana Saxophone – Graham Wilkinson
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Tandem Studios Mastered At – Marmalade Studios Distributed By – Someone Up There Records
