Category: Albums

Ken Medema – Kingdom In The Streets – 1980

To say Ken was a music generator in the CCM industry is an understatement. He had 7 albums in the 70’s and 5 albums in the 80’s. This album came out in 1980. The problem with a performer putting out this many albums is that they get lost due to volume. This however was one of Ken’s best 80’s albums. Strangely over a career of more than 20 albums Ken never had a CCM charting single. Now this is silly as his style is exactly what CCM was looking for on their charts. How he never had a charting single is completely beyond me but I think we can rest assured there was more to the story. CCM was well known to have manipulate their charts and if you need any proof, Ken is the proof. Anyway this is a great upbeat worship album so if that is your style and no one ever suggested you listen to this album be sure to give a listen now.

Tracklist
1 – Don’t Tell Me – 4:26
2 – Is There A Place For Dreaming? – 5:58
3 – Those Love Songs – 3:21
4 – I Saw You – 4:29
5 – Kingdom In The Streets – 6:59
6 – Barn Builder – 3:20
7 – By The Waters Of Luxury – 4:39
8 – Corner Drugstore Jesus – 6:04

Credits
Arranged By – Bill Pursell,
Engineer – Brian Tankersley, Paul Mills, Phil York
Mastered By – Eric Tomlinson, John Mayfield
Producer – Kurt Kaiser
Words By, Music By – Jane Medema
Words By, Music By, Sleeve Notes – Ken Medema

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Rivendell Sound Recorders
Recorded At – Sumet Sound Studios
Recorded At – Autumn Sound Studios
Mastered At – Sumet Sound Studios
Mastered At – Abbey Road Studios
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse
Made By – Garrod & Lofthouse

Various – Maranatha! Six A Family Portrait – 1977

This is the sixth in the series of well known easy listening Maranatha! Music samplers. Seems strange now to see Daniel Amos and Sweet Comfort (Band) on a sampler like this. Below are the original albums with the tracks.

1 – Karen Lafferty – Beautiful Day – Sweet Communion
2 – Bruce Herring – Perfect Will – Unreleased
3 – Sweet Comfort – Somebody Loves You – Sweet Comfort
4 – Aslan – Who Loves The Lonely – Unreleased
5 – Erick Nelson – He Gave Me Love – The Misfit
6 – Parable – The Plain Truth – Illustrations
7 – Bethlehem – Desert Songs – Bethlehem
8 – Becky Ugartechea – Nightengale – Unreleased
9 – Daniel Amos – Father’s Arms – Shotgun Angel
10 – Bob & Joy Cull – Sail Away – Windborne

Tracklist
1 – Karen Lafferty – Beautiful Day – 4:21
2 – Bruce Herring – Perfect Will – 3:51
3 – Sweet Comfort – Somebody Loves You – 3:01
4 – Aslan – Who Loves The Lonely – 3:54
5 – Erick Nelson – He Gave Me Love – 3:55
6 – Parable – The Plain Truth – 3:33
7 – Bethlehem – Desert Songs – 3:40
8 – Becky Ugartechea – Nightengale – 3:53
9 – Daniel Amos – Father’s Arms – 4:23
10 – Bob & Joy Cull – Sail Away – 4:15

Companies, etc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music

Norman Barratt – Barratt – 1988

This is the only true solo album from Norman Barratt which I found surprising considering how many albums he has in one form or another. The album highlights his guitar skills throughout and he also put in part time duty producing the album. Norman only signed on 2 artists to help with the album, Mark Olly on drums, and Steve Boyce on keyboards. While the album only has 8 tracks you get your money’s worth because there isn’t a track shorter that 4:30. While the album was only released in Europe in 1988 Refuge Records did a deal to release it in the U.S. in 1991.

Tracklist
1 – The Last Night – 5:20
2 – I Know Where You Are – 4:24
3 – I Can See It In Your Eyes – 5:01
4 – How I Know – 6:16
5 – Automatic Life – 5:36
6 – Still Waitin’ – 4:32
7 – When The Night Comes – 4:48
8 – Sing A New Song – 5:23

Credits
Cover [Cover Design] – Ron Bryant-Funnell
Engineer [Assistant] – Bob Little, Damon Gough
Guitar, Backing Vocals, Producer, Lead Vocals, Mixed By, Engineer [Assistant], Programmed By [Programming], Written-By – Norman Barratt
Keyboards, Producer, Mixed By, Engineer, Programmed By [Programming] – Steve Boyce-Buckley
Management – Bill Hampson
Percussion [Additional] – Mark Olly
Photography By – Johan Van Loo
Producer [Vocals Produced By] – Trevor Taylor (tracks: 4)
Software Instrument [Guitar f.x. And Programs Supplied By] – Neil Costello
Technician [Technical Assistant] – Stephen Naughton

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Edge Records
Copyright © – Edge Records
Licensed From – Kingsway Publications Ltd.
Distributed By – Kingsway Publications Ltd.
Made By – MPO
Recorded At – Square One Studios
Mixed At – Square One Studios
Published By – Thankyou Music

Scott Roley – Brother To Brother – 1986

This is the final album from Scott in the 80’s and it was also his most successful. The track “Brother to Brother”, a duet with Michael Card, made it to #22 and while there wasn’t a second single there were several tracks that could have in my opinion. The album was produced by David Eastman and British recording star Melanie sang several background vocals. Undoubtedly the album was popular due to appearances from Michael Card but it is a great stand alone album and Scott should be proud of this one.

Tracklist
1 – Brother to Brother – 3:45
2 – Things We Leave Behind – 3:27
3 – Jesus – 3:45
4 – Road To Heaven – 3:41
5 – Isolation – 4:14
6 – How Could I Answer You – 4:44
7 – Perfect Prayer – 3:20
8 – Suffer The Children – 3:00
9 – Eye To Eye – 3:56
10 – Melody Of Praise – 3:48

Linda Elias – The Meaning of Love – 1991

I first met Linda Elias at the Frontline Records offices some time in 1989 when Brian Tong (VP) and Mike MacLane (Marketing and A&R) asked me to come over and hear a new artist they had just signed. His name was Rick Elias. I was working for the Benson Company (Frontline’s distributor) and had just moved back from a year in the Washington DC area. Over the years I had grown accustomed to going by the office regularly (when working for Maranatha Village) and listening to the newest music. This was different. This time they called me. There must have been something very special about this new signee, Rick Elias. Much will be discussed regarding Rick as time goes on! And there was! It was there I first met Linda. She was one of the kindest people I had met and I instantly enjoyed talking to her and discovered that she was part of the Confessions (Rick’s band) and had this great, melodic pop voice that was very much in tune with what was happening in music at the time. A little Belinda Carlisle and a little Susanna Hoffs with a sweetness to the voice. I was very excited to hear Linda’s solo project, “The Meaning of Love,” and it did not disappoint. Immediately the album kicks off with a Belinda Carlisle like title track. Like most of the album the song was written by Linda and Rick. Most of the album stays within this same lane, except a real standout with “Your’s and Mine,” a duet with her esteemed singer songwriter husband, Rick. This tune should have been a legitimate mainstream radio hit. The juxtaposition of Linda’s sweet, at times lilty voice and Rick’s strained and edgy style worked so well together. The blatant Gospel message, though, most likely would have doomed it. Special kudos to great sax solo by Li’l Stevie Crum. Solid throughout, it unfortunately was the only release for Linda.

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

Tracklist
1 – The Meaning Of Love – 3:38
2 – Don’t Ever Stop – 3:22
3 – Miracle – 3:25
4 – Make My Heart Like Yours – 4:12
5 – My Only One – 3:27
6 – Don’t Take Your Love Away – 4:20
7 – All I Can Do – 4:06
8 – Your’s And Mine – 3:30
9 – Where There’s Love – 3:49
10 – I Believe In You – 3:17

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Rick Elias
Backing Vocals – Dave Jahnsen, Julie Robbins, Linda Elias, Rick Elias
Bass Guitar – Kelly Burns
Design – Lark
Drums – Doug Mathews
Electric Guitar – Glenn Pearce
Engineer – Dave Jahnsen
Executive-Producer – Caesar Kalinowski, Gavin Morkel
Keyboards – Linda Elias, Tim Elias
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Dave Jahnsen, Rick Elias
Photography By – Kevin Break
Piano – Michele Garcia
Producer – Rick Elias
Programmed By [Keyboards], Drum Programming – Tim Elias
Soprano Saxophone – Lil Stevie Crum (tracks: 8)
Vocals – Linda Elias

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Wonderland
Copyright (c) – Wonderland
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – McCrummy Music Studio
Mixed At – Mixing Lab A
Mastered At – Future Disc
Manufactured By – JVC

Tom Franzak – Walk That Talk – 1983

This was Tom’s first album. Myrrh / Word Records took a real chance on Tom as he was actually Catholic and not evangelical. I’m actually quite surprised they took this chance but it was a good idea as he was quite well received. He had been working in secular music with no success and his faith called him to do Christian music. This album is a little heavy on the worship tracks and strangely none of them singled. Several were certainly good enough for the CCM charts but I suspect there was some hesitance due to his denomination. There are a few good pop tracks and I really like “I Know What Love’s About”. CCM needed more songs like this. HIs next album is better and much better known so if you liked his second album, Shadowboxing, you should give this one a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Walk That Talk
2 – The Call
3 – Messiah
4 – (You’re Only As) Sick As Your Secrets
5 – Piece Of The Mountaintop
6 – HGT (Heavy Guilt Trip)
7 – Thank You For Loving Me
8 – I Know What Love’s About
9 – Live On In My Love
10 – Just Passing Through

Priority Paid – Sometimes We Scream – 1990

This was the second release from Priority Paid who were from Sydney Australia. I can’t really find much info on the band but I do know that their first album was very well received in Australia. This album appears to have been self released but was picked up by Round Music Group in the USA and was distributed in the US and Canada. That said the US and Canadian version included several tracks from their first release “Image” that I don’t believe was ever released in North America. This EP has that great late 80’s sound that came out of Australia. I really enjoyed this album and I’m sorry i missed it back in 1990.

Tracklist
1 – Back To The River – 3:29
2 – All Guns Blazing – 3:34
3 – Madame Trousseau – 3:11
4 – Counting The Gains – 5:03
5 – Footsteps In The Sand – 3:21
6 – Shine – 3:39

Credits
Bass, Vocals – O.M. Craig
Drums – R.E.S. Pye
Guitar – I.K.A. McDonald
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – P.D. Downey
Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica – J.R. Burns

Sacrament – Testimony Of Apocalypse – 1989

This was the first studio album from Philadelphia thrash metal band Sacrament. Their demo came out earlier in the year so I am guessing that after hearing the demo R.E.X. Music couldn’t sign them fast enough. Sacrament was one of the earlier Christian thrash bands and developed a large following. Apparently the lyrics are very good but personally I can’t understand them so I don’t know. The album has been reissued several times over the years by Retroactive Records which must be a testament to it’s lasting popularity.

Tracklist
1 – Testimony Of Apocalypse – 4:06
2 – Slave To Sin – 3:32
3 – Hellfire Denied – 3:04
4 – Repentance – 3:10
5 – Valley Of Dry Bones – 3:12
6 – Mortal Agony – 3:12
7 – Conquer Death – 3:10
8 – Absence Of Fear – 4:01
9 – The Risen – 3:58
10 – Blood Bath – 4:07

Credits
Bass – Erik Ney
Drums – Paul Graham
Engineer – Paul Krueger
Guitar – Brian Toy, Mike Didonato
Mixed By – Doug Mann, Paul Krueger
Producer – Doug Mann
Producer [Assistant Pre-producer] – Joe Daub, Kurt Bachman
Vocals – Mike Torone
Written-By – Brian Toy, Erik Ney, Mike Didonato, Mike Torone, Paul Graham

The Wall Brothers – At The Door – 1977

Greg and Kraig Wall are back with their second album. I haven’t heard the first one but have read that this one is huge improvement over their first album. Like many seventies act much of the history of the Wall brothers has been lost to time. They appear to have been quite popular at the time and even had a couple charting CCM singles but not off this album. Anyway what we have here is a mainly easy listening seventies style album. It’s quite well done and the brothers dabbled with a bit of Rock & Roll on the track “Since The Day I Was Born” which has a 70’s funk feel and I find myself wishing there were more tracks like this.

Tracklist
1 – Song Of Joy – 1:47
2 – Little Children – 3:01
3 – I Can Depend On You – 3:56
4 – Since The Day I Was Born – 3:49
5 – Can’t You See – 3:47
6 – Sons Of God – 6:30
7 – Isn’t It A Miracle – 2:48
8 – I Never Knew – 2:58
9 – You And I Are One – 3:01
10 – Now We’re Gone – 4:57

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Greg Wall
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Joe Huffman
Art Direction – Dill Beaty
Backing Vocals – Greg Wall, Kraig Wall, Mitch Humphries, Roni Goss
Bass – Roni Goss
Drums – Buster PhillipsElectric
Electric Guitar – Randy Nelson
Engineer – James Goss, Stan Dacus
Guitar – Joe Huffman
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Photography By – Dill Beaty
Piano – Kraig Wall, Lari Goss
Producer – James W. Goss
Remix – Bob Clark
Rhythm Guitar – James Goss
Steel Guitar – Tommy Dodd

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Greentree Records
Copyright (c) – Greentree Records
Recorded At – Mark Five Studios
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Remixed At – Great Circle Sound

Bryn Haworth – Mountain Mover – 1985

This is the eighth studio album by Bryn Haworth. It follows up to where “Pass It On” left off with a very similar sound and feel. During the release of this album Bryn was actually touring with Cliff Richard and also supplied some tracks for a Gerry Rafferty album. He actually appeared on 5 of Rafferty’s albums. There’s really not that much info out there on this album so this is going to be pretty short. Personally this is probably my Favorite album by him and it’s a must listen to if you’ve liked any of his other work. While researching this album I discovered that Bryn never had a single on the CCM charts. Considering he was pretty popular I sure find this odd.

Tracklist
1 – Mountain Mover – 5:15
2 – Forever In Love – 5:13
3 – Reeling And Rocking – 6:01
4 – Slipping And Falling – 4:29
5 – Land Of The Living – 2:52
6 – Teach Me Your Way – 4:01
7 – Victory Song – 3:31
8 – Making The Most Of What You’ve Got – 3:57
9 – Saturday Morning – 4:16
10 – Nature Of The Man – 7:35

Credits
Bass – Dave Markee
Drums – Henry Spinetti
Engineer – Laurence Burrage
Horns – Mel Collins
Piano, Keyboards – Chris Stainton
Photography – Nigel Skelsey
Saxophone – Mel Collins
Synthesizer – Jeff Hammer
Vocals, Guitar, Producer – Bryn Haworth
Written-By – Bryn Haworth, M. Aikens

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word Records Limited
Recorded At – Chapel Lane Studios