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
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.
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
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
In the summer of 1988, the year I was married and would also move to Maryland to begin working for the Benson Company I attended the Christian Artists event known as Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Somehow I ended up meeting and hanging out with a new artists who was in the midst of recording his debut project. He would perform during the week and I became an instant fan. Less than a year later David Mullen’s debut, “Revival” hit the stores and went beyond anything i had imagined from meeting and spending time with him. That amazing, razor edged and strained voice, the pounding rock and blues were only outdone by some amazing songwriting. Mullen would record only three albums but would win a shelf full of songwriting awards for his wife, Nicole C Mullen (aka Nicole on two Frontline released projects), as well as a who’s who list of CCM artists. When Nicole was an artist on Frontline David came with her to a Frontline sales conference and we played a game of softball. I played shortstop and robbed him of a sure double by stabbing a smoking line drive (that’s just a reminder to David in case he ever reads this). The title track rocks in a real Mellencamp, Americana fashion. His voice gravels through and killer hook in the chorus. “Sho’ Love You” keeps the same theme of true American rock with a phenomenal backing band. “Heaven’s to Betsy” takes the popular phrase and twists the meaning and turned it into a radio hit. The real centerpiece of the album is “Backstreet.” The Springsteenesque song builds from a quiet, nearly whispering introduction into a huge chorus that drives the point home both musically and lyrically. This is Mullen’s best vocal performance on this or any of his albums. the emotional ferocity that builds is the stuff spine tingling is made from. It is not just the voice but the attitude with which the voice derives. Empathetic and prophetic simultaneously where the words both exhort and condemn, mainly because they are to be believed. Later albums would no longer feature the same rock and passion, but for fans of Rick Elias, Carson Cole, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen this album was a sheer delight.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Revival – 5:20 2 – Sho’ Love You – 3:56 3 – Heaven’s To Betsy – 4:34 4 – Backstreet – 4:56 5 – Somebody Say Amen – 3:29 6 – Fallen World – 4:48 7 – Still Here – 2:15 8 – Live So God Can Use You – 3:43 9 – The Blood – 4:46 10 – Hang My Head And Cry – 5:31
Credits A&R [A&R Direction] – Danny Kee, Mark Maxwell Art Direction, Design – Laura LiPuma Backing Vocals – Ashley Cleveland, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton Engineer [Assistant Engineers] – Barry Dixon, Carry Summers, Kevin Twit, Steve Bishir Mastered By – Doug Sax Mixed By – Jeff Balding Mixed By [Assisted By] – Ken Allardyce Musician [The Players], Bass – Tommy Sims (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10) Musician [The Players], Drums, Percussion – Chris McHugh (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10) Musician [The Players], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Dobro – Gordon Kennedy (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10) Musician [The Players], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Slide Guitar – Tom Hemby (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10) Overdubbed By [Overdubs Recorded By] – Bill Deaton, Brent King, Lee Groitzsch, Lynn Fuston, Ronnie Brookshire Photography By – Mark Tucker Producer [Produced By] – Chris McHugh, Mark Gersmehl Recorded By [Additional Tracks Recorded By] – Ronnie Brookshire Recorded By [Basic Tracks Recorded By] – Jeff Balding
Companies, etc. Record Company – Warner Communications Copyright (c) – Warner Bros. Records Inc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Warner Bros. Records Inc. Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing Recorded At – OmniSound Studios Recorded At – Digital Recorders Overdubbed At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN Overdubbed At – OmniSound Studios Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios Mastered At – The Mastering Lab Published By – Word Music Published By – Kutable Music
It was 1989 and time for another Mylon LeFevre album. In the late 80’s Mylon was consistently putting an album out every year. His offering for 1989 was another successful album. It actually received a Grammy nomination for “Best Gospel Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group, Choir Or Chorus” but lost out to Daniel Winans. Having listened to both albums I believe Mylon’s was better but I wasn’t an academy voting member. The album spawned 3 singles with “Jesus, It’s You” making it to #1, “Movin’ On” to #12, and “Love Comes Down” to #22. While touring with Whiteheart in support of this album Mylon suffered a heart attack. Ironically the tour was called the Heart Attack tour, you can’t make up irony like that. It should be noted that he continued touring in the Philippines in 1990 against his doctor’s advice. Doctors stated that Mylon’s previous involvement with alcohol and drugs had a large role in his heart attack. As for the album I think it was toned down a bit from his previous release but still has some good Rock tracks on it.
Tracklist 1 – Big World – 5:11 2 – Love Comes Down – 3:12 3 – Falling In Love – 3:36 4 – Face To Face – 4:21 5 – Jesus, It’s You – 4:26 6 – Turn The Tables On Me – 4:02 7 – Remember The Future – 3:57 8 – Let Love Conquer – 4:15 9 – The Distance – 3:09 10 – Movin’ On – 4:21
Credits Art Direction – Mike McCarty, Toni Thigpen Bass, Vocals – Kenneth Bentley Coordinator [Ministry Coordinator & Booking] – Greg Menza Design, Illustration – Mike McCarty Electronic Drums [Digital Drums], Vocals – Ben Hewitt Engineer – Greg Archilla, Joe Hardy, Ricky Keller Engineer [Stage Sound Engineer] – Dave Wagner Guitar, Vocals – Scott Allen, Trent Argante Keyboards, Vocals – Paul Joseph Lighting [Technician] – Darin Pope Lighting Director [And Lighting Designer] – Michael Murden Management [Road Manager], Engineer [House Sound Engineer] – Clay Spivey Mixed By – Joe Hardy Photography By – Jimmy Collins Producer – Joe Hardy, Mylon LeFevre Programmed By [Fairlight Programming] – Joe Hardy Stage Manager [And Rigging And Pyrotechnics] – “Punky” Higginbotham* Vocals, Guitar – Mylon LeFevre
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Star Song Copyright (c) – Star Song Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution Published By – Angel Band Music Published By – Jerome Olds Music Recorded At – Ardent Studios Recorded At – Southern Tracks Recorded At – Southern Living Studios Mastered At – Masterdisk Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
This is the 4th sketch comedy album from Isaac Air Freight also known as Dan Rupple, Dave Toole, and Larry Watt. These albums were a lot of fun to listen to, and hearing the jokes again, and the great comedic performances is a great trip down memory lane. Still fun to listen to now.
Tracklist 1 – People Say The Darndest Things – 6:20 2 – Leave It To The Squirrellie – 11:43 3 – Time Wasters Looks At TV – 5:37 4 – Pilgrim Race – 4:15 5 – Spec’s O’Keefe In The Case Of The Missing First Love – 18:21
Credits Cover – David Schiedt, Tom Obbema Engineer – David Schober Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Mixed By – David Schober Photography By – Tom Obbema Producer – Dan Rupple, Dave Toole Technician [Sound Technician] – Tom Obbema Written by – Dan Rupple, Dave Toole, Larry Watt
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Word, Inc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Maranatha! Music Copyright (c) – Maranatha! Music Published By – Maranatha! Music Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios
This was the final studio album from Daniel Band. While I prefer Straight Ahead this album probably comes 2nd for me. It is a quite heavy rock/metal album with a variety of sub styles through the album. I was actually a little surprised at the varying styles but it works. Now the one complaint about this album from everyone was the poor production quality. Luckily it was re-released in 2012 with new mastering and a bonus track. This upload is that version. In 1990 Toni Rossi put out a blues album “Love In The City”. In October 2011, the band was awarded the GMA (Gospel Music Association of Canada) Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing their influence on Christian rock. Anyway, if you like your metal with a strong commercial feel this is your kind of album.
Tracklist 1 – Black Or White – 3:02 2 – Sins Of The Heart – 3:22 3 – Hold On – 3:19 4 – Long Time – 5:11 5 – Party In Heaven – 2:58 6 – We Need Love – 3:50 7 – Greedy Little Hands – 3:50 8 – Things Are Changin’ – 4:03 9 – Running Out Of Time – 4:14 2012 Bonus Track 10 – One – 4:23
Credits Cover, Illustration – Mellissa McCarthy Drums – Matt DelDuca Layout – Jeff Spencer Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Tony Rossi Lead Vocals – Tony Rossi (tracks: B4) Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Dan McCabe Mastered By – George Graves Producer – Daniel Band Producer, Engineer – Mark Wright Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards – Bill Findlay
This was Benny’s best forgotten album. When I read the bio’s on Benny it always seems this album is ignored. I’m a little confused by this as it did have 2 charting singles, Legacy made it to #5, and Melody Man made it to #40. Admittedly that’s not a stunning album but a #5 single shouldn’t be ignored. I know at the time it wasn’t ignored but for some reason history has kind of forgotten about it. One thing that was odd about this album is that at the same time Michael Card came out with an album with the same name. Normally I would have considered this a rather large error but in this case Card was on a relatively smaller label and I doubt that either company knew this was going to happen. By the way The Card album was more successful but in my opinion not as good.
Tracklist 1 – Legacy – 4:44 2 – Closer – 4:39 3 – It Took So Long – 4:30 4 – Melody Man – 3:19 5 – Sensitive Heart – 3:28 6 – Caught Away – 5:08 7 – Out Of The Natural – 3:38 8 – Nobody’s Listening – 4:05 9 – Footprints – 3:54 10 – These Things Were Done By You – 1:53
Credits Bass – David Coy Concertmaster – Assa Drori Design – Dennis Hill Drums, Percussion – Paul Bahn Guitar, Vocals – Benny Hester Keyboards – Michael Omartian (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3) Keyboards, Synthesizer – Jeff Lams Lead Guitar – Tony Sena Orchestrated By, Conductor – Michael Omartian Photography By – Aaron Rapoport Producer – Benny Hester, John Guess Recorded By – John Guess
Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Made By – Garrod & Lofthouse
Strangely of all the work Ojo did over the years this is his only solo album. Considering his name is on so many Christian albums I found this surprising. He put this album out while still working with Undercover and I’m a bit surprised he found the time. Also strange is that Michael Knott (Lifesavers) sang lead vocals on the track “The Witch Hunt” which some consider the proper single to the album though “Give Your Children Wisdom” was the official single. A side note that “The Witch Hunt” is not a cover of the Petra song by the same name. Also vocally interesting is that Terry Taylor sang lead on the “He Fell In The Water” track. I guess this is as good a place as any other to state that Ojo has left the faith and is now a Agnostic Professor. sigh Anyway this is a great New Wave album and sounds similar to what Undercover was doing at the time.
Tracklist 1 – (Give Me) A Moment Of Your Time – 5:55 2 – Animals And Trees – 4:30 3 – Sha Nu Mi – 5:20 4 – Box Of Treasures – 4:06 5 – The Fire Rising – 2:46 6 – The Witch Hunt – 3:56 7 – Give Your Children Wisdom – 3:38 8 – The Dance Of The Secret People – 5:04 9 – He Fell In The Water – 3:53 10 – Love In Wonder – 4:43
Credits Art Direction – Norman Fog Artwork By [Drawing] – Benjamin Taylor Backing Vocals – Dave Hackbarth (tracks: 6), Gary Olson (3) (tracks: 3, 6, 7), Gene Eugene (tracks: 2, 9), Inki Svensson (tracks: 1 to 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), Joey-Jon Taylor (Squid) (tracks: 9), Marie McGilvray (tracks: 1, 3, 7, 10), Mark Krischak (tracks: 7), Riki Michele (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 10), Skylar (7) (tracks: 1) Congas – Nathan Alford, Jr. (tracks: 8) Drums [Hand Drums With Joey] – Nathan Alford, Jr. (tracks: 4) Edited By, Mastered By – John Matousek Engineer [2nd Engineer] – Dave Hackbarth, Glenn Holland Engineer [Engineered By] – Gene, Joey Guitar – Gene Eugene (tracks: 9), Greg Lawless (tracks: 1 to 4, 7 to 10), Joey Taylor* (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9) Guitar [Including The Lead] – Marky Schrock (tracks: 6) Percussion [Additional] – Nathan Alford, Jr. Photography By – Brian Ray Recorded By [Congas] – Mike Mierau Shaker, Bells [Jingle Bells], Percussion [Assorted Percussion] – Nathan Alford, Jr. (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 8) Written-By, Arranged By, Producer [Produced By], Performer [Performed By] – Joey Taylor
Companies, etc. Record Company – Broken Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – Brainstorm Artists International Inc. Copyright (c) – Brainstorm Artists International Inc. Manufactured By – Word, Inc. Distributed By – Word, Inc. Recorded At – Neverland Studios Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios Edited At – Hitsville Mastered At – Hitsville Pressed By – Discovery Systems Published By – B-1 Music
