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
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
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
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
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.
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
