Sharalee – Finally Him, Finally Me – 1980

This is Sharalee’s (Sharalee Lucas Sherman) 5th album. She was completely unknown to me but this is another case of someone who’s genre wasn’t my choice. She actually appeared on a ton of albums in the 70’s including Walt Disney’s Voices of Liberty. She also hosted the 1978 Dove Awards with her husband of the time Jerry Lucas who was a NBA basketball star. As for the album well it’s rather strange. The music has a funk feel but her vocals are completely unsuited to this style. Also strangely there is one country track on the album but this track suits her vocals. The album was produced by John Thompson who was a great producer but I have no idea why he thought this album was good. Continuing the strange of this album, it was re-released a year later on Impact records. Impact did a different much better album cover but otherwise the album was identical. Anyway give it a listen and tell me what you think.

Tracklist
1 – Stand Up And Be Counted – 4:19
2 – Gettin’ Out – 3:12
3 – Welcome Love – 3:45
4 – Even As We Are One – 3:36
5 – Lead Me Home – 3:43
6 – Don’t Give In – 2:55
7 – Open Up My Eyes – 3:15
8 – Glory Forevermore – 4:41
9 – Don’t Look To Me – 2:46
10 – You Mean More To Me – 3:25
11 – Resurrection Power – 3:30

Bob Dylan – Saved – 1980

“Saved” was Bob Dylan’s second “born again” album. This series, starting with “Slow Train Coming” in 1979, stretches up to the disputed territory of “Infidels” in 1983. It’s a pretty short period of Bob history but a pivotal one that serves as one of the Great Walls of Before and After in his career.

It starts out with a traditional country gospel number, A Satisfied Mind, that was sung by a lot of cowboys before Bob got his hands on it. Maybe this is a leftover influence from his Nashville Skyline or other previous endeavours. Porter Wagoner had a pretty good run with it in 1957.

There is no country music on this album though. The opening track is a strained, rock influenced plea that begs you to listen to the whole album. There are a lot of soul-styled tracks, such as Saved, Solid Rock, and Pressing On. It’s also a lot of jangly piano rock, recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, Alabama.

One of the great mysteries of Bob’s born again albums is how earnest they all are. Every bit is on the nose and every lyric so convincing you can’t believe anything but what you’re hearing. And then for some 75 other albums he only hints at spirituality.

Don’t be fooled though, the Gospel according to Bob started some twenty years before this album. His early lyrics, and his later lyrics all talk about God and make direct references to the divine and our human relationship to it.

So with this one, enjoy the pleasure of Bob actually perhaps talking about what he’s talking about for once. Less metaphor in one sense, and more on the nose.
That doesn’t keep him from writing fantastic poetry throughout though.
“Covenant woman, got a contract with the Lord…”
“I’ve been broken, shattered like an empty cup / I’m just waiting on the Lord to rebuild and fill me up / And I know He will do it ’cause He’s faithful and He’s true / He must have loved me so much to send me someone as fine as you”

Now the spiritual talk and divine relationships cross over into human relationships. Nearly the opposite of his “secular” writings.

Lastly, let’s remember Bob’s voice. He has used several different voicings through his career, and this one is fairly nasal, putting some people off. But remember to ask your most highly trained singing friends and they will confirm – he knows how to sing. This is just how he does it. He puts every part of every word where he wants it and it works.

    Tracklist
    1 – A Satisfied Mind – 1:58
    2 – Saved – 4:00
    3 – Covenant Woman – 6:03
    4 – What Can I Do For You? – 5:54
    5 – Solid Rock – 3:55
    6 – Pressing On – 5:11
    7 – In The Garden – 5:58
    8 – Saving Grace – 5:01
    9 – Are You Ready – 4:42

    Credits
    Artwork [Cover] – Tony Wright
    Bass – Tim Drummond
    Drums – Jim Keltner
    Engineer – Gregg Hamm
    Engineer [Assistant] – Mary Beth McLemore
    Guitar – Fred Tackett
    Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica – Bob Dylan
    Keyboards – Spooner Oldham
    Keyboards, Vocals – Terry Young
    Mastered By [Engineer] – Bobby Hata
    Mastered By [Supervisor] – Paul Wexler
    Photography By – Arthur Rosato
    Producer – Barry Beckett, Jerry Wexler
    Vocals – Clydie King, Mona Lisa Young, Regina Havis

    Companies, etc.
    Manufactured By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
    Distributed By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
    Copyright © – CBS Inc.
    Recorded At – Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
    Mastered At – Amigo Studios
    Lacquer Cut At – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, ON

    The Rhythm Praise Band – Cruisin – 1980

    Here we go with another band I can’t find any info about. This album was released on Tunesmith who were well known for finding obscure artists and this one is no exception. Though a Canadian label this is most likely a U.S. based band due to the Spanish content on the album. They were managed out of Colorado so that might be a clue also. The album has a seventies rock feel to it with, as I said, a Spanish flair to it in spots including a Spanish track. I really liked the album and am surprised I didn’t see it back in the 80’s as we were Tunesmith addicts and with this cover I know we would have bought this one if we had seen it. Too bad we missed it back then because this is an excellent album and definitely deserves to be listened to.

    Tracklist
    1 – Cruisin With My Lord – 3:36
    2 – Lori’s Song – 3:10
    3 – Where Is The Love – 3:21
    4 – Prepara Tu Alma – 3:59
    5 – Jesus That I Know – 3:28
    6 – You’re Blind – 3:23
    7 – He Is The Light – 4:39
    8 – I Can Do – 3:01
    9 – Riding The Line – 3:28
    10 – You’re His Puppet – 2:45

    Credits
    Producer – Bobby Murrieta
    Executive Producer – Jim Stengel & Brian Van Cleave
    Keyboards & Synthesizers – Bobby Murrieta
    Lead & Rhythm Guitar – Armando Nunez & Kenny Milton
    Bass Guitar – Bobby Murrieta & Kenny Milton
    Drums & Percussion – Jim DeBilzan, Linn-Drum Computer
    Vocals – The Rhythm Praise Band
    Additional Background vocals – Neal Burum

    Companies, etc.
    Recorded & Mixed at Scott’s Music & Prosound Clovis, New Mexico ; Eaglear Productions, Greeley, Colorado
    Mastered by LRS

    Eternal Rock – Threshold – 1980

    Eternal Rock were a band out of the Netherlands that you have likely never ever heard of. This is their only album and it leans rather 70’s with a mix of male and female vocals. It was released on Eurosound which was the in house label for Eurosound Studio’s. The album does have some interesting tracks with covers of 2nd Chapter Of Acts’ “Mansion Builder”, Larry Norman’s “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”, which they strangely named “I’ve Wish We’ve All Been Ready”, and finally a version of Bill Withers “Lean On Me” which they reworded as “Lean On Him”. All in all a pretty good effort and maybe with a little more work they could have released a mainstream album outside of the Netherlands.

    Tracklist
    1 – Life Can Be Hard – 3:44
    2 – Mansion Builder – 3:20
    3 – I’ve Wish We’ve All Been Ready – 3:40
    4 – Blinded By Science – 4:09
    5 – Lean On Him – 2:39
    6 – Love Is… – 4:19
    7 – Threshold – 4:21
    8 – You Can Change – 2:30
    9 – The Way I Feel – 2:57
    10 – Guess Who’s Coming? – 3:10
    11 – Show Me The Way – 4:23

    Credits
    Bass – Hans Roman
    Design – Leon Limpens
    Drums – Klaas Den Hollander
    Engineer, Recorded By – Don Vonk
    Executive Producer – Wim Sanders
    Guitar – Norbert Schmidt
    Lead Vocals – Susanne Sanders
    Organ [Fender Rhodes], Organ, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Strings – Peter Roman
    Producer, Recorded By – Norbert Schmidt
    Tenor Saxophone – Jan Kuipers, Jurrie Eisinga
    Vocals – Meineke Roman
    Vocals, Strings – Veronica Roman
    Written-By – Peter Roman, Susanne Roman

    Companies, etc.
    Recorded By – Eurosound Mobile
    Recorded At – Plahadima
    Recorded At – Eurosound Mobile

    Desert Water Band – Come Closer – 1980

    I can not find anything about this band nor can I find that any of the members did any other recorded work. So given that lets just talk about the album. This is a Jesus music album but not like most of them This one has a far more rock sound. There are hints of The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd all through the album and quite frankly this is one of the best Jesus music albums I have stumbled on. It was actually on a real label, Mag Records, but this is the only one from them that they released. It was 1980 however and Jesus music was on it’s way out for a more 80’s pop sound. Too bad we didn’t get more from these guys and I feel they could have probably progressed like SCB into an excellent 80’s band.

    Tracklist
    1 – King Of My Dreams – 2:54
    2 – Come Closer – 4:05
    3 – Because I Love You – 3:06
    4 – Delight – 2:40
    5 – An Appeal – 3:19
    6 – No Apologies – 3:33
    7 – I Still Believe – 2:28
    8 – Find Your Way – 3:58
    9 – He’s Coming – 2:41
    10 – It’s Yours Not Mine – 1:33

    Credits
    Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Lonnie Klepper
    Drums, Strings, Keyboards, Vocals – Wayne Hagar
    Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Dennis Baker

    Companies, etc.
    Manufactured By – Recording Services Of W.N.C. – RSR-1114

    Wayne Watson – Workin’ In The Final Hour – 1980

    This is Wayne’s first album, kind of. This was his first album on a label with proper distribution actually. He actually had a self released album in 1978 that we have but I haven’t listened to yet. But essentially as far as most people are concerned this is indeed his first album. As the story goes after college Wayne was playing music in area churches and was leading worship at an area youth camp when one of the parents recorded his music performance. That tape ended up on a desk at Milk & Honey records. They must have liked what they heard as Wayne went on to release 4 albums with them. This album gave him his first CCM charting single with “One Day” making it to #9. The album is pretty easy listening so it’s not really for me but for the style it’s a great album that was a sign of things to come in Wayne’s career.

    Tracklist
    1 – One Day – 3:33
    2 – Because Of Whose I Am – 4:59
    3 – Make A Wish – 3:19
    4 – I Don’t Want Your Money – 3:47
    5 – Trust In The Lord – 2:55
    6 – Touch Of The Master’s Hand – 4:37
    7 – Lay Them Down – 3:54
    8 – How He Loves Me – 3:18
    9 – No Need – 3:18
    10 – One More Song – 3:01

    Credits
    Arranged By – Greg Nelson
    Backing Vocals – Al Moore, Dennis Wilson, Don Gant, Donna Sheridan, Mike Albrecht, Mitch Humphries, Scott Roley
    Bass – Ernie Collins
    Drums – Bob Mater
    Engineer – Scott Hendricks
    Engineer [Assistant] – Bill Deaton
    Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow
    Guitar – Brent Rowan, Joe Wilson, Mike Noble
    Keyboards – Alen Steinberger, Buddy Skipper, Mitch Humphries, Shane Keister
    Percussion – Bill Wiggins, Terry McMillan
    Photography By – Michael Borum
    Producer – Greg Nelson
    Saxophone – Donnie “Sax” Sanders
    Synthesizer – Shane Keister

    Companies, etc.
    Record Company – The Zondervan Corporation
    Recorded At – Glaser Sound Studios, Nashville
    Lacquer Cut At – Masterfonics
    Designed At – Michael Harris Design
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Milk & Honey
    Copyright © – Milk & Honey
    Published By – Group Seven
    Published By – Takalofme Music
    Published By – Libris Music
    Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
    Published By – Cooga Music
    Published By – Crosswalk Music

    Phil Spence – First Light – 1980

    This excellent album released in 1980 is the only one we would get from Phil in the 80’s. Phil toured Australia promoting his album and actually warmed up for acts such as Randy Stonehill and Dan Peak. He also played several music festivals and combined church events. The album actually had some secular success in his local area where radio played “Company” and “Forgiven”. Phil’s song “The Infidel” also became a hit in Papua New Guinea. The album has a strong 70’s feel and would probably done well if it had a proper distribution deal. Phil continues to make music and has a total of 5 albums at the time of writing. You can find his music on his website www.philspence.com.

    Tracklist
    1 – The Infidel – 3:30
    2 – Jet Set Lady – 2:30
    3 – Coffee Coloured Girls – 3:00
    4 – Living – 5:20
    5 – I’m A U.F.O. – 3:40
    6 – Forgiven – 3:40
    7 – Steeplechase – 3:15
    8 – Company – 2:30
    9 – Wanna Be Like You – 3:20
    10 – Once Again – 5:15

    Credits
    Artwork – Greg Wardle
    Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Gary Terrill
    Bass Guitar, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards – Peter Wragg
    Drums, Synthesizer [Drum], Percussion – Don Lebler
    Flute – Doug MacDougall
    Harmony Vocals – Jacky Nisbet
    Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Dan Mihailovic
    Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Percussion – Phil Spence
    Producer – Peter Wragg
    Producer, Cover [Design] – Phil Spence
    Written-By – Phil Spence

    Companies, etc.
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Normal Music
    Copyright © – Normal Music
    Recorded At – Southwind Recording Studio
    Mixed At – Southwind Recording Studio

    Carman – God’s Not Finished With Me – 1980

    Carmelo Domenic Licciardello known to us as Carman came to Christ around 20 years old. A life long musician he was pretty quick to get to work on an album. This is that first album. It was released on micro label Klesis Records and had almost no distribution so most people never had a chance to hear this one. Several tracks from this album would show up on future albums so people got a chance to hear them. This album set the tone for many albums to come. His almost theatric song structure is established here as his style. This is one you may have missed so I strongly suggest giving it a listen, it’s a great album.

    Tracklist
    1 – God’s Not Finished With Me – 2:30
    2 – I Love Jesus – 3:15
    3 – Some A Dat – 3:20
    4 – I Don’t Believe It – 3:54
    5 – Something Changed – 3:22
    6 – God Don’t Care – 3:38
    7 – I Still Can Rock N’ Roll – 3:15
    8 – You’re The Only One – 3:30
    9 – Simple Things – 3:31
    10 – You Belong To Me – 3:54

    Rock & Religion Radio Special – 1980 – Daniel Amos

    This is a 1980 episode of Rock & Religion Radio featuring Daniel Amos. It features tracks from their Horrendous Disc album.

    00:00 – I Love You #19
    06:33 – I Believe In You
    12:03 – Hound Of Heaven
    16:51 – Tidal Wave
    22:51 – On The Line

    Jane Edward – Hunger for Reality – 1980

    This is the one and only album we got from Jane. It is on New Born records which is the sister label of legendary Canadian label Tunesmith. Being on a label in the Tunesmith family can be a blessing or a curse. A few great bands were able to get exposure on Tunesmith to real record companies while others had their album released and not even distributed properly. I believe this album falls in the cursed category as it is very very rare and I have no memory of it and my friends and I were constantly monitoring this label for hidden gems. Anyway on the internet it says she was a Canadian artist but I think people are just saying that because this is a Canadian label. The album was recorded in Nashville and Jane currently lives in Nashville so I doubt she is a Canadian artist. As for the album it’s pretty good. It has a light rock feel and I enjoyed it. It was produced by Al Perkins and Greg Nelson so there’s nothing wrong with the mix or the feel. Whoever picked the track order however did a disservice to the album by putting the best track last. Just my opinion.

    Tracklist
    1 – Down On My Knees – 2:50
    2 – Happy Song – 3:08
    3 – Drink Of Jesus Love (Prov. 25:25) – 3:45
    4 – Deep Magic – 2:30
    5 – I Wanna Testify – 3:45
    6 – Hey There Stranger – 3:38
    7 – Dedication Blues – 2:35
    8 – Isaiah 33: 15 – 17 – 2:58
    9 – Searchin’ – 2:46
    10 – Follow His Calling – 2:58

    Credits
    Arranged By – Greg Nelson, Richard Souther
    Backing Vocals – Bili Thedford, Dona Thedford, Donna McElroy, Jane Edward, Venetta Fields, Vicki Hampton, Yvonne Hodges
    Bass – David McKay, Ernie Collins
    Drums – Bob Mater, James Kehn
    Engineer – Scott Hendricks, Tom Trefethen
    Guitar – Brent Rowan, Peter York, Randy Mitchell
    Harmonica – Terry McMillan
    Keyboards – Mitch Humphries, Richard Souther
    Percussion – James Kehn
    Photography – Deberah Perkins, John Holcomb, John Holcomb
    Producer – Al Perkins, Greg Nelson
    Saxophone – Donald Sanders

    Companies, etc.
    Recorded At – Peace In The Valley Recording
    Engineered At – Peace In The Valley Recording
    Mixed At – Peace In The Valley Recording
    Mastered At – Peace In The Valley Recording
    Recorded At – Glaser Bros. Studio, Nashville
    Engineered At – Glaser Bros. Studio, Nashville
    Mixed At – Glaser Bros. Studio, Nashville
    Mastered At – Glaser Bros. Studio, Nashville