This is the 4th and final album from The Wall Brothers. As I have said in other reviews of this band I really can’t find much info on them. This album continues on similar to their previous albums. It has an easy listening seventies sound and stays away from anything close to Rock & Roll. That said it’s a great album for this style and I quite like it. Unfortunately I don’t think any tracks will make it into my regular rotation but I did quite like the track “I Am Free” which I think is really well written and performed though it’s not really my usual style.
Tracklist 1 – Open Up – 3:21 2 – What’s Your Hope In – 3:37 3 – Right In Your Light – 3:10 4 – I Am Free – 3:51 5 – He Loves You So Much – 4:12 6 – Finally Found My Heart – 4:21 7 – Where Do We Go From Here – 4:22 8 – Just Another Day – 3:50 9 – He Must’ve Planned It That Way – 4:46
Credits Mastered By – Hank Williams Producer – Phil Johnson
This was Debby’s first foray into Christian music. As with most things she did it was very successful. She had also recorded and released a secular album the same year. For most artists this would be a lot of work but keep in mind these songs are all put together then Debby just comes in and cuts the vocal track. While not the most effort it is a recipe for success for many female artists. Speaking of success this album received a Dove Awards for Best Album by a Secular Artist and a Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance. The album was pretty dull for me but lets be clear this isn’t my style. The closing track is a bit of a surprise as it’s a Dylan cover that also came out in 1980. It’s a pretty good cover, not my style but well done.
Tracklist 1 – Sweet Adoration – 2:52 2 – If Ever – 4:32 3 – With Every Breath – 2:20 4 – With My Song – 4:38 5 – I Am Stone – 4:32 6 – Lord, I Believe – 3:17 7 – Morningstar – 4:43 8 – A New Song – 3:33 9 – A Twenty-Third Psalm – 2:48 10 – Holy Father – 3:59 11 – Sixty Second Sonata – 1:22 12 – What Can I Do For You – 2:58
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Billy Capps, Billy Walker, Don Roth, Johnny Christopher, Pete Bordaneli, Steve Kara Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Leland Sklar Drums – Paul Leim Electric Guitar – Billy Walker, Tim May Harp – Cindy Reynolds Horns – Bill Puett, Denis Solee, Dennis Good, Don Sheffield, Eberhard Roman, George Tidwell, Ricky Ricks Oboe – Bob Taylor Percussion – Farrell Morris Piano – John Hobbs, Larry Muhoberac Producer – Brown Bannister Strings – Shelley Kurland Synthesizer – Shane Keister
Companies, etc. Pressed By – PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN Mastered At – Masterfonics
Erick released this greatest hits package in 1980. It features his work as a solo artist as well as his work with band Good News and Michele Pillar. There is one fresh track on the album “Jesus Is Calling”. Of note on the album is his and Michelle’s cover of “LOve Hurts” that we usually identify as a Nazareth song though actually it was first releasd by the Everly Brothers. The following is the original source of the tracks; 1, 5 – Good News – Good News 2 – Various – Maranatha! 2 3, 6 – Erick Nelson – Flow River Flow 4 – The Maranatha Singers – The Praise Album 8, 9, 10 – Erick Nelson And Michele Pillar – The Misfit 11 – Various – Hosanna Track 7 recorded for this compilation.
Tracklist 1 – Good News – Picking Up The Pieces 2 – Erick Nelson – He Lives 3 – Erick Nelson – Soldiers Of The Cross 4 – The Maranatha Singers – Set My Spirit Free 5 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Jimmy 6 – Erick Nelson – Flow River Flow 7 – Erick Nelson – Jesus Is Calling 8 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Martyr Song 9 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Love Hurts/He Gave Me Love 10 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – The Misfit 11 – Erick Nelson – Fairest Lord Jesus
Credits Artwork, Design – Neal Buchanan Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Bill Batstone, Darrell Cook, Erick Nelson, Henry Davis, John Belles Cover, Photography By – Gary Null Drums – Bill Maxwell, David Diggs, John Mehler, John Raines, Keith Edwards, Mike Fickling Electric Piano – Erick Nelson Engineer – Bill Taylor, Buddy King, Chris Taylor, Dan Willard, Jonathan Brown, Marc Piscitelli Guitar – Craig Stevens, Hadley Hockensmith, John Wickham, Randy Mitchell Piano – Erick Nelson, Harlan Rogers Producer – Erick Nelson, Good News, Harlan Rogers, Jonathan Brown, Lenny Roberts, Peter Jacobs, Tom Stipe, Tom Coomes Vocals – Erick Nelson
This is the 4th studio album from Seawind and strangely enough their second self titled album. I’m a little unsure as to why they have 2 self titled albums. This occasionally happens when the first one was on a small label with limited distribution but their first album was on CTI records which was a pretty good sized label. Anyway that aside Bob and Pauline Wilson give us an excellent Funk album here. The Seawind Horns are featured of course though you may remember them better as the horn section for the Sweet Comfort Band albums of this era. I’ll be honest I’m not really the biggest fan of Bob and Pauline so I wasn’t expecting too much f this album. Boy was I wrong. This is a fantastic Funk album and while that’s not usually my style this one is so good I liked it anyway. So even if Funk isn’t your thing you should give this one a listen. A well done album in any style is always refreshing to hear.
Tracklist 1 – What Cha Doin’ – 4:35 2 – The Two Of Us – 3:49 3 – Love Him, Love Her – 3:26 4 – Everything Needs Love – 5:46 5 – Shout – 4:26 6 – Still In Love – 3:53 7 – Pra Vosé – 4:16 8 – I Need Your Love – 3:54 9 – Long, Long Time – 3:58
Credits Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Seawind Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Bill Reichenbach, Jerry Hey Art Direction – Chuck Beeson Bass – Ken Wild Concertmaster – Sid Sharp Drums, Percussion – Bob Wilson Engineer – Tommy Vicari Engineer [Assistant] – Erik Zobler Guitar – Bud Nuanez Illustration – Chris Hopkins, Willardson And White Keyboards – Larry Williams Management [Seawind Personal Management And Direction] – Barry Menes, Blue Johnson Mastered By – Brian Gardner Mixed By – Tommy Vicari Mixed By [Assistant] – Wally Buck Musician [Guest], Backing Vocals – Carl Carlwell, George Duke, Greg Walker, Josie James, Lynn Davis Musician [Guest], Guitar – Roland Bautista Musician [Guest], Keyboards – George Duke Musician [Guest], Percussion – Airto, Paulinho DaCosta Musician [Guest], Trombone – Bill Reichenbach Musician [Guest], Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jerry Hey Musician [Guest], Woodwind – Gary Herbig Other [Pauline’s Wardrobe By] – Shelley Kaleinanionalani Salzer Producer – George Duke Vocals, Backing Vocals – Pauline Wilson Woodwind – Kim Hutchcroft
This was Pam’s third album and was a bit of a departure from her to previous style to the style we would more closely connect with her. It is a solid early 80’s pop offering though I will say I don’t think she was comfortable with the style as the album is just missing a little something. Of course later Pam would be a master of the pop style and have several successful albums. The album was produced by Fletch Wiley who was producing more worship oriented albums at the time so it was a bit of a new style for him too. Of note on the album Marty McCall helps with duet vocals on “Little Miss Much Afraid”. All in all a pretty good pop album but just missing a bit of edge but don’t be discouraged from listening to it.
Tracklist 1 – Gonna Love You – 2:47 2 – Strength To Be Weak – 4:16 3 – Your Book – 4:15 4 – Little Miss Much Afraid – 3:42 5 – Never Fades Away – 2:52 6 – Who Taught You The Game? – 3:30 7 – Two Worlds – 3:45 8 – Lord Of The Starfields – 4:20 9 – Burning In My Heart – 2:15 10 – If Ever – 3:59
Credits Backing Vocals – Craig Smith Bass – Roscoe Beck Drums, Percussion – Keith Edwards Engineer – Brian Tankersley Guitar – Jerry McPherson Keyboards – Larry Williams Lead Vocals, Songwriter, Guitar – Pam Mark Hall Percussion – Fig Newton Producer, Arranged By – Fletch Wiley Synthesizer, Engineer – Paul Mills Tenor Saxophone – Bill Tillman Vocals, Backing Vocals – Marty McCall
This is Dion’s first Christian album. He was a huge artist through the 60’s and 70’s perhaps best known as Dion & The Belmonts and Dion & The Wanderers. I have to make a confession that my friends and I didn’t listen to Dion. I remember that we were aware of him but for some reason he just never made it onto our playlists (cassettes in the day). This is further confusing because I think all of us grew up with Dion in our homes in the 60’s and early 70’s. It is odd that I know his secular work better than his Christian work. I am going to further confess that I had not listened to this album before writing this review. Now the reason I am going on about this is that this album is great, I would have loved it in 1980. I do love Dion’s 60’s work but this album sounds more like his 70’s work and I think it’s darn good too. So my apologies to Dion for not listening to him at the time but I’m making up for it now.
Tracklist 1 – I Believe (Sweet Lord Jesus) – 3:34 2 – He’s The One – 5:02 3 – Center Of My Life – 4:28 4 – The Truth Will Set You Free – 6:10 5 – Gonna Be Ready – 3:39 6 – Old Souvenirs – 3:51 7 – New Jersey Wife – 3:54 8 – Man In The Glass – 4:21 9 – Sweet Surrender – 4:33
Credits Art Direction [Cover Art Direction] – Dennis Hill Bass – George “Chocolate” Perry Co-producer [Co-Produced By] – Eric Schilling, Paul Harris Drums, Percussion – Jose Galdo* Engineer – Eric Schilling Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Jim Peterson Guitar – Dion DiMucci, Tony Battaglia Keyboards – Paul Harris Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Other [Cross Presented By] – August DiMucci Photography By [Cover Photographs] – John Miller Photography By [Cross Photograph] – Dion DiMucci Producer [Produced By] – Dion
This was Semaja’s first album. I does not appear to have been released in North America but instead looks like it was limited to Germany, their home country. I am really surprised that an American label didn’t grab this album. This may be one of the best 70’s sound albums I have heard and I’m not talking about 70’s Jesus music, I mean straight up 70’s rock. I can’t find out much about the band but I know their second album was released in America and was pretty well received. Anyway if you love seventies rock (not Jesus music) this just might be the album for you.
Tracklist 1 – Sometimes – 4:35 2 – Hear My Cry – 4:30 3 – Jeden Tag (Jesaja 55) – 6:45 4 – This Life – 4:12 5 – Jesaja 53 – 7:35 6 – The Wind – 7:35 7 – Big Noise – 5:52
Credits Artwork – Dirk Pape Bass, Vocals – Wilfried Herrmann Design – Peter Klüger Drums – Harald Nagel Engineer – Achim Bosch Guitar, Vocals – Ulrich Plinke Keyboards – Claus Feldmann Lead Vocals – Markus Egger Lyrics By, Music By – Semaja Percussion – Klaus Hermann Producer – Manfred Wieczorke
This is the introductory album from funk band Paradise. As far as I can tell it was only released in the U.K. I find this incredible odd as it is a fantastic album and the largest funk market is the United States. I’m often confused by the CCM record companies and this album is an example of what they got wrong. As near as I can tell the album was released on their own label so obviously they would have signed a deal for U.S. distribution. Oh well I’m ranting again. Anyway this album is probably one of the best Christian funk albums and it came out in 1980. An added plus is that I didn’t get any disco feel from any of the tracks which was typical in funk albums released at this time. Give this one a listen even if your not the biggest fan of funk, you just might think different after listening to this one.
Tracklist 1 – Keep The Fire – 3:15 2 – Love Is Not A Mystery – 4:22 3 – It’s Up To You – 4:44 4 – I’ll Meet You There – 4:35 5 – We All Need – 4:20 6 – Light Of The World – 5:10 7 – Give Thanks – 4:05 8 – With You – 4:11 9 – Spread The Word – 3:50
Credits Backing Vocals – Desr’ee Hoyte, Elaine Bent, Jasmine Cohen, Lorrane Greenaway, Monica Knight, Novlette Davis, Yvonne White Bass – Junior Edwards Design, Artwork – Mick Payne Drums – Bobby Clarke Engineer – Colin Owen, Paul Robbins Guitar, Keyboards, Horns – Raymond Dennis Horns – Charles Pinder, Neil Pinder Illustration – John Coster Keyboards, Synthesizer – Phillip Edwards Lead Vocals, Horns – Doug Williams Percussion – Devon Burke, Karl Edwards Photography By – Tony Martin Producer – Paradise Producer, Art Direction – Mick Martin Saxophone, Flute – Hugh Thomas
Dave Kelly was a member of a great band called “Ark” that released one incredible album that will be featured later on this list. Ark was a wonderful band that escaped the attention of most fans but critics loved for very good reason. Dave Kelly was an integral part of Ark and his songwriting prowess shows on this solo debut. Fans of British pop will love it immediately with a Beatlesque quality and an overall sound comparable to Alwyn Wall and Cliff Richard. Very catchy hooks and memorable melodies from start to finish and a message that was upfront but without a “preachy” quality to it. The albums closer is worth a mention here. A Scottish inspired acoustic number with violin and bagpipes accentuate a story of kings and dragons and knights in a castle. Lyrically sounding like something Kemper Crabb may have written, but musically closer to Van Morrison. All the imagery points to the redemptive work of Christ. Anyone even remotely interested in the early days of CCM in England and the influence of the birth of a more legitimate musical expression in the states should try and obtain a copy of this great album.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – King of Love 02:39 2 – God Knows 03:46 3 – Tonight 02:25 4 – Turn Your Back 02:49 5 – Dead Or Alive 02:13 6 – Trouble 02:49 7 – Love Night and Day 01:56 8 – Supernatural Man 02:21 9 – Sandy 02:19 10 – Ballad of J.C. 02:32
Credits Background Vocals – Mary Russell, Mona Lisa Young Bagpipes – Alex McGilvery Bass – Dennis Belfield Drums – Jim Keltner Harmony Vocals – Jim Seatter Lead Guitar – Billy Joe Walker Lead Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar – Dave Kelly Organ, Piano, Background Vocals – Terry Young Penny Whistle, Fiddle – Stewart Hamilton Prophet Synthesizer – Dale Ocherman
This is one of the real rule breakers. A glorified EP and live album to boot. But given that it is the only distributed output from the band, and it is so exceptional, there was no way to leave it off the list. It is also one those very rare 10 inch vinyl releases. Fowler practiced one day with the band (as he was going to just perform solo) and then recorded live at a Calvary Chapel concert night. Fowler, though, has had a very good career as a songwriter with songs having been recorded by Martina McBride, Bob Bennett, Cindy Cruse, Dion and others. This is blues! Straight ahead honking freakin’ blues! Fowler and his band possess, hands down, the best blues guitar work I have ever heard on a Christian album, albeit six songs may not be a large enough sample size. He also plays a mean harmonica. Fans of Larry Howard, Glenn Kaiser and definitely Ed Raetzloff will have much here to enjoy. I remember seeing them once at a Calvary Chapel concert and, who knows, that could be where this was recorded. I really very limited information on the group and google searches only bring up a few short reviews with limited information. The placement is based solely on the amazing musicianship, great songwriting, smoking hot vocals and sheer rocking passion. Fowler has commented on the original countdown blog. As a traditional rock and blues project the point here is not the lyrical content as most of the songs are simple blues fair with repetitive lines and big hooks in the choruses. It’s about the blues. Does it feel real? Fans of Bad Company, Eric Clapton and the previously mentioned Ed Raetzloff will love this.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – B.C. Blues – 3:42 2 – You Only Go Round Once – 3:26 3 – 51st Street Blues – 5:06 4 – Lookin’ Back – 3:03 5 – Faithful – 6:43 6 – Liar! – 3:37
