I read that “The Hope” were a new and improved version of “Hope Of Glory” who had recorded throughout the 70’s. The problem is that none of the band members are the same and it’s even on a new label. It is reasonable to assume a new label might have wanted a new more hip name but I’m a bit confused by a completely new lineup. Because of this I feel this might be an entirely different band but feel free to correct me. The band is/was made up of some great studio musicians who had many appearances throughout the 70’s & 80’s. The quality of their work makes this an excellent album. The sound is heavily 70’s and as such may have been a little late to the market. It’s not a heavy rock album but does have a few 70’s rock tracks. I am guessing many people missed this one in 1980 so give it a listen now if you like your music with a 70’s vibe.
Tracklist 1 – Tender Love – 4:38 2 – Standing On The Rock – 3:27 3 – Sunshine In My Life – 2:45 4 – Stand On What You Believe – 3:09 5 – Hills Of Morning – 4:33 6 – Which Side? – 4:28 7 – What Have You Got To Lose? – 4:12 8 – Anticipation – 3:18 9 – You Got Love – 3:43 10 – Walk In The Light – 3:11
Credits Backing Vocals – Bubba Chambers Bass Guitar, Vocals – Rick Thigpen Drums – Gary Ingram Electric Guitar – Rick Crawford Electric Guitar – Melvin Mar Keyboards – Paul Mills Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Mike Barnes Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Brian Tankersley Saxophone – Kenny Dimick
This album is generally known as Larry Norman – The Israel Tapes, but it is really Larry Norman and People!, and the record calls itself “The Israel Tapes 1974 AD.” Not much difference really, but the labelling and the timing are both important. The release came out from Phydeaux Records in 1980, after Larry had established his own distribution company, which was primarily a mail order business run out of San Jose. Larry added some of the People! recordings to his catalog and so this is the first time some of these recordings were made public. The musicianship of this group is excellent, and has distinctly different characteristics than the group of studio musicians he worked with in the 1970s and 80s. This concert was done at UCLA for the benefit of The Israeli Fund. The Recording quality is not great, but for a 1974 live record it’s passable. What’s noteworthy here is that this 1974 live performance included a lot of songs that eventually became part of Larry’s core material. The album consists of songs from Upon This Rock as well as the Trilogy, along with a couple of others. This seems to be a reunion concert of sorts. Larry left People! several years prior, and here they are performing with him on subsequent songs. There are 2 different versions of “I Love You,” neither of which is quite the one that appeared on the In Another Land album in 1974, although you can hear the progression that got it there. “I Am The Six O’Clock News” was an anchor song on 1972’s Only Visiting This Planet, and here we get a slower, grittier version of it. “Sweet Song of Salvation” and “Forget Your Hexagram” get some updated arrangements from their original Upon This Rock versions, with great contributions from this band. All in all, a good spin on some classic Larry songs.
Tracklist 1 – Fly, Fly, Fly – 4:47 2 – I Love You (1967) – 4:36 3 – I Love You (1974) – 3:43 3 – I Am The Six O’Clock News – 5:59 4 – Lonely By Myself – 4:08 6 – Baroquen Spirits – 5:32 7 – You Knew What You Were Doing – 4:57 8 – Forget Your Hexagram – 3:49 9 – I’ve Searched All Around The World – 3:05 10 – Sweet Song Of Salvation – 5:21
Strangely whenever I read an article about Matthews no one ever discusses this album. Strange because I believe it to be his best album and “Out On A Limb” is one of my top 100 songs. It appears however that others don’t really view this as a good album. Randy really lets his inner Joe Cocker flow on this album but seeing as both of them were recording at the same time I don’t really think he was trying to imitate Cocker. For all we know Cocker was imitating Randy, no disrespect to Cocker as I love his work also. I was researching Randy a bit for this review and I was really surprised that he only ever had one CCM charting single and that wasn’t until 1991. Maybe I’m biased but Randy was a far greater performer than history has categorized him. If you ever read this Randy, thanks fort all the great music, you were an important part of my youth.
Tracklist 1 – Which Side Are You On? – 4:07 2 – Jesus Revive Me – 5:09 3 – Out On A Limb – 3:28 4 – Small Circle Of Friends – 3:27 5 – Miracle Man – 4:15 6 – I Had A Dream – 3:28 7 – I Think He’s Proud – 4:02 8 – Sweet Relief – 4:03 9 – Thin Line – 3:23 10 – Lonely Stranger – 4:45
Credits Booking – 4-R Ranch Design Concept [Album Cover Concept], Design – Stan Evenson Design, Inc. Engineer – Joe Wilson Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow Mastered By [Mastering Engr.] – Jim Loyd Musician, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – David McCaskel, Donna McElroy, Janna Hershberger, Jonathan McCaskel, Monty Matthews, Vicki Hampton, Yvonne Hodges Musician, Bass – Paul Brannon Musician, Drums – Louie Weaver Musician, Guitar – Allen Holmes, David McCaskel, Joe Wilson, Paul Brannon Musician, Guitar [Guitar Solos] – Joe Wilson Musician, Keyboards – Bobby Edmonds, Dean Pastin, Shane Keister Musician, Percussion – Terry McMillan Musician, Saxophone – Donnie “Sax” Sanders Musician, Synthesizer – Shane Keister Photography By – Dominic Marsden, Sharon Inahara Producer – Joe Wilson
Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – Spirit Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – Spirit Records Manufactured By – Hartsong Corporation Distributed By – Hartsong Corporation Produced For – Primacy Productions Published By – Arloco Music Published By – Angelstream Music Published By – Group Seven Published By – Windy Music Recorded At – Glaser Sound Studios, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee Mastered At – Masterfonics
Featuring Kemper Crabb, Arkangel’s “Warrior” has become one of the most sought after and expensive collector’s item’s in CCM history. From the stunning album artwork to the brilliant art rock performed perfectly, there is really no doubt as to why this is such a sought after project. The artwork and the music conjure up images of Tolkein and “middle Earth,” crusades and knights in shining armor. Primarily a moody and melodic (and dare I say worshipful), there are moments of hard and progressive rock rock. Labeled often a progressive rock masterpiece, art rock is a better label. More thoughtful and contemplative than its contemporaries, Crabb revels in the classical, meditative and majestic musical styles employed. Crabb also demonstrates a diversity of musical taste and instrumentation, with nearly 40 instruments represented on the project with Crabb responsible for playing roughly 30 of them. On a side note, I believe fans of Daniel Amos’ “Shotgun Angel” will find quite a bit to like here. Not as country rock or Beatlesque, but there is a similarity in musical and artistic expression found here. Despite the clear artistic endeavor the album is lyrically very “Christian” and Gospel centered. The title track would later be covered by Caedmon’s Call on their first worship album and works as an introduction to the feel and sound of the entire project. Paradox is just a great acoustic rock song, perfectly suited for its day to be a mainstream radio hit, if not the blatant Jesus content. It should be noted here just how well produced the album is. Given that it was released on the burgeoning Star Song label with a distinctly limited budget, the album sounds fantastic. Vocals are clear, strings are ample and the instrumentation is more than just solid, but at times exquisite. Bekah Crabb adds vocals on a few songs as well. The heaviest number is the nearly six minute “Morning Anthem.” Taking the worshipful lyrical cue from “Warrior,” Morning Anthem is a stunning rocker that calls the worshippers to dance before the Lord. heavy, harmonic and powerful. For the time it would rank amongst the “heavier” songs in CCM and one of the truly rare instances of progressive rock in the genre. There was never a follow up to this amazing project and that is a real shame. Another journey to Middle Earth spiritually and metaphorically would have been a great delight. But alas, like most of the most progressive and artistic endeavors in CCM, it never found an audience. Though some 30 years later that limited audience is willing to part with large sums of money to discover (or rediscover) this amazing project.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Pange Lingua Certaminis – 0:43 2 – Warrior / March Of The Ents – 4:22 3 – Dwelling Place – 4:32 4 – Paradox (Disciple’s Song) – 3:19 5 – Realization – 2:56 6 – Praises In The Old Tongue – 1:21 7 – Greater Love – 3:16 8 – Ex Nihilo – 2:00 9 – Morning’s Anthem – 5:46 10 – Elohim Considers Antedeluvia – 1:44 11 – The Nephilim Disembodied – 0:39 12 – Ark – 4:29 13 – Beastia Ex Machina – 0:39 14 – To A Sleeping Infidel – 3:22 15 – Morning’s Anthem Reprise – 0:22
Credits Richard Conine – Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, Flute, Background Vocals Bekah Crabb – Autoharp, Vocals Kemper Crabb – Producer, Songwriter, Guitar, Lute, Recorder, Drums, Percussion, Kalimba, Dulcimer, Bass, Vocals Philip Dorflinger – Ent Voices Jimmy Hotz – Producer, Engineer David Marshall – Producer, Arrangements, Guitar, Bass, Vocals Michael Miller – Ent Voices Paul Mills – Engineer Randy M. Sanchez – Drums Brian Tankersley – Bass, Background Vocals Andy White – Bagpipes Steve Young – Violin, Keyboards
Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – Joyeuse Garde Recordings Recorded At – Rivendell Sound Recorders Mixed At – Rivendell Sound Recorders
The story goes that in 1980 Mark was having difficulties with Larry Norman and Solid Rock Records. As he was on contract in the USA he went to Europe to record and release this album. However there is a secondary story that is much simpler and in my opinion more possible. It is that Mark was essentially living in Europe and as such chose to release his next album there. The album was originally released on his own label in Switzerland which is a relatively odd business decision. All that aside this album was missed by most Mark Heard fans as it wasn’t released in the US until 1995. By now he was free and clear of Larry and Solid Rock Records so he released it on VIA Records. The album is about three quarters Mark’s signature acoustic guitar work but there are a few 70’s style rocking tunes. Mark rerecorded a few of these tracks between 1980 and 1995 to put on his North American releases so some of these versions may surprise you.
Tracklist 1 – I’m In Chains – 3:30 2 – Nowadays – 3:25 3 – One More Time – 3:03 4 – Epistle – 2:57 5 – Just The Same – 3:16 6 – Well-Worn Pages – 2:48 7 – Gimme Mine – 3:51 8 – All The Sleepless Dreamers – 3:33 9 – Negative Charge – 3:58 10 – Brown-Eyed Sue – 3:20 11 – Es Tut Mir Leid – 2:04 12 – Remarks To Mr. McLuhan – 2:02 13 – Threefold Amen – 0:20
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar, Mandolin, Synthesizer [Moog], Percussion, Vocals, Backing Vocals – Mark Heard Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Slide Guitar – Jon Linn Backing Vocals, Photography By – Janet Sue Heard Drums – Peter Johnson Piano, Synthesizer – Tom Howard Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Written By, Photography By – Mark Heard
Companies, etc. Distributed By – King’s Records Recorded At – Peace In The Valley Recording Phonographic Copyright (p) – Palmfrond Communications Copyright (c) – Palmfrond Communications Manufactured By – King’s Records Pressed By – Turicaphon AG
I have no idea how I found this band. They were a Christian band out of Norway that released 3 albums. I couldn’t really find much info on them but my Norwegian is a little rusty so If I actually spoke it there’s probably lots of info out there on them. The album has a progressive sound especially for 1980. In my opinion they were ahead of their time and there are tracks on here that could have been released in the mid 80’s. A few tracks have nice rock riffs while others lean more techno keyboard. There is one track in English which I easily would have listened to in 1980. It probably would have been on my regular rotation back then. I also love the voice of the female vocalist and feel she could have been quite successful in the English market. So if you don’t mind listening to Norwegian give this one a listen and if you don’t like music in other languages at least listen to track #8.
Tracklist 1 – Alpha – 3:21 2 – Fundament – 2:30 3 – Mannen I Gata – 4:06 4 – Det Du Har Gjort – 1:58 5 – Selvransakelse – 4:26 6 – Tømmermann – 3:55 7 – Reell Frelse – 3:36 8 – Now That I’ve Found (Your Love) – 3:31 9 – Du Er – 3:19 10 – Veibok – 3:22 11 – Gråt Maria – 4:45 12 – Omega – 2:40
Credits Arranged By, Producer, Engineer – Andy Kidd Composed By, Arranged By – Kainos Drums, Percussion, Other [Laserkanoner] – Jari Sempill Electric Bass, Vocals – Karl Brunvoll Flute, Saxophone, Vocals, Artwork [Cover Reprodusert Etter Malerier Av] – Arne Nøst Guitar – Øystein Eikeland Keyboards, Vocals – Petter Mortensen Lyrics By – Andy Kidd, Hilde Bergfjord, Jo Nesbø, Karl Brunvoll, Odd Kjetil Rangnes Vocals – Ingunn Kanestrøm, Marit Nøst
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Cross Studio Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Records A/S Copyright (c) – CBS Records A/S
This is one of the early albums that set the stage for Steve Camp’s 1980’s popularity. His recording career spanned from 1978 through 2002. The track “Under His Love” was co-written by Steve Camp and Larry Norman. The two would cross paths many times over their respective careers and there are a few examples of them appearing on stage together and recording each other’s songs. In addition to working with Larry Norman, it seems to me that Steve has an uncanny vocal similarity. Not only the tone of his voice, but the way he expresses it has a strong similarity to the way Larry sounded. No wonder they were able to work together easily.
Tracklist 1 – The Feeling Is Happening – 6:02 2 – You Are The Rainbow – 3:12 3 – Under His Love – 3:35 4 – Easy Livin’ (Under The Sun) – 3:05 5 – Ambassador In Chains – 3:51 6 – Start Believin’ – 4:46 7 – Do They Have To Grow Up? – 3:56 8 – I’ll Always Need You Lord – 5:47 9 – Bobby – 5:19 10 – Psalm 131 – 2:10
Credits Steve Camp – Songwriter, Vocals, Production Assistant Jack I. Baron – Tenor Saxophone Big Foot – Feet Stomps Phillip Blum – Cello Sol A. Bobrov – Violin Phil Bonono – Additional Engineering Leonard Chausow – Cello Dale Clevenger – French Horn Gary Elghammer – Additional Engineering Richard Royce Ferrin – Viola Ronald Friedman – Trumpet Joseph Golan – Violin Tommy Hanson – Additional Engineering John W. Haynor – Trombone Tom Howell – French Horn Arthur Hoyle – Trumpet, Fluegel Horn Russell Iverson – Trumpet Harold D. Klatz – Viola Robert Lewis – Trumpet, Fluegel Horn Paul Libman – Production Assistant, Songwriter Arthur F. Linser – Trombone Samuel Magad – Violin Glenn Meadows – Mastered Rodger Moulton – Viola Hank Neuberger – Recorded and Mixed Larry Norman – Songwriter David Isaiah Radford – Songwriter Arnold Roth – Violin Kenneth G. Soderblom – Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone Fred Spector – Violin Morris Butch Stewart – Producer, Songwriter The Chicago Hands – Hand claps and Finger Snaps Cyrill J. Touff – Trombone
This was the final album for The Pat Terry Group but Pat Terry would go on to record 3 rocking albums in the 80’s. It is said that Pat was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the CCM industry and felt it was getting too commercial and stifling his songwriting skills. Apparently he wanted to broaden his songs and slightly reduce the JPM content. So this caused the Pat Terry Group to dissolve? Considering he went on to record several solo albums this explanation of the break up makes no sense at all. Personally I think this had more to do with 2 things. First of all Pat wanted to get away from Newpax records and back to Myrrh. Secondly I think Pat thought the other members of the group were holding him back. It’s obvious he wanted to do more Rock & Roll and the 70’s sound the group was doing wasn’t where he wanted to go. Whatever the reason I think he made the right decision as his solo work is fantastic. That said this album was a good close out for the 70’s. It is a good album but was right at the end of it’s appropriate timeline.
Tracklist 1 – One More Try – 3:31 2 – All I Can Be – 3:38 3 – Faith Has Eyes – 2:32 4 – Everyday Man – 4:35 5 – Seen It Now – 3:44 6 – Bring Me To The Balance – 4:02 7 – I Got To Go Down – 4:00 8 – IRIS – 4:21 9 – So Many Reasons – 2:58 10 – The Heart Of His Will – 3:36
Credits Backing Vocals – Al Holley (tracks: B1) Bass Guitar – Randy Bugg Design [Logo] – Rip Carloss Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Marimba, Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Sonny Lallerstedt Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals – Pat Terry Keyboards [Acoustic and Electric] – Tonny Shannon Mastered By – Glenn Meadows Mixed By – Randy Bugg, Sonny Lallerstedt Narrator [Narration] – Randy Bugg (tracks: B1) Recorded By – Randy Bugg, Sonny Lallerstedt
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Twelve Oaks Studio Mixed At – Twelve Oaks Studio Mastered At – Masterfonics Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc. Copyright (c) – NewPax Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – NewPax Records Designed At – Studio C
Kerry Livgren made the big announcement in 1980 that he had become a born-again Christian. That caused a bit of friction with some of his bandmates in Kansas, although they continued making albums together after that. The album cover features a baby in the womb of a diamond. Kansas albums were always big on imagery, and I think this could be discussed at length (by someone), but the baby seems to be a pretty clear reference to being born again. Notably though, Kerry did the majority of his Christian themed writing for his solo projects and with his new band, A. D. This record includes vocals from Christian rock artist Mylon Lefevre on a few tracks, as well as lead vocals by famed metal guitarist Ronnie James Dio on “Mask Of The Great Deceiver” and “To Live For The King.” This is a 7 song affair, with some marathon song lengths reaching over 8 minutes long. There is only 1 song under 5 minutes on the album. The musical offering here continues on from a consistent arc where Kerry left off with Kansas at the time. It’s a record that would not isolate any fans, and the high level of talent he had to make this album certainly shows. It’s a great transition album for him, aptly named “Seeds of Change.”
Tracklist 1 – Just One Way – 5:46 2 – Mask Of The Great Deceiver – 7:36 3 – How Can You Live – 4:13 4 – Whiskey Seed – 5:33 5 – To Live For The King – 4:55 6 – Down To The Core – 5:18 7 – Ground Zero – 8:36
Credits Kerry Livgren – Producer, Songwriter, Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Vocals Brad Aaron – Producer, Background Vocals Barriemore Barlow – Drums Bobby Campo – Trumpet Ronnie James Dio – Vocals Phil Ehart – Drums John Fristoe – Background Vocals Gary Gilbert – Bass Paul Goddard – Bass Joey Jelf – Background Vocals Darryl Kutz – Harmonica Mylon LeFevre – Vocals Victoria Livgren – Background Vocals Davey Moire – Vocals David Pack – Vocals Jeff Pollard – Vocals Robby Steinhardt – Violin John Thompson – Drums Steve Venezia – Background Vocals Steve Walsh – Vocals Donna Williams – Background Vocals
Companies, etc. Distributed By – CBS Records Manufactured By – CBS Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Inc. Copyright (c) – Corn & Blood, Inc. Recorded At – Axis Sound Studio Mastered At – Sterling Sound Published By – Don Kirshner Music Published By – Blackwood Music Publishing
100% Proof were a band from Stockport, Manchester that formed in 1978 under the name “Thin Ice”. The band was having some success touring the local area and they went into the studio to record this EP, financed out of their own pocket, to sell at their concerts. It’s actually a 7 inch recorded at 33 1/3 which is relatively rare. This EP has a slightly more punk sound than the Rock & Roll sound they would be better known for on future releases. While I really enjoy their sound on their two commercial releases I really love this sound and wish we could have got more. The quality of the EP was an issue but I have cleaned it up as best as I could. I love early band releases like this and this one is no exception.
Tracklist
1 – New Way Of Livin’ – 4:58
2 – Lookin In – 2:22
3 – What’s The Cost – 5:04
4 – Resurrection – 3:49
Credits
Bass – Steve Harrison
Drums – Phil Wright
Engineer [Sound Engineering] – Ray Buckley
Guitar, Vocals – Charlie Wilson
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Steve Wright
Photography By – Dave Owen
Producer – 100% Proof, Ray Buckley
Sleeve – Pete Smith
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Pluto Studios
Label – Smile
