Tag: 1981

First Love – Nothing Can Keep Me Away – 1981

OK so I did a bunch of looking and I can’t find anything about this band. Their proper name was First Love Band and the main members were John P. Volz & Joan C. Volz. I have no idea whether they were brother and sister or husband and wife. I also have no idea if they are related to Greg Volz. This is the second of three albums by them. Generally when a band has 3 albums I can find out a little more about them but this time I’m stumped. Anyway as for the album it has a seventies easy listening sound and is actually really well engineered and produced. Best track is probably “Child Of The King” which features some pretty good guitar work. If you like obscure 70’s CCM bands then I’m pretty sure you’ll like this one.

Tracklist
1 – Closer To The Light – 4:06
2 – Fishes And Loaves – 4:01
3 – Paradox – 4:46
4 – Crockpot Christian – 5:09
5 – Nothing Can Keep Me Away – 3:11
6 – Hands Off The Altar – 3:36
7 – Give It All Up – 4:14
8 – Child Of The King – 2:26
9 – Raise A Praise – 5:32

Credits
Piano, Lead Vocals – Joan C. Volz
Lead Vocals, Latin Percussion – John P. Volz
Organ – John Drymon
Lead Guitar – Jim Scott
Classical Guitar – Steve Stoutenberg
Strings – Loretta Shotwell, Mary Burke
Sax – Richard Malfitano
Congos, Drums – John Allen
Bass, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Henry Triplett
Horns – Gary Laustsen
Woodwinds – Bill Davis
Trombone – Henry Pearlberg
Background Vocals – Joan C. Volz, John P. Volz, Joe Saint, Henry Triplett
Synth – Tom Cook
Engineer – Joe Saint
Producer – Joe Saint, First Love

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – John Volz Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – John Volz Music
Published By – John Volz Music
Recorded At – Emmaus Sound Studio

Iva Twydell – Secret Service – 1981

Iva, whose real name is Ivor was in After The Fire from 1978 until some point in 1980. This is his first album after ATF. He had an album before he joined ATF but I warn you know it is a completely different style than what he’s known for. Anyway this album has a lot of similarities to ATF stuff and quite frankly it’s fantastic. It has this spy/secret service/CIA theme going on which is pretty cool. The single was “Secret Service” which I personally believe would have been a great radio single but unfortunately the album was on an unknown label. I know that Ivor and ATF as a whole always had label problems and it’s sad because they were all very very talented. Interestingly the only person Ivor brought into the project that had any interesting history was the drummer Nick Brotherwood from The Alwyn Wall Band. Anyway this one is must listen and I doubt many people have heard it as it was on an obscure label and only released in the U.K.

Tracklist
01 – No Good At All – 2:14
02 – Some People – 2:28
03 – The Dance Has Just Begun – 2:38
04 – I Guess I’ll Always Be (Someone Like Me) – 3:12
05 – King Of Hearts – 2:43
06 – Part Time Hero – 2:39
07 – Cold War – 3:49
08 – Secret Service – 2:27
09 – I Surrender – 2:27
10 – CIA And The KGB – 2:32
11 – Independence – 1:59
12 – Resting In Your Love – 2:47
13 – Save Me – 2:26
14 – Cover Me – 3:35
15 – Don’t Be Afraid – 1:45

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – John McNaughton
Arranged By – Iva Twydell
Bass – Tony Hudson
Drums – Nick Brotherwood
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Andy Balmer
Organ, Piano, Strings – Graham Noon
Saxophone – Derek Williams
Sleeve, Design – Steve Bamford
Triangle – Marianda Twydell
Violin – Phil Henderson
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Flute, Synthesizer, Percussion – Iva Twydell
Vocals, Noises – Dave Balmer, Kieran McGrath
Vocals, Percussion – Tim Burgess

After The Fire – Radio Sessions 1979 – 1981 – 2009

Apparently After The Fire played 3 years in a row at the BBC Paris Theatre, London, England. Luckily these appearances were recorded but they stayed on a shelf somewhere until Angel Air Records released them in 2009. You can buy the CD on their website below. ATF were an excellent live band and this is a great release. Thank you Angel Air Records.

http://www.angelair.co.uk/?tcp_product=after-the-fire-radio-sessions-1979-1981

1 – Joy – 3:17
2 – A Little Sun, A Little Rain – 3:11
3 – Laser Love – 3:05
4 – Time To Think – 3:31
5 – One Rule For You – 3:15
6 – Suspended Animation – 4:52
7 – Check It Out – 3:06
8 – Like The Power Of A Jet – 2:50
1980 In Concert
9 – Laser Love – 3:26
10 – Life In The City – 4:04
11 – Can You Face It? – 3:50
12 – Who’s Gonna Love You? – 4:14
13 – Billy Billy – 6:07
1981 In Concert
14 – Frozen Rivers – 4:06
15 – Dancing In The Shadows – 2:53
16 – Sailing Ship – 3:39
17 – Bright Lights – 4:09
18 – Take Me Higher – 7:06
19 – Starlight – 5:03

Sonseed – First Fruit – 1981

This band/album are one of the strangest stories in Christian music. Sonseed were a Christian band formed in 1978 at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, New York. Yes this was a catholic band. They came together to play songs at the 75th anniversary of the church. Several members from that day continued on and in 1981 recorded and self released this album. Okay nothing strange there but in 2009 someone uploaded to YouTube an appearance the band had made on a local religious television show. The song they uploaded was “Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine” which is a real catchy ska track and the YouTube video took off with millions of views. The Arena Rock Recording Company soon put out an EP featuring 5 tracks from the album. They subsequently re-released the entire album in 2023. There was apparently some argument as to whether the album even existed in 2009 but indeed it did and here it is today. There are countless articles all over the internet about the band and if you’re interested it makes some great reading. As for the album it mainly has a great 70’s sound and I loved it instantly upon listening to it. It even has a really good cover of “Sail On” by the Imperials. I assume it never really got any attention in the industry as the band were catholic which is too bad, people would have loved it.

Tracklist
1 – Born Of The Flesh – 2:27
2 – Another Kind Of Love Song – 3:15
3 – Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine – 2:43
4 – The Gospel Ship – 3:01
5 – Sonseed – 2:52
6 – The Opened Door – 2:58
7 – Sail On – 2:12
8 – Oh Happy Day – 3:37
9 – Gettin’ Back – 2:36
10 – And The Father Will Dance – 2:48
11 – Say Yes – 2:21

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Frank Esposito
Backing Vocals – Anne Lessing, Jimmy Archer, Joe Ciccone, Melody M. Sorrentino
Design – Angela Marie Franco
Design [Logo] – Joe Ciccone
Drums – Nicky Sciarra
Engineer – Audie Lebensfeld, Joe Marciano
Lead Vocals – Steve Musso
Percussion – Tommy Zawacki
Producer – Patricia Costagliola
Twelve-String Guitar – Karen Archer

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Systems Two

Brush Arbor – Hero – 1981

A quick confession right off the bat. I had no idea Bruch Arbor existed in the 80’s. I don’t know how this is even possible as they were relatively huge. Sure their sound was not what we really liked but we had lots of albums from artists that weren’t really our style. So how did they slip past us? I have no idea. I guess it was just a product of growing up in a small town with one Christian music store so we got what we got. Anyway this is their album for 1981. It’s mainly easy listening with hints of country. All in all a pretty good album.

Tracklist
1 – Only For The Love Of The Lord – 2:42
2 – Come Back Home – 3:56
3 – Witness – 2:36
4 – All I Want To Be – 3:08
5 – Hero – 2:10
6 – Hey There Stranger – 3:42
7 – Running – 3:07
8 – Trust In The Lord – 1:58
9 – God Is Good – 2:58
10 – St. Peter – 2:19
11 – Rescue Me – 3:10

Credits
Acoustic Bass – David Rose
Arranged By – Brush Arbor, John D’Andrea
Art Direction – Paul Gross
Banjo – Jim Rice
Bass Guitar – David Rose
Design Concept – Bill Lightner
Drums – Kevin Watkins
Engineer – Carmine Rubino
Engineer [Assistant] – Jim Crosby
Guitar – Jim Rice, Joe Rice
Lead Guitar – Dale Cooper
Lead Vocals – Jim Rice, Joe Rice
Mandolin – Joe Rice
Mastered By – Bill Lightner
Percussion – Kevin Watkins
Photography By – Lisa Diamond, Phil Fewsmith
Producer – Michael Lloyd
Sleeve – Dennis Hill
Vocals – Dale Cooper, David Rose, Kevin Watkins

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Myrrh Records
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △25044
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Dayspring Music
Published By – John T. Benson Pub. Co.
Published By – House Of Hits
Published By – Happiedayle Music
Published By – Warner-Tamerlane

Heirborn – Undercover Christian – 1981

This is the second album from a band hat I never heard of. Yes there are lots of bands I never heard of but these guys albums were released on Canadian label “New Born Records” sister label to Tunesmith. I thought my group of friends and I had every release by them but we sure didn’t have either of these guys albums. Anyway all that aside I can’t find any info on this band other than they were out of the Spokane WA area. That’s it, that’s all I got. The album is a pretty good 70’s sound and is well worth a listen if that’s your preferred genre. Sorry but that’s all I have for this one.

Tracklist
1 – One Way Road – 3:00
2 – Born To Fly – 4:20
3 – You Shall Be Saved – 3:00
4 – Falling – 3:15
5 – The King and the Lion – 4:58
6 – Undercover Christian – 4:15
7 – Love Won’t Stop – 5:40
8 – Down On Your Knees – 4:44
9 – Psalm 151 (Instrumental) – 2:56
10 – Through My Tears – 2:28

Passage – Passage – 1981

This album was an interesting story. Louis Johnson was a member of Brothers Johnson and he decided to do a solo album, kind of. I say kind of because he actually did vocals for 4 tracks, his wife Valerie did vocals for 3 tracks, and Richard Heath did lead vocals for 2 tracks. Louis was under contract with A&M records so this is one of those rare moments when A&M released a gospel album. Strangely Impact records also had a release of this album. I’d love to hear the story on how that came about. The album single “Open Up Your Heart” made it to #13 which is pretty good for a soul track in 1981. This is a top notch soul album by a genre king that you should listen to if you like your music with a little soul.

Tracklist
1 – Have You Heard The Word – 4:34
2 – You Can’t Be Livin’ – 4:55
3 – Faith Walking People – 3:39
4 – I See The Light – 4:36
5 – The Great Flood – 3:42
6 – Open Up Your Heart – 3:55
7 – Power – 4:11
8 – Love Eyes – 3:37
9 – The Son Will Come Again – 4:03

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Louis Johnson
Arranged By [Horns] – David Diggs, Louis Johnson
Arranged By [Strings] – David Diggs, Gerald Lee, Louis Johnson
Backing Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums – John Robinson, Ricky Lawson
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Louis Johnson
Engineer, Mixed By – Jack Joseph Puig
Flute – Michael Perkins
Guitar – Curtis Nolen, David Williams, Greg Moore, Louis Johnson
Keyboards – David Wolinski, Louis Johnson, Raymond Crossley, Rene Moore
Lead Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson
Percussion – Richard Heath
Piano [Acoustic] – David Wolinski, Raymond Crossley
Producer – Louis Johnson
Saxophone [Solo] – Michael Perkins
Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Synthesizer [Bass] – Louis Johnson
Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records, Inc.
Copyright © – A&M Records, Inc.
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

NewSong – More Than Music – 1981

If you’re a fan of the current or recent offerings from NewSong you might be surprised by this album. This was their first album but it wasn’t on a label. Instead they actually self released it. It is almost all covers so there is no way a record company would have even touched it. The band was founded at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia and I am guessing they never knew what they would become. Like I said this album is almost entirely covers and it is rather obvious they were going for that Imperials sound and feel. This album is a bit of a contrast from their later stuff but it’s nice to hear where it all started for them.

Tracklist
1 – I Will Glory In The Cross – 3:46
2 – Oh Buddah – 3:05
3 – Something Right – 2:18
4 – God’s Way – 3:41
5 – Swing Low/Swing Down Chariot – 2:41
6 – Rise Again – 3:28
7 – Questions – 3:26
8 – You Are My Everything – 3:18
9 – No Shortage – 3:10
10 – Your First Day In Heaven – 1:24

David Baroni – From The Heart – 1981

This is the first album form David Baroni. I didn’t hear of him in the 80’s so this is my first exposure to him. He actually had 11 albums so I’m kind of surprised I hadn’t at least heard of him. His style is not my preferred genre so I’m not surprised I hadn’t listened to him but I should have at least heard of him. His albums were on relatively small labels so I guess that could be the reason. As for this album it appears it was initially released on Gary Paxton’s own label but then appears to have been picked up by LifeStream Records which was a division of Calvary Records. Anyway that’s the history of the album ad as for the album it is a very Easy Listening effort but is pretty well done. The one upbeat track “Mr. Money” actually isn’t too bad and quite frankly I would have loved to hear Stonehill cover it. The album did have a charting single, “We Need To Meet Them There” made it to #24.

Tracklist
1 – From The Heart – 3:42
2 – Are You Reachin’ Out – 3:23
3 – It Won’t Be Long (‘Til We’re Home) – 4:40
4 – Soldier Of The Light – 3:59
5 – The Man You Thought You Already Knew – 4:39
6 – Port In The Ragin’ Storm – 3:25
7 – We Need To Meet Them There – 4:27
8 – At Your Door Knockin’ – 4:25
9 – Mr. Money – 3:14
10 – The Light That’s Always Burning – 5:08

Credits
Arranged By – David Baroni, Gary Paxton
Art Direction, Layout – Smokehouse Studio
Engineer – Bob Whyley, Gary Paxton, Gene Rice, John Erickson, Mike Poston
Photography By – Dill Beaty
Producer – Gary Sanford Paxton
Written-By – David P. Baroni

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Parkerson Productions
Copyright © – Parkerson Productions
Published By – Gary S. Paxton Publications, Inc.
Recorded At – Waxworks Recording Studio
Lacquer Cut At – Masterfonics

Daybreak – And Comes A Time – 1981

Here’s another 70’s band I can’t really find much info on. They were out of Hollywood PA and actually recorded 5 albums including this one. This was their last album and was not on a label. They are a very high quality 70’s band and I am again mystified by the lack of info about some bands from this era. It looks like they had a good run through the 70’s and even had a CCM single in 1979. But I think the title of this album summed up what they were feeling as they slipped out of the industry. As far as a favourite track goes it’s hands down “Lead On” which is a great 70’s rock tune that I wish I had heard back in 1981.

Tracklist
1 – Lead On – 3:57
2 – Jonathan – 4:15
3 – Pavilion – 5:45
4 – Feelings – 4:10
5 – Fear Not – 3:20
6 – Wrapped Up Tight – 3:45
7 – Because It’s True – 5:40
8 – And Comes A Time – 5:10

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Don Swartzentruber
Drums – Fred Miller
Engineer – Don Horst
Guitar, Vocals – Steve Walker
Horns – Mike Crotty
Keyboards, Vibraphone [Vibes], Vocals – Mark Adamy
Producer – Daybreak

Companies, etc.
Published By – Daybreak Inc.
Published By – Between The Lines Music
Recorded At – Atlantic Sound Productions
Mixed At – Atlantic Sound Productions