Dennis Agajanian – Rebel To The Wrong – 1981

The third album from Dennis Agajanian has a mixed sound.

Some songs are an older style, some in keeping with the style of the time and at least one that was ahead of its time. Oh and there’s a bluegrass tune just for good measure.

The lead and title track “Rebel To The Wrong” is an excellent tune and was a fairly progressive song for the day. Dennis Agajanian has been popular in the Christian Country Music scene for many years and he’s still going often appearing on several different television evangelists shows but perhaps best known now for his appearances with Billy Graham.

Track Listing:
1 – Rebel To The Wrong
2 – Fool’s Gold
3 – Child’s Cry
4 – Bigger Than All My Sins
5 – Milk And Honey Express
6 – Alive In The Sky
7 – I Can Do All The Things
8 – Daddy’s Girl
9 – Last Of The Good Guys
10 – I’m Thankful To You

Credits:
Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin – Dennis Agajanian
Art Direction, Design – Rhonda Dempsey
Backing Vocals – Kelly Willard, Pam Mark Hall
Banjo – Wayne Rice
Bass – Joel Hendrickson (tracks: A4), Scott Parrish* (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B5)
Drums – Jim Plank (tracks: B2), Mike Mathis (tracks: A1 to A5, B1, B3 to B5)
Electric Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith
Executive-Producer – Bill Cole
Fiddle – Bryon Berline
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Tom Howard
Photography By – Don Wyman
Producer, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Gerry Limpic
Recorded By, Mixed By, Mastered By – Ron Compton
Steel Guitar – Jay Dee Maness

Resurrection Band – Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore – 1981

The 4th studio album from Resurrection Band picked up where Colours left off.

It continues their trademark hard rock sound utilizing new wave keyboard styling. The albums continue their social commentary with songs about materialism (Elavator Muzik), disabilities (The Chair), and divorce (Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore).

As usual Resurrection Band bucked the Christian music trends by doing their own thing.

Track Listing:
1 – Stark/Spare – 3:42
2 – Elevator Muzik – 1:55
3 – Alienated – 2:02
4 – Can’t Get You Outta My Mind – 2:52
5 – The Chair – 5:06
6 – Can’t Do It On My Own – 2:50
7 – First Degree Apathy – 3:03
8 – Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore – 4:23
9 – The Crossing – 3:48
10 – Little Children – 2:36
11 – Lovin’ You – 3:29

Credits:
Artwork [Inside Art], Layout – Dick Randall
Bass [Fretless Bass], Synthesizer – Jim Denton
Concept By [Album Cover Concept By] – JPUSA Graphics
Cover [Outside Cover Art] – Janet Cameron
Drums – John Herrin
Engineer – Phil Bonanno
Guitar, Keyboards, Guitar [All Double Leads] – Stu Heiss
Mixed By [Mix Down] – Phil Roger
Other [Lead Snoring] – Tom Cameron
Producer – Roger Heiss
Producer, Mixed By [Mix Down] – Resurrection Band
Vocals – Wendi Kaiser
Vocals, Guitar [Solo], Keyboards, Guitar [All Double Leads] – Glenn Kaiser

City Limits – (self titled) – 1981

City Limits was Scott Roley and his touring band in studio. The drummer for the album was Joe English but he didn’t tour in support of the album.

The single “Sacrificing Love” broke the top five on the Contemporary Christian Charts and had strong airplay for several months.

The album is easy listening and easy to listen too and the songs are all very well written i.e. excellent lyrics and music.

Track Listing:
1 – Holdin’ The Key – 3:09
2 – Christians – 4:23
3 – Lost In His Love – 3:59
4 – In Each Heart – 2:58
5 – Sacrificing Love – 3:53
6 – Heavenly Father – 3:15
7 – The Awakening – 3:00
8 – Cross Your Heart – 3:16
9 – In Your Love – 3:38
10 – Man From Heaven – 3:15

Credits:
Art Direction, Design – Ron Brant, Stan Evenson Design Inc.
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Michael Albrecht, Sheri Huffman
Bass – Larry Paxton
Drums – Joe English
Engineer – Jim Baird, Pat Holt, Randy Holland, Scott Hendricks
Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow
Guitar – George Cocchini, Jon Goin, Kenny Mims
Horns – Dennis Solee, Donnie (Sax) Sanders, Ernie Collins, Matt Davich, Rob Hill, Sam Levine, Terry Mead
Keyboards – John Rosasco
Lead Vocals [Uncredited] – Scott Roley
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion – Terry McMillan
Percussion [Mallet Instruments], Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Alan Steinberger
Photography By – Larry DuPont
Photography By [Photograph Of Scott Roley] – Melody McGuire
Producer, Arranged By [String Arrangements], Arranged By [Brass Arrangements] – John Rosasco

Ed Raetzloff – Drivin’ Wheels – 1981

This was the second of two albums from Ed Raetzloff. It was less rockin then his first offering but continued that Bob Seger late 70’s sound that was his trademark.

This album includes an excellent version of People Get Ready. Although more mellow there are still a few rockin tracks on this album.

Track Listing:
1 – Going Home – Written By – Turley Richards – 3:25
2 – People Get Ready – Written By – Curtis Mayfield – 3:57
3 – Keep The Big Wheels Turning – Written By – Dave Perkins – 3:26
4 – For You – Written By – Ed Raetzloff – 3:31
5 – Holy, Holy – Written By – Turley Richards – 3:34
6 – Hey There Stranger – Written By – Tim Sheppard – 3:45
7 – This New Love – Written By – Will McFarlane – 3:43
8 – What You Want For Me – Written By – Ed Raetzloff – 3:54
9 – You’ll Have It All – Written By – Will McFarlane – 3:25
10 – Drivin’Wheels – Written By – Ed Raetzloff – 3:40

Credits:
Arranged By – Turley Richards
Backing Vocals – Barry Dunaway, Ben Rappa, Bonnie Galley, Doug Bare, Freddie Weller, Sharon Scott, ‘Sharone’, Stan Henley, Steve Hardwick, Turley Richards
Bass – Barry Dunaway
Design – Bill Barnes
Design Concept – Bill Barnes
Drums – Ben Rappa
Engineer – Gene Eichelberger
Engineer [Assistant, Recording] – Bill Quinn
Engineer [Assistant, Remix] – Bob Clark
Guitar – Steve Hardwick
Harmony Vocals – Turley Richards
Illustration – Randy Martin
Keyboards – Doug Bare
Lead Guitar – John (Git) Goin, Randy Scruggs, Steve Hardwick
Lead Vocals – Ed Raetzloff
Photography By – Bill Barnes, Matt Barnes
Producer – Turley Richards
Typography [Lettering] – Deb Mahalanobis

Daniel Amos – Horrendous Disc – 1980

The album Horrendous Disc by Daniel Amos was a very popular early 80’s CCM album.

While it was released in 1981 it has a strong mid 70’s sound. The reason for this is that it was actually recorded in 1978. It was rejected by Maranatha Music and ended up in the hands of Solid Rock Records.

For reasons only known to Larry Norman (owner of Solid Rock at the time) it was not released until 1981. It played a part in a messy situation that ended up with Daniel Amos at Newpax Records.

All that said it was a well received album with the single “I Love You #19” still very popular.

Track Listing:
1 – I Love You #19 – 3:33
2 – Hound Of Heaven – 4:06
3 – (Near-Sighted Girl With Approaching) Tidal Wave – 3:05
4 – Sky King (Out Across The Sky) – 4:05
5 – On The Line – 5:20
6 – I Believe In You – 3:45
7 – Man In The Moon – 4:00
8 – Never Leave You – 3:08
9 – Horrendous Disc – 5:20

Credits:
Bass [Uncredited], Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Marty Dieckmeyer
Drums [Uncredited], Percussion [Uncredited], Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Ed McTaggart
Guitar [Uncredited], Lead Vocals [Uncredited], Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor
Keyboards [Uncredited], Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Mark Cook (2)
Percussion [Uncredited] – Alex MacDougal*
Producer [Uncredited] – Daniel Amos, Mike D. Stone

Larry Norman – Something New Under the Son – 1981

This album is probably Larry’s best straight out Rock and Roll album.

Recorded in 1977 it didn’t get released until 1981 due in part to difficulty with Word Records. In fact Word censored “Watch What You’re Doing”. Given these difficulties, this album was the end of Larry’s distribution agreement with Word Records. It was also his last release on Solid Rock Records, which was actually shut down before this album was released.

As a teen I remember loving “Watch What You’re Doing” though now I can enjoy all of the album with more years of life experience under my belt.

Track Listing:
1 – Hard Luck Bad News
2 – Feeling So Bad
3 – I Feel Like Dying
4 – Born To Be Unlucky
5 – Watch What You’re Doing
6 – Leaving The Past Behind
7 – Put Your Life In His Hands
8 – Larry Norman’s 97th Nightmare
9 – Let That Tape Keep Rolling (C:12/L:6)

Credits:
Bass – Billy (Shazam) Batstone*, Dave Coy, Tim Jaquette
Drums – Alex MacDougall, Peter Johnson (3)
Guitar, Slide Guitar – Jon Linn
Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – Larry Norman
Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Bass, Piano, Harmonica, Saxophone, Harmony Vocals, Photography By, Artwork – L.N.*

Larry Norman – Barking At The Ants – 1981

This rather odd release from Larry Norman features 4 tracks of his own work on side 1 including a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman”.

Side 2 is a sampler of British acts signed to Solid Rock records. This album was not licensed so it received no airplay and I’m mystified about the legalities of covering a Bob Dylan song.

If you only have time for one song I would suggest Alwyn Wall’s “Doctor Doctor”.

Track Listing:
1 – Larry Norman – The Tune (Almost)
2 – Larry Norman – Why Can’t You Be Good
3 – Larry Norman – Just Like A Woman
4 – Larry Norman – Deep Blue
5 – Various – The British Invasion (Medley With Cliff Richard, Lyrix, Sheila Walsh, Bryn Haworth, Steve Scott, Alwyn Wall, Barratt Band)
6 – Lyrix – Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus
7 – Alwyn Wall – Doctor Doctor
8 – Sheila Walsh – Love In My Life

Andy McCarroll & Moral Support – Zionic Bonds – 1981

Zionic Bonds was one of the most important CCM albums ever released. While a few small bands had been working in this style Andy McCarroll and Moral Support brought punk/new wave into the mainstream CCM music scene. It was exactly what CCM listeners were waiting for whether they knew it or not. Historically Andy McCarroll had released 2 previous albums that are not in the style of Zionic Bonds and there are 2 very rare previous Eps using the name of Moral Support. The use of this style of music with some very strong social commentary lyrics makes this album one of the best and most important CCM albums ever. Strangely the band were referred to as just Moral Support in the UK giving us an alternate album cover.

 

Tracklist
1 – Sin – 4:10
2 – How The Kids Are Feelin’ – 2:39
3 – To Know You – 2:53
4 – Slippin’ And Slidin’ – 3:38
5 – I Am Human – 3:53
6 – Cyan City – 3:44
7 – King Man – 2:43
8 – Livin’ A Lie – 3:54
9 – In Control – 4:56
10 – 20th Century – 4:41

Credits
Bass – Alan Gillespie
Drums – Ian Sloan
Guitar – Jimmy Davis (7)
Keyboards – William Hilary
Photography By – Dennis McMeekan
Producer – Andy Kidd
Sleeve [Design] – Andy McCarroll
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Andy McCarroll

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Pilgrim America
Copyright (c) – Pilgrim America
Recorded At – ICC Studios