After The Fire – Batteries Not Included – 1982

While this album always lifts my spirits while I listen to it then I remember that this was it from the 80’s version of After The Fire. I’m not going on a long diatribe about why the band broke up as quite frankly I don’t think those types of reviews are fair as we weren’t in the band and we don’t know. In the end when these things happen I just prefer to say, “That’s Rock & Roll folks.” I spoke briefly with Peter about this album and he refereed to it saying “Batteries was our favourite album, despite it being short lived!”. There is some wrong information out there on this album so I will clarify. The singles were Rich Boys and Frozen Rivers and a music video was produced for Rich Boys. There is some info out there that Dancing In The Shadows was a single but it actually wasn’t, at least not in relation to this album. It was released as a single for the American release of the album Der Kommissar. The album did not do that well which is entirely baffling to me but again I just don’t agree with the choice of singles. To my 80’s DJ ears “Sometimes” is the obvious single. What do you think? Anyway love the band, love the album and luckily for us this would not be the last we heard from them, but it would take quite a few years. Album trivia…. there were versions of this album that used the album cover that would actually later be used on the U.S. release of Der Kommissar.

Tracklist
1 – Short Change – 3:19
2 – Frozen Rivers – 3:36
3 – Sometimes – 3:08
4 – Sailing Ship – 3:57
5 – I Don´t Understand Your Love – 2:53
6 – The Stranger – 2:50
7 – Rich Boys – 3:02
8 – Carry Me Home – 4:14
9 – Dancing In The Shadows – 3:02
10 – Space Walking – 3:17
11 – Gina – 1:39
12 – Stuck In Paris (Nowhere To Go) – 2:45
13 – Bright Lights – 3:36

Credits
Bass – Andy Piercy
Design [Cover] – Carlos Sapochnik
Drums – Pete King
Guitar – John Russell
Keyboards – Peter Memory Banks
Management – AMP Management
Mastered By – Reinhold Mack, Nick Webb
Mixed By [Assisted], Engineer [Assisted], Programmed By [Extra Synthesizers] – Stefan Wissnet
Photography By [Back Cover Photo] – Peter Hince
Producer, Mixed By, Engineer – Reinhold Mack

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Records
Copyright © – CBS Records
Published By – Heath Levy Music Co. Ltd.
Produced At – Musicland Studios
Mixed At – Musicland Studios
Engineered At – Musicland Studios
Mastered At – Abbey Road Studios
Pressed By – CBS, Haarlem – 01-85135

Glad – Captured in Time – 1982

This was Glad’s 3rd album. It sold very well and even had to have a 2nd pressing. That 2nd pressing had a much better cover but was not a gatefold like the first pressing. I’m a little surprised it had a second pressing as it only had one CCM charting single. “Anywhere I Go” made it to #12 for 10 weeks. Any album with a CCM charting single is good but Glad was much more used to having 2, 3, or more singles. The album is pretty god and still has that easy listening 70’s sound which normally spelled success on the CCM charts. That said like I said it was a popular release and sold well but for some reason the CCM charts didn’t treat it as that popular.

Tracklist
1 – Good News – 3:59
2 – Light Up Your World – 4:02
3 – Anywhere I Go – 3:54
4 – Two Are Better Than One – 3:16
5 – Beautiful Love Song – 3:39
6 – Real Life – 3:21
7 – Hide Myself In You – 3:39
8 – Joy Comes In The Morning – 3:48
9 – Savior – 4:25
10 – Be Ye Glad – 4:41

Credits
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Dennis Solee
Booking – Logsdon Associates, Paul K. Logsdon
Crew [Live Sound] – Julie Kauflin
Crew [Road Manager] – Nancy Nalle
Drums – Art Noble
Engineer – Joe Hardy
Executive-Producer – George King
Handclaps – John Hampton
Lead Vocals, Bass – Don Nalle
Lead Vocals, Percussion – Ed Nalle
Management – George King, Olde Towne Productions
Mastered By – Larry Nix
Photography By – Bob Schatz, Michael Borum*
Producer – Ed Nalle, Joe Hardy
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Goin
Vocals, Keyboards – Bob Kauflin
Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Mark Baldwin

Companies, etc.
Record Company – John T. Benson Pub. Co.
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – Ardent Studios
Mixed At – Ardent Studios
Mastered At – Ardent Studios
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Greentree Records
Copyright © – Greentree Records
Copyright © – Paragon Music Corp.
Copyright © – Lifesong Music Press
Copyright © – Gotz Music
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
Published By – Lifesong Music Press
Published By – Gotz Music

Scepter – Scepter – 1982

Scepter is/was Craig Smith, Rick Crawford, Si Simonson, and Warren Baker and while you may not be aware of Scepter you may know these artists as all of them except Baker had solo careers. I have no idea how or why this album came about and I’m a little unsure why it wasn’t a little more known especially considering it was produce by Wayne Watson. Usually projects from Wayne got a lot more attention than this album did. It starts out as a worship oriented album but gets more upbeat as you listen to it. I think I can hear some early Petra influence. Don’t confuse these guys with the Scepter out of Canada. That version of Scepter actually changed their name to The Keep to avoid confusion between the 2 bands.

1 – Changing Me – 3:40
2 – I Believe – 4:30
3 – All You Need is Jesus – 3:34
4 – Giving It Up – 2:17
5 – I Will Be There – 3:49
6 – One More Time – 3:37
7 – Without You – 3:36
8 – Sweet Harmony – 2:57
9 – I’m So Glad – 2:46
10 – Keep on Trustin’ – 4:08

Xavier – Xavier – 1982

This is an interesting album historically speaking. In 1979 Petra recorded their Washes Whiter Than album at the Bee Jay Recording Studio. That studio is owned by Eric Schabacker. The story goes that Eric was impressed with Greg X. Volz’s vocals and subsequently wanted Greg to record an album of songs written by him. Apparently it took a few years for the idea to work itself out but here is Greg doing a selection of songs written by Eric Schabacker. The album even featured Chip Meyers and Joel Balin who worked on the Washes Whiter Than album. The album was released using Greg’s middle name as the title and artist name and only 1000 copies were printed making it very rare. Eric produced the project but for some reason used the name Jonathan Fitzwilliam. Putting aside all the strangeness of the album it’s a pretty straight forward secular pop album. It’s actually pretty good and I think it might have sold well as a proper release but given the legalities of record deals and contracts it probably could never be properly released.

Tracklist
1 – Outside Lookin’ In – 3:09
2 – Heart Songs – 4:23
3 – The Next Move Is Yours – 3:38
4 – If You Come To Me – 4:27
5 – Falling In Love With Me Again – 4:02
6 – Don’t Look Back – 3:25
7 – Someone Needing Someone – 3:09
8 – Last Song – 3:57
9 – Who Loves You – 3:18
10 – You Still Got The Time – 3:10
11 – Waiting For You – 3:31
12 – I Believe In You – 4:47

Credits
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Carol Becker Yarian, Teresa Atwell, Tracey Balin
Bass – Chip Meyers
Cover [Cover Art] – John Beardsley
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Jonathan Fitzwilliam
Drums – Randy Nichols
Engineer – Andy deGanahl, Bill Vermillion, Dana Cornock
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Bill Vermillion
Guitar [Guitars] – Joel Balin
Keyboards, Arranged By [String Arrangements] – George Atwell
Lead Guitar [2nd Lead Guitar] – Bruce Brookshire
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Xavier
Mastered By – Jack Hunt, Larry Boden
Producer – Jonathan Fitzwilliam
Producer [Produced By … With Special Assistance From] – George Atwell, Xavier
Written-By – Jacqueline St. Laurent (tracks: A1), Jonathan Fitzwilliam

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – BeeJay Recording
Recorded At – Bee Jay Recording Studio
Mastered At – JVC Cutting Center
Published By – Schabraf

Leon Patillo – I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – 1982

This is Leon’s 4th album and one of his most successful. It spawned the #1 hit “Cornerstone” which was at #1 for a couple months. It also had a #15 hit “John 3:17”. The album was very well recorded but personally I found it a little dull. I know that Leon’s music isn’t my preferred genre but I actually liked some of his other albums. This one is way way easy listening. Personally I love his funk keyboard sound that I heard on other albums. That said this was one of the top CCM albums of 1982 and deserves to be listened to for that reason alone.

Tracklist
1 – John 3:17 – 4:40
2 – Cornerstone – 4:11
3 – Praise Ye The Lord – 4:31
4 – Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord – 4:23
5 – I Surrender – 4:52
6 – I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – 4:17
7 – Rise And Be Healed – 4:13
8 – Saved – 4:32
9 – River – 5:08

Credits
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Herb Jimmerson
Bass – Freddie Washington
Congas, Bongos, Percussion – Ricky Heath
Design – Dennis Hill
Engineer [Assistant] – Biff Vincent
Engineer, Mixed By – Skip Konte
Lead Vocals, Arranged By, Piano, Organ, Synthesizer – Leon Patillo
Mastered By – Rick Donaldson
Photography – Alan Bergman
Producer – Leon Patillo, Skip Konte
Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – Front Page Studio, Costa Mesa, CA
Mastered At – International Automated Media

Kansas – Vinyl Confessions – 1982

The eighth studio album from Kansas was a pretty important one. Lead singer Steve Walsh wasn’t cool with the direction of the band so John Elefante was brought in to take on the role. This album also marked the departure of Robby Steinhardt who finished out the tour for the album but that was it. The album was not overtly Christian but instead touched on Christian topics. The album made it to # 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart and the single “Play the Game Tonight” made it to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. CCM Magazine even chose Vinyl Confessions as the No. 1 CCM album of 1982 which I think disappointed many Christian artists who wanted that “award” to go to a Christian album.

Tracklist
1 – Play The Game Tonight – 3:24
2 – Right Away – 4:03
3 – Fair Exchange – 4:56
4 – Chasing Shadows – 3:17
5 – Diamonds And Pearls – 4:47
6 – Face It – 4:15
7 – Windows – 3:29
8 – Borderline – 3:57
9 – Play On – 3:39
10 – Crossfire – 6:35

Credits
Alto Saxophone – Bill Bergman
Art Direction, Design, Design Concept – Tom Drennon
Backing Vocals – David Pack, Donna Williams
Baritone Saxophone – Greg Smith
Bass – Dave Hope
Bassoon – Bev Dahlke
Design [Additional], Other [Additional Art] – Andrew Barnum
Drums – Phil Ehart
Engineer – Ken Scott
Engineer [Assistant] – Brian Leshon, David Spritz, Philip Jost, Ralph Sutton
Guitar – Rich Williams
Harmonica – Warren Ham
Keyboards, Guitar – Kerry Livgren
Keyboards, Vocals – John Elefante
Management [Budd Carr] – The Carr Company
Mastered By – Stan Ricker
Photography – Glen Wexler
Producer – Kansas, Ken Scott
Tenor Saxophone – Jim Coile
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Bill Bergman
Trumpet – John Berry, Lee Thornburg
Violin, Vocals – Robby Steinhardt

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Distributed By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Copyright © – Corn & Blood, Inc.
Copyright © – Don Kirshner Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Blackwood Music Publishing
Recorded At – Chateau Recorders
Mixed At – Chateau Recorders
Mastered At – Original Masteringworks
Mastered At – Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Inc.
Lacquer Cut At – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, ON
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, ON
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging Corp. Of Canada Ltd.

Will McFarlane – Right From The Start – 1982

Will’s early music career was certainly one that has to be respected. He played with Bonnie Raitt’s band from 1974 to 1980. I can only imagine the stories he must have as if you didn’t know Bonnie was quite a hard rocker in those days. Not her style so much as her life. Anyway Will left the band in 1980 on amicable terms as he wanted to settle down with his wife to a more normal life. He moved to Muscle Shoals and took up with the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. In that same year he found Christ and embarked on a new career as a Christian musician. In 1982 he ended up with a deal from Refuge Records and released this album. This album has an excellent 70’s feel and Will gave us many more albums where he showcases his talent.

Tracklist
1 – Number One Command – 3:58
2 – This Is The Message – 2:24
3 – You Call Me A Dreamer – 4:12
4 – That Your Grace May Abound – 4:08
5 – Faith Is Not A Formula – 4:06
6 – Set Your Heart On Things Above – 4:12
7 – Carry On Soldier – 2:58
8 – Where You Gonna Run To – 4:04
9 – Now That You’ve Heard The Truth – 3:26
10 – Who I Am In You – 4:50

Credits
Will McFarlane – Producer, Songwriter, Guitars, Vocals
Gary Baker – Bass
Mickey Buckins – Percussion
Carol Cabler – Background Vocals
Keith Compton – Engineer
Linda Sue Davis – Strings
Craig Duncan – Strings
Ronnie Eades – Sax
Ralph Ezell – Bass
Mark Feldman – Strings
Owen Hale – Drums
Roger Hawkins – Drums
Joey Holder – Background Vocals
David Hood – Drums
Clayton Ivey – Fender Rhodes
Lenny LeBlanc – Background Vocals
Lonnie “Butch” Ledford – Bass
Glenn Meadows – Mastered
Steve Moore – Engineer, Mixed
Steve Nathan – Piano, Keyboards
Wayne Perkins – Songwriter
Ken Perry – Mastered
Earl Spielman – Strings
Paul Tobias – Strings
Jerry L. Wallace – Producer, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizers, Percussion, Roto Toms, Background Vocals
Martha Wiggins – Strings
Kristen Wilkinson – Strings

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Refuge Records
Copyright © – Refuge Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – East Avalon Recorders
Mastered At – Masterfonics

Daniel Amos – Doppelgänger: The “¡Alarma! Chronicles” Volume II – 1981

This is volume 2 of the ¡Alarma! Chronicles. Between volume 1 and 2 of the Chronicles they switched record labels and got a new bass player. Terry Taylor’s guidance clearly held things together though. This release is peak 80s culture. It fit the model of what was happening in music at the time, even if nothing of the sort was happening in CCM outside of DA. This visionary album was on par with everything else in the scene at the time, but limited by being marketed to the CCM audience.

Tracklist
1 – Hollow Man – – 2:15
2 – Mall (All Over The World) – 3:13
3 – Real Girls – 2:57
4 – New Car! – 2:00
5 – Do Big Boys Cry – 2:05
6 – Youth With A Machine – 2:42
7 – The Double – 3:50
8 – Distance And Direction – 2:48
9 – Memory Lane – 3:48
10 – Angels Tuck You In – 2:38
11 – Little Crosses – 2:35
12 – Autographs For The Sick – 1:40
13 – I Didn’t Build It For Me – 2:48
14 – Here I Am – 3:18
15 – Hollow Man (Reprise) – 0:43

Credits
Arranged By [Keyboards] – Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor, Tom Howard
Backing Vocals – Ed McTaggart, Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor, Tim Chandler
Backing Vocals [Occasional] – Derald Daugherty, Dori “Game Show Girl” Howard, Emelia Emulator, Janet McTaggart, Mark Cook (2), Randy Stonehill, The Three Women From Istanbul, Tom Howard
Bass Guitar – Marty Dieckmeyer (tracks: 1), Tim Chandler
Bass Guitar [8-string] – Tim Chandler
Bass Guitar [Fretless] – Tim Chandler
Drums [Skins, Tubs, Traps] – Ed McTaggart
Engineer – Thom Roy
Engineer [Second] – Derald Daugherty*
Keyboards – Jeff Lams (tracks: 3,13), Mark Cook (2) (tracks: 8), Marty Dieckmeyer (tracks: 1), Rob Watson (tracks: 2,3,5 to 7,14), Tom Howard (tracks: 4,7,9 to 11,14)
Lead Guitar – Jerry Chamberlain
Lead Vocals – Jerry Chamberlain (tracks: 11), Terry Taylor
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Percussion – Alex MacDougall, Ed McTaggart, Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor, Tim Chandler
Performer [Da Is] – Ed McTaggart, Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor, Tim Chandler
Producer – Jerry Chamberlain, Terry Taylor
Remastered By – Doug Doyle
Rhythm Guitar – Terry Taylor
Saxophone – Bill Colton

Companies, etc.
Produced For – Rebel Base Productions
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Alarma Records
Copyright © – Alarma Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – Lawson Falle Limited
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios
Recorded At – Rebel Base Studio
Mixed At – Whitefield Studios
Mastered At – MCA Recording Studios
Lacquer Cut At – MCA Whitney Recording Studios
Published By – Twitchen Vibes Music
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.

Denny Correll – Something I Believe In – 1982

This is Denny’s third solo album and his best so far. While it definitely leans easy listening there are a couple pretty good pop tunes also. The whole album has a bit of a funk feel which works very nicely with his vocals. Unfortunately the album didn’t do well on the CCM charts which is yet another mystery of the 80’s as there are at least 2 top 40 quality songs on this album. The album cover features him getting in a cab. Is it just me or were there a lot of albums in the 80’s with Taxi’s on the cover? Anyway this is a good album that deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Wake Up Everybody – 3:58
2 – Too Many Lonely People – 4:05
3 – Keepin’ My Eyes On You – 3:33
4 – Eternally (The Wedding Song) – 3:36
5 – You Can Depend On Jesus – 3:41
6 – Your Love – 3:34
7 – The Promise – 3:26
8 – Jesus Is Everywhere – 4:57
9 – Goin’ Up – 3:32
10 – Changin’ My Heart – 4:48

Credits
Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Bruce Miller
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements] – Hadley Hockensmith
Art Direction – Paul Gross
Backing Vocals – Howard McCrary, Linda McCrary, Phyllis St. James
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Willie Harlan
Engineer [Assistant] – Brook Johnson
Engineer [Horns] – Peter Haden
Guitar – David Williams, Dean Parks, Eric Turner, Hadley Hockensmith
Guitar [Solos] – Hadley Hockensmith
Layout [Sleeve] – Dennis Hill
Mastered By – Bruce Leek
Other [Taxi Driver] – Arnold Johnson
Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell, Daryl Burch
Photography By – Sam Emerson
Producer – Bill Maxwell
Synthesizer – Tom Keene
Trombone – Bob Payne
Trumpet – Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Walt Johnson
Woodwind – John Mitchell, Justo Almario

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc. – 1982
Copyright © – Word, Inc. – 1982
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – International Automated Media
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – International Automated Media
Mastered At – International Automated Media

Phil Butin & Rich Webster – All In All – 1982

I really couldn’t find out anything about either of these guys. Phil Butin had an album with Ron Case but that’s it, that’s all I could find out. As for the album it has a distinctly 70’s sound but is mostly easy listening except for a couple rock tracks. The rock tracks are pretty good but I didn’t care for the easy listening tracks as much. The guitar work on the album is excellent and I would have liked to have heard more of it. As this was a self released project I’m not too sure how much exposure it got but it’s well worth a listen.

Tracklist
1 – I Am – 4:59
2 – I’m The One You Need – 3:40
3 – Come To Me And Rest – 3:08
4 – We’re Not Alone – 4:17
5 – Help Is On The Way – 5:12
6 – Ahead – 3:35
7 – The Way I Was Before – 4:40
8 – Take Me Far Away – Lately – 7:35
9 – Shine With Your Light – 3:30
10 – All In All – 3:18