1982 – Real 80s CCM

Wings Of Light – In A Different Light – 1982

This is the second album from Wings Of Light. It’s a little more pop oriented than their first album which in turn means I liked it a little more. Again it’s a mix of covers and original material just like their first album but there are more original tracks on this one. There’s actually a pretty good cover of The Coloring Song. As I explained on their previous album this group was an offshoot of the Continental Singers with a more pop oriented sound. The album was produced by David Diggs who I’ve been studying up on recently so be ready for a few albums from him. Anyway not my style but a real good album that deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – The Home Of The Lord – 3:15
2 – Within His Joy – 3:03
3 – Imagine – 2:56
4 – In A Different Light – 3:33
5 – Resurrection Power – 3:30
6 – Stride Right – 3:39
7 – Much More – 2:53
8 – Jesus Take Me Like A Rock – 3:00
9 – The Coloring Song – 3:29
10 – I Choose To Follow You – 4:19

Credits
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jim Coile
Bass – Leon Gaer
Co-producer [Associate Producer] – Fred J. Heumann
Design [Cover] – Thel Arthur
Drums – Ed Greene
Engineer, Mixed By – Billy Taylor
Executive-Producer – Cam Floria
Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.
Overdubbed By [Vocals] – Christopher Banninger
Producer, Arranged By [Vocals, Rhythm & Horns], Flugelhorn – Terry Winch
Producer, Synthesizer, Arranged By [Rhythm & Strings], Keyboards, Percussion – David Diggs
Trombone – Alan Kaplan
Trumpet – Danny Ackerman
Vocals, Guest, Soloist – Diane Zagnoli, Susan Bishop
Vocals, Soloist – Fred Heumann, John Barbour, Nina Farley

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Christian Artists Records
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s

Ulf Christiansson – In My Dreams – 1982

I was a little surprised when I found this album as somehow I missed it in 1982. I was a huge fan of Jerusalem so this was like finding a bonus album years later. Ulf released this solo album between Jerusalem’s Warrior and Can’t Stop Us Now albums. He used a great bunch of studio musicians for this album but of course his guitar is unmistakable so it definitely has a Jerusalem sound. It fits perfectly between those 2 albums sound wise as this was a transition time for Jerusalem. The album was released in both English and Swedish on the same record companies Jerusalem was using at the time. The Swedish version actually has an extra track “Du Vill Börja Om”. I don’t know why it didn’t make the English version but not all songs are capable of being well translated so maybe it just didn’t translate well. The mix is slightly different between the 2 versions though the majority of the difference in sound you will hear on our channel are simply different qualities we have in the collection. If you missed this one in the 80’s consider it a bonus Jerusalem album though it is a little more on the mellow side.

Tracklist
1 – Like A Thief In The Night – 5:52
2 – I Will Sing – 4:48
3 – Is It Too Late? – 3:54
4 – In Honesty… – 5:29
5 – My Heart’s Desire – 6:05
6 – Practice What We Preach – 3:33
7 – Now I Am Trusting – 4:15
8 – Forget What Has Been – 3:00
9 – Reach For The Stars – 3:40

Credits
Arranged By – Peter Sandwall, Ulf Christiansson
Backing Vocals – Eja Eriksson, Eva Berg, Inger Heinerborg, Ulf Christiansson
Bass, Electric Bass [Electric Upright Bass] – Backa Hans Eriksson
Design – Camilla B., Michael Harris
Drums, Percussion – Per Lindvall
Engineer – Bo G. Lundberg
Guitar – Lasse Johnsson, Ulf Christiansson
Lyrics By – Andy Kidd, Ulf Christiansson
Music By – Ulf Christiansson
Photography By – Anders Johansson, Jan Ivarsson
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Prophet 5], Organ – Peter Ljung
Producer – Peter Sandwall
Saxophone – Glen Myerscough
Strings – The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Supreme Studio
Mixed At – Supreme Studio
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lamb & Lion
Copyright © – Lamb & Lion
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lamb & Lion Records
Copyright © – Lamb & Lion Records

Uffe – I Mina Drömmar – 1982

Tracklist
1 – I Natt Så Kommer … – 6:09
2 – Jag Vill Sjunga – 4:48
3 – Är Det Försent? – 3:54
4 – Visst Är Det Sant – 3:00
5 – Du Vill Börja Om – 4:20
6 – I Dina Drömmar – 3:40
7 – Leva Som Vi Lär – 3:33
8 – Låt Mej Tala Ut – 5:29
9 – Nu Skall Jag Lita – 4:15
10 – Jag Har En Bön – 6:05

Credits
Accordion – Kjell Öhman
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Glen Myerscough
Arranged By – Peter Sandwall, Ulf Christiansson
Backing Vocals – Eja Eriksson, Eva Berg, Inger Heinerborg, Ulf Christiansson
Design – Camilla B
Design [Redesign] – Camilla Christiansson
Drums, Percussion – Per Lindvall
Electric Bass, Electric Upright Bass – Backa Hans Eriksson
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Lasse Jonsson, Ulf Christiansson
Engineer – Bo G Lundberg
Lead Vocals – Ulf Christiansson
Music By – Paul Parrish (tracks: 5)
Photography – Anders Johansson, Jan Ivarsson
Piano, Electric Piano, Organ – Peter Ljung
Producer – Peter Sandwall
Songwriter – Ulf Christiansson
Strings – Radiosymfonikerna

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Supreme Studio
Mixed At – Supreme Studio
Lacquer Cut At – Cutting Room
Pressed By – Grammoplast

After The Fire – Der Kommissar – 1982

While we don’t normally upload compilation albums this one is obviously kind of a special case as it the origin of their biggest single Der Kommissar. Unfortunately as you probably know the band split in the fall of 82 while the single was climbing the charts. It was released in both the U.K./Europe and the U.S with some different tracks and different artwork. It was released in the U.S. and Canada using the name After The Fire – ATF as the band did not have a very big footprint in North America. Note that a subsequent pressing in Canada was retitled “Der Kommissar”. It was marketed in the North American market as a debut album which of course it wasn’t. Both versions had material from the band’s prior UK studio albums Laser Love, 80-F, and Batteries Not Included. It did not include anything from Their first album Signs Of Change as CBS/Epic/Sony did not have the rights to that album. That said they curated different songs to fit regional tastes. Unique to the UK Release were older UK synth-pop singles like “Love Signs” and “Joy”. Unique to the US Release they substituted those tracks with “Dancing in the Shadows” (which became the follow-up US single) and heavier synth-rock tracks like “Carry Me Home”, which better matched the American radio format. The U.K. version had the 7″ version of “Der Kommissar” while the U.S./Canada version had the extended 12″ album mix of “Der Kommissar”, which runs at 5:43 and includes extra synthesizer layers and instrumental loops to fit the US dance and club scene.

This release is the U.K version. It should be noted that some fans say that at some point in the pressings for the U.K. release they changed up the versions of Dancing in the Shadows, Starflight and One Rule For You. I can not confirm this but this is the only version I have of the U.K. release. Many fans also preferred the feel of the U.K. release as it obviously used different compression settings.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRidRg-kV6wY

Tracklist
1 – Der Kommissar – 4:07
2 – Who’s Gonna Love You – 4:05
3 – Frozen Rivers – 3:36
4 – Joy – 3:17
5 – Dancing In The Shadows – 3:02
6 – Billy Billy – 4:40
7 – 1980-F – 2:32
8 – Rich Boys – 3:02
9 – Starflight – 4:13
10 – Laser Love – 3:28
11 – Love Will Always Make You Cry – 3:30
12 – One Rule For You – 3:24
13 – Sailing Ship – 3:57

James Ward – Faith Takes A Vision – 1982

This was James’s 5th album but first on a real record label. After 4 pretty good self releases Pat Boone’s label Lamb & Lion took a chance. They put together a pretty darn good studio band which included some of my favourites, Jon Goin, Terry McMillan, Joe English, and Dann Huff to name a few. Turley Richards was brought in to produce the album who I admit is not one of my favourite producers but this project was a style he really did well. That style is AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) which again is not my preferred style but the quality of this one is really good. This style usually bores me to death but this album held my attention and I enjoyed it. There’s now anything that will go in my regular rotation but if I ever get our radio station up and running I’ll toss “No Bad News” on light rotation as it’s a fun feel good song.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgjoTvHGd-0

Tracklist
1 – Child Of Bethlehem – 3:32
2 – Not How – 3:40
3 – Maybe I’ll Trust You Now – 3:45
4 – Make A Joyful Noise (Shout) – 3:15
5 – Make Me A Vessel – 3:00
6 – Faith Takes A Vision – 3:19
7 – Take Hold – 2:45
8 – Don’t Blame It On My God – 4:15
9 – No Bad News – 2:16
10 – You Are My Child – 3:10

Credits
Arranged By – James Ward, John Rosasco
Arranged By [Asstance] – Turley Richards
Backing Vocals – Diane Tidwell, James Ward, Jessica Boucher, Joey Jelf, Lisa Silver, Sheri Huffman, Turley Richards
Bass – Bob Wray, Larry Paxton
Co-producer – John Rosasco
Design [Album] – Bill Brunt
Drums – Buster Phillips, Joe English, Mark Hammond
Engineer [Other Engineering] – Randy Holland, Scott Hendricks
Engineer, Mixed By – Willie Pevear
Guitar – Dann Huff, Jon (Git) Goin, Pete Bordanelli
Horns – Denis Solee, Dennis Good, George Tidwell, Ron Keller, Sam Levine
Mastered By – Glenn Meadows
Percussion – Farrell Morris, Terry McMillan
Photography By – Larry Dixon
Piano – James Ward, John Rosasco
Producer – John Rosasco, Turley Richards
Synthesizer – Shane Keister

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lamb & Lion Records
Copyright © – Lamb & Lion Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Pressed By – PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN
Recorded At – Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Lower Level Studio
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Lacquer Cut At – Masterfonics

Phil Driscoll – Sound The Trumpet – 1982

To say that I love Phil’s music would be an understatement. While I’m a Rock & Roll guy Phil has consistently stuck in my top 10 artists for most of my life. As part of this project we classify music by style. Rock, Reggae, Easy Listening etc. There are a few artists that just don’t fit in these catch all categories. Larry Norman for example is a category of music all his own and gets classified as such. Phil is another one of those artists that just doesn’t fit in other categories and as such his style category is just, Phil. This was his first of many albums with Sparrow records and while this album didn’t do exceptionally well it would pave the way for a run of very very successful albums. By the way did you think Phil was just a boring trumpet player? Well he wasn’t and isn’t but especially wasn’t. He has both Cocaine possession convictions as well as tax evasion. I get the feeling that Phil is a pretty edgy guy outside of the studio and I for one would love to spend a day just hearing his stories.

Tracklist
1 – He Is Jehovah – 4:30
2 – Jesus What A Wonder You Are – 8:01
3 – We Shall Behold Him – 6:40
4 – My Jesus I Love Thee – 4:23
5 – Sing Hallelujah – 5:22
6 – Oh Magnify The Lord – 4:34
7 – Thou Art Worthy – 5:17
8 – Because He Lives – 6:12

Credits
Arranged By [All Strings, Horns And Background Vocals] – Lari Goss
Arranged By [Basic Rhythm Tracks] – Lari Goss, Phil Driscoll
Bass – Ricky Keller
Coordinator [Cover Coordination] – B. Charlyne Hinesley
Cover – Steve Breitborde
Drums – Buster Phillips
Engineer [Rhythm Tracks] – Kent Holmes
Engineer [Strings, Horns, Background Vocals] – Chip Young
Guitar – Mike Deasy
Piano – Lari Goss
Producer – Lari Goss, Phil Driscoll
Remix – Jack Gilmer, Phil Driscoll
Synthesizer – Alan Steinberger
Trumpet, Lead Vocals – Phil Driscoll

Companies, etc.
Produced For – Mighty Horn Records
Recorded At – Forward In Faith Production Studios
Recorded At – Young ‘Un Sound, Nashville
Remixed At – Cartee III Recording Studio
Lacquer Cut At – Future Disc
Designed At – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Mighty Horn Records
Published By – Jehovah Jirah Music, Dawn Treader Music, John T. Benson Co., New Song Ministries, Fred Bock Music Company, William J.Gaither Music

Carman – Some-O-Dat – 1982

This is essentially Carman’s first album though yes I know he had a previous release but many people don’t even know it exists. this album was actually cross released on CBS record’s Epic and Priority labels. It was initially released as a self titled album but later adopted the name of the single, “Some-O-Dat”. I’m actually a little confused by this album. Who was it being marketed to? The youth or our parents or our grandparents? I mean I know some albums were successfully marketed to both our parents and us but I just don’t get it on this album. There are at least 3 different styles on this album and they just don’t work together. If you listen to Carman’s first album it has a rhythm and a sound that could have been successfully cross marketed to us and our parents. But this album is all over the place and this is further confusing because it was produced by Michael Lloyd who was one of the best. Anyway so it you like Country, 50’s style rock, traditional worship, or 60’s novelty songs you will probably like 1 or 2 tracks on this album. Good luck.

Tracklist
1 – Bethlehem – 2:54
2 – Overcoming Child – 3:05
3 – The Master’s Hand – 4:42
4 – Some-O-Dat – 3:10
5 – A Love As Yours – 4:41
6 – I’m Saved – 2:32
7 – Just Believe – 5:04
8 – Washed In The Blood – 3:40
9 – God, God, God – 3:41
10 – I Praise You – 4:41

Credits
Arranged By [Additional], Guitar, Synthesizer – Michael Lloyd
Arranged By, Keyboards – David Wheatley
Backing Vocals – Brett Hudson (2), Mark Hudson, The Waters
Bass – Dennis Belfield
Drums – Ron Krasinski
Guitar – Jay Leach, Joey Neuman*, John Goux
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Randy Foote
Strings – Sid Sharp

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – CBS Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Manufactured By – Priority Records
Manufactured By – CBS Inc.

RPM – RPM – 1982

RPM falls in the category of a band of Christians as opposed to a Christian band. The band consisted of Jimmie Lee Sloas (Dogs Of Peace & Imperials), Mark Gendel, Robert White Johnson, Tommy Wells (First Gear). Jimmie and Tommy had already been headliners in the Christian music industry while Robert & Mark had been studio musicians in the Christian industry. I have no idea how this album ended up getting backing from EMI records but all 4 were well established studio musicians so maybe they were one of those groups put together by the record company. That’s just a guess. The album was well received and the first single “A Legend Never Dies” apparently charted but I was unable to find the position. “Rendezvous” also singled but gained further recognition when covered by the British band Tygers of Pan Tang on their 1982 album The Cage who did a great version. Their first major live performance was at the KLOL Rockfest at Houston’s Astrodome complex before 20,000 fans. Apparently they had four encores which is pretty impressive. I can easily see why they would be so popular live. The album leans a little more AOR but as I understand it their live performances were far more rock oriented. I wish I had heard of and heard these guys back in the day but alas I missed them somehow. They did get a second album deal from Warner and that one is coming to our channel soon.

Tracklist
1 – A Legend Never Dies -4:13
2 – 2 + 2 -3:19
3 – It Don’t Feel The Same -4:08
4 – Rendezvous -3:28
5 – Envy -4:52
6 – You -3:46
7 – Firestarter -4:41
8 – Don’t Make It Hard -3:07
9 – Video Games -4:20
10 – I’m A Wreck -4:30

Credits
Art Direction – Bill Burks
Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Jimmie Lee Sloas
Cover, Design – Amy Nagasawa
Drums, Backing Vocals – Tommy Wells
Guitar, Guitar [Synthesizer], Backing Vocals – Mark Gendel
Lead Vocals – Bob Johnson
Management – Norman Epstein
Mastered By – Ken Perry
Photography By [Band] – Allan Messer
Photography By [Cover] – David Brandt
Producer, Engineer – Brent Maher
Synthesizer [Programming] – Kevin Kent

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – EMI America Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI America Records
Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Recorded At – Creative Workshop
Mastered At – Capitol Studios
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles

Prophecy – Take It To The Streets – 1982 – Full Album

There was a huge Gospel soul music scene in LA in the 80’s that is not often spoken of by the mainstream CCM movement. Several LA groups released self produced albums and they sold well in the soul music community. This is one of those oddball albums. It was self produced but appears to have been well known at the time. Most of the musicians on this album were/are accomplished studio musicians so there’s no shortage of talent here. Unfortunately any more information on this group has been lost to time. This was the only full length album we would get from Prophecy but they did have a 3 track single released in 1984 which is even more obscure. Anyway this is a great soul album and if that’s your style of music this is one to listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Never Be Ashamed – 4:38
2 – He’s My God – 4:07
3 – Do You Keep His Commandments – 4:04
4 – The Race Of Life – 4:38
5 – Oh How I Love That Name – 5:12
6 – Take It To The Streets – 2:58
7 – He Died For You And I – 5:15
8 – Somebody’s Watching You – 4:31

Credits
Drums – George Bell
Electric Piano – Rodney Friend
Engineer – Tony Modster
Engineer, Mixed By – Monty Seward
Executive-Producer, Design [Cover] – David Moch
Guitar – Ernie Jefferson
Horns – Arthur Manley, Reggie Young, Rodney Taylor
Mixed By – Phillip Nicholas
Percussion – Nathan Alford
Piano – Beverly Calvin
Producer – Karvin Johnson
Producer, Written-By, Bass, Mixed By – J.R. Edmonds
Strings – Gail Winn, John Sims, Joseph Taylor, Yvette Devereaux
Vocals [Extra] – Brenda “Halloway” Davis, “Nicholas”

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Creative Gospel Inc.
Published By – Mojeco
Published By – Cojemo
Recorded At – C.B.A. Recording Studios
Lacquer Cut At – K Disc Mastering

David And The Giants – David And The Giants – 1982

This is the 6th album from David & The Giants and strangely they hadn’t released a self titled album yet so this one got that treatment. This was the first of a 2 album run with CBS Priority Records but I wonder if they had a deal for more. The Priority label was shut down shortly after the bands second album with them so I guess we’ll never know. The Huff’s both engineered and produced this album and I don’t think they were quite ready for that role as personally I find the mix on this album to be a bit questionable. That said the album was very successful within the genre and many of their fans consider this their best album. The album still has a pretty strong 70’s sound which is a little surprising for 1982 but this was a transition album for them and they would have a more 80’s pop sound on their next album. I really enjoy this album and think there are several tracks here that deserve to be in peoples playlists if you like the traditional sound.

Tracklist
1 – One Less Stone – 4:00
2 – God Is Love – 4:32
3 – America (In God You Used To Trust) – 3:09
4 – I’m Gonna Go Fly Away – 3:15
5 – Noah – 4:10
6 – The Well (Will Never Run Dry) – 4:16
7 – Who In The World – 3:18
8 – Thunder And Lightning – 3:15
9 – Rock ‘N Roll Blues – 2:57
10 – Highway To Heaven – 4:10

Credits
Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar – Clayborn Huff
Backing Vocals, Clarinet, Organ, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Piano, Engineer, Synthesizer – Rayborn Huff
Design – Bob McConnell
Drums, Percussion – Keith Thibodeaux
Engineer [Assistant] – Dennis Ritchey
Guitar – David Huff
Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Engineer, Mixed By – David Huff
Horns – Muscle Shoals Horns
Illustration – Mike Drake
Mastered By – Glenn Meadows
Organ – Rayborn Huff
Strings – Jackson Strings

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Copyright © – CBS Inc.
Manufactured By – Priority Records
Manufactured By – CBS Inc.
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute