Tag: 1982

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

Found Free – Specially Purchased Individually Wrapped – 1982

This was the last gasp for Found Free. They had a one record deal with Greentree but this album appears to have been self released. I’m a little unsure who was in the band at this point and the liner notes are a little fuzzy. We do know that Greg Sparks and Rebecca Ed were there, but I don’t believe they were married yet and also Keith Lancaster. These 3 would go on to form Bash-n-The Code so I’ve seen it said that this version of Found Free was an early version of Bash. I can’t tell you much more about the history of this album so lets turn to the music. The album is very well produced has a great funk/soul sound. The album is heavy on the harmonies which it hurts it a little in my opinion because there isn’t a stand out vocalist. The album would have been better if they had just let Rebecca sing. Anyway I quite like the album though I don’t think there’s anything here to go in my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – It’s So Good – 4:15
2 – Hope – 4:21
3 – Front Lines – 3:59
4 – I Need You Lord – 4:00
5 – Just Like a Child – 3:43
6 – Individually Wrapped – 4:12
7 – Don’t We Need To Know – 4:44
8 – Hold On To Me – 3:21
9 – Sing Solo – 3:25
10 – Miracles – 3:25
11 – It’s So Good (Reprise) – 0:54

Credits
Band – Greg Sparks
Band – Rebecca Ed
Band – Keith Lancaster
Art Direction, Cover – Randy Rogers
Engineer – David Starobin, Glen Barrett, Travis Turk

David Baroni – All For The Glory Of God – 1982

This is the second album from David. I think it’s a little more upbeat than his first album but this is still a pretty easy listening affair. It had one CCM charting single with “Move Up On The Mountain” making it to #34. Interestingly Dann Huff helped out with Guitar on the album and you can hear his work on a few tracks. I swear Dann Huff was on 10% of all Christian albums in the 80’s. Anyway this is a pretty good album and if you prefer your CCM on the easy listening side this one is for you.

Tracklist
1 – Follow Him – 3:37
2 – Joy’s Coming In The Morning – 3:59
3 – Keep The Flame Burning – 4:35
4 – Isn’t It Just Like Jesus – 3:15
5 – Look Up (Redemption Draweth High) – 3:30
6 – Pilgrim’s Song – 3:05
7 – Move Up On The Mountain – 3:48
8 – Willing – 4:22
9 – Find A Hurt And Heal It – 2:33
10 – All For The Glory Of God – 4:00

Credits
Bass Guitar – Craig Nelson
Drums – Mark Hammond, Tommy Wells
Engineer [Recording & Remix] – Jeff Balding
Engineer [Recording] – Jim Baird
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Dann Huff
Percussion – Lesa Cates*
Photography By – Jim Price
Producer – Bubba Smith
Synthesizer – Jerry Evans
Vocals, Piano, Electric Piano – David Baroni

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Goldmine Recording Studios
Recorded At – Bullet Recording

Cliff Richard – Now You See Me… …Now You Don’t – 1982

I do believe the only artist on this list to be officially “knighted” is Cliff Richard. Not bad for a pop star and teen heart throb from the 1950’s and 60’s. Then again John Lennon was a fan and he is said to be the first real “rock star” from Great Britain. Sir Cliff Richard has also been a devoted Christian and has recorded several Gospel themed albums. The one in question here is the very best as it is simply a pop album with Gospel themes rather than a Gospel album that tries to sound pop. The album is also unique in that it also generated a comeback of sort for the artist in his native land after several years of unsuccessful pop albums. NYSMNYD went Gold in England and had several radio hits on both side of the Atlantic. Released in 1982 Christian music was constantly gravitating toward “pop stars” who professed a Christian belief (Bob Dylan, Joe English), but this album never saw Christian distribution and many missed this great album. Thief in the Night is much heavier song musically than the normal Richard bubble gum and is the center piece to the whole project. It rocks and like the rest of the albums sounds like it was influenced by Mark Williamson and Chris Eaton. The album has a bit of an Ambrosia feel with silky, pop driven rockers and big ballads meant for radio consumption. But the rockers stand out like the previously mentioned Thief in the Night and the bombastic Son of Thunder. “Little Town” Chris Eaton arranged version of O Little Town of Bethlehem would also be recorded by Amy Grant and Michael W Smith. Richard’s version would be the best. One last song of note is the song Christian radio gravitated to; Water is Wide is a stunningly beautiful remake of the traditional tune. Simply, if not a bit over-produced, the song would chart on CCM radio and be Richards only real CCM hit. He would later do a duet with Van Morrison that would also hit CCM radio.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – The Only Way Out – 3:20
2 – First Date – 3:33
3 – Thief In The Night – 3:50
4 – Where Do We Go From Here – 2:53
5 – Son Of Thunder – 3:58
6 – Little Town – 4:03
7 – It Has To Be You, It Has To Be Me – 4:17
8 – The Water Is Wide – 3:50
9 – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t – 3:00
10 – Be In My Heart – 4:38
11 – Discovering – 4:50

Credits
Autoharp – Craig Pruess
Bass Guitar – Andy Pask, Mark Griffiths, Mo Foster, Paul Westwood
Bells [Sleigh Bells] – Craig Pruess
Design – Cream
Drum Programming – Craig Pruess
Drums – Dave Mattacks, Graham Jarvis
Electric Piano – Graham Todd
Electric Violin – Paul Hart
Engineer Assistant – Tony Richards
Engineer – John Kurlander
Engineer – John Walker
Engineer Assistant – Steve Cook
Engineer [Strawberry] – Keith Bessey
Guitar – Bill Roberts, John Clark, Mart Jenner
Harmonium – Craig Pruess
Mastered By – Gordon Vicary, Keith Bessey
Mixed By – Keith Bessey
Mixed By [Assisted By] – Howard Gray
Photography By – Brian Aris
Piano – Craig Pruess, Graham Todd, Peter Skellern
Producer – Cliff Richard, Craig Pruess
Saxophone – Mel Collins
Sequenced By – Craig Pruess
Synthesizer – Craig Pruess, Dave Cooke
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Cliff Richard
Wind Chimes – Craig Pruess

Companies, etc.
Marketed By – EMI
Distributed By – EMI
Manufactured By – EMI
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI Records Ltd.
Printed By – EMI Services Benelux B.V.
Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
Recorded At – Strawberry Studios
Mastered At – The Town House
Mixed At – The Town House

Kemper Crabb – The Vigil – 1982

Kemper Crabb’s own biography states that he may have been born 700 years too late. That is nor more correct than on his classic Celtic/progressive/folk rock classic, The Vigil. Inspired by the Crusades and the music from nearly that same era, The Vigil is a masterpiece that is admittedly not for everyone. He has played with Caedmon’s Call and Atomic Opera. He fronted the amazing Progressive Rock band, Arkangel (reviewed later) and has a list of credits a mile long. He is also an ordained minister in the Reformed Episcopal Church and lectures on a diverse selection of theological and sociological subjects. How truly magnificent is this work? Consider that every review on Amazon is 5 stars and that sealed original copies can go for as much as $200 without a problem of finding a buyer. The combination of worshipful baroque, Celtic hymns, classical instrumentals and brilliantly conceived and crafted lyrics make this beyond anything resembling an AYSO. Litanies and liturgies are not the normal fair for Christian rockers and many may stumble through upon first listening. But as these brilliant works swirl and envelope an initial appreciation may soon become an obsession. Crabb’s stunningly beautiful rendition of “Be Thou My Vision” is utterly captivating. “The Danse” would later appear on the first Caedmon’s Call worship album.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Sunset Before The Vigil – 1:21
2 – The Vigil – 2:03
3 – They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships – 4:12
4 – Tannin – 3:03
5 – Doulos – 3:32
6 – All Father Litany – 2:09
7 – Be Thou My Vision – 2:45
8 – Outremer – 1:16
9 – Salarello – 1:16
10 – The Danse – 4:50
11 – Thigpen’s Wedding – 2:00
12 – Taking The Cross – 1:35
13 – Candle Flame – 2:34
14 – Te Deum – 1:47
15 – Fairest Lord Jesus (Crusader’s Hymn) – 2:59
16 – The Vigil – 2:04
17 – Sunrise After The Vigil – 2:13

Credits
Art Direction – Dave Rogers
Bagpipes – Andy White
Engineer [Assistant] – Cathy Mills
Engineer [Assistant], Backing Vocals – Rick Thigpen
Guitar – Lee Ann Turner*
Harp [Troubador] – Barbara Goodrich
Illustration – Randy Rogers
Mandolin – Jerry McPherson
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Mixed By – Paul Mills
Mixed By, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Recorder, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Dulcimer, Bells, Psaltery – Kemper Crabb
Percussion – John Witte, Russell Dunlap
Photography – Frank White
Photography [Front Photo Concept], Backing Vocals – Bekah Crabb
Producer, Arranged By, Engineer, Organ – Paul Mills
Written-By – David Marshall, K. Crabb, P. Mills
Written-By, Timpani – C. Mills

Companies, etc.
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Engineered At – Rivendell Sound Recorders
Mixed At – Rivendell Sound Recorders
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song Records
Copyright © – Star Song Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Manufactured By – Star Song Records
Pressed By – Europadisk
Published By – StraightWay Music, Dawn Treader Music