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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
If you were like me and was yearning for more from After The Fire then this album could be one for you. Iva Twydell is actually Ivor Twidell, the drummer of After The Fire. He was joined by fellow ATF member Nick Battle who played bass and produced the album. The album was financed by Redsky music who released it in The UK and New Zealand. It was also released in Canada on license by Tunesmith Records. The album is very Synth heavy and those duties were handeled by Anthony Phillips who was actually the original guitarist for Geneses. This is rather odd as I can’t find that Anthony was ever involved in any other Christian project. Anyway this is a great album and if you like ATF then you will likely enjoy this album even if it doesn’t have Peter Banks on vocals.
Tracklist 1 – The Man Inside – 3:37 2 – The Warning – 3:20 3 – Teaching Me The Hard Way – 3:43 4 – See No, Hear No, Speak No Evil – 3:58 5 – Final Fuse – 4:27 6 – Decline And Fall – 4:17 7 – Hear Me – 3:36 8 – Addicted – 3:03 9 – Get It Right – 2:58 10 – Abdication Day – 4:06
Credits Backing Vocals – Annie McCaig, Colin Blunstone, Mo Turner Drum Machine Programming – Richard Scott Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar – Nick Battle Synthesiser, Keyboards, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass Guitar – Anthony Phillips Vocals, Synthesiser, Electric Guitar, Percussion – Iva Twydell
Throughout the 80’s The Predators released three albums of authentic, frantic and believable new wave/pop punk rock geared directly at the lost but from a distinctly Christian worldview. Two of the albums will make this list, including this, the debut from 1982. I did not have a chance to hear them for several years after this released because of the limited distribution in the US and even more limited Christian Bookstores willing to carry the album. Though not as strong as the follow up, Social Decay, this release does have more energy and a distinctive garage appeal. Borrowing liberally from the post punk and new wave of England at the time, the band forged a trail few would follow. Not only high energy and driving rhythms, but a social awareness of topics that ranged from racism to personal vanity to emotional and mental struggles. The album kicks off with “Sunday Boy,” a fun punk rocker dealing with maintaining faith amidst the insanity that surrounds us in the culture. It also serves as a stark warning to the lost. “You Better Run” is more reminiscent of the pop side of Undercover’s first two albums. In fact, the lead vocals are eerily similar to Bill Walden. Again, the theme that runs throughout the album of warning of a short life and need for Christ, is present here. “Don’t Burn That Cross” deal openly and obviously with racism. It is couched in a world music rhythm similar to The Police. It is a tough and unflinching song, especially for the time it was released. “Maybe Tomorrow” remains a favorite some 40 years later. It is the most commercially accessible song on the album and Christian radio most likely would have embraced it in some areas if it was available.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Sunday Boy – 2:42 2 – Man Of The War – 3:12 3 – Don’t Burn That Cross – 4:43 4 – Don’t Mess Around – 3:41 5 – Maybe Tomorrow – 3:50 6 – Never Said A Word – 2:50 7 – Plastic Surgeon – 3:11 8 – Emotional Upset – 4:17 9 – Where You’re Going – 4:42 10 – You Better Run – 2:52 11 – Drift Away – 6:06
Credits Bass, Vocals – Chris Thompson Drums – Francis Johnson Guitar – Kelvin Allwood Keyboards – Christopher Norton Lacquer Cut By – BilBo Plated By – PAG Producer – John Pantry Vocals – Kevin Smith
