This was the introductory album from Phil & John. It is probably one of the oddest choices for an premier album in CCM. The entire side 2 of the album is a live recording. Now this may sound like a very strange thing to do but in this case I think it was brilliant. Phil & John really did shine in their live work as they were essentially a comedy team that played music and it really set them apart frm the rest of the industry at the time. I personally love their style which on this album can be best described as 70’s Beatles. Unfortunately I did not give them the the amount of listening time they deserved in the 80’s. If you’ve never heard Phil & John live you should at least listen to side 2 of this album as it’s live where they really shine.
Tracklist 1 – Wasted Years – 2:57 2 – Teenage Millionaire – 3:13 3 – Saturday Night And Sunday Morning – 3:35 4 – You Wouldn’t Let Me Go – 3:25 5 – I Remember – 2:49 6 – Holding On – 4:16 7 – What Do You Do? – 3:10 8 – The Gnome Song – 7:06 9 – Factory Blues – 4:43 10 – Times I Find – 3:45 11 – Watch And Pray – 3:16
This is the one that started it all for Koinonia. The band formed in 1980 and were probably one of the first Christian bands to play their particular fusion jazz style. While the band were somewhat popular in North America they were huge Scandinavia where their style of music was really well received. Personally I don’t care that much for the style but they do it well and I always appreciate well done music even if it’s not my style.
Tracklist 1 – More Than A Feelin’ – 5:29 2 – Rescue – 4:24 3 – Graceful – 4:32 4 – Cuando – 3:59 5 – Divina – 4:09 6 – Give Your Love – 5:29 7 – Valentine – 5:35 8 – Funky Bumpkins – 4:43 9 – On My Way Home – 5:31
Credits Bass – Abraham Laboriel Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell Engineer – Bill Schnee Guitar – Dean Parks, Hadley Hockensmith Keyboards – Harlan Rogers Photography By – David Randle Producer – Bill Schnee Synthesizer – Michael Omartian Vocals – Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Harlan Rogers, Russ Taff Woodwind – John Phillips (6), Justo Almario
This is Wendell’s 4th album. This is another album that doesn’t fall in the style I usually listen to BUT I do listen to this one. This is a great Easy Listening album and Wendell was a great song writer. Now this album came out in 1983 and I should have heard of it but somehow I don’t remember anything about it. I’m pretty sure the album cover turned me off if I did see it. This is another example of a horrible album cover that I have complained about before from several labels. Strangely a track from this album ended up on a Sparrow records sampler but the album was on Lamb & Lion Records and Word Canada. I’m just guessing that Sparrow was doing the U.S. distribution but like I said that’s just a guess. Anyway there is one stand out track to me on the album. “America” just begs to have been covered by Springsteen. But I don’t want to say the original isn’t good, it’s very good and is gong into my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Spreading All Over the World – 3:52 2 – Just Like You – 3:04 3 – Who He Is – 3:24 4 – The Battle Is Already Won – 3:50 5 – Come To Me – 3:27 6 – America – 5:17 7 – Today’s The Day – 3:34 8 – Only Be Strong – 4:11 9 – Greatly Rejoice – 4:04 10 – To Be Like Jesus – 2:46
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Wendell Burton Arranged By [Strings] – Allen Moore, Kristen Wilkinson Backing Vocals – Christie Houser, Donna McElroy, Lynn Kellogg, Patti Burton*, Randy Thompson, Vicki Wilson Bass – Larry Paxton, Tim Smith Drums – Buster Phillips, Joe English Keyboards – Bobby Wood Keyboards, Synthesizer – John Lawry, Roger Morris, Shane Keister Mixed By – Joe Wilson Mixed By [Assistant] – Bill Cobb Mixed By, Backing Vocals – Dan Collins Percussion [Synthesized] – Dan Collins Producer, Recorded By, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Joe Wilson Saxophone – Donnie Sanders Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Tom Howard
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lamb & Lion Records Recorded At – Master’s Touch Mixed At – Poiema Studios Mixed At – Martinsound Mixed At – Glaser Sound Studios, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
This was Debby’s seventh album and considering we’re talking about Debby Boone here it didn’t do all that well. I’ve listened to it a few times and to be honest it’s just kind of boring. I know I’m not her target audience but the album just didn’t have any punch to it. It was produced by Brown Bannister so I don’t know why it has this feel. I’ve kind of decided it was due to song selection. I think they just got unlucky and didn’t have a great track that stuck. Now lets be clear the album was popular and did sell well. I’m just saying it didn’t sell well for a Debby Boone album.
Tracklist 1 – O Come All Ye Faithful – 4:05 2 – Keep The Flame Burning – 4:42 3 – Can You Reach My Friend – 4:09 4 – Lift Him Up – 4:23 5 – Wounded Soldier – 4:59 6 – Surrender – 3:35 7 – Keep Rollin’ On – 4:05 8 – Find A Hurt And Heal It – 2:38 9 – O Holy One – 4:12 10 – Blessing – 3:05
Credits Debby Boone – Vocals Jim Baird – Engineer Brown Bannister – Producer, Handclaps Debbie Bannister – Handclaps David Baroni – Songwriter Laury Boone Browning – Background Vocals Niles Borop – Songwriter Harry Browning – Songwriter Robbie Buchanan – Keyboards, Synthesizers, Background Vocals Lenny Castro – Percussion Bill Champlin – Background Vocals Tamara Champlin – Background Vocals Gary Chapman – Background Vocals Claire Cloninger – Songwriter Diana DeWitt Hanna – Background Vocals Phil Driscoll – Duet Vocal Nathan East – Bass Gene Eichelberger – Engineer Victor Feldman – Percussion Marty Goetz – Songwriter, Piano Richard Green – Handclaps Debbie Hall – Background Vocals Sandy Hall – Background Vocals Russ Hollingsworth – Songwriter John Houghton – Handclaps Dann Huff – Guitars Shane Keister – Keyboards, Synthesizers Jim Keltner – Drums Brent King – Engineer Greg Laughery – Songwriter Pam Mark Hall – Songwriter Martyn Ford – Orchestra Strings Dony McGuire – Songwriter, Keyboards, Background Vocals Alan Moore – String Arranger Farrell Morris – Percussion Rich Mullins – Songwriter Connie Nelson – Songwriter Dean Parks – Guitars Jack Joseph Puig – Engineer Bill Purse – Songwriter Reba Rambo – Songwriter, Background Vocals John Rosasco – Songwriter Rick Shlosser – Drums Leland Sklar – Bass Billy Sprague – Songwriter Fred Tackett – Guitars Carmen Twillie – Background Vocals Jim Weber – Songwriter
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Sparrow Records Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
I’m pretty sure we will agree that this was Phil’s most successful album. The album got a Grammy nomination for Best Male Gospel Performance and also received the 1984 GMA Dove Award for Instrumentalist of the Year. It was also nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year. That’s pretty impressive. Now one of the stranger things about this album is that Phil went back into the studio are rerecorded the entire album so he could release it on his own label. He also added a track. I can’t say for sure but I’m pretty sure this was a big screw you to Sparrow records. Anyway if you only have time to listen to one track make it his version of “Amazing Grace”. It’s actually my favorite version of this classic hymn, Phil’s voice just makes it sound so great.
Tracklist 1 – I Exalt Thee – 7:23 2 – Wings As Eagles – 5:30 3 – Let The Whole World Know – 4:05 4 – Our God Reigns – 4:36 5 – Amazing Grace – 4:10 6 – Hosanna – 4:33 7 – El Shaddai – 3:55 8 – Everlasting Life – 4:18 9 – The Lord’s Prayer – 4:49
Credits Backing Vocals – Beverly Baxter, Donna McElroy, Lari Goss, Melodie Tunney*, Roni Goss, Sharon Scott (3), Terry Blackwood Bass – Ricky Keller Congas, Timbales, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Laran Philpott Drums – Buster Phillips, Jim Keltner Guitar – Dann Huff, Mike Deasy Keyboards – Jerry Cleveland, Lari Goss Producer – Lari Goss, Phil Driscoll
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sparrow Records
Many readers may be more familiar with Paul Field as a member of Nutshell for four albums, with two different incarnations. A very popular British folk trio, Nutshell was referred to by some as the British Second Chapter of Acts. But Field is quite the prolific songwriter, including writing a number one CCM single for pop group Avalon called “Testify to Love.” Winona Judd would actually cover song as it was used on the popular “Touched By An Angel” television series and made it a Top Ten Billboard Hit! But here we are discussing his first solo album, and the one that most may be familiar. He would later record a few other solo projects and spend much of his time writing musicals. Field is a prolific songwriter and has produced scores of albums though many reached widespread distribution in the US. Immediately “Restless Heart” sounds like it could just have easily been released by Cliff Richard. It also reminds me of the “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” album by Richard, and not only because Richard would cover a song from this album (“Has to Be You, Has to Be Me”). Like the previously discussed Mark Williamson composition, Richard’s version is a bit more upbeat. The album kicks of with what would be the one single KYMS in Southern California really jumped on. “Rock with the Best of Them” is a fun song to start the album with a great horn section a la Chicago. If the world of CCM radio at the time had any justice, this would have been a monster hit! “Radio” follows with a much more mid-tempo feel very reminiscent of the sound for that day. Darker, more somber, I always saw the metaphor of the radio as being related to the Holy Spirit. The song always reminds me more of what the late 70’s Steve Winwood music was like. The album’s 12 songs (quite a few for the day) bounces back and forth between uptempo pop/rock and ballads. One stand out in the Loggins & Messina vein is “The Storm Is Over.” Something that perhaps Scott Wesley Brown would have done at the same time, it may be the most obviously evangelical song on the album. At the same time, it should have been a hit. The whole album is filled with great songs, but the last song I would like to highlight is the most upbeat song on the album, “Fair Fight.” This could just as easily fit on an album from Mark Williamson/Lyrix or even Morgan Cryar or David Edwards, both musically and lyrically. Never released on CD that I know of (at least in the US) and missing from virtually every streaming service (like much of early 80’s Myrrh releases), the album is worth tracking down. I have seen it for a reasonable price on Amazon and Ebay.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Rock With The Best Of Them – 3:23 2 – Radio – 3:56 3 – Has To Be You, Has To Be Me – 4:42 4 – Solo – 3:48 5 – Positive – 2:57 6 – The Storm Is Over – 3:51 7 – Fairfight – 2:46 8 – Stranger In Your Eyes – 3:45 9 – Just Around The Corner – 3:04 10 – You’re The One – 5:12 11 – Nearly Midnight – 3:48 12 – Restless Heart – 3:46
Credits Paul Field – Vocals, Guitar and Piano Graham Jarvis – Drums Mark Griffiths – Bass Martin Jenner – Guitar Dave Cooke – Piano, Keyboards, Guitar and Backing vocals Luís Jardim – Bass Linda Jardim – Backing vocals Marilyn David – Backing vocals Tom Blades – Guitar Colin Larne – Drums Bill Thorpe – Violin Martin David – Percussion Barry de Souza – Drums Ray Russell – Guitar Henry Lowther – Horn Nick Pentelow – Saxophone Nick Firkle – Trumpet Steve Jones – Violin Penny Thompson – Viola Jan Sharpe – Cello
Jerusalem’s 4th album “Can’t Stop Us Now” was a departure from their previous style. Up until this album they had been a 70’s style rock band. Surviving in the 80’s required an updated sound and they easily achieved it. The new pop rock sound was poorly received by their regular listeners but gained new users like myself. The album sold much better than their previous offerings proving their direction change to be a good idea. The album was released in both Swedish and English with the Swedish version retaining 3 English tracks. There does appear to be some minor mix changes between the two versions but for the main part it sounds like they used the same instrument tracks. The English version was reissued in 2018 with 2 bonus tracks. A new song “Time” which is more their traditional style and a remix of “Heartbeat”. We have included those tracks in oar playlist.
Tracklist 1 – Can’t Stop Us Now 4:02 2 – Loves You More 3:58 3 – The Wind Is Blowing 4:24 4 – Tomorrow’s World 5:34 5 – The Waiting – 4:33 6 – Let’s Go (Dancing) – 3:41 7 – Mourner’s Parade – 4:35 8 – Read Between The Lines – 4:08 9 – The Missing Piece – 3:43 10 – Heartbeat – 3:15 Bonus Tracks 11 – Time – 5:50 12 – Heartbeat (Light Remix) – 3:15
Credits Bass – Peter Carlsohn Drums – Mikael Ulvsgärd Keyboards – Dan Tibell Vocals, Guitar – Ulf Christiansson Composed By – Ulf Christiansson Layout, Design – Scott Waters Producer [Produced By] – Andy Kidd Remastered By – Rob Colwell
This is the Swedish version of Jerusalem’s 4th album “Can’t Stop Us Now” instead titled “Vi Kan Inte Stoppas”. It was a departure from their previous style as up until this album they had been a 70’s style rock band. Surviving in the 80’s required an updated sound and they easily achieved it. The new pop rock sound was poorly received by their regular listeners but gained new users like myself. The album sold much better than their previous offerings proving their direction change to be a good idea. The album was released in both Swedish and English with the Swedish version retaining 3 English tracks. There does appear to be some minor mix changes between the two versions but for the main part it sounds like they used the same instrument tracks.
Tracklist 1 – Vi Kan Inte Stoppas – 3:58 2 – Loves You More – 3:58 3 – Vinden Blåser… – 4:27 4 – I Skuggan Av Det Förflutna – 5:37 5 – Kärlekseld – 4:35 6 – Let’s Go (Dancin’) – 3:42 7 – Sorgsnas Parad – 4:37 8 – Regn – 4:09 9 – Pusselbiten – 3:36 10 – Heartbeat – 3:15
Credits Bass – Peter Carlsohn Drums – Mikael Ulvsgärd Keyboards – Dan Tibell Vocals, Guitar – Ulf Christiansson Composed By – Ulf Christiansson Layout, Design – Scott Waters Producer [Produced By] – Andy Kidd Remastered By – Rob Colwell
This is where it all started for Bride. If you don’t know Bride were originally called Matrix and this is their first Demo. There are several versions of this demo and some apparently have different tracks so don’t hold us to this particular lineup. Apparently this demo was cut fairly early in the bands development which is rather amazing if you listen to it. Apparently none of these tracks ever made it onto an album which is a real pity as there are some really really good songs here. To be honest I’m quite surprised how good this demo really is. These guys had it together and they had it together quick. Some of the tracks lean a little more Rock & Roll than the work they would be best known for and I sure would have liked to hear more from them in this style. To me the standout track is “Spell House” which has a bit of a Rush feeling to it. Maybe not the best track on the Demo but it’s the one that stood out to me. Best track? For me it is probably “What’s The Point?”.
Tracklist 1 – We Got The Rhythm – 3:19 2 – Who Killed The Rock Hero – 3:24 3 – Get Away – 3:10 4 – What’s The Point – 4:36 5 – Good Rock ‘N’ Roll – 3:19 6 – Stand Up And Shout – 3:01 7 – West Of The Moon – 2:13 8 – Spell House – 3:13 9 – To Make You Think It’s Real – 3:00 10 – Missing Children – 4:35
Credits Drums – Steve Childers Guitar, Bass – Troy Thompson Vocals, Bass – Dale Thompson Photography By – Scott Hall Songwriter [All Songs Written By] – Dale Thompson, Troy Thompson
This was Tom’s first album. Myrrh / Word Records took a real chance on Tom as he was actually Catholic and not evangelical. I’m actually quite surprised they took this chance but it was a good idea as he was quite well received. He had been working in secular music with no success and his faith called him to do Christian music. This album is a little heavy on the worship tracks and strangely none of them singled. Several were certainly good enough for the CCM charts but I suspect there was some hesitance due to his denomination. There are a few good pop tracks and I really like “I Know What Love’s About”. CCM needed more songs like this. HIs next album is better and much better known so if you liked his second album, Shadowboxing, you should give this one a listen.
Tracklist 1 – Walk That Talk 2 – The Call 3 – Messiah 4 – (You’re Only As) Sick As Your Secrets 5 – Piece Of The Mountaintop 6 – HGT (Heavy Guilt Trip) 7 – Thank You For Loving Me 8 – I Know What Love’s About 9 – Live On In My Love 10 – Just Passing Through
