Tag: 1985

Avalanche – Pray For The Sinner – 1985

This was the one and only album from Christian Heavy Metal band Avalanche.

Like many bands named after natural disasters their career was short lived. The album really isn’t that bad and is your typical 8 track session rock album. Nothing really stands out but then again, nothing sounds horrible either.

If you’re a metal head this is an album for you. The European release of this album had When The Thunder Roars as the 9th track instead of Battle Axe. Both songs are included.

Track Listing:
1 – They Won’t Take Me – 3:44
2 – We Will Fight – 3:59
3 – Tortured Defender – 4:41
4 – This Love I Feel – 3:26
5 – Sorceror – 4:32
6 – Pray For The Sinner – 4:03
7 – Child Of Damnation – 3:09
8 – Devils Door – 5:07
9 – Battle Axe – 3:52
9 – (alternate track) When The Thunder Roars – 4:33
10 – Rock Hard And Heavy – 4:13

Credits:
Arranged By – Nikki Van Welden
Bass, Vocals – Nikki Van Welden
Drums – Barry Nicholson
Executive-Producer – Eric ”Griffy” Greif*
Guitar – Michael Cloe
Management – Titan Productions
Mastered By – Eddie Schreyer*
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Mike Frazier
Written-By – Michael Cloe (tracks: A4), Nikki Van Welden (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B5)

Allies – (self titled) – 1985

Sometime in 1985 we were surprised to find this record in our local shop, arriving with no fanfare, but clearly a rock’n’roll album by the cover.

The military look doesn’t translate into the themes in the lyrics or the music too much. There’s no “Onward Christian Soldiers” here, just some straight-up radio rock something along the lines of Journey or Foreigner. Just enough synthesizer and guitar mix to remind you what decade this is, and some strong vocals make this a solid sound.

The Allies log is a capital A with (almost) a circle around it. It’s not the punk rock A for Anarchy, but it’s close, just not very punk. There is no punk connection on this album at all. It seems like the marketing approach was a shotgun approach rather than just selling the great musicianship that is on this album.

Track Listing:
1 – Surrender – 4:36
2 – Second Chance – 3:54
3 – Don’t Run Away – 3:28
4 – Send Me – 4:27
5 – Don’t Keep Him Waiting – 3:57
6 – Don’t You Worry – 5:07
7 – Morningstar – 5:03
8 – I’ll Be Your Brother – 3:56
9 – Pardon Me – 4:22

Credits:
Bass – Matthew Chapman
Design [Allies Emblem] – Coen Van De Poll
Design, Art Direction, Artwork By [Illustration] – Kurt Triffet
Drums – Jim Erickson
Engineer [Second] – Mike Mierau
Guitar, Guitar [Solo], Bass, Vocals – Randy Thomas
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Bob Carlisle
Keyboards [Acoustic Keyboards& Electric], Vocals – Sam Scott
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Photography By – Ken Reece
Producer – Randy Thomas
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Dino Elefante
Sequenced By [Syntheizer] – Tim Heintz
Vocals – John Elefante

David Edwards – Dreams, Tales and Lullabies – 1985

This was the third and final release from David Edwards. If your a fan of his previous two albums you’re probably not going to be a fan of this one.

To call this easy listening is even a stretch. It has a symphonic sound that is true to its title of Lullabies. While there was a cult following for this album I believe it marked the end of his music career.

I’m really at a loss for words on this album as I was a huge fan but was left bewildered by this release. That said, it is very well done for what it is so I can respect the people who like it.

Track Listing:
1 – My Empty Pockets – 3:09
2 – Diamond’s Lullaby – 5:01
3 – When Morning Comes – 4:50
4 – The Son and the Angels – 4:14
5 – I Saw Your Prayer – 4:02
6 – When He Comes – 5:10
7 – Grandfather’s House – 4:04
8 – When At Night – 2:34

Credits:
Barry Miller Kaye – Producer
Andrea Saparoff – Conducted and Arranged
Mark Heard – Recorded and Mixed
Steve Hall – Mastered
John Flynn – Engineer
Doug Mathews – Copyist
Paul Gross – Album Design
James Henry – Cover Illustration
Gary Whitlock – Photography

Rez Band – Between Heaven ‘n’ Hell – 1985

This 1985 release from Rez/Ressurection Band did away with the Pop sound from their previous album Hostage.

This album was an attempt to enter the mainstream music scene. It was met with moderate success, but the music video for Love Comes Down did have some limited play on MTV.

The album had another apartheid related song continuing the band’s awareness of this issue. Wendi wrote or co-wrote 3 songs on this album, which was her most significant writing contribution to an album yet.

Track Listing:
1 – The Main Event – 3:03
2 – Love Comes Down – 3:08
3 – Zuid Afrikan – 5:20
4 – Walk On – 3:42
5 – Talk To Me – 4:25
6 – I Think You Know – 3:13
7 – Shadows – 5:00
8 – Save Me From Myself – 3:30
9 – Nervous World – 4:22
10 – 2,000 – 4:56

Credits:
Bass, Keyboards – Jim Denton
Drums, Percussion – John Herrin
Engineer – Roger Heiss
Engineer [Assistant] – Larry Bishop, Roy Montroy
Guitar – Stu Heiss
Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Glenn Kaiser
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Wendi Kaiser
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Producer – Rez Band

Leslie Phillips – Black and White in a Grey World – 1985

Black and White in a Grey World was Leslie Phillips’ third of four albums on Myrrh Records, once again produced by Dan Posthuma.

The songs on this record sound just like her but a little older. She is more mature in music, in delivery, and with even deeper songwriting than on Dancing With Danger. There are still plenty of praise songs and messages of encouragement here. Later, Leslie would say that she felt a lot of pressure from the record company to record certain kinds of songs and that is why she eventually left to go to Virgin Records.

Leslie does a great job of pulling in the pop/new wave high energy sound into her her songs without watering down any message. This album is very well done and deserves even more critical acclaim than it got.

Tracklist
1 – Black And White In A Grey World – 4:20
2 – Tug Of War – 3:20
3 – When The World Is New – 4:31
4 – Psalm 55 – 3:48
5 – Your Kindness – 4:03
6 – The More I Know You – 5:00
7 – Smoke Screen – 3:37
8 – You´re My Lord – 4:13
9 – Walls Of Silence – 4:54
10 – You´re The Same – 4:14

Credits:
Backing Vocals – Tata Vega
Bass – Nathan East, Neil Stubenhaus
Drums – Carlos Vega, John Robinson
Guitar – Dan Huff
Keyboards – Alan Pasqua
Mixed By – Bill Schnee
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Producer – Dan Posthuma

The Lifters – What Love’s All About – 1985

The Lifters return after their successful EP release.

This regular length album is more of the same Rockabilly sound. There was one track carry over from the EP “Eternity Bop” which is very slightly altered. If you had to pick a “single” that would be it, but personally I suggest “C’mon Back” Bottom line is that this is a fun sounding album that should keep your toes tapping.

Track Listing:
1 – Be Like You – 2:10
2 – Operator – 2:45
3 – Scream and Shout – 2:41
4 – I’m Goin’ to Heaven – 3:01
5 – Front Slidder – 1:49
6 – No Middle Ground – 3:13
7 – What Love’s All About – 2:24
8 – Do What I Do – 2:48
9 – Eternity Bop – 2:21
10 – C’mon Back – 3:13
11 – My Love For You Will Stay – 4:04

Credits:
Albert Berry – Background Vocal
Chris Brigandi – Producer, Songwriter, Guitars, Lead Vocals
Lucky Chuck – Background Vocals
Derri Daugherty – Engineered, Mixed
Stan Endicott – Over Dub Production
Rex Harvey – Songwriter, Guitars, Background Vocals
Dave Kaplowitz – Sax
Kass – Bass, Background Vocals
Mark Kirschak – Songwriter
Joey Mitchell – Drums, Background Vocals
Kathy Perry – Background Vocals
Brian Ray – Drums
Joanne Saundenberg – Background Vocals
Marnie Saundenberg – Duet Vocal, Background Vocal
William Spivery – Songwriter
Adrian Tapia – Sax, Clarinet
Joe Van Gilder – Piano

Ever Call Ready – (self titled) – 1985

Ever Call Ready were a one album Gospel Bluegrass band.

The band was better known as the Flying Burrito Brothers and it appears they used this new name to put out a entirely gospel album. The album consists of several gospel covers as well as some original material.

All in all this is an excellent bluegrass album but doesn’t really leave us with a lasting reason to remember it. Trivia point for this album is that the lead singer of the band, Chris Hillman, is actually one of the original members of The Byrds.

Track Listing:
1 – River Of Jordan
2 – I’ll Be No Stranger There
3 – Don’t Let Them Take The Bible Out Of Our School Rooms
4 – God Loves His Children
5 – It’s Beginning To Rain
6 – Livin’ In The Name Of Love
7 – Boat Of Love
8 – Men Are So Busy
9 – I’m Using My Bible For A Road Map
10 – Panhandle Rag

Credits:
Bass – Jerry Scheff
Fiddle, Electric Guitar – David Mansfield
Lead Vocals, Mandolin – Chris Hillman
Resonator, Guitar, Tenor Vocals – Al Perkins
Tenor Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Bernie Leadon
Art Direction – Alex MacDougall
Design – Cluny Rakestraw
Executive Producer – Mary Neely
Illustration – Dave Swaney
Photography – Kent Lacin
Producer – Al Perkins
Recorded By – Daryl Zachman, Joe Bellamy

U2 – The Unforgettable Fire 12″ Single – 1985

The 12” vinyl format of “The Unforgettable Fire” functions more as an EP rather than as a single promoting the song itself [u2songs.com]. “The Three Sunrises” starts Side 1, with the title track coming second. Side 2 includes “A Sort of Homecoming (Live)”, “Love Comes Tumbling”, and “Bass Trap”, an instrumental from the album sessions. “Bass Trap” was created by looping a few bars of Adam’s bass, with Edge playing guitar and Daniel Lanois playing pedal steel over top.

Trivia 1: The Australian and New Zealand release misspells “Unforgettable’ as “Unforgetable” on both the front and back sleeves; the error was subsequently corrected in the front, but not the back.

Trivia 2: In the Canadian release, “Love Comes Tumbling” has a ‘false start’ at the beginning of the song, which does not appear on the Wide Awake in America EP.

Track Listing:
1 – The Three Sunrises 3:52
2 – The Unforgettable Fire 4:56
3 – A Sort Of Homecoming 4:06
4 – Love Comes Tumbling 4:45
5 – Bass Trap 5:14

Credits:
Composed By – U2
Design – Steve Averill, U2
Design [Realisation] – The Creative Dept. Ltd. Dublin*
Photography By – Declan Quinn
Remix – Kevin Moloney, U2

Crumbächer – Incandescent – 1985

Though often assumed to be a German band Crumbächer was actually a U.S. band whose lead singer’s name was Stephen Crumbächer.

Incandescent was their first album. I was supposed to be an EP, but upon the record company hearing it, they requested the band cut a few more songs to make it a full length album.

Crumbächer were probably the first synthpop band in the CCM genre. There’s really not much to say about this album, it had a German synthpop sound and was actually quite good for this style of music.

Point of trivia is that the album was produced by Ojo Taylor from the band Undercover.

Track Listing:
1 – Understudy – 3:25
2 – Infrared/X-Ray Eyes – 4:16
3 – Glowing In The Dark – 5:12
4 – So Strange – 5:41
5 – It Don’t Matter – 4:45
6 – Jamie – 4:46
7 – Sweet By And By – 3:29
8 – Track You Down – 5:16

Credits:
Backing Vocals – Dawn Wisner-Johnson, Jimmy Wisner
Drums – Jimmy Wisner
Guitar – Dan Hohulin
Keyboards – Dawn Wisner-Johnson, Stephen Crumbächer
Producer – O-Joe Taylor
Vocals – Stephen Crumbächer

Stryper – Yellow and Black Attack – 1986

Originally released in 1984 as a 6 song EP was “The Yellow and Black Attack”. This is the 1986 blue vinyl re-release which featured 2 bonus tracks. While this was Stryper’s debut album it didn’t sell well until their second release “Soldiers Under Command” achieved gold then fans hunted out this album. It had the typical Stryper sound which of course was strong heavy metal. Like them or not Stryper did fill a gap in Christian music and they did have some crossover success. Point of trivia is that the Japanese version of this album featured another bonus track “Winter Wonderland”.

Tracklist
1 – Loud ‘N’ Clear – 3:28
2 – From Wrong To Right – 3:47
3 – My Love I’ll Always Show – 3:39
4 – You Know What To Do – 4:48
5 – Co’Mon Rock – 3:44
6 – You Won’t Be Lonely – 3:43
7 – Loving You – 4:12
8 – Reason For The Season – 6:31

Credits
Art Direction – Brian Ayuso
Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Tim Gaines
Drums – Robert Sweet
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Oz Fox
Illustration [Cover] – Tom Utley
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Michael Sweet
Mastered By – Eddy Schreyer
Mixed By – Jim Faraci
Photography By – Glen La Fermin
Producer – Ron Goudie (tracks: A1 to 2, A4 to B3), Stryper
Programmed By [Synclavier] – Chris Currell

Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – The Enigma Entertainment Corporation
Distributed By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix – ? 13003
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Enigma Entertainment Corporation
Pressed By – Allied Record Company – B-24020
Pressed By – Allied Record Company – B-24021
Published By – Sweet Family Music
Recorded At – Amigo Studios
Recorded At – Clover Recorders