Third and final LP from Oklahoma group Solid Rock. They are best known for their progressive 70’s rock sound and this album they continue that but give their music a more 80’s sound and feel. They did a great job of adjusting their music to changing times. The problem of course is that niche CCN bands had an even smaller audience. Too bad because these guys were very good and did this style very very well. Only time for one track? Check out “Time Goes By”.
Tracklist 1 – Uncommon Valor – 3:38 2 – Plastic Love Affair – 3:36 3 – Open Your Eyes – 3:30 4 – No Substitute – 2:48 5 – Time Goes By – 4:08 6 – Blind Lead The Blind – 2:45 7 – Wheel Of Fortune – 2:35 8 – Alien – 4:46 9 – Where Are The Banners – 4:16 10 – Right Road – 3:09
Credits Bass, Vocals – Kevin Bartel Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Larry Percy Guitar, Vocals – Stan Mathis Keyboards, Vocals – Scott Jay Lead Vocals, Keyboards – Jerry Johnson
A selection of Christmas songs from First Call featuring David Maddux done in A Cappella. Nothing outstanding here except for the fact that it was done A Cappella.
Tracklist 1 – An Evening In December – 4:53 2 – Christmas Medley – 4:15 3 – Starlight – 3:06 4 – How Great Our Joy! – 1:45 5 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel – 3:05 6 – The First Noel – 2:33 7 – One Small Child – 3:02 8 – When Jesus Was A Tiny Baby – 3:07 9 – Lo! How A Rose E’re Blooming – 1:16 10 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 3:43 11 – The New Twelve Days Of Christmas/We Wish You A Merry Christmas – 5:02
Credits Arranged By – D. Maddux Art Direction, Illustration – McConnell Graphics Co-producer – David Maddux Engineer [Sound] – Lynn Fuston, Tom Harding Engineer, Mixed By – Ed Seay Executive-Producer – Don Cason, Neal Joseph Mastered By – Hank Williams Performer – David Maddux, First Call Performer [First Call Is] – Bonnie Keen, Marty McCall, Melodie Tunney Producer – Steven V. Taylor
So often when a new album wanders into the studio I do some research on it before processing it. I saw that someone in authority, looking at you Word Records, had categorized it as Ballad, Vocal, Synth-pop, That’s not a common classification so I was thinking maybe something like David Meece. The album cover said worship but I have learnt a long time ago not to trust album covers on this genre. Anyway came time to process it and surprise, it’s actually Easy Listening/Worship just like the cover implied. Of course that first listening didn’t go well because I was expecting something else. So I gave it a few days and came back to it today with no illusions on what I was going to hear. Now that I had that out of the way I was surprised how good this album is. Yes it’s not my style but I know good music when I hear it and this is a good album. I doubt any of it will end up in my regular rotation but I will say that this is a pretty darn good Easy Listening/Worship album.
Tracklist 1 – Shepherd Of My Heart – 3:45 2 – I Have A Reason – 2:45 3 – Celebrate The Lord – 2:58 4 – May I Call You Jesus – 4:10 5 – Messiah – 2:58 6 – Seek The Blesser, Not The Blessing – 2:22 7 – I Can – 3:04 8 – Praise Him Now – 3:51 9 – That’s Something Else – 3:46 10 – You Are Most Blest – 6:23
Credits Arranged By – David Diggs Backing Vocals – First Call Singers Conductor, Producer – Kurt Kaiser Design [Cover Design] – Dennis Hill Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Eric Tomlinson Engineer [Recording Engineer], Mixed By [Mixdown Engineer] – Bob Clark Liner Notes – Kurt Kaiser Photography By [Cover Photos] – Kenn Duncan
I have a rather strange relationship with Talking Drums. I was a fan of theirs and played several tracks of theirs while I was a Disc Jockey outside of the Christina industry. Their albums were only available as imports but I fell in love with them. I had no idea they were a Christian band or band of Christians if you prefer. This is their first full length album and built on the success of their EP Courage. Between Courage and this album they actually released a very well produced demo that was very popular in the underground scene. Two tracks from that demo, Reassembly Of The Heart, and What Do You Want? were rerecorded (or possible just remixed) for this album.
Tracklist 1 – Pretend A Stranger – 3:34 2 – I Do Not Fret – 4:10 3 – You Do Cry A Lot – 3:13 4 – Reassembly Of The Heart – 4:13 5 – What Do You Want? – 2:16 6 – Tell Me – 3:37 7 – Much Too Much – 3:41 8 – Sweet July – 3:20 9 – Grown-Up Children – 3:33 10 – Innocent Love – 4:04
Credits Engineer [Creative Engineering] – Rico Conning Performer [Talking Drums:] – Carol Moore, Charlie Irvine, Dot Irvine Producer [Production] – Steve Butler Sleeve – Box Written-By – Charlie Irvine
Angie set out to have a career in music and this, her first album, is the result of that work. After high school she enrolled at the University of South Alabama as a vocal performance major and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She moved to Nashville after college and soon captured the attention of Power Discs/Benson and recorded this EP. It was an immediate success and the track “Silent Weeper” climbed to #6 on the CCM charts. The album is full of great talent including Steve Taylor. It was produced by Billy Smiley of White Heart and he really nailed it in my opinion. If you like female pop music this album is a must listen. Even though this isn’t my favourite genre of music I really liked this album and listened to it a few times.
Tracklist 1 – Heartdance – 3:10 2 – Lonely Warrior – 4:16 3 – O Lord Your Love – 4:58 4 – Silent Weeper – 5:43 5 – High Rise – 3:47 6 – Be Still – 3:13
Credits Jeff Balding – Recorded, Mixed Mike Brignardello – Bass Jackie Cusic – Background Vocals Mark Gersmehl – Songwriter, Arrangements Mark Hammond – Drums Gary Janney – Background Vocals Greg Jennings – Guitars Bonnie Keen – Background Vocals Shane Keister – Synthesizers, Percussion, Vocoder Gordon Kennedy – Guitar Solos Brent King – Recorded, Mixed Angie Lewis – Songwriter, Vocals Gary Lunn – Bass Donna McElroy – Background Vocals Farrell Morris – Percussion Phil Naish – Keyboards, Synthesizer Gary Pigg – Background Vocals Brent Rowan – Guitars Billy Smiley – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements James Stroud – Drums Steve Taylor – Arrangements, Background Vocals Hank Williams – Mastered
Here’s another rarity from the 80’s. It’s a great AOR album but was released on tiny label Straight Ahead Records and I can’t see if it had a distribution deal. As such it isn’t very well known. I find this quite odd because John Andrew Schreiner is in the lineup and he was legendary. You may not recognize the name but he wrote many of the hits you know from CCM and worked in the studio with many many bands you are familiar with. I would have figured with a name like that on the album some larger label would have wanted this release but nope. Furthermore it was co-produced by Tim Archer. It’s actually the second album from Morningstar and by the way don’t confuse them with Morning Star who were a different band. Anyway you probably missed this one in the 80 so you should give it a listen if you like your music a little mellower.
Tracklist 1 – Where Could I Go – 4:07 2 – You’ve Got To Love Somebody – 4:01 3 – Read It For Yourself – 2:32 4 – Time’s A Wastin’ – 4:22 5 – In The World – 2:48 6 – Heart Of A Servant – 3:26 7 – Friend Of A Friend – 3:40 8 – Angel Of Light – 3:00 9 – Move On Up The Mountain – 3:34 10 – Serving You – 3:07
Credits Backing Vocals – Denise Graves, Gary Floyd, Gene Miller, Steve Archer Backing Vocals, Producer, Executive Producer – Tim Archer Bass – Keith Nelson, Tim Jaquette Drums, Percussion – Dave Spurr Guitar – Prince Robinson Guitar, Percussion – Bob Somma Keyboards – John Andrew Schreiner Performer – Al Ray Hebert, Chris Springer, Jeff Meador, Jesse Conte, Juddy Harris, Lee Matthews, Rickey Baxley Producer – Dan Cutrona
This is the last stuff we would get from Semaja as they unfortunately split up even before this album was released. If you were a fan of theirs then this was certainly a nice way for them to go out as many artists in this genre never even put out live albums. As for the band, Markus Egger has become leader of a missions society in Germany called Inter-mission, Claus Feldmann has got an recording studio, and Ulrich Plinke is working in the addictions field. The other members have moved on with normal jobs and from what I understand most of the members are involved in a church called Koinonia Calvary Chapel in Hannover.
Recorded live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA for Michael W. Smith’s 1985 Friends Tour featuring Gary Chapman, Amy Grant and Kathy Triccoli
Tracklist 0:00 – Intro 2:23 – I’m Up 5:32 – Restless Heart 10:13 – Nothin’ But The Blood 13:11 – Could He Be The Messiah 18:25 – Love In The Light 25:27 – A Way with Gary Chapman 29:54 – Wings Of The Wind 35:12 – Psalm 139 38:55 – Thy Word 41:57 – Friends with Amy Grant 45:58 – Find A Way with Amy Grant and Gary Chapman 50:21 – I Know 55:09 – Musical Instruments 57:33 – Sonata in D Major 58:09 – Emmanuel 1:01:50 – Be Strong And Courageous 1:05:30 – You Need A Saviour 1:10:29 – The Race Is On
Credits Cameraman – Danny Ross, Larry Boothby, Mark Sedgwick, Mark Van Loon, Peter Petro, Ron Kirk Coordinator [Production] – Debbie Pfaelzer Crew [Driver] – Dan Dalton, David Alvey, Dennis Mallatt, Glenn Morris Crew [Maintenance] – Kevin Ossenfort Crew [Production Assistant] – Denise Smith Crew [Road Manager] – Jeff Durham Directed By [Technical Director] – Joe Askins Directed By [Tour Director] – Malcom Greenwood Engineer [Audio Assistant] – Michael Figlio, Jr., Mike Copeland Engineer [In-Charge] – Mike Arnold Engineer [Remote], Crew [Remote Supervisor] – Dan Crouch Engineer [Videotape] – Elaine Eliah, Gary Conn, Mike Copeland Executive-Producer – Dan Harrell, Kitty Moon, Michael Blanton Film Director – Marc W. Ball Film Director [Assistant] – Ralph Walker, Jr. Film Editor – Joe Askins, Larry Boothby, Ralph Walker, Jr., Terry Dull Film Producer – Kitty Moon Grip – Melissa Tolle, Melvin Glaize, Michael Moore Grip [Key] – Steve Beeson Lighting – Eric Shafferman, Ken Rumgay Management – Blanton/Harrell, Inc., Dan Harrell, Michael Blanton Mixed By [Monitor] – Stan Horne Mixed By [Tour Sound Mix] – Bob Weibel Performer – Chris Harris, Chris Rodrigues, David Huff, Ed Smartt, Mark Heimerman, Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick Production Manager [Assistant] – Nyle Wood Production Manager, Stage Manager – James Taylor Recorded By, Mixed By – Nick Palladino Technician [Instrument] – Chris Boland
This album caught me way off guard. I honestly had no idea that Tom put out an instrumental piano album. I was not expecting this from him at all. That said it’s a very good album if you like Instrumental piano albums. Personally this is not my kind of album but we have uploaded it as Tom is one of our favourite artists.
Tracklist 1 – Humble Yourself (In The Sight Of The Lord) – 6:08 2 – For The Beauty Of The Earth – 5:06 3 – On Wings As Eagles – 5:10 4 – Gethsemane – 5:22 5 – A Shield About Me – 4:17 6 – Horizon Storm – 3:54 7 – Katie’s Rainbow – 3:45 8 – Morning – 6:19 9 – Seek Ye First – 4:41 10 – The Harvest: Prayer; Dance – 5:53
Credits Art Direction – Alex MacDougall Artwork – Kevin Short Design, Typography – Gary De Lacy Engineer – Wally Grant Executive-Producer – Tom Coomes Liner Notes – D. Ellen Harris Mastered By – Steve Hall Photography By – Harriet Burger Piano, Soloist – Tom Howard Producer – Tom Howard
This was Per-Erik’s second album and as near as I can tell it was only released in Sweden. His first album had been released in Sweden, Europe, and the United States on Refuge Records. I don’t know why Refuge didn’t pick up this album because I think it’s even better than his first. It might have been because it had 3 tracks in Swedish but that’s only a guess. Anyway as I said this album is even better than his first. In fact the lead track “S O S” is as good if not better than anything on the radio at the time. It is a fantastic song that will be going into my regular rotation. The most interesting track is “The Glorious Outfit” in that he actually takes a stab at rap. While the rap is questionable the chorus is fantastic. To tell the truth I can’t decide if I hate or love the track, it’s one of the other.
Tracklist 1 – S O S – 4:32 2 – Morgonluft – 2:53 3 – Movin’ On – 3:54 4 – Cabbage Patch Kids – 3:32 5 – Att Vänta – 3:57 6 – Labyrint – 2:56 7 – Forgiven – 5:19 8 – Fågelsång – 3:45 9 – The Glorious Outfit – 5:27 10 – Open Up Your Heart – 3:11
Credits Arranged By [Horns] – Anders Neglin, Glen Myerscough, Lars Brandström Arranged By [Synthesizer], Arranged By [Cello] – Anders Neglin Engineer – Frank Von Dem Bottlenberg, Lennart Ström, Niklas Flyckt, Thomas Gertz Engineer, Mixed By – Peter In De Betou Graphics, Design – Camilla B. Tryck Other [Craving] – Peter Strindberg Painting [Oil] – Janeric Johansson Photography By – Lennart Dannstedt Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – Per-Erik Hallin
