Commissioned was formed in 1982 in Detroit Michigan. The six original members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams but by the time this first album was put out the members had adjusted slightly. If I had to classify them as a group I would say they are the soul version of the Imperials. This album was very well received and Light records made an excellent decision to release this one. My understanding is that the album was recorded without a record deal and was shopped around. Light Records would go on to release 4 more albums by the band before they moved on to Benson. The album itself is an excellent light soul album that was prefect for the time it was released.
Tracklist 1 – I’m Going On – 3:51 2 – ‘Tis So Sweet – 4:14 3 – I Can See Jesus – 4:40 4 – Unworthy – 4:34 5 – You’ve Got A Friend – 3:56 6 – The City – 3:55 7 – Giving My Problems (To You) – 4:26 8 – Surely We Need Him – 4:35
Credits Fred Hammond – Vocals, Bass Keith Staten – Vocals Mitchell Jones – Vocals Karl Reid – Vocals Michael Brooks – Keyboards Michael Williams – Drums Scotti Jones – percussions
Teri is back with her 2nd and last CCM album. Teri had frequent disputes with her record companies and is known in the industry for sticking to her guns on the issue. Unfortunately this probably robbed us from more great music from her. That said if I’ve learned one thing over time it’s that artists are almost always in the right in these disputes so I don’t blame her. Anyway this is a great pop album and is a little more upbeat than her previous CCM album. Like her other albums it was produced by her husband Bill Purse. The production is excellent and I have always wondered why we didn’t see his name on more albums but I’m assuming the friction with record companies may have made him persona non grata for other artists.
Tracklist 1 – Celebrate – 4:58 2 – Tapestry – 3:56 3 – Attitude Of Gratitude – 4:25 4 – Voices In The Wind – 4:53 5 – I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier – 4:50 6 – Truth – 4:43 7 – Ain’t Givin’ Up, No Way – 4:00 8 – All Day Thursday – 5:29
Credits Backing Vocals – Jon Joyce, Keely Koehr Backing Vocals, Psaltery – Teri DeSario Purse Bass Guitar – Bill Bodine Drums – Art Wood Engineer [Assistant] – Bruce Sugar, Steve Ford Engineer [Assistant], Psaltery – Jeff Demorris Engineer, Mixed By – Kevin Clark Flute, Recorder – Stephen Kujala* French Horn – Joe Meyer Mastered By – Doug Sax Percussion – Michael Fisher Producer, Arranged By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Bill Purse Trombone – Alan Kaplan Trumpet – Roy Poper Tuba – Ross Deroche
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Middle Sea Sound Recorded At – Baby’O Recorders Recorded At – Mama Jo’s Mixed At – Mama Jo’s Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
This is Robin’s 3rd album and his first on a larger label. Robin was well known for his heavy touring schedule and I’m pretty sure this album increased that schedule. This is a great 80’s pop album but I haven’t heard his previous 2 albums yet so I don’t know if this is the style he was previously doing. The only strange this about the album is that there are 3 instrumental tracks which is rather odd for a pop album. While a lesser known album this is one that deserves a listen.
Tracklist 1 – Titanic – 3:28 2 – God So Loved – 3:04 3 – Starting Over – 3:50 4 – Let The Truth Come Out – 4:32 5 – Lift Up Your Voices – 3:17 6 – Beatitudes – 2:55 7 – Seven Seventy-Seven – 3:15 8 – Quiet Times – 4:26 9 – Third World – 3:05
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Music By, Lyrics By – Robin Crow Bass – Michael Rhodes Design [Cover] – Jeff Spencer Drums – David Lawbaugh Electric Guitar, Co-producer – George Cocchini Engineer – Dave Perkins, Doug Sarrett Engineer, Mixed By – Chris McCollum Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow Mastered By – Benny Quinn Mixed By – Brent King Photography By – Clark Thomas Synthesizer – Shane Keister
This is Leon’s 6th solo album and in my opinion his best up to this point. The album has a strong soul pop fell and sound. Leon perfected this very narrow sound as far as CCM music was concerned and his sales numbers showed this. Again Leon essentially played all the instruments though John Robinson did provide a few drum tracks and Leon also wrote all the tracks except one. I have great respect for Leon as he was able to get albums out almost every year. Considering he played most the instruments, did the production and wrote the tracks you simply have to respect that.
Tracklist 1 – Love Around The World – 4:49 2 – Up And Over – 5:59 3 – One Thing Leads To Another – 4:06 4 – Magic Man – 5:14 5 – Fire – 3:19 6 – Friends In High Places – 3:35 7 – I’ll Be With You – 5:11 8 – Treat Her Like A Lady – 4:16 9 – Safe Delivery – 3:29 10 – The Lord’s Prayer – 5:07
Credits Executive-Producer – George Duke Mixed By – Raymond Jones Producer, String Arranger, Songwriter, Guitar, Synthesizer, Drums, Drums Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Bass, Horns, Lead and Background Vocals – Leon Patillo Drums – John Robinson
I find it so difficult to review Terry’s albums. To me they all sound very similar as I just don’t love his style of music. That said I have great respect for Terry as an artist. He put out an album almost every year through the 80’s which is a lot of work considering he writes almost all of his songs. HIs guitar work is also very good so I really hate saying “Here’s another Terry album ……” He really deserves more of my respect but I just struggle with his style but that’s a personal problem. There are a few upbeat tracks on this album that I thought were pretty good but his vocals just don’t suit them in my opinion. Anyway Here’s another Terry album for his fans and I know he has lots of them.
Tracklist 1 – Face To Face – 3:40 2 – Mighty Rushing Wind – 4:14 3 – So As You’ve Done – 4:18 4 – I Have Overcome – 4:17 5 – The Christ – 4:22 6 – Lay Down The Stones – 3:56 7 – Father’s House – 4:06 8 – Narrow Is The Gate – 4:20 9 – Greater Things – 4:49
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Terry Talbot Bass – Abraham Laboriel Design – Jim Shanman (tracks: Lyric Sheet), Stan Evenson (tracks: Album Jacket) Design [Album Jacket Design By] – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.* Drums – Bill Maxwell Dulcimer – Carol Koening Engineer – Mike Ross-Trevor, Ron Capone, Win Kutz Executive-Producer – John Michael Talbot Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall Orchestrated By – Denney Bouchard Percussion – Alex Acuña Photography By – Raul Vega Producer – Terry Talbot Songwriter – Terry Talbot Synthesizer – Denney Bouchard Twelve-String Guitar – John Michael Talbot (tracks: A1, B2), Terry Talbot Vocals – Howard Smith, Karla Thibodeau, Steve Amerson, Tata Vega, Terry Talbot, Wendy Talbot
This is Steve’s second solo album and it follows along with his previous album. Quite frankly it’s hard to believe he was a member of White Heart at one point. I say this because Steve turned to a very Easy Listening style. Now let’s be fair, he’s very good at this style and he was very popular in that genre. This is the album that made him very well know and he actually received the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the CCM category. So if you like your CCM music in the worship style this album is for you.
Tracklist 1 – Praise To The King – 2:30 2 – Celebrate His Good Life – 3:18 3 – He Holds The Keys – 5:25 4 – The Lord Is Lifted Up – 3:11 5 – That’s Where The Joy Comes From – 3:12 6 – I Can See (On The Emmaus Road) – 5:30 7 – Honor The Lord – 2:26 8 – When His Kingdom Comes – 5:42 9 – Touch Your People Once Again – 3:58
Credits Bass – Craig E. Nelson Conductor [Strings] – Alan Moore, Greg Nelson Drums – James Stroud, Mark Hammond Engineer – Ed Seay Engineer [Assistant] – Tom Harding Guitar – Jon Goin, Pete Bordonali Keyboards [Synthesizers] – David Innis, Shane Keister Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall Orchestrated By – Alan Moore Percussion – Farrell Morris Piano – Bill George, David Huntsinger Producer – Greg Nelson Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine
After spending several years as vocalist and drummer with the popular funk/soul act, Slave, Steve Arrington left for a solo career. His debut is filled with infectious, danceable and gospel centric songs. The first time I heard this album was at a Christian nightclub that was popular in orange Country, CA during the mid-80’s called The Lighthouse. They played the first cut, “Feel So Real” with its infectious Latin rhythms and non-stop groove. I bought it the next day at Maranatha village, the only bookstore in the country that was carrying it at the time. This is by no means an asterisk (*) release as it pure Gospel throughout. The title track continues the driving rhythm and dance beats. This love song is as infectious as they come. Here Arrington compares the loving human relationship to the never-ending dance and worship before the Lord. He is blatant about his love for God and the need to worship. The music is non-stop and completely authentic to the era. In all honesty, this is the album I wish Phillip Bailey would have recorded. Of all of the musical genres, legitimate dance/funk/soul was sorely lacking in Christian music then and now. Only Jon Gibson came KYMS radio jumped all over this album at the time and played several cuts. Not only the two previously mentioned hits, but also the Holy Ghost driven, “Turn Up the Love.” Arrington would later go on to become a Pastor. He still dabbles occasionally in funk and soul music, doing occasional shows with friends and former music associates.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Feel So Real – 5:08 2 – Dancin’ In The Key Of Life – 4:55 3 – She Just Don’t Know – 5:16 4 – Willie Mae – 6:00 5 – Gasoline – 6:09 6 – Stand With Me – 4:43 7 – Brown Baby Boy – 4:50 8 – Turn Up The Love – 4:34
Credits Steve Arrington – Main Vocal, Vocal Backing, Keyboards India Arrington, Dani Johnson, Marti McCall, Pattie Brooks, Michael Terry, Wilmer Raglin – Vocal Backing George Johnson – Guitars and Electric Bass Eric Williams – Guitars Anthony Johnson, Carlos Murguia, William F. Zimmerman, Joey Gallo, Ramsey Embick – Keyboards Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet Stella Castellucci – Harp
Companies, etc. Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Atlantic Records Published By – Konglather Publishing Published By – Motor Music Co. Published By – Cheyenne Publishing Published By – Secret Agent Man Music Published By – JRG Music Published By – Aurora Borealis Music Published By – Polyglot Music Published By – Aris Music Recorded At – Devonshire Studios Recorded At – Dawnbreakers Recording Studios Mixed At – Dawnbreakers Recording Studios Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering Produced For – Producers Alliance
The third album from Silverwind takes up where the first album left off. Yes I know that’s not the correct order but I feel this album fit’s in better there. Their second album was far better than this one. Yes there’s still the ABBA sound that so many bought the album for but it’s just not as good as A Song In The Night. As I’ve said before these albums were not geared to me so my opinion is a bit jaded over all. Other than that I don’t really have much to say about the album. Unfortunately with the exception of their ABBA sound I don’t really feel there was much here to make the album stand out.
Tracklist 1 – Go Tell The World – 4:07 2 – By His Spirit – 3:20 3 – I’m Gonna Follow You – 2:59 4 – Thank You Lord – 2:42 5 – Breaking Through – 3:08 6 – Heaven Is Being With You – 3:56 7 – Only Jesus – 3:29 8 – I Will Give Him Glory – 3:37 9 – Praise Anthem – 2:02 10 – Shout Hosanna – 3:31
Credits Arranged By – Georgian Banov, John Schreiner Backing Vocals – Frank Hernandez, Georgian Banov, John Schreiner, Sue Ellen Jacobson, Winnie Banov Bass – Leon Gaer Cover [Album Cover Design] – Stan Evenson Design Inc. Drums [Programmed By] – John Schreiner Engineer – Biff Vincent, Skip Konte Executive-Producer – Tony Salerno Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith, Martin Resch, Prince Robinson Keyboards – John Schreiner Photography By – Mark Hanauer Producer – John Schreiner Producer [Assistant] – Georgian Banov Tom Tom, Cymbal – Paul Baun Vocals – Betsy Hernandez, Georgian Banov, Patty Gramling
I’m probably going to infuriate Phil Driscoll fans when I say this but I really wish he would have done a Rock & Roll album. To be clear Phil is probably one of my favourite vocalists of the CCM genre but his voice is just screaming for a Rock and Roll album. That said I haven’t listened to all his albums yet so maybe he did one and I just haven’t listened to it yet. To be clear there are a few upbeat tracks on this album but it they really don’t highlight his vocals all that much. Maybe the reason I love his voice is due to the ballads anyway. One quirk of this album is that it appears that part way through the pressings on this album Sparrow replaced the album cover which was a huge improvement. No disrespect to the picture of him with his signature trumpet but it was a horrible cover.
Tracklist 1 – All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name – 4:20 2 – He’s Alive Again – 4:06 3 – Jesus I Love You – 4:34 4 – Worthy Is The Lamb – 5:52 5 – Doxology – 3:20 6 – Messiah – 2:50 7 – People Of God – 3:42 8 – I Will Celebrate – 4:36 9 – Every Knee Shall Bow – 4:12 10 – Fallin’ In Love With You – 5:22 11 – The Rest Of My Days – 4:30
I assume John’s Songs For Worship Volume I sold pretty well so they did a Songs For Worship Volume II. Of course as the first one was actually name Volume I they probably had plans for this one all along. There isn’t really too much I can say about this album because it’s just a collection of worship songs and as such there really isn’t any stand out tracks. That’s not a bad thing for a worship album so it’s not a criticism. I suspect the album was met with a bit of a yawn however as it didn’t even garner a CCM single. Oh well this is a great Sunday worship album if you like that kind of thing.
Tracklist 1 – Taste And See – 2:31 2 – Lord, Every Nation On Earth Shall Adore You – 4:13 3 – Jesus Prayer – 2:44 4 – Lord Have Mercy – 1:46 5 – Glory To God – 3:06 6 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 2:35 7 – The Spirit Of The Lord – 3:18 8 – Father, I Put My Life In Your Hands – 3:47 9 – Lamb Of God – 2:23 10 – I Am The Ressurection – 4:18 11 – Let Us Sing To The Lord – 2:51
Credits Design [Lyric Sheet Design] – Steve Cox Engineer [Orchestra Recorded And Mixed] – Mike Ross-Trevor Engineer [Solos And Guitar] – Ron Capone Engineer [Vocals] – Bill Cobb Photography By [Cover] – Edd Anthony Producer, Arranged By, Orchestrated By, Conductor – Phil Perkins Producer, Written By, Guitar, Vocals – John Michael Talbot Vocals – Bekah Crabb, Carole Butler, Craig Smith, Ed Koharchick, Irene Davis, Jeanne Mitchell, Jo McGinty, John Peter Slauson, Kemper Crabb, Ken Pennell
