Billy and Sarah Gaines met and began singing together in 1974. They married in 1977 and played churches and coffeehouses across Virginia. From 1977 to 1980 they also sang in a group called Living Sacrifice and got an appearance on The 700 Club in 1978. In 1985 they moved to Nashville where Billy took a job as a Security Job until he got a contract for his songwriting. Shortly after Benson records offered them a recording contract and this album was recorded and released. Though they were better known for the R&B style Benson decided they were better suited for a more easy listening sound that would sell more broadly. Luckily they would return to that R&B sound in a couple albums but Benson was right about this sound at this point as the album was hugely successful. It had 4 CCM charting singles with one of them making in into the top 10. As for the album it is a little too easy listening for me but I know quality when I hear it and this is some quality music.
Tracklist 1 – He’s Risen In Me – 3:23 2 – You Are Faithful – 3:50 3 – I Am Convinced – 2:45 4 – The Part That No One Sees – 4:29 5 – In His Eyes – 3:40 6 – Turned My Mourning Into Dancing – 2:30 7 – No Greater Love – 3:34 8 – Glory To God In The Highest – 3:09 9 – Come Drink At My Table – 4:39 10 – Then The World Will Know – 3:55
Credits Billy Gaines – Vocals Sarah Gaines – Vocals Jon Goin – Guitars Mark Hammond – Drums Marty McCall – Background Vocals Greg Nelson – Producer
Larry Carlton’s “Christian” music career is actually very interesting. Larry started out in the 60’s with the band The (Jazz) Crusaders who had a big hit in 1979 with “Street Life”. Larry continued with them while both pursuing a solo career as well as doing a lot of session work. He certainly was one of the hardest working men in the business. The story of his coming to Christ is not your normal “a friend introduce me” story instead he describes it as follows. “…I started reading a lot of books on different religions. I remember there was one night in Philadelphia after a show. I had been reading these books and digesting and thinking about religion. I just remember coming to a conclusion one night after a gig. I was lying in bed and I just told the Lord, “I don’t know any more about you than I did 2 months ago, but I choose you.” That was the beginning of my relationship with the Holy Spirit.” Larry however never really considered moving to the Christina music industry and stayed in the secular market. This was his first release after his coming to Christ. There is actually more to Larry’s life story, lots more, but we will cover it chronologically as it relates to his album releases so stay tuned for more.
Tracklist 1 – Smiles And Smiles To Go – 5:44 2 – Perfect Peace – 4:25 3 – Carrying You – 3:58 4 – The Lord’s Prayer – 5:07 5 – High Steppin’ – 6:42 6 – Whatever Happens – 4:25 7 – Pure Delight – 5:31 8 – Alone/But Never Alone – 3:32
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Larry Carlton Art Direction – Simon Levy Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Larry Carlton Design – Thomas Ryan Design Drums – Rick Marotta Electric Guitar – Larry Carlton Engineer [Assistant] – Hal Sacks Keyboards – Larry Carlton, Terry Trotter Keyboards [Additional] – Larry Carlton Management – Charlie Lico Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Percussion – Michael Fisher Photography By – McGuire Producer, Arranged By – Larry Carlton Recorded By, Mixed By – Rik Pekkonen Synthesizer [Dx7] – Terry Trotter Written-By – Albert Malotte, Bill Withers, Larry Carlton
Buddy Greene was born and raised in Macon GA and had been a part of the local music scene since he was 10 years old. Later he scored a position in Jerry Reed’s band. I doubt there was a better learning opportunity for any performer due to Jerry’s varied styles and work with so many great artists. In 1985 Buddy and his wife moved to Nashville to continue his music career. In late 85 Bob MacKenzie was able to pull together an album deal for Buddy with Refuge/Fortress records and this album is the result of that deal. The album was a bit of a departure from the regular Refuge album in that it is a country album but there’s no Rock or New Wave here which is what we were used to from Refuge. I’ll be honest 80’s country is not a genre I generally like but I must say I love this album as it is some really good quality country. Naturally I missed this one in the 80’s but that might be for the best. I probably wouldn’t have appreciated it back then.
Tracklist 1 – Praise You, Lord – 3:48 2 – Keep Your Head In The Word – 3:30 3 – Holy Father – 2:52 4 – He Is – 3:30 5 – Since Jesus Came Into My Heart (Tender Love And Care) – 3:21 6 – Lord, I Want To Thank You – 2:04 7 – Virtuous Woman – 3:54 8 – More Like You – 2:50 9 – Rest Awhile – 2:52 10 – Short Of The Mark – 2:52 11 – Oh Lord, How I Need You – 3:02
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Buddy Greene, Don Potter, Jon Goin, Russell Barenberg Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Harmony Vocals, Jaw Harp – Buddy Greene Backing Vocals – Tim Holder, Tricia Walker Bass – Duncan Mullins, Jimmie Lee Choir – Alex Mebane, Ashley Cleveland, Buddy Greene, Dawn Rodgers, Doug Mills, Karen Staley, Lynn Hodges, Phil Madeira, Ric McClure Dobro – Jerry Douglas Drums – Kenny Malone Electric Guitar – Brent Mason, Jimmy Nalls Engineer [Additional] – Spence Chrislu Executive-Producer – Bob Mackenzie Fiddle – Sam Bush Harmonica, Harmony Vocals – Buddy Greene Harmony Vocals – Karen Staley, Tricia Walker Keyboards – David Innis, Gary Prim Mandolin – Bobby Clark, Sam Bush Mastered By – Hank Williams Mixed By – Brent King Percussion [Wooden Agogos], Tambourine – Bubba Smith Photography By – Mike Mitchell Producer – Bubba Smith Rap [The Rap-it-ups] – Alex Mebane, Ashley Cleveland, Dawn Rodgers, Doug Mills, Karen Staley, Phil Madeira Recorded By – Doug Sarrett, Lynn Fuston Tambourine – Bubba Smith Words By, Music By – Ashley Cleveland, Buddy Greene, Rufus H. McDaniel, Rusty Ingraham, Debbie Kaye, Pete Kaye
Before this album Then there was four years of silence from Krikorian. He continued to write songs for others and had begun building friendships with many of the “disenfranchised” Christian artists who did not fit the mold of popular CCM like Leslie Phillips, T-Bone Burnett and Mark Heard. He had songs placed on mainstream Christian artists albums like Benny Hester and Burnett and Heard recorded some of his music. In 1985 some close friends of these artist that were working at the Myrrh Los Angeles offices started a sub-label in connection with A&M Records called What? Records. The label’s purpose was to be a home to artist who did not fit the CCM mold and would be a haven for more commercial, mainstream oriented artists with spiritual messages. The label was short-lived but released four of the greatest albums in Christian music including two from Tonio K, Mark Heard’s “iDEoLa” and Dave Perkins’ “The Innocence.” The theme of loves lost and found is not new. But in those silent four years a change took place in Krikorian. The beliefs he had for years became faith. According to the interview I had with him right after of the release of “Romeo Unchained” he had discovered grace for the first time in his life. He had also found love. The real kind. And rather than songs of frustration, anger and revenge, there are songs of grace, commitment and hope. That does not mean that he pushed aside the caustic wit and smart and stinging lyrics. Here the pen is pointed against a world that wants to tear down and destroy the love God has provided. The victim of Tonio K’s previous work are now the ones he defends. The whole album appears to be a picture of the juxtaposition of true love and the facade the world offers. I should also note that “Romeo Unchained” may have one of the best album covers ever. The images of half a man as mannequin, the made up attractive woman and iron display the struggles of modern women and the battle for the real and eternal they seek. All with K-9 (Tonio K.) observing this turmoil. There is a little story about K-9 I will mention later. The album was highly praised in both secular and Christian circles. Rolling Stone Magazine would even rave that it was the best Bob Dylan album since Bob Dylan lost interest in pop music. T-Bone Burnett handled much of the production and cast of LA heavyweights lent their talents in the studio including David Mansfield (Dylan) and David Miner (T-Bone Burnett) and David Raven and Tim Chandler of DA/Swirling Eddies.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – True Confessions – 3:40 2 – Perfect World – 4:12 3 – Romeo And Jane – 3:46 4 – You Belong With Me – 4:50 5 – Impressed – 4:24 6 – I Handle Snakes – 3:36 7 – Emotional War Games – 3:53 8 – Living Doll – 3:44 9 – You Don’t Belong Here – 5:51 10 – You Will Go Free – 6:37
Credits Art Direction, Layout – Tim Alderson Backing Vocals – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett Bass – David Miner, Eric Gotthelf, Phil Chen, Rick Neigher, Tim Chandler Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Penny Payne Design Concept [Visual Concepts], Photography By – Linda Myers Drum Programming – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett Drums – Burleigh Drummond, Freddy Alwag, Ron Aston Engineer – Billy Taylor, Joe Chiccarelli, Larold Rebhun, Mark Heard, Nick Van Maarth, Rick Neigher Engineer [Assistant Engineering] – Carolyn Collins, Joe Borja, Judy Clapp, Peter Doell, Steve Himelfarb Guitar – Billy Steele, Charlie Sexton, Daryl Caraco, Nick Van Maarth, Peter Banks, Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett, Tonio K. Horns – Little Effort, Phil Kenzie Management – Gary Heaton Management Mandocello, Violin – David Mansfield Mandolin [Mandocello], Violin – David Mansfield Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Mixed By – Ed Thacker (tracks: A5, B3, B4), Joe Chiccarelli (tracks: A1 to A4, B1, B2) Other [Assistant Engineering] – Milton Other [Cover Girl] – Lisa Taylor Percussion – Burleigh Drummond, Efrain Toro Synthesizer – Bob Rose, Dave Aston, David Lewis, Rick Neigher Technician [Productive Trouble-Shooting] – T-Bone Burnett Vocals [Featured Vocalist] – Tonio K.
Companies, etc. Produced For – Vogue Productions (2) Recorded At – Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Recorders, Hollywood, CA. Recorded At – Baby’O Recorders Recorded At – Eldorado Recording Studios Recorded At – Cherokee Studios Recorded At – Hitman Studios Recorded At – Fingerprint Recorders Recorded At – Redwing Studios Mixed At – Capitol Studios Mastered At – Masterdisk Pressed By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc. Record Company – What? Records Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc. Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc.
This is the second album from Billy. It is a little more pop oriented than his first album and while not as successful it is a better album. While it had 2 CCM charting singles Out Of The Blue only made it to #31 but A Heart Like Mine made it to #3. Strangely the two tracks are almost identical and I really question what Billy was thinking as he is a fantastic song writer. Did he not hear how close these 2 songs are? Anyway those aren’t the best tracks on the album anyway, just the 2 that CCM charts liked and really they had no idea about music. Most of the rest of the album is good quality Pop songs but my favourite track is Invisible Hand in which I can almost hear David Edwards, such a great song.
Tracklist 1 – Rock the Planet – 3:30 2 – Love Has No Eyes – 4:38 3 – YMISIM – 4:51 4 – A Heart Like Mine – 3:44 5 – Invisible Hand – 4:13 6 – Phantom Living – 4:36 7 – Out of the Blue – 3:47 8 – Centered on You – 4:07 9 – Better Days – 4:52
Here’s Volume 3 of the Strait Tapes and I believe the last in the series but we’ve had a few surprises in this series so I will will say I think it is the final one. Again we have quite a few unreleased tracks to enjoy. I didn’t do a count but I think this one has the most examples of secular bands of Christians. Anyway it’s another fantastic offering and we should give credit the the gang over at Strait Magazine for putting together such a great series of tapes. I’ve listed below what album these tracks showed up on if they did.
1 – The 77’s – The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes And The Pride Of Life. – Released on their 1987 album The 77’s 2 – Talking Drums – You Do Cry A Lot – Released on their 1985 album Reassembly 3 – Maldwyn Pope – Reunion Of The Heart – Released on his 1990 album Love Will Find A Way 4 – Bryan McGlynn – Soul Doctor – still unreleased 5 – The Good Guys – Still A Mistake – Released on their 1984 album A System Of Grooves 6 – Charlie Peacock – Down In The Lowlands – Released on his 1986 album Charlie Peacock 7 – Trade Secret – With Or Without You – Released on their 1987 album Trade Secret 8 – One A.M. – Over And Over – still unreleased 9 – Mike Starkey – I Became A Johnson’s Baby – still unreleased 10 – Vector – America – Released on their 1984 album Please Stand By 11 – Deniece Williams – Straight Ahead – Released her 1986 album 12 – The Refuseniks – Quiet Time – Gag track as intro to next track 13 – Terry Scott Taylor – Old Time Gospel Camp Meeting Hour – Released on his 1986 album Knowledge & Innocence 14 – Bruce Cockburn – Wondering Where The Lions Are – Released on his 1979 album Dancing In The Dragon’s Jaws 15 – Steve Scott – Not A Pretty Picture – Released on his 1988 album Lost Horizon 16 – Jump The Nile – Proud To Be A Warrior – still unreleased 17 – First Strike – Power – Released on their 1987 album Crank It Up! 18 – Bryan McGlynn – Stranger At The Party – still unreleased
Tracklist 1 – The 77’s – The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes And The Pride Of Life. – 3:25 2 – Talking Drums – You Do Cry A Lot – 3:07 3 – Maldwyn Pope – Reunion Of The Heart – 4:31 4 – Bryan McGlynn – Soul Doctor – 3:28 5 – The Good Guys – Still A Mistake – 2:16 6 – Charlie Peacock – Down In The Lowlands – 4:28 7 – Trade Secret – With Or Without You – 3:42 8 – One A.M. – Over And Over – 3:12 9 – Mike Starkey – I Became A Johnson’s Baby – 2:01 10 – Vector – America – 4:05 11 – Deniece Williams – Straight Ahead – 4:07 12 – The Refuseniks – Quiet Time – 0:44 13 – Terry Scott Taylor – Old Time Gospel Camp Meeting Hour – 3:17 14 – Bruce Cockburn – Wondering Where The Lions Are – 3:27 15 – Steve Scott – Not A Pretty Picture – 4:03 16 – Jump The Nile – Proud To Be A Warrior – 4:13 17 – First Strike – Power – 4:51 18 – Bryan McGlynn – Stranger At The Party – 3:13
I have to admit that here in Canada we had no idea who Heartbeat was never mind the controversy they caused. This is their 3rd album and I think by now most of the controversy had died down. They still proclaimed to be a charting pop band but really they were a backup worship band that made the majority of their money playing on other peoples albums. This album does not have a secular single release and that’s probably a good thing as it did not deserve to be on the secular charts. As for the album it is primarily a worship album with a couple pop tunes mixed in. The problem with the pop tracks is that the vocals do not fit them. We saw this several times in the 80’s as worship oriented bands tried to do a pop album and failed miserably due to vocals. This album isn’t too bad if you listen to it for what it is and that’s a worship album.
Tracklist 1 – Prelude/Voice To The Nation – 4:04 2 – Heal Our Nation – 4:42 3 – Out Of Your Great Love – 2:09 4 – Dance People Dance – 4:05 5 – Lord, Release My Mouth – 2:25 6 – Dancing In The City – 4:11 7 – Holy Fire – 4:02 8 – Jesus, I Love You – 2:15 9 – Arise – 4:52 10 – Unto You, Oh Lord/Lord Of This Land – 4:48
Credits Bass Guitar – Pete Moore Drums, Percussion, Producer – Ray Goudie Engineer, Producer – Andy Kidd Guitar, Vocals – Ian Townend Keyboards, Vocals – Dave Bankhead Vocals – Dorry Townend, Nancy Goudie, Trish Morgan
There is very limited info out there about Blue Trapeze but they did have several EP’s and were a mainstay on the alternative Christian music scene in California in the 80’s. That said their work is all self released so they either didn’t want an album deal or were never offered one. The only member to have gone on with other work was Daniel Koenig who appeared as a studio musician on several projects. As for the album it has an alternative 80’s sound and is actually pretty well done. I listened to it three times and while I am usually a fan of alternative 80’s this one left me wanting for more for some reason. Good album but nothing here to go in my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Mask & Marquee – 2:58 2 – Afraid Of Real – 2:57 3 – A Reason – 3:35 4 – See Them Turn – 2:55 5 – The Old Home – 3:34 6 – Midnight Sun – 2:41
Credits Arranged By – Blue Trapeze Bass, Vocals – Roger Arendse Drums, Vocals, Keyboards – Lisa Kline – Koenig Guitar, Vocals – Daniel Koenig Lacquer Cut By – John Golden Layout – Richard Beach Producer – Daniel Koenig, Stephen Zepeda Written-By – Dan Koenig
First of all I would like to apologize for the poor quality of this release. We did the best we could with a 35 year old cassette that sounds like it was recorded on a 4 track with a potato. Now I’m gonna cut the band some slack here because they admit they recorded it in their house so it probably was recorded on a 4 track. My real criticism is for Narrowpath Records who should never have released an album with this quality. Normally we wouldn’t release something this poorly recorded but in this instance we decided due to high quality of the songs we are going to. The Lonely Now was Greg Sostrom (Strange), Kevin Riemer, and Phil Watson and wow did these guys mesh nicely. This album has some of the best New Wave in the Christina Genre. This became one of my favourite New Wave bands of the 80’s instantly upon hearing it. Or at least after I worked on it for several hours trying to improve the quality. So my whole point here is try to forgive the quality because the music here is fantastic if you like New Wave.
Tracklist 1 – Reject A Thought – 3:19 2 – If I Could – 3:52 3 – Running Faster – 4:05 4 – A.R.C. – 3:22 5 – All My Dreams – 3:19 6 – Captive – 3:36 7 – Dead Of Night – 3:47 8 – Thunderclouds – 3:39 9 – Traitor – 3:28 10 – No Secrets – 3:00 11 – How Many More – 3:17
Credits Greg Sostrom – Lead vocals, guitar Kevin Riemer – Vocals, drums Phil Watson – Vocals, bass guitar
This is the second album I’ve covered by Rick. When I listened to the first album I really couldn’t find much info on Rick but since then I’ve learnt much more about him. While he only had 3 solo albums he also has 5 albums with his wife Cathy and I look forward to listening to them soon. He is also very active in the Christian community and still travels and sings in many sanctuaries. As for the album it’s a fun easy listening pop album which was the style of the day. The only charting single of the album, “Faithful” made it to #21 on the CCM charts and quite frankly there’s a few more tracks that could have singled in my opinion.
Tracklist 1 – Forever – 3:53 2 – Faithful – 4:05 3 – Even If – 4:34 4 – I Find Your Love Again – 4:00 5 – Sure Thing – 4:30 6 – Shouting At The Walls – 4:50 7 – No Fear Of Flying – 4:43 8 – Heart’s Desire – 4:25 9 – Edge Of Darkness – 4:35 10 – See The Light – 4:44
Credits Artist – Rick Riso Arranged By – Brad Cole Composer – Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, Randy Thoma Engineer – Tim Jaquette Executive Producer – Chris Christian Producer – Rick Riso, Tim Jaquette
