Oden Fong – Invisible Man – 1986

I think this was Oden’s last solo album but I can’t be sure as the information avaiulable is not very good. Oden was originally with the band Mustard Seed Faith who had at least one Jesus Music album in 1975. As I said before, the information is scant and I actually believe there was more than that one album. This album from Oden is a great Pop album and though I missed it on the 80’s it is on my MP3 players regular rotation now. The album credits list a Rob Watson on keyboards but I don’t know of it’s the Daniel Amos Rob Watson.

Tracklist
1 – Invisible Man
2 – Joker In The Age Of Fools
3 – Child Of Confusion
4 – Faith/Action
5 – Culture Shock
6 – Waiting For You
7 – Soldier
8 – Words
9 – So Long Ago
10 – Richman Poorman

Credits
Drums – Keith Edwards
Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Drums, Vocals – Oden Fong
Mastered – Bernie Grundman
Vocals – Marie McGilvray
Songwriter – Lewis McVay
Engineer – Chris Taylor
Sax – Shawn Waggoner
Keyboards – Rob Watson
Guitar – John Wickham

The Fourth Watch – Dare To Be The One – 1986

What happens when Undercover meets the Altar Boys? The Fourth Watch is what happens. Apparently Bill Walden (Undercover) and Steve Steve Pannier (Altar Boys) were working together from 84 to 87 along with drummer Bill Lawrence, and bass players, Kevin Elling and then Mike Cowden. In 1986 they released this album and what an album it is. It has a decidedly New Wave/Rock sounds that screams 80’s. I hate to do this but there are several tracks that have an intro that has me waiting for Bono vocals to kick in. Too bad this was their only offering as I would have liked to hear more.

Tracklist
1 – Dare To Be The One – 4:39
2 – You Can Change The World – 3:43
3 – Chase Away The Darkness – 4:08
4 – Holy – 4:25
5 – Slipping Thru Your Fingers – 3:22
6 – One Truth – 4:50
7 – I Will Sing – 3:00
8 – On Fire For You – 4:18
9 – Burning Hearts – 5:06

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bill Batstone, Warren Ham
Bass – Kev • X
Drums – Bill Lawrence
Engineer – Gord Driver
Guitar – Steve Pannier
Keyboards – Jeff Lams
Layout – Ed McTaggart
Lead Vocals – Bill Walden
Mixed By – Gord Driver
Percussion – Bill Lawrence
Performer [The Fourth Watch Is] – Bill Lawrence, Bill Walden, Kev • X, Steve Pannier
Producer – Jeff Lams
Written-By – The Fourth Watch

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Regency Music
Mastered At – Future Disc

Holy Right – Stand as One – 1986

I really don’t know where to start with this album. First of all the title track is not even listed on the track listing??? Secondly there is a song with the title of the band name. Right away I knew I was in trouble before even listening to the album. Here we go, the production and engineering are horrible. The band self produced this album and I’m sorry to have to disparage them but there is a reason bands/record labels use producers. This album is the prime example of that. Secondly the engineering/mixing is absolutely pitiful. It really does sound like it was recorded and mixed in a living room. Now let’s talk about the music. There are some songs here that could have worked and I even kind of liked “Stop Killing the Children”. A real producer could have made something out of a few of them but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I really don’t know what Erika Records was thinking when they decided to release this album but a quick look at the album cover should have made them think twice. Oh yea it’s horrible too.

Track Listing:
1 – Stand As One (Unlisted Track)
2 – Satan’s Lies
3 – Living for Eternity
4 – Get Away
5 – Tonight
6 – Satan Leave that Boy Alone
7 – Lies of Men
8 – Holy Right
9 – Stop Killing the Children

Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Produced by Keith Miles
Arranged by Holy Right
Engineered by Doug Recorded at 3-D Studios
Album Designed by Keith Miles & Liz Franco
Artwork by Mark Miles
Photography by Studio B
Lead Guitar – Sean Silas
Rhythm Guitar – Steve Bell
Bass – Randi Davidson
Drums/Percussion – Chris Garrett
Lead Vocals – Keith Miles
Background Vocals – Holy Right
Holy Right Logo by Keith Miles
Road Crew – Todd Canales, Dan Fazio, Ruben Roman, Gilbert Escobaza, Linda Martinez, Alan “A.J.” Davidson & George Haro

Lord Lyall and Urgency – This Heart is Occupied – 1986

Lord Lyall and Urgency were a Nashville band that were well known locally. This EP was their only known recording and it was released in very limited numbers by Lamb Records. The band are good musicians, the vocals are good, the lyrics are good, but the production left a bit to be desired. It’s a fun Pop sound that I would have liked to have heard more of with a better engineer and producer.

Tracklist
1 – Run With Me – 3:24
2 – Standing on His Promises – 3:18
3 – Overcomers – 3:46
4 – This Heart is Occupied – 4:12
5 – Only You – 2:43
6 – Wake Up – 4:27

Credits
Band – Lord Lyall, Norman Sinback, Rose Maihiot, Mark Shipsey
Producers – Chuck Childers & Mark Baldwin

Messiah Prophet – Master of the Metal – 1986

The second offering from Messiah Prophet turned up the quality. They dropped the “Band” from their name for this album and were the first release on the new label “Pure Metal” which was a new Metal oriented subsidiary label of Refuge Music Group. During the recording of the album Dean Pellman left the band and was replaced with bassist Joe Shirk. This was the last album for the band. There was a 1996 release using the band name but none of the members of the original band were in the new band. It was a complicated story as to how that came to be but apparently the whole idea was a disaster so I didn’t bother figuring it out.

Tracklist
1 – Hit And Run – 4:20
2 – Master Of The Metal – 5:01
3 – For Whom Does The Bell Toll – 4:15
4 – Fear No Evil – 6:53
5 – Heavy Metal Thunder – 5:30
6 – The Friend – 3:43
7 – Battle Cry – 6:29
8 – Voice That’s Calling – 7:02

Credits
Art Direction, Layout – Jeff Spencer
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Joe Shirk
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – David Thunder
Engineer – Bill Grabowski, Scott Berger
Executive Producer – Ray Nenow, Raymond Fletcher, Robert W. Spangler Jr.
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Andy Strauss
Lead Vocals – Charlie Clark
Photography – Terry Wild
Producer, Arranged By – Bill Grabowski
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals – Brian Nicarry

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Pure Metal Records
Copyright (c) – Pure Metal Records
Copyright (c) – Stone Roller Music
Distributed By – Refuge Music Group
Distributed By – Creative Music Canada
Recorded At – Susquehanna Sound
Mixed At – Susquehanna Sound
Mastered At – Masterdisk
Remastered At – Funkhouser Mastering

Sacred Fire – Sacred Fire – 1986

This was the one and only album from Sacred Fire. It was released on Star Song records, a sister company to Sparrow records. It is not a well known album and I don’t think sold well. The album has some questionable production which may be why there wasn’t a subsequent album. In reality the songwriting was good and the band were good musicians but in my opinion the album lacked a direction that may have been a result of poor production. That said I enjoyed the album but it is a bit of a mix of styles. Point of trivia, Sacred Fire were the backup band for Leslie Phillips when she opened for Petra on the Beat the System Tour.

Tracklist
1 – Nowhere To Hide – 3:47
2 – Come Out Of The Night – 3:38
3 – Heaven’s Love – 4:18
4 – Hot Fire – 3:36
5 – Waiting For The King – 4:28
6 – Don’t Turn Away – 3:42
7 – Quest Of Faith – 4:25
8 – You Are – 4:07
9 – Second Chance – 3:35
10 – Sacred Fire – 4:42

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – George Small
Backing Vocals – Charles Bass, Cris Bass, Joe Clayton, Joey Powers, Martin Bass, Terry Labolito
Bass Guitar – Richard Price
Drums – Rod Cali
Engineer – Alan Douches
Engineer [Assistant] – Glen Marchese
Guitar – Dean Harrington
Harmonica – Dean Harrington
Keyboards – Roger Lowe
Lead Vocals – Jimmy Bennett
Mastered By – Tom Coyne
Mixed By – Rod O’Brien
Percussion – Bernardo Dippolito, Dean Harrington, Jimmy Bennett, Rod Cali
Performer [Sacred Fire Is] – Dean Harrington, Jimmy Bennett*, Richard Price, Rod Cali, Roger Lowe
Producer – Dean Harrington, Tony Davilio
Synthesizer [Programming] – Dean Harrington, Roger Lowe

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Grandslam Studios
Mixed At – Grandslam Studios
Mastered At – Frankford/Wayne Recording Labs

Brent Lamb – One Man – 1986

Brent Lamb was an accomplished song writer before he started his singing career. This album was a follow up to his Tug Of War album. This album has a very strong tech feel but maintains a Rock & Roll base. If I had to describe it I would say it’s Sweet Comfort Band on steroids. All in all it’s a pretty good album and makes me want to hear more from him.

Tracklist
1 – One Man
2 – Destination Home
3 – The Seasons Of My Soul
4 – A Dime A Dozen
5 – Ambush
6 – Line Of Fire
7 – I Love You Anyway
8 – Crazy Mad Man
9 – Tell My Why
10 – All That I Can Be

Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Phil Naish
Backing Vocals – Brent Lamb, Gary Pigg, Marty McCall
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Drum Programming [Machine] – Gary Lunn
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Guitar – John Goin
Guitar [Additional And Solos] – Dann Huff
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Programmed By [Synthesizers] – Jeff Balding, Phil Naish

Lifesavors – A Kiss Of Life – 1986

Not only did they change the name from “Lifesavors” to “Lifesavers” on this one, but the band took a sudden turn with this album, sounding a lot more like Flock of Seagulls than like a Cali-punk band.

Smooth production, serious looking photography, and a clean sound make this a pop album. Subsequent releases from Lifesavers all share this mature style but some of them manage to bring the edge back rather than the adult contemporary sound of 80s oldies.

Throughout, they manage to keep thoughtful lyrics and passionate delivery.

The band’s energy comes through again on songs like “Choose To Be True,” a truly catch tune. The classic “Turn Turn Turn” also makes an appearance on this album. It seems to be more an homage to Ecclesiastes than to Pete Seger or The Byrds though.

Tracklist
1 – She’s On Fire – 3:39
2 – I Pray You Pray – 3:34
3 – I Can’t Wait – 3:42
4 – Choose To Be True – 2:28
5 – Highway To Zion – 3:02
6 – Dreamin – 4:20
7 – Love Boy Love Girl – 3:13
8 – Turn, Turn, Turn – 3:39
9 – We Live For The Sun – 3:44
10 – Free Her – 3:18
11 – See Me Fall – 4:48

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Broken Songs

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Michael Knott
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Backing Vocals – Kenny Samuels
Bass Guitar – Brian Doidge
Drums – Kevin Lee
Electric Guitar – Doug Doyle, Michael Knott
Engineer – Doug Doyle
Keyboards – Doug Doyle, Michael Knott
Layout – Ed McTaggart
Liner Notes – Craig A.J. Keyzers
Percussion – Kevin Lee, Michael Knott
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer – Doug Doyle
Saxophone – Allen Palmer
Vocals – Michael Knott
Written-By – Bill Robinson (tracks: 2), Chris Lizotte (tracks: 2), Jim Akin (tracks: 2), Michael Gerard Knott (tracks: 1 to 6, 7, 9 to 11), Pete Seger (tracks: 2)

911 – Time Will Tell – 1986

911 was a band formed in Las Vegas in the late 70’s by Cathi Demman, her husband at the time, her brother and sister, and Brother in Law. Yes it was a real family affair. They originally used the name “Son Song Band” but changed their name to 911 relatively quickly. This is their one and only album which was well received but not well enough for Exile Records to record a second album.

Tracklist
1 – Time Will Tell – 3:45
2 – Do You? – 3:22
3 – Believe – 2:48
4 – Is It Any Wonder? – 2:12
5 – A Memory – 3:41
6 – Where Are You Now? – 4:01
7 – Too Cool – 3:23
8 – Pick Me Up – 2:57
9 – East From West – 4:30
10 – Are You Willing? – 3:25

Credits
Jeff Lams: Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizers
Mark Wiegand: Vocal Arranger, Songwriter, Keyboards
Cathi Demman: Songwriter, Lead and Background Vocals
Cristina Stretz: Lead and Background Vocals
Kiko Campo: Lead and Background Vocals
Hap Smith: Guitar
John Klingbiel: Bass
Brian Hicks: Keyboards, Synthesizers
Nelson Kole: Keyboards, Synthesizers
Eric Stretz: Songwriter, Drums

Truth – Still the Truth – 1986

Truth are one of the stranger bands in CCM. They started in 1971 with 15 members malking thwm more of a choir than a band. Later the band expanded to 22 members but you can’t really tell as this album sounds like a typical 5 piece band. According to John Roger Breland the choir/band’s name stands for “Trust, Receive, Unchangeable, True Happiness [in Jesus]”. The band was active until 2001 and released 47 albums in their time.

Tracklist
1 – What Can I Do
2 – Wonderful Invention
3 – He Is Able
4 – The Spirit Of David
5 – Undivided
6 – Do What
7 – The Highest Call
8 – Have You Heard
9 – I’ll Remember You To The Father
10 – Lamb Of God

Credits
Arranged By [Vocals] – Steven V. Taylor
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Directed By – Roger Breland
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Steve Fralick, Tom Harding
Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary
Guitar – Jon Goin
Horns – The Truth Brass
Keyboards – David Huntsinger
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Brent King, Steven V. Taylor
Percussion – Brent King, Steven V. Taylor, Terry McMillan
Performer [Member] – Alan Nowell, Berneé Tuttle, David Cleveland, Ed Seidenkranz, Gina Angiulli, Joy Young, Ken Reich, Kevin Newton, Lisa Pieper, Mark Harris, Mike Eldred, Mike Thomas, Mike Walker, Paul Glasgow, Phil Peters, Shari Beeman, Tim Marshall, Travis Laws, Wes Tuttle
Producer – Steven V. Taylor
Programmed By [DX-7 Programming], Keyboards [Additional] – John Slick
Recorded By – Brent King, Michael Psanos*
Strings [Played From Synclavier Digital System] – Reed Arvin