This is the second album from Bill but I really can’t find out very much about him. I found that there are quite a few copies of this album for sale and it’s on almost all the streaming sites but that’s all I could find. I did find him on Facebook and he seems to have had a long career in the radio business and still performs mainly at his church. He might be doing more than that musically but like I said it was difficult to put the pieces together. Anyway the album is a really good pop album and the production is fantastic. It’s one that should be listened to.
Tracklist 1 – His Love Has Carried Me Away 2 – The Brave, The Proud, The Few 3 – Jesus You’re The One 4 – I Want To Thank You Lord 5 – Great Is The God Of Heaven 6 – He Takes Care Of Me 7 – Walkin’ Down The Street 8 – We’ve Got To Tell Them 9 – Steppin’ In The Shadows
Credits Drums – Brian Willis, Brian Brickley Bass – Rich Gooch, Mark KIngen, Bill Price Keyboards — Gary Hemenway, Rob Farley, Scott James Guitars, Procussion – Bill Price Saxophone – Susie May Background Vocals – Dave Bray, Russ Finley, Scott James, Curt Cassingham, Jeff Michel, Linda Price, Melani Bray, Laura Evitt, Martin Woodrow, Bill Price Engineers – Scott James, Curt Cassingham Mix – Scott James Produced by – Scott James and Bill Price
Companies, etc. Recorded at – Northstar Recording Studio
Geoff Mann is rapidly becoming one of my favourite 80’s artists that I didn’t even know existed in the 80’s. The information on this album is pretty scant and I don’t even know where it was released though I am assuming the UK. As for the album I guess it could be best described as conceptual New Wave though your description might be different. It only came out on LP but was re-released in 1994 on a compilation disc. Strangely the re-release was actually missing the track “Peacemeal” but it was included on the re-release of Chants Would be a Fine Thing in 2004. The album appears to be entirely Geoff and Dave Mortimer but we do know Steve Millie did step in to do the Bass track on “Creation”. So if you are a fan of New Wave and you missed this one in the 80’s I strongly suggest a listen to it now.
Credits Electric Guitar – Dave Mortimer Electronic Drums – Geoff Mann Guitar – Dave Mortimer Producer – Geoff Mann Synthesizer – Geoff Mann Voice – Geoff Mann
Companies, etc. Recorded – Pullman Studios, Manchester. Record Company – Wobbly Records
Tony is better known to those in the industry as a songwriter. He wrote Steven Curtis Chapman’s hit single “Waiting For Lightning” as well as several more. As is normal at some point he decided to do an album of his own. He actually had 3 albums but this is the only one on a label. Greentree stepped up to release the album and given that it’s on Greentree Records I’m pretty sure you’ve already figured out that it’s an easy listening album. I must admit however that I have listened to this album a few times now and I really like it. That’s not something you usually hear from me as Easy Listening is not my preferred genre. Maybe I was just in the mood for something easy listening but this album definitely hit a good spot for me.
Tracklist 1 – Count It All Joy – 2:43 2 – All The Time – 3:08 3 – Wash Their Feet – 4:06 4 – Our God Reigns – 3:56 5 – We Are One – 3:18 6 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 3:37 7 – Believe – 4:05 8 – The Righteous Shall Endure – 3:21 9 – First Things First – 4:19 10 – It’s Just The First Farewell – 3:46
Credits Bass – Mike “The Duke” Brignardello Executive-Producer – Greg Nelson Graphics – Barnes & Company Guitar – Jon Goin Keyboards – Phil Naish Photography By – Matt Barnes Producer – Phil Naish Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Balding Strings – The Nashville String Machine
This is the second album from Acappella. It was again released on Keith Lancaster private label though Word did re-release it 1992. This album did do something very rare in that it had a CCM charting single which is very rare for a private label release. “A Cappella” made it to #29 which should be respected. By this point in the history of Acappella Keith had it developing into a ministry as opposed to just a group. As for the album, well, if you like A Cappella you’ll like the album. Am I the only one that thinks the album cover looks like a metal album?
Tracklist 1 – We Bow Down – 2:22 2 – More Than Conquerors – 2:57 3 – A Cappella – 2:36 4 – Create In Me – 2:30 5 – Everybody Praise – 2:05 6 – Army Of The Lord – 2:53 7 – Amazing Grace – 2:05 8 – Once In A Lifetime Love – 3:02 9 – We Will Glorify – 2:09 10 – John The Revelator – 2:19
Credits Cover – John Laws Engineer – Dan Knowles Mastered By – Glenn Meadows Photography By – John Laws Producer – Keith Lancaster Vocals – Rodney Britt, Keith Lancaster
This version of The New Gaither Vocal Band (now just called The Gaither Vocal Band) consisted of Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Gary McSpadden, and Bill Gaither. I was thinking this might be their best lineup but I think its just because this is their most pop album. As usual it did well on the CCM charts with three top 10 singles. “The Lord Of Hosts” made it to #4, “Can’t Stop Talking About Him” to #1, and “Forever” to #7. Personally I don’t really feel the album had 3 top 10 singles but we all know the CCM charts favoured this kind of acts. But I don’t want to be too critical of the album as I actually did enjoy it.
Tracklist 1 – The Lord Of Hosts – 3:20 2 – Can’t Stop Talking About Him – 4:44 3 – Look Up – 3:39 4 – Lamb Of God – 3:53 5 – Glorious Morning – 4:07 6 – One By One – 4:05 7 – Things That Last Forever – 4:13 8 – Fool For Lesser Things – 3:26 9 – Forever – 3:44 10 – I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks – 4:49
Credits Cover, Design – Jerry Joyner Executive-Producer – Ken Harding Photography By – Peter Nash Producer – Billy Smiley, Keith Thomas Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Balding Vocals – Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Gary McSpadden, Bill Gaither
Branded was a turning point album for Undercover. It has a mature sound but it certainly leaves behind some of the elements that set Undercover apart in their early days. Their first album featured Ric Alba on lead vocals, then on the follow up Bill Walden took over, as Ric had moved on to Altar Boys. Bill recorded lead vocals on two albums for Undercover before this, their fourth where Sim Wilson took over the mic. The mature sound is very dark compared to the original upbeat, peppy happy-go-Jesus songs on their first two albums. The third record started to get more serious, but not brooding like Branded is. Sim’s vocals are powerful and booming, begging you to take seriously everything he says, ensuring you that the drama is all worth it. Most of the band did stick together, so they still have some signature sounds, although this could have been a different band. The band obviously didn’t see it that way because on this, their fourth album they labelled the record “side 7” and “side 8.” Maybe that was apologetic. There are a lot of introspective tracks such as “I’m Just A Man,” “Cry Myself To Sleep,” and “Come Away With Me.”
Tracklist 1 – I’m Just A Man – 3:24 2 – The Fight For Love – 3:00 3 – Where Can I Go – 3:13 4 – Tears In Your Eyes – 2:05 5 – Pilate – 3:00 6 – Build A Castle – 3:25 7 – Cry Myself To Sleep – 2:31 8 – Prelude – 1:55 9 – Darkest Hour – 3:26 10 – Interlude – 0:35 11 – Come Away With Me – 4:44 12 – If I Had A Dream – 5:02
Credits Arranged By – Undercover Art Direction – Harry Barnes, Ojo Taylor Crew [Road] – Buzz Bolton, Kenny Olson Design [Album] – Undercover Engineer – Mike Mierau, Joey Engineer [Second] – Bobby Saucedo, Paul Abajian Executive-Producer – Harry Barnes Illustration, Typography [Lettering] – Dave Gibson Keyboards, Bass – Ojo Taylor Layout – Graphics Gloria Mastered By – Bernie Grundmann Mixed By – Dino Elefante Photography By – David Gomez Producer – Ojo Taylor Vocals – Sim Wilson Vocals, Drums – Gary Olson Vocals, Guitar – Gym Nicholson Voice [Additional] – Gene Eugene, Glenn, Riki Written-By – Gym Nicholson, Ojo Taylor
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Lexicon Distribution Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios Published By – B-1 Music Published By – Royal Commandment Music
This was Dan’s third solo album and easily his most successful. The first single “Lonely People” reached #2 on the contemporary Christian music chart. Rather oddly this was actually a cover of his song he wrote and performed with his original group, America, in 1975. The second single “Electro-Voice” also charted on the CCM Adult chart. As for the album it’s a pretty good pop album. Somehow I missed this one in the 80’s which is too bad as I think I would have really liked it.
Tracklist 1 – Electro-Voice – 4:09 2 – A New Song – 3:08 3 – Solid Ground – 2:30 4 – Not My Will – 4:00 5 – Lonely People – 2:56 6 – His Master’s Voice – 2:42 7 – I’ll Be Coming Home – 3:45 8 – Open Up Your Heart – 3:26 9 – The Rapture – 3:16 10 – All Things Work Together For Good – 3:41
Apart from his excellent vocal contribution (as well as some guitaring) on David Zaffiro’s Surrender Absolute (1992) album, from Randall Waller’s second solo album, Midnight Fire, onwards his focus changed from the Christian music market to the mainstream music world. This is clearly evident on Avion’s well-produced second and last studio album, White Noise, released on the mainstream EMI label. Forming in 1981, Avion was an Australian band that was beset with hardship and tragedy of one kind and another. Even though they had a few appearances on Australia’s national music show Countdown, Australian rock historian Ian MacFarlane states that they were ‘met with virtual indifference at home’ (Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop). The great singles the band released suffered from a lack of airplay. Apart from a loyal Sydney fan base, the band’s biggest supporters came from North America who appreciated the band’s melodic, American-influenced AOR. Band member and keyboardist, Evan Murray, died in a car accident in late ’87. The band called it a day soon after. The album contained the following 3 singles – We’ve Got Secrets (1985), Celebration (1986), and Berlin Wall (1987). Berlin Wall addresses the detrimental effect of the wall on the city’s residents that divided Berlin into East and West Berlin. The album has two relationship songs – Elle and Ships. Elle is about a couple where one member is pushing the relationship to the next level before the other member is ready for that level of commitment. Ships is about a song of unrequited love, using the saying ‘Ships passing in the night’ to great effect. One of my favourite tracks, Calm Before The Storm, has the strongest Christian connotations about heaven coming down to earth. The only change in personnel for this album was Paul Gannell who replaced Martyn Toole on guitar.
Contributor – Frank Axel Rasenberger
Tracklist 1 – Celebration – 4:05 2 – Berlin Wall – 3:35 3 – Elle – 3:56 4 – In My Mind – 3:33 5 – Ships – 4:45 6 – We’ve Got Secrets – 3:58 7 – Calm Before The Storm – 4:41 8 – The Next Big Thing – 3:24 9 – On & On – 4:50 10 – Never Too Late – 3:55
Credits Bass, Backing Vocals – Kendall Waller Drums, Backing Vocals – John Waller Engineer – Peter Cobbin, Richard Lush Engineer [Assisted By] – Tony Espie Engineer [Assisted By], Mixed By [Assisted By] – Greg Henderson Guitar, Backing Vocals – Paul Gannell Lead Vocals, Guitar – Randall Waller Mixed By – Clive Shakespeare, John Bee, Randall Waller, Spencer Lee Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Evan Murray Producer – Clive Shakespeare), Peter Dawkins, Randall Waller Producer, Engineer – Ross Cockle Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Peter Blyton Producer, Mixed By – Avion
Companies, etc. Recorded At – EMI Studios 301 Produced At – AAV Engineered At – AAV Mixed At – Albert Studios
Recently David Lowman said the following, “If there was any real justice in the world of 80’s CCM, artists Jon Gibson and Tim Miner would have sold out arenas.” Upon reading that I broke out a Tim Miner album and he was right on that one so next I broke out a Jon Gibson album and he is dead on in this one also. In fact I liked this album even more than the Tim Miner album. This is Jon’s second album but his first was on a secular label so this was his first CCM offering. The album was quite popular and had a #1 single, “God Loves a Broken Heart”. In a foreshadowing of what would make him even more popular he did a quasi rap track “Ain’t It Pretty”. Not my favourite track on the album but I’m not a fan of that style. My personal pick for best track is actually “It’s True”. This is a great pop R&B album and as David said deserved to be much better known.
Tracklist 1 – Metal Machine – 4:20 2 – Ain’t It Pretty – 4:24 3 – On The Run – 4:02 4 – God Loves A Broken Heart – 4:24 5 – It’s True – 3:07 6 – Standing On The One – 4:04 7 – Are You Gonna Stay – 4:00 8 – I Love Her Anyway – 3:52 9 – Nation In Need – 3:48 10 – Dreams – 3:52
Credits Art Direction – Terry Dresbach Backing Vocals – Chrystal Blake, Felton Pilate, Jon Gibson, Phillip Ingram, The Waters Bass Guitar – Gary Jackson, Nathan Watts Creative Director – Ed McTaggart Drums – John Robinson, Jonathan Moffett, Tony Lewis Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Clifford Coulter, Tony LuFrano Executive-Producer – Sam Conti Guitar – Ben Bridges, Felton Pilate, Greg Doty, Joe Satriani, Mickey Free, Sneaky Pete, Snuffy Walden Keyboards, Drum Programming, Programmed By – Bill Wolfer, Felton Pilate, Tom Coster Lead Vocals – Jon Gibson Mastered By – Bill Cutler, George Horn Percussion – Cubby Ingram, Wayne-O-Millstein Photography By – Fredrica Drotos Producer – Felton Pilate, Jon Gibson, Tom Coster Saxophone – Larry Williams Synthesizer [Synth Bass] – Felton Pilate, Joey Gallo Written-By – Jon Gibson
One Bad Pig actually originated out of a one time performance at a local Texas music festival. I’m guessing they were pretty well received as the band decided to keep going and recorded this demo. The band at this point was imitating early 80’s punk. It was well received by their fans even though the sound had actually been overdone in the secular industry. That said punk was virtually unknown in Christian music so it was a new sound for fans. I have listened to some of their later work and I see real talent but quite frankly I just don’t hear a lot of talent here. I was a big listener of secular punk music in the early 80’s and quite frankly they just don’t measure up. That said I respect that they were doing something new and the CCM industry really needed new sounds at the time this band came along. If you are a big fan of OBP this is a must listen but don’t expect the quality they would later be know for.
Tracklist 1 – Six – 2:30 2 – Sleepin’ With The World – 1:58 3 – Make Me Burn – 3:39 4 – Blow And Go – 2:18 5 – Anarchy Is Prison – 3:04 6 – Life’s A Bomb – 2:19
Credits Artwork [Cover Art], Design – Capital Spectrum, Kevin Phelan, Ronnie Bronson Bass, Vocals – Kevin Phelan Guitar, Songwriter [Song], Vocals – Paul Q-Pek Lead Vocals [Lead Screams], Lyrics By [Lyric] – Carey Womack Percussion – Jon Taylor Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – Kerry Crafton Photography By – David Davis Producer [Produced By] – Kerry Crafton, One Bad Pig
