Tag: 1986

Rick Cua – Wear Your Colors – 1986

Another great production by Dave Perkins makes this a great Rock & Roll album. Excellent guitar riffs and shout along choruses make you want to turn this album up to 12. This was (in my opinion) the peak of Ric’s Rock & Roll style. His stuff after this is good but he started to turn the dial down after this album. The first single and title track is a fantastic arena rock song that will have you singing along. Point of trivia is that Rob Frazier did some background vocals on the album.

Tracklist
1 – Wear Your Colors – 3:53
2 – Flex – 3:27
3 – This Raging Fire – 3:50
4 – Hungry – 3:22
5 – Lemme At ‘Em – 3:36
6 – Got The Rock – 3:03
7 – Unchained – 3:41
8 – Nightfall – 4:02
9 – Hats Off To You – 3:06
10 – Line Of Fire – 4:10

Credits
Larry Arlotta – Keyboards
George Cocchini – Songwriter, Guitars
Rick Cua – Songwriter, Bass, Vocals
Ron DeRollo – Additional Engineer, Guitars
Rob Frazier – Background Vocals
Lynn Fuston – Engineer
Tommy Greer – Keyboards
Bob Halligan, Jr. – Songwriter, Keyboards, Background Vocals
Dave Hanlon – Percussion
Malcolm Harper – Engineer
JB Baird – Additional Engineer
Glen Marchese – Additional Engineer
Don Martell – Additional Engineer
Chris McCollum – Additional Engineer
Mike Mead – Drums, Percussion
Dino Pastin – Keyboards
Dave Perkins – Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Guitars, Keyboards, Synthesizers, Background Vocals
Marc Ribler – Songwriter, Guitars
David Schober – Engineer
Dave Shirley – Additional Engineer
John Sinclair – Keyboards
Chad Welling – Synthesizers
Shawn Welling – Background Vocals

The Lead – Automoloch – 1986

This demo from The Lead was released in 1986. From what I read the band had been together at this point for 2 years and this demo was released as well as the “Return Fire” demo in 1986 but I don’t know which demo came out first. I’ve read several reviews that the band started as a punk band and transitioned to Thrash Metal. This album is pretty early in their career and I don’t hear much punk, I think at this point they were strictly a thrash metal band. That said, my definitions of musical styles may not be yours. The interesting track on the album is a cover of Rez Band’s “Alienated”. It’s actually a pretty good cover and I was pleasantly surprised.

Tracklist
1 – No One’s an Atheist – 3:04
2 – XB – 3:07
3 – Sick Of This – 4:20
4 – You Don’t Need Him – 3:33
5 – Calling Out To You – 2:12
6 – Alienated – 1:46

Credits
Julio Rey – vocals, guitar
Robbie Christie – drums, vocals
Nina Llopis – bass, vocals

Crumbächer – Escape From The Fallen Planet – 1986

After the success of Crumbächer’s first album they signed a new record deal with Frontline Records. Unfortunately this meant that Ojo Taylor and Derri Daugherty weren’t involved in this album. They self produced this album and did a very good job though I think Ojo would have done a better job. This album continues the synth wave sound with some pop feeling and was a nice follow up to Incandescent. The track “Interstellar Satellite” did single on Christian rock stations. The 2010 “25th Anniversary Edition” CD release featured an A cappella version of “Alma Mater”. It is included in the playlist/tracklist.

Tracklist
1 – Solo Flight – 3:30
2 – Crashlanded (In Another Time Zone) – 4:20
3 – Identical Twins – 5:13
4 – Name Droppers – 3:50
5 – Royal Command Performance – 4:45
6 – Tourist Trap – 4:40
7 – Life Of The Party – 3:56
8 – Alma Mater – 1:39
9 – Graduating Class – 4:40
10 – Interstellar Satellite – 4:58
11 – Alma Mater (A cappella) – 1:43

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Dan Hohulin
Backing Vocals – Dawn Wisner-Johnson, Jimmy Wisner, Stephen Crumbacher
Cover – Kerrie Erickson
Drum Programming [Rhythm Programming] – Jimmy Wisner
Drums – Jimmy Wisner
Electric Guitar – Dan Hohulin
Engineer – Bill Baumgart
Keyboards – Dawn Wisner-Johnson, Stephen Crumbacher
Lead Vocals – Stephen Crumbacher
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography – Linda Dillon Baley
Producer – Stephen Crumbacher
Programmed By [Sequence Programming] – Stephen Crumbacher
Written-By – Stephen Crumbacher

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – Asylomar Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering – 22303
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering – 22304

Steve Taylor And Some Band – Limelight – 1986

In 1985 Steve Taylor appeared at the Greenbelt festival at Castle Ashby, England. An excellent sound track was recorded and select songs became this album. At this point Steve only had 3 albums out but they provided more than enough material to work with. Steve put together a pretty good band of studio musicians and game them credit as the “Some Band”. Most of the songs appear to have their album arrangements though there are a few things different but unfortunately no extended versions. The album is actually quite short and I’m disappointed they didn’t add a few more tracks which would have easily fit. The highlight of the album for me was his duet with Sheila Walsh covering David Edwards “Not Gonna Fall Away” which was originally from his studio EP “Trans-Atlantic Remixes”

Tracklist
1 – This Disco (Used To Be A Cute Cathedral)
2 – I Want To Be A Clone
3 – You Don’t Owe Me Nothing
4 – On The Fritz
5 – We Don’t Need No Colour Code
6 – Whatever Happened To Sin?
7 – Meltdown (At Madame Tussaud’s)
8 – Not Gonna Fall Away

Credits
Backing Vocals [At No Additional Charge] – Mr. Thrush, Mr. Holmen, Mr. Peters
Bass – Glen Holmen
Design – Peter Nomura, Stan Evenson Design, Inc.
Drums – Terl Bryant
Engineer – Keith Bessey
Guitar – Jeff Stone
Keyboards – Steve Peters
Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall
Mixed By – Ian Eales
Photography By – Tobi Corney
Producer – Keith Bessey, Steve Taylor
Saxophone – Dave Thrush

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Live At Greenbelt, Ltd.
Recorded At – Greenbelt, Castle Ashby, England
Engineered At – Gallery Studios
Mixed At – Weddington Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc

Billy Smiley – New Night – 1986

If you’re the kind of person who can judge a record by the album cover, then you’re on the money with this one.

Billy Smiley was part of White Heart and contributed to other cool projects, but this one is quite different. More of a 1980s jazz easy listening effort.

It’s all instrumental, lots of keyboards, and none of the sort of guitar riffs we expect from the wrote and sang on so many White Heart songs, and more recently, The Union of Sinners & Saints. Billy also produced a number of important CCM albums for other artists. This album seems to have been a vacation in a different place.

Interesting note on the cover art. I’m not sure, but maybe it went like this…
“What are we doing for the album cover?”
“Don’t worry I’ve got something, we’ll just change it around a bit.”
“Okay…”
Take a look here at Justo Almario’s jazz album, also released in 1985 on the same label, Meadowlark Records. Even the back cover is a dead match. The front has a little more variation but not much.

Tracklist
1 – All The Crying Eyes – 5:02
2 – Time Will Tell – 4:36
3 – Acappella In F Minor – 0:41
4 – Nouveau Nº. 1 – 5:10
5 – Spring In The Heart – 3:45
6 – The Awakening – 4:14
7 – Living With A Dream – 4:55
8 – Encounter – 4:06
9 – Image – 3:16
10 – Reflection – 3:05

Credits
Engineer [Second] – David Pierce
Engineer, Mixed By – Brent King, Jeff Balding, Mike Psanos
Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Synthesizer, Bass [Synth Bass] – Billy Smiley
Keyboards [Fairlight, Additional Keyboards] – Tommy Dorsey
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Programmed By [Linn Drum Programming] – Gary Lunn
Programmed By [Synthesizer Programming] – Tommy Greer
Written-By, Producer – Billy Smiley

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word (UK) Ltd.
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – Word Music (UK)
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio
Recorded At – Master’s Touch
Recorded At – Studio 19, Nashville
Recorded At – Center Stage Studio
Mixed At – Gold Mine Studio
Mixed At – Master’s Touch
Mixed At – Center Stage Studio
Mastered At – Future Disc

Inner Lite – Rockin’ The Faith – 1986

This demo appears to be all we got from Inner Lite and I don’t really know much about them. It’s a standard heavy metal album with the quality of the band being pretty good. The production quality isn’t the best but that could be because of the source being a cassette. None of the band (or producer) went on to do anything more that I can find so this will go down as one of those late 80’s Heavy Metal projects that didn’t take off.

Tracklist
1 – Live Eternally
2 – Open Your Eyes
3 – Rockin’ The Faith
4 – Perfect Love

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dan “Z-Man” Castro
Drums – Chris Powers (7)
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Nick Powers (3), Shiro Nobunaga
Lead Vocals – Billy Birkholz
Producer – Randy W. Brewer

2nd Chapter of Acts – Hymns – 1986

In 1986 2nd Chapter of Acts did something a little different for CCM at the time. They released an album of hymns. The hymns were updated so we could enjoy the harmonies of the band. The album was well received and in fact well enough that a second album of hymns was released in 1988. The hymns were updated enough to include more modern instruments but not enough to change the basic structures of them. It sounds strange to say but this was actually a little daring to do in CCM music at the time but it all worked out and actually turned out to be a great idea.

Tracklist
1 – All Creatures Of Our God And King – 2:58
2 – My Jesus I Love Thee – 4:52
3 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness – 4:04
4 – Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee – 2:40
5 – Crown Him With Many Crowns – 3:46
6 – Take My Life And Let It Be (Nottingham) – 1:45
7 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 5:33
8 – Fairest Lord Jesus – 3:47
9 – O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus – 4:08
10 – How Great Thou Art – 5:22
11 – He Has Formed Me – 1:39

Credits
Arranged By [Instrumental Arrangements] – John Andrew Schreiner
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – 2nd Chapter Of Acts
Art Direction, Concept By [Cover Concept] – Buddy Owens
Artwork [Back Cover] – Marty Justice
Artwork [Calligraphy] – Michael Stevens
Bass – Lee Jones
Design – Bradley Grose
Drums – Dennis Holt
Engineer – Greg Hunt
Guitar – Will McFarland (tracks: B2)
Keyboards – Schreiner*
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By [Altered Polaroid Photographs By] – Michael Going
Producer, Engineer – Buck Herring

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Live Oak Records
Copyright (c) – Live Oak Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems
Recorded At – Easter Song Studios
Mixed At – Easter Song Studios

Faith of Steel – Metal with Meaning – Our Savior – 7″ – 1986

This 1986 self released 7″ is all we have from Faith of Steel. They sound like a good Rock & Roll band, too bad we didn’t get a little more.

Tracklist
A – Metal With Meaning
B – Our Saviour

Credits
Ron Steelman Bass
Scott Meath Drums
Mark Lagana Guitars
Jim Casey Vocals

Armada – All Four One – 1986

Armada was/is a hard rock band out of Michigan. They formed in 1975 under the name Archangel and also appear to have used the name Prophet Song before settling on Armada. This was their demo and was sold in cassette form at their concerts. It is a fantastic hard rock album. If you read my reviews you know that often I am critical of self produced albums/demos. Not on this one though. The production isn’t super polished, but that’s a good thing. This is a raw Rock & Roll band and this demo captures that sound perfectly. They have re-released this album on CD but this is a copy of the cassette reworked as best I could. I see that they are occasionally referred to as a Metal band but they aren’t really and as I said this is good old Rock & Roll album. I think the lead track could have singled on secular radio, but of course it wouldn’t have due to the usual religious paranoia of radio at the time.

Tracklist
1 – Let God’s People Go
2 – Witness
3 – Turn Around
4 – Streetwise
5 – Rock’n
6 – Shelter
7 – You’d Better Believe It
8 – Cutting It Close
9 – Turning Point

Credits
Lead Vocals – Rick Ledesma
Lead & Rhythm Guitars – Dave Dawdy
Bass Guitar – Randy Carlson
Drums, Lead Vocals – John Heald
Produced, Engineered, Mixed – Mark Miller

Emerald – Armed for Battle – 1986

Emerald were a Metal group out of Southern California. They formed in 1978 but didn’t get a recording out until this EP in 1986. Somehow the band were able to save up (or were gifted) $13,000 to record this EP. The result is actually quite stunning for that budget. The album measures up to any Metal album of the time. In fact it is much better than many label based Metal albums. Normally I am terrified of self produced albums but not this one. But it’s not just the production that is good but these guys are really really good. As far as I can tell the album was self published and distributed. The number of pressings appears to be a matter of argument but suffice to say it was small with copies of the original pressing fetching in excess of $500 at the time of this writing. Luckily there has been several re-pressings and a CD version is available now. If you like Metal and you’ve never heard this EP you need to give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

Tracklist
1 – Armed For Battle – 4:10
2 – Teenage Suicide – 7:45
3 – We Attack – 3:52
4 – Look To The Stars – 5:07
5 – Winds Of Doom – 7:09
6 – Judgement Day – 4:14

Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Emerald
Bass – Joe Palma
Drums, Synthesizer – Kyle Morrett
Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Dave Enos
Lead Vocals – Larry Philips