1987 – Real 80s CCM

Dieter Falk – Today – 1987

Here’s another one we didn’t get in North America. Dieter was a German musician and producer that put out a few albums himself. This is his second album and I do not understand why someone didn’t bring this album across the ocean. The German release was on Pila Records but Myrrh picked it up for a further European release. I don’t understand why Myrrh didn’t try to bring this to us as the album is fantastic. The album is instrumental except for 4 tracks where there were guest vocalists. Brigitte Petereit sings 2 tracks and did a pretty good job but never had a release herself. One track has Swedish singer Charlotte Höglund who is responsible for me finding this album as I found her in the credits. One track is sung by Steve Tolley who is a complete mystery but a fantastic vocalist. He sings on “Gospel Train” and makes that song the obvious album single. All the instrumental tracks are vocal ready and just needed some lyrics and a singer. That said I have some sympathy for Dieter in that it was HIS album and bringing in a bunch of guest vocalists does cause an album to have an uneven feel. That said this is a great album and deserves to be heard.

Tracklist
1 – Today – 3:35
2 – Tomorrow – 3:54
3 – Every Song, Every Melody – 3:56
4 – Higher Power – 3:21
5 – Heart And Soul – 3:46
6 – Gospel Train – 3:39
7 – Love Connection – 3:51
8 – Back To The Roots – 3:06
9 – Joy Arising – 0:43
10 – Celebration – 3:44
11 – Who Keeps The Love – 3:05
12 – Commit Whatever Grieves Thee – 3:42

Credits
Arranged By, Producer, Keyboards – Dieter Falk
Bass – Abe Laboriel*, Wolfgang Schmid
Drums, Percussion – Thomas Simmerl
Guitar – Dann Huff, Dieter Roesberg, Klaus-Peter Schöpfer, Peter Wölpl
Horns – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Mixed By – John Guess
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Saxophone – Frank Loef
Vocals – Brigitte Petereit, Charlotte Höglund, Steve Tolley

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Emmaus, Filadelfia Forlag, Finngospel, GMB/Révélation Media, GMI Records, Grace Music, Kir Music, La Sorgente Music, Master Music, Master-Vision-S.A., Nye Toner / Teovision, Pila Music, Sephora Diffusion, Viva Music, Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright © – Pila Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pila Music
Made By – Shorewood Packaging
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging
Published By – Pila Music, Roxon Musikverlag
Recorded At – Hansahaus-Studios, Hollywood Sound Recorders, Melody-Tonstudio Stuttgart, Ton- & Videostudio Leonberg
Mixed At – Hollywood Sound Recorders

Charlotte – Free – 1987

This is the first album from Charlotte that was released in the U.S. The Swedish version was released in 1985 but it looks like they went back into the studio to do this English version in 1987. The music scores are slightly different but I think it’s due to mixing and not due to rerecording them. There are 2 additional tracks on the English version and the Swedish version actually had 2 English songs. English songs on a Swedish release were not uncommon at the time. Being from Canada I had no idea about the existence of this album or even this artist. I discovered it as I was researching Frank Ådahl and discovered he sang backup on this album. Charlotte actually had several albums including many as a child with her brother Per Höglund. Charlotte’s parents are singers Lotten and Arne Höglund and were also travel evangelists with the Swedish Missionary Association in the early 1970’s. The album is a great Pop album with strong vocals and I really really like it. It’s easily as good as the female pop stuff that was on the lower end of radio playlists in 85/87. No real stand out tracks for me but a great all around album. Charlotte Höglund is currently the pastor of Immanuelskyrkan Church in Stockholm.

The Swedish version is here – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XQaZjAdoVEs-h_B1i-1WR_Z

Tracklist
1 – Free – 3:48
2 – Stand Up – 3:15
3 – Who Are You? – 4:08
4 – My Dance – 3:37
5 – Be Still – 3:33
6 – Up To The Stars – 3:41
7 – Love Is The Answer – 4:08
8 – Be A Winner – 3:18
9 – Set Them Free – 4:43
10 – The King – 3:34
11 – End Of The Book – 3:47
12 – All I Needed To Say – 3:21

Credits
Arranged By [Choir Arrangements], Conductor – L.O. Forsberg
Arranged By, Producer, Keyboards – Peter Ljung
Backing Vocals – Björn Ström, Eva Axelsson, Frank Ådahl, Håkon Iversson, Sigvard Dagsland
Bass – Teddy Walter
Design [Album Design] – Anders Bühlund
Drums – Klas Anderhell, Per Lindvall, Åke Sundqvist
Engineer – Lennart Östlund
Engineer [Assistant] – Paris Edvinsson
Engineer, Mixed By – Janne Ugand
Guitar – Henrik Jansson, Håkan Mjörnheim
Photography By – Labe Allwin
Saxophone – Erik Häusler, Johan Stengård

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Cantio Records
Copyright © – Cantio Records
Recorded At – Polar Studios
Recorded At – Atlantis Studio
Mixed At – Atlantis Studio
Pressed By – CD Plant MFG
Glass Mastered At – CDM

Various – California Metal – 1987

To say this is a legendary sampler is an understatement. It was 1987 and metal was really catching so Regency put this sampler out. They lured you in with Barren Cross and then fed you some of California’s best Metal bands. Many of these tracks weren’t even released elsewhere for 20 more years. Also included on the album was the unreleased band Hero that people loved. I have detailed below where you can find these songs outside of this sampler. If you had this one in 80’s you know how special it was.

Tracklist
1 – Barren Cross – Deadlock – On 1988 album “Atomic Arena
2 – Guardian – Marching On – Unreleased until 2009 on “First Watch” re-release as a bonus track
3 – Neon Cross – I Need Your Love – Unreleased until 2001 on “Neon Cross” re-release as a bonus track
4 – Hero – I Surrender – Unreleased Band
5 – Deliverance – A Space Called You – Unreleased until 2008 on “Deliverance” re-release as a bonus track
6 – Mastedon – Wasn’t It Love – Unreleased until 2009 on “It’s A Jungle Out There” re-release as a bonus track
7 – Guardian – Spiritual Warfare – Unreleased until 2009 on “First Watch” re-release as a bonus track
8 – Deliverance – Attack – Unreleased until 2008 on “Deliverance” re-release as a bonus track
9 – Hero – Sing It Out – Unreleased Band
10 – Neon Cross – Son Of God – Unreleased until 2001 on “Neon Cross” re-release as a bonus track

Tracklist
1 – Barren Cross – Deadlock – 4:33
2 – Guardian – Marching On – 3:38
3 – Neon Cross – I Need Your Love – 3:08
4 – Hero – I Surrender – 3:47
5 – Deliverance – A Space Called You – 3:51
6 – Mastedon – Wasn’t It Love – 4:42
7 – Guardian – Spiritual Warfare – 4:13
8 – Deliverance – Attack – 3:44
9 – Hero – Sing It Out – 3:02
10 – Neon Cross – Son Of God – 4:15

Credits
Executive-Producer – David Malme, John Moore
Illustration – Helane Freeman
Lacquer Cut By – Eddy Schreyer
Producer, Engineer – Bob Beeman, The Pakaderm Company

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Regency Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Regency Records
Copyright © – Larana Music
Copyright © – Amgine Music
Copyright © – Reescott Music
Copyright © – Uncle Pits Music
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

Michael Peace – RRRock It Right – 1987

This is the first album from Rap artist Michael Peace who was one of the very early Rap artist in the Christian genre. I’m actually a little confused with this album because strangely it was produced and arranged by Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell who worked on all the Amy Grant albums of the day. Rap was an up and coming music style so I think Reunion Records wanted to get ahead of this trend. Inexplicitly they chose Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell to work on the project but neither of them had any experience with Rap or even with a black artist for that matter. As a result we have a great artist and idea for an album with horrible execution. I seriously wonder if they even listened to a Run DMC album before they worked this album. I will give them credit for one thing and that is that they had to be the enablers for Michael’s cover of “Wise Up” which is actually pretty darn good. My real problem with the album is that everything is thin. The music tracks, which I really really like, have no feel, no soul, and just feel like backing tracks. There is absolutely no effects on Michael’s voice with the exception of a bit of echo here and there. This was just the wrong team to work on this album and I know Rap isn’t only in black culture but that’s where it came from and other than Michael I don’t even see a black person involved with this album. Now that I’ve said that I do think this is a good album, there’s tons of talent here but the album just feels unfinished. I just wonder what it would have sounded like if someone like Rod Hui had a shot at the album.

Tracklist
1 – Heart Trouble – 4:25
2 – Rock Your World – 3:48
3 – J-E-S-U-S – 3:53
4 – Wise Up – 3:44
5 – RRRock It Right – 4:12
6 – Automatic Witness – 4:20
7 – No Solution – 3:39
8 – In The Ghetto – 4:52
9 – Rappin’ It Up – 1:14

Credits
Michael Peace – Songwriter, Vocals
Michael Blanton – Executive Producer
Mark Douthit – Saxophone
John Hammond – Drums
Dan Harrell – Executive Producer
Tom Hemby – Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, Synclavier, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Percussion
Wayne Kirkpatrick – Songwriter
Ken Love – Mastered
Jeff Moseley – Songwriter
Brett Perry – Synclavier Programming
Billy Simon – Songwriter
Tricia Walker – Songwriter
Bill Whittington – Engineer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Edward Grant, Inc.
Published By – River Oaks Music Co.
Published By – Meadowgreen Music Co.

Abraham – Underground – 1987

As near as I can find this was the last album from The Watchmen aka Abraham & The Watchmen Band, aka Abraham. Their last 2 albums are self released and in my humble opinion their best 2 albums. I simply don’t understand how a respected recorded band with a strong history couldn’t get these 2 albums released on a proper label. There’s probably more to the story but it is what it is. While I think I prefer “Anti-Sin” I really really like this one too. Unfortunately our copy of this album simply isn’t the best and I really wish I could get my hands on the original tracks so I could give it a modern professional remaster. Hint hint guys. As for the album it has a pop rock feel with some tracks leaning a little more synth oriented and some leaning more Rock oriented. All around this is a great album for 1987 and probably would have sold well.

Tracklist
1 – Choose To Refuse – 3:18
2 – Think About Me – 3:05
3 – Never Give Up – 4:55
4 – Fightin’ Against The Tide – 4:05
5 – Overture – 1:14
6 – Can’t Wait – 2:25
7 – I Am Not Ashamed – 3:49
8 – Freedom In Jesus – 3:52
9 – If You Could Only See My Heart – 3:39

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Loren Greene
Drums – Ken Abraham
Lead Guitar – Pete Strayer
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Skip Addington
Producer – Dave Wagner, Stan Arthur, Tink Abraham
Technician, Sound Designer – Eric Abraham
Vocals, Keyboards – Tink Abraham
Vocals, Percussion – John Abraham

Various – Voices – 1987

I previously referred to this album as a sampler but it’s not really a traditional sampler. It is not a sampler of songs but instead a sampler of artists. Myrhh brought some of their best artists into Pakaderm Studios to record this album and almost all of these tracks are unreleased elsewhere even today. That makes this album a much listened to album from the day. The odd artist on the album is Tata Vega who was a secular artist but she did tons of work on several Christian albums of the period. This is a must listen to album of almost secret tracks from some of your favorite artists.

Tracklist
1 – Tata Vega – In Your Light – 3:50
2 – Bob Carlisle – Heaven Is Waiting – 4:29
3 – Bryan Duncan – Come As You Are – 4:32
4 – Matthew Ward – Light Of The World – 4:30
5 – Howard McCrary – In Your Presence – 4:23
6 – Kim Boyce, John Elefante – Helpless – 3:28
7 – Rick Riso – Heaven Must Have Sent You – 3:48
8 – Bob Carlisle – Teach Me How – 4:29
9 – Benny Hester – Then You Call My Name – 3:19
10 – Tommy Funderburk – Lift Up My Voice – 4:14

Credits
Arranged By – John Schreiner
Arranged By [Backing Vocals], Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle
Arranged By [Strings] – John Andrew Schreiner
Art Direction, Design – Rhonda Jesson
Bass – John Pierce, Michael Hodge
Drum Programming, Overdubbed By – Mannie, Mike Mierau, Rick Thomson
Drums – Rick Thomson
Engineer [Assistant] – Mannie, Paul Abajan
Guitar – Dino Elefante, Michael Hodge, Randy Thomas, Terrance Elliot
Guitar [Solo] – Randy Thomas, Terrance Elliot
Horns – The Martin Brothers
Keyboards – James Raymond, John Andrew Schreiner, John Elefante, Tim Heintz
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Dino Elefante, Mike Mierau, Steve Ford
Orchestrated By, Conductor – Bill Kilpatrick
Producer – John Elefante, Mike Mierau, Rick Thomson
Recorded By – Mike Mierau
Saxophone – David Hlebo, Warren Ham
Strings – Andrew Byers, Liane Mautner, Marilyn Hutz, Steve Seharf
Synth [Bass] – John Andrew Schreiner

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems – 1FF0100A
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Sherea Music
Published By – Noone Music
Published By – Uncle Pitts Music
Published By – Enchanted Dance

The Silencers – A Letter From St. Paul – 1987

Not only does this album possess one of the truly great album covers of all time (beauty in simplicity) there is not a single song on here worthy of being skipped. Jangly and atmospheric guitars, diving rhythms, sultry and subtle vocals and poignant and pinpoint lyrics. The Scottish quartet was formed out of the demise of a cool punk band called the Fingerprintz. They are still making records today, but nothing has come close to this amazing debut. Though not as aggressive as Simple Minds there is a similar quality though Del Amitri, The proclaimers and a softer version of Big Country would also work for a starting point. There are constant familiar images the modern Christian alternative fan could appreciate and the diversity in themes is impressive. “I Can’t Cry” is one of the best songs dealing with abortion I ever recall. The inner turmoil expressed is difficult and utterly believable. This not a song of condemnation, but rather of one where the protagonist is looking for help and reaching out to find no support. Songs like God’s Gift, Painted Moon and I See Red keep the same musical experiencing going with an unforgettable drive. They drone you into a helpless state and draw you in more than pound you ever the ears with hook and melody. There is a simplicity that goes deeper then initially thought. It is interesting to do a web search for this album and discover not a ton of results, but in every case there is a rave review. They may not have a large fan base, but the cult like status is filled with fans, like me, who are just continually amazed how such an impressive band went unnoticed.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Painted Moon – 6:04
2 – I Can’t Cry – 5:24
3 – Bullets And Blue Eyes – 5:04
4 – God’s Gift – 4:50
5 – I See Red – 4:10
6 – I Ought To Know – 4:28
7 – A Letter From St. Paul – 4:34
8 – Blue Desire – 4:08
9 – Possessed – 7:32
10 – Painted Moon (Blues Mix) – 6:30

Credits
Bass – Joe Donnelly
Drums – Martin Hanlin
Engineer, Recorded By – Callum Malcolm
Guitar – Cha Burns
Guitar, Vocals – Jimme O’Neill
Mixed By – Mark Freegard, Mark Wallace, The Silencers
Photography By – Jill Furmanovsky
Producer – Dave Bascombe
Producer [With Help From] – The Silencers

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – BMG Records (UK) Ltd.
Copyright © – BMG Records (UK) Ltd.
Distributed By – RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA
Distributed By – Ariola/RCA-RCA/Ariola
Designed At – T&CP Associates
Pressed By – Sonopress – B-7941

In The Silence – It’s Only Time – 1987

This was In The Silence’s first album. They had released a single before this called “Reaching” that eventually appeared om the Star Song Records 1991 Brave New Music compilation album. This album was self released in 1987 and is really really well put together. Production is really good and the engineering is good too. I really haven’t found out much more about this band so I am going to refer you to Frank Axel Rasenberger’s review of the bands next album to learn a little more about the band.

In The Silence – Things To Come – 1988

As for this album it’s a little rawer than their subsequent work but has a great New Wave feel. The quality of musicianship is excellent and this is yet another band that should have had an album deal but they are from Australia and it was 1987. The industry was starting a transition that really abandoned many Australian artists unfortunately. So much great music to be heard and it was essentially hidden from us.

Tracklist
1 – Who Am I – 5:57
2 – Are You Satisfied – 3:13
3 – Draw Me Nearer – 4:51
4 – In My Life – 4:40
5 – I’m So in Love – 5:03
6 – The State of Your Heart – 4:58
7 – Why’d You Never Tell Me? – 4:23

Credits
Bass – Angus McLeay
Drums – Jacques Zeelie
Lead Vocals – John Dickson
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ben Shaw
Engineer, Mixed By, Produced by – Jeff Todd
Produced by, Engineer – Bill Hurst

Companies, etc.
Recorded at – Windwood Studios, Black Inc. Studios

Sheila Walsh – Say So – 1987

This is Sheila’s 8th studio album and it has a bit of an interesting history. It was released in 1987 around the world but not in the U.S. It was subsequently released the next year in the U.S. which was coincidentally after Sheila Walsh took a co-host seat on the television talk-show, The 700 Club. I don’t know if they held the release or weren’t going to release it but anyway it was released in the U.S. and did very well on the CCM charts. It had 3 top 10 singles, “Angels With Dirty Faces”, “Jesus Loves The Church”, and “Wind Of Change”. Interestingly the album included a cover of the Todd Rundgren’s Utopia song “Love Is the Answer”. I can’t really judge if it’s a good cover as I don’t acre for the song no matter who did it. You should always read the credits for Sheila’s albums and on this one Phil Keaggy stepped in to help out on “Angels With Dirty Faces” and “Hope For The Hopeless”. Personally I have always struggled listen to Sheila. My first exposure to her as her duet with Steve Taylor of David Edwards “Not Going To Fall Away” which is one of my all time favourite recordings. Also on that E.P. was her cover of Bryn Haworth’s “We’re All One”. These two recordings were certainly not her usual style and as such I ended up judging all her subsequent work against something she wasn’t particularly known for. This ended up causing this strange situation where I absolutely loved her as an artist but didn’t really like her music. Strange I know but I stand by my misguided love of her.

Tracklist
1 – Wind Of Change – 4:07
2 – Surrender – 4:27
3 – Love Is The Answer – 4:32
4 – Trapeze – 5:03
5 – Dorai Sani – 6:33
6 – Empty Boxes – 5:05
7 – Angels With Dirty Faces – 3:50
8 – Jesus Loves The Church – 4:16
9 – Human Cry – 4:12
10 – Hope For The Hopeless – 4:24

Credits
Jimmy Abegg – Songwriter
J.J. Belle – Guitars
Richard Blackford – Orchestra Arrangmenets, Conductor
Simon Chamberlain – Piano
Clem Clemson – Guitars
David P. Cook – Songwriter
Neil Costello – Guitar
Pandit Dinesh – Percussion
Colin Elswood – Background Vocals
Dave Engel – Drums
Martin Green – Saxophones
Steve Griffith – Songwriter
Phil Keaggy – Guitars
London Community Gospel Choir – Choir
Basil Meade – Background Vocals
Charlie Morgan – Drums
Lynn Arthur Nichols – Executive Producer
Stuart Ongley – Executive Producer
Richard Osborne – Producer, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Guitars
Alan Park – Piano
Todd Rundgren – Songwriter
Bruce Spencer – Songwriter
Miriam Stockley – Background Vocals
Jon Sweet – Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards
Rod Trott – Songwriter
Sheila Walsh – Executive Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
Paul Westwood – Bass

Force 3 – Opposing Forces – 1987

Processed By eBay with ImageMagick, z1.1.0. ||B2

Force 3 only had one album but they did have this demo. There is a lot of debate on when this demo was released but given all my reading I have settled with 1987.I could be entirely wrong however that’s pretty rare. As for the album it has 2 tracks that aren’t on their album and was released on a double sided cassette. There is not credits or year out there so I can’t tell you much more than that. If you’re a fan of Charlie Wilson here’s a couple bonus tracks for you.

Tracklist
1 – Opposing Forces – 6:32
2 – Devil In Disguise – 5:57