Jamboree are back with their 2nd EP and this one is even better than their first one. If you don’t know Jamboree is an early version of Hoi Polloi without Jenny on vocals. The title track of this EP is actually a cover of a 1980 The Comsat Angels track that didn’t chart. Quite frankly this version is much better. Anyway, the other 2 tracks are equally good and this is an EP I would have loved in 1987 but alas it was only released in New Zealand so there’s no way I would have heard it. Strange printing error on the album, the cover calls track 3 “Cloak & Sickle” but the vinyl label says “Hammer & Sickle”.
Tracklist 1 – Independence Day – 3:47 2 – The Longing – 4:49 3 – Cloak And Sickle – 4:18
Credits Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Andrew Horst Drums – Josef Fityus Guitar, Synthesizer – David Steunebrink, David Ball Vocals – Brent Tasker
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Hit Singles Recorded At – Mandrill Studios
Kind of an interesting back story to this album. Philip Bailey started his solo career when Earth, Wind & Fire suddenly took a break in 1984. Some of Earth, Wind & Fire’s previous albums had lyrics that definitely did not jive with him being a Christian artist. This was of course because Maurice White (Lead band member) was not a Christian and had some questionable beliefs. Suddenly the band wants to make a return in 1987 but Philip was a full Christian artist at this point so how do they make a comeback? Voila a Christian album from Earth, Wind & Fire, problem solved. Personally I don’t care but it’s all very humorous. Anyway lets get into the most over produced album in the history of music. This album had 6 producers and 12 engineers. I discovered this as I listened to the album and became alarmed at the production so I checked the credits. Suddenly it all made sense. Now I just want to say that my favorite track on the album, “Money Tight”, is because of this overproduction. It has some great sampling and production which proves that overproduction is not always a bad thing. Most people and reviewers actually appeared to enjoy the production and I’m probably in the minority on this one. I’ve been a bit hard on the album but I actually quite liked it. The talent is there and the song writing is fantastic. But I think it would have been even better if it was a little more raw.
Tracklist 1 – System Of Survival – 4:59 2 – Evil Roy – 4:51 3 – Thinking Of You – 4:41 4 – You And I – 4:03 5 – New Horizons (Interlude) – 2:01 6 – Money Tight – 4:36 7 – Every Now And Then – 4:21 8 – Touch The World – 5:15 9 – Here Today And Gone Tomorrow – 3:59 10 – Victim Of The Modern Heart – 3:48
Credits
Band Philip Bailey – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizer arrangements Maurice White – lead vocals, backing vocals, vocoder, arrangements Sheldon Reynolds – guitars, lead guitar Andrew Woolfolk – saxophone solo
Additional musicians Skylark – synthesizers, drum programming, backing vocals Preston Glass – synthesizers, electric guitars, additional drum programming Rhett Lawrence – Fairlight programming, drum programming, sequencing, Fairlight synthesizer, synthesizer programming, Moog bass, additional drums Wayne Vaughn – sequencing Bill Meyers – acoustic piano, arrangements, keyboards, synthesizer programming, drums Larry Williams – additional keyboard programming, additional programming Dan De Souza – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drums Steve Lindsey – keyboards Danny Sembello – synthesizer programming, drum programming George Duke – acoustic piano, rhythm arrangements Ian Prince – synthesizer programming, drums, arrangements Attala Zane Giles – additional guitars, synth bass, percussion programming, additional backing vocals, arrangements Ray Fuller – guitars Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars Nathan East – bass Jeff Porcaro – drums Ricky Lawson – drum overdubs, drums Marc Russo – horns Wayne Wallace – horns Gary Grant – horns Jerry Hey – horns, horn arrangements Dan Higgins – horns Bill Reichenbach Jr. – horns Rev. Oliver Wells – arrangements, synthesizer arrangements Wanda Vaughn – backing vocals Jeanette Williams – backing vocals The Hawkins Family – backing vocals Walter Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins and Lynette Hawkins Stephens – additional lead vocals
Production Maurice White – producer Preston Glass – producer Philip Bailey – co-producer Attala Zane Giles – additional production Wayne Vaughn – co-producer Bill Meyers – producer Acar Key – engineer Tom Lord-Alge – engineer, mixing Dave Rideau – engineer, mixing Paul Brown – engineer Red Davidson – additional assistant engineer Jeff Lorenzen – assistant engineer Jim “Watts” Vereecke – assistant engineer Les Cooper – assistant engineer Mitch Zelezny – assistant engineer Liz Cluse – assistant engineer Jeff Woodruff – assistant engineer Mark Slagle – assistant engineer Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) – mastering location Tony Lane – art direction Nancy Donald – art direction Max Aguilera Hellweg – photography
Here’s a Canadian artist that got one album out there in the mid 80’s thanks to his own hard work and financing. As a teen Martin played in coffee houses, churches, and many youth groups around Southern Ontario and upper New York State. Martin worked as a foot courier for a Toronto legal firm and was able to save $15,000 in 1985. Believe me that was no small feat in 1985. Instead of buying a cool car he headed to Rene Brossard’s studio and cut this album which shows an incredible dedication to his music. He subsequently appeared as the opening act for the likes of Twila Paris, Phil Keaggy, Daniel Band, Rick Cua, and others. He also played a side stage at the very first Kingdom Bound concert. It is rumoured that Larry Norman stopped to listen to him which was a proud moment for Martin as Larry was one of his favorite artists. As for the album it is a really good album and I can’t help but with some good distribution it might have been known to more of you reading this. It has a pretty good pop rock feel and the lead track sets the album up perfectly. Martin continues to make great music and you can visit his YouTube channel below
Tracklist 1 – Scapegoat Song – 2:20 2 – Who Will Tell Them – 4:19 3 – On And On – 3:55 4 – Line Of Vision – 4:09 5 – Their Own Bible – 4:00 6 – In The Future – 4:01 7 – Counterfeit Christian – 3:39 8 – In Loving Memory – 4:36 9 – Friends Like You – 4:25
Credits Cover – James Clow Engineer – David Musial, Yuri Jorbachow Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Engineer – Martin Barret Producer, Arranged By, Mastered By – René Brossard
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Boss Productions Recorded At – Trackmaster Audio Recorded At – Master’s Workshop
This is Gary’s 3rd album and my personal favourite. While his wife at the time, Amy Grant, was with Myrrh Records, Gary cut this album for Reunion Records. Reunion was trying to turn it up a notch at this point in history and this album was a huge help. This album showed a rockier side of Gary and there are some great pop tracks on this album. The album is still a little heavy on the ballad’s but this is Gary Chapman so he’s forgiven. Ballad’s after all were his cash cow. “I Love That Girl”, written by Randy Stonehill, could have easily singled on commercial radio but unfortunately Gary didn’t have the crossover success of his wife. I should also point out that this is a prime example of why you don’t ever put out a song with your girls name in it because like the internet, music is forever and you’re stuck with it for life. All joking aside that song is begging for a country cover as I think it has top 20 written all over it. Anyway if you avoided this on back in the 80’s like I did give it a listen now, it’s pretty good.
Tracklist 1 – Everyday Man – 3:33 2 – When Where Together (Love’s So Strong) – 3:42 3 – Love History – 4:55 4 – Breakin’ Hearts – 4:47 5 – Love Like Blood – 4:09 6 – Around The World – 3:52 7 – The Hurt Is Worth The Chance – 3:52 8 – Love That Girl – 4:41 9 – Cecil, (Life Goes On) – 6:09 10 – Your Love Stays With Me – 3:07
Credits Art Direction – Bill Brunt, Mary Hamilton Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Amy Grant, Chris Harris, Gary Chapman, Ricky Skaggs, Wayne Kirkpatrick Bass – Mike Brignardello Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Kimberly Smith, Steve Lindsey Drums, Percussion – Keith Edwards Engineer [Assistant] – Ben Williams, Billy Whittington, Carey Summers, Dave Parker, Jean Kinney, Jeff Coppadge, Keith Odle, Michael Koreiba Executive-Producer – Dan Harrell, Michael Blanton Guitar [Guitars] – Jerry McPherson Guitar [Guitars], Pedal Steel Guitar – Gary Chapman Keyboards – Michael W. Smith, Phil Naish, Shane Keister Mandolin – Mark O’Connor Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Mixed By – Brent King, Frank Filipetti, Jeff Balding Overdubbed By [Overdubs Recorded By] – Brent King, Gene Eichelberger, James Baird, Jeff Balding, Joe Scaife Percussion [Additional] – Terry McMillan Photography By – Chuck Kuhn Producer – Brown Bannister, Gary Chapman, Mark Wright Recorded By – Gene Eichelberger, Jeff Balding, Joe Scaife Stylist – Mary Beth Felts Written-By – Gary Chapman
Yet another The Lonely Now album that sounds like it was recorded on a potato. Again we have done everything we can to improve the sound and I think we did pretty good on this one. This is their second album and it pretty well picks up where their first album left off. Again we have a strong new wave album but maybe a little more goth oriented this time. Think The Cure. Here is another album that I obviously missed out on in the 80’s. Independently released albums from California never quite made their way to rural Canada. I really wish i had heard these guys because this was my favourite style of music in the mid 80’s. My favourite track is probably “The Few” which has an early U2 musical sound with an Ultravox vocal style and just hits it right. I’ll say it now, this album will likely end up being in my top 50 from the 80’s.
Tracklist 1 – Original Intentions – 3:28 2 – Fall Again – 5:00 3 – If I Could – 2:47 4 – Tomorrow Is Today – 4:30 5 – Sanctuary Lasts – 3:20 6 – The Few – 3:42 7 – Have You Seen – 3:34 8 – Make It Happen – 3:35
Credits Engineer – Fred Eichel Photography – Lee Schugar Producer – The Lonely Now Vocals, Bass Guitar – Phil Watson Vocals, Drums – Kevin Reimer Vocals, Guitar – Greg Sostrom Vocals, Guitar, Violin – Masaki Liu Written-By – Greg Sostrom
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Narrowpath Records Designed At – Klein Graphics and Communications
In 1987 Cross self released this demo album. 1987 was a big year in Christian metal and many bands appeared on the scene. Cross unfortunately was pretty short lived as they broke up the following year so this is all we got from them. The album is very Guitar heavy and borders on thrash occasionally. As far as metal goes it’s okay I guess. Nothing here really stood out to me but poor production didn’t help the situation much. However the people who enjoy this genre will likely enjoy this one. In 2006 Steel Legacy Records rereleased the album on CD and vinyl along with 3 very very poorly recorded live tracks. As they are so poor we chose not to release them.
Tracklist 1 – Sign Of The Cross (Instrumental) – 4:46 2 – Metal From Above – 8:01 3 – The Final Journey – 10:35 4 – Deliverance – 4:35 5 – The Ascension – 6:16
Credits Bass – Mike Cano Drums – Steve Cano Guitar – Henry Chavez, Tommy Salas Lead Vocals – James Sanchez
This is a very simple 2 side 2 track cassette that was sold by DC Talk before Kevin Max even joined the group. It is purported to have sold 3000 copies when Toby and Michael performed the song Heavenbound for their fellow students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987. It was copied countless times and spread through the CCM industry and the band shortly after prepared a proper 10 track demo.
This has to be one of the most mysterious albums I have come across and it is without a doubt the strangest album from Randy. It is his one and only album with Refuge Records. Randy put this album out in 1987 but his previous album was in 1981 on Spirit Records. A 6 year gap in albums when you are at your height is bizarre enough but then this album got completely ignored by the entire industry. I know it didn’t sell well as it took us a long time to find a copy so maybe Refuge just didn’t distribute it very well but that is strange too as Randy was a very highly respected artist. There is also radio silence on this album with no one talking about it. The internet’s a big place but this album takes an incredibly small space on it. In fact there’s very little info on what Randy was doing at this point in his career. The album itself is actually very very good and is probably now my favourite album from him. I would say the single is “The Day Death Died” which is a great rock & roll track. Probably his hardest track ever. The other highlight of the album is probably the only CCM track about Santa Claus but be warned it is a very sad song actually about abortion. That said it is a stunningly good track.
Tracklist 1 – Amazing Grace – 1:15 2 – Hearts On Ice – 3:22 3 – Grumble Alley – 3:30 4 – Ti Chapé-Kum Ba Ya – 4:33 5 – Eyes Of The Heart – 3:34 6 – Streets Of Mercy – 2:57 7 – I Wish It Were Only Make Believe – 3:55 8 – No Cross, No Crown – 3:04 9 – The Day Death Died – 3:52 10 – Nuclear Hymn – 3:27
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Cover [Concept] – Randy Matthews Art Direction, Design – Jeff Spencer Backing Vocals – Anthony Nelson, Demetrius Alexander, Duane Hamilton, Eddie Williams, Grace Rosenburger, Greg Tornquist, Kim Hill, Monty Matthews, Robbie Anderson, Roger M. Major Booking – Barbara Matthews Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Greg Tornquist Engineer – Gary Wysocki Engineer, Remix – John W. Thompson Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar – John W. Thompson Management – Dave Peters II, Image Communications International Photography – Peter Nash Producer – John Thompson
The second release from Bloodgood continues the raw metal sound they had in their first album. This album is better produce and engineered but some fans preferred the edgier first album. But that said Detonation placed 8th in a poll by Heaven’s Metal fanzine of the top 100 Christian metal albums of all time. The band toured heavily for this album and as the world was dumb in 1987 the tour was heavily protested by the more conservative element of Christianity. The tour was quite successful and continued into Europe in 1988. Bloodgood is a mainstay in the Christian metal genre and most hold up this or their first album as their best work.
Tracklist 1 – Battle Of The Flesh – 2:45 2 – Vagrant People – 3:26 3 – Self-Destruction – 3:29 4 – Alone In Suicide – 4:04 5 – Heartbeat (Of The City) – 3:25 6 – Eat The Flesh – 4:25 7 – Holy Fire – 3:10 8 – Crucify – 3:05 9 – The Messiah – 4:25 10 – Live Wire – 2:37
Credits Arranged By – Bloodgood Art Direction, Layout – Ed McTaggart Bass, Backing Vocals – Michael Bloodgood Drums – Mark Welling Engineer – Doug Doyle Guitar, Backing Vocals – David Zaffiro Illustration [Cover] – John Dickenson Mastered By – John Matousek Mixed By – David Zaffiro, Doug Doyle, Les Carlsen, Michael Bloodgood Other [Litho Prep] – Graphic Masters, Santa Ana, CA Other [Stage Clothes] – Brent Flemming Photography By – Ken Baley, Lynn DeBon Producer – David Zaffiro, Les Carlsen, Michael Bloodgood Vocals – Les Carlsen
I can’t find anything about this band online except that their contact info was based in Montana so I have to guess they were from Montana. Anyway what we have here is an album sound that I’ve heard several times at this point. There were several bands in the 80’s that would have this pop sound with a female vocalist. I am not insulting this recipe it’s just that at this point I’ve seen it many many times. As for this album specifically it’s pretty good. In fact there’s a couple tracks here that are pretty well written. If they had got a second album deal they could have capitalized on their writing but unfortunately for them this was the only album they had.
Tracklist 1 – New Day – 3:59 2 – Heart Beat – 4:03 3 – How Long – 4:22 4 – Cross Road – 4:23 5 – Skybound – 4:23 6 – C’mon Home – 3:03 7 – Little Bit of Heaven – 3:55 8 – Jesus Is Outta Sight – 4:16 9 – Lift Your Eyes – 4:19 10 – Let Love Reign – 4:13 11 – Decision – 0:39
