1988 – Real 80s CCM

Marcos Witt – Adoremos! – 1988

People still don’t seem to know how big the Spanish Christian music scene was in the 80’s. So many great artists are completely unknown to us because these albums were rarely marketed in the U.S. This album however was released in the U.S. so we decided to feature it for our Spanish friends. Marcus Witt is probably the busiest Spanish CCM artist of all time. He actually has 45 studio albums and almost all of them have distribution so this isn’t a bunch of self released stuff. This was probably his best selling album of the 80’s so it’s the one we chose to feature. The album itself is great. It has a great 80’s Pop feel and the mix is dead on. I only understand a few words here and there but I do like what I’m hearing. We may feature more of his albums in the future if you guys like this one.

Tracklist
1 – Tengo La Victoria – 4:14
2 – Un Adorador – 4:16
3 – Tu Misericordia – 4:42
4 – Libertad – 4:44
5 – Te Amo – 6:09
6 – Resucitó – 5:04
7 – Mira – 4:19
8 – Yo Soy – 5:50
9 – Adoremos – 4:15
10 – Hoy – 5:07

Credits
Arranged By, Piano, Drums, Bass, Keyboards – David Bell
Backing Vocals – Beatriz Olmos, Christina Garcia, Felipe Witt, Ivonne Murillo, Josefina Rivera, Lorena Warren, Mona Lisa Zeriuche, Nolita Warren
Engineer, Mixed By, Mastered By – Byron Spears
Guitar – Alan Richards, Byron Spears
Mixed By – David Bell
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Arranged By, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Effects – César E. Garza
Producer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Arranged By, Keyboards, Piano, Violin – Marcos Witt
Saxophone – Ricardo Revelez

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CanZion Producciones
Copyright © – CanZion Producciones
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Communications Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Pressed By – U.S. Optical Disc
Recorded At – Kingdom Productions, San Antonio, Tx

Tata Vega – Time’s So Right – 1988

Tata Vega was a very successful secular artist with several albums as well as a great stage career. Her career slowed in the early 80’s but she returned in 1988 with this European release. This is a fantastic album and I can not fathom how this album didn’t get a North American release. I mean she is a far better vocalist than many of the CCM darlings of the period but we all know CCM music and female artists had difficulties. I know she had some interaction with Myrrh records as she had a song on the 1987 “Voices” sampler but I guess they couldn’t close a record deal. That sampler is how I actually found out about her and subsequently found this album which was released on small Swedish label that I am developing a strong respect for. They seemed to buck the trends of the time with some real quality signings. While a lot of her secular work had more of a soul feel this album is a straight up Pop album with the exception of a rather spectacular cover of James Brown’s “This Is A Man’s Man’s World” The album is a must own for that track alone. So this album falls in that category of a fantastic album you never heard because it never had a North American release. Do yourself a favour and listen to it now. If you feel the need to buy it get the CD as it has a bonus track.

Tracklist
1 – Maybe Tonight – 4:06
2 – Never Let Die – 4:20
3 – Your Love Is Live – 4:19
4 – Ain’t No Such Thing As In Between – 3:36
5 – Just Walk On In – 4:00
6 – It’s A Jungle Out There – 4:48
7 – Living In Paradise – 4:17
8 – Touch Somebody – 4:45
9 – This Is A Man’s Man’s World – 4:10
10 – Jesus Is The Rock Of My Salvation – 2:06
11 – Don’t Turn Away – 5:09

Credits
Executive-Producer – Jeffrey Vander Plate*, Tata Vega
Mixed By – Galen Senogles
Producer – Andrae Crouch, Bill Maxwell, Frank Ådahl, Galen Senogles, Jeff Vander Plate, Lars Kilevold, Ralph Benatar, Tata Vega

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Royal Music Productions
Copyright © – Royal Music Productions
Recorded At – Royal Music Studio
Recorded At – Sheika Studios
Distributed By – Word Entertainment (UK), Ltd.

Gabriel – Gabriel – 1988

Strangely this is the second self titled album Gabriel published. The first one was their first album released on micro label Parable Records but this one was released on Home Sweet Home Records/Word. I still can’t find much out about these guys which is odd as they had 5 albums. So instead of talking about the band we will talk about the album. it has more of an early 80’s keyboard heavy pop sound though it might have been a little late for 1988. While it’s a little heavy on easy listening tracks the pop oriented tracks are really good and definitely get the toes tapping. Bottom line, I quite like this album and I could have found this is my collection back in the day.

Tracklist
1 – Send Me – 3:37
2 – Slippin’ Into Mediocrity – 3:19
3 – Out of the East – 4:19
4 – I Put My Hope – 3:58
5 – A Simple Prayer – 3:30
6 – Heartstrings – 2:45
7 – You Can’t Fool God – 3:00
8 – I Want To Be Your Light – 3:00
9 – That’s How It Is With Truth – 3:44
10 – That Day In Bethlehem – 3:52

Credits
Robin Lyle – keyboards, vocals
Jeff Walter – vocals, keyboard
Robert Noland – drums, vocals
Scott Compton – Coordinator, Marketing, Promotion
Chris Christian – Executive-Producer
Jake Pittman – Producer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Home Sweet Home Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Home Sweet Home Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Record Company – Word Records Limited
Record Company – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Mastered At – Future Disc

Say-So – You Lift Me Up – 1988

This is a 1988 demo release from Say-So and in my opinion they nailed this one. I simply can’t believe how good this album is and that it didn’t pick up a distribution deal. It has excellent production and engineering and simply just need to be pressed on some CD’s and put on the shelves. This album was ready to go but again hardly anyone heard it. This album was quite different than their 1986 demo and I was a bit surprised. While their 86 demo was a synth oriented album this is more folk pop oriented. I will go out on a limb and even say that the lead off track could have easily singled on secular radio. I simply do not understand the music industry. It mystified me in the 80’s but that given way to disgust at my current level of understanding. Say-So was essentially husband and wife team of Jim & Kim Thomas but they put together a killer band for this album It features Dave Perkins, Jerry McPherson, and Rick Cua. That’s some of the best in the business. Anyway if you want to hear one of the strongest female CCM albums ever this is the one for you. It is simply one of the best. Oh and their interpretation of the Hokey-Pokey is worth the price of admission all on it’s own.

Tracklist
1 – You Lift Me Up – 3:29
2 – Refuge – 3:26
3 – Just As I Am – 3:04
4 – Hokey-Pokey – 3:32
5 – Calling My Name – 4:30
6 – Carry On – 2:15

Credits
Bass – Rick Cua
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Perkins, Jerry McPherson
Keyboards, Drums, Backing Vocals – Jim Thomas
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Kim Thomas
Producer – Dave Perkins, Jerry McPherson

Reneé Garcia – A Different World – 1988

This is the second and last solo album from Garcia. It has a little less a Madonna feel that we had on the first album and is a little more mainstream to the female Christian albums of the period. I far prefer her first album though there is nothing wrong with this one. This would complete her solo career which I find kind of surprising because she was a very successful artist. This album had 4 top 10 (CCM Charts) hits. “Perfection”, “A Different World”, and “You Don’t Need It” all made it to #5 while “If I Have To” made it to #10. That aside I think the best track is “I Will Never Leave You” which is right in lone with female pop hits of the period. So how could there not be a follow up album? Anyway she did do one more album with her husband as Bliss Bliss which I haven’t heard yet but it is in the stack. Anyway if female pop artists your go to than this album is a must hear.

Tracklist
1 – A Different World – 3:39
2 – Rockin’ The House – 3:25
3 – Victim Of Circumstance – 3:48
4 – Don’t Throw It All Away – 4:41
5 – Perfection – 5:15
6 – Jerusalem – 4:32
7 – You Don’t Need It – 3:56
8 – Live On – 3:20
9 – If I Have To – 4:24
10 – I Will Never Leave You – 4:16

Credits
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Reneé Garcia
Bass – Steve Greetham
Bass [Additional] – Andy Pauquette
Cello – Mandy Stott
Design – Jackson Design
Drum Programming, Bass [Programming], Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Chris Eaton
Engineer [Additional] – Joe Baldridge
Guitar – Neil Costello, Richard Osbourne
Guitar [Additional], Backing Vocals [Additional] – Chris Rodriguez
Keyboards [Additiona], Engineer – Steve Pierre Boyce Buckley
Keyboards [Additional] – Reed Arvin
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Bill Whittington
Percussion [Additional] – Lang Bliss
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer – Chris Eaton
Saxophone – Martin Green

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Made By – Discovery Systems – 3HP0A00A

Stephen Wiley – Rap It Up – 1988

Just a heads up that I’m going to be a little critical of the Stephen Wiley Lore first off. I keep reading that Stephen had the Christian Rap album with Bible Break in 1985. Okay but Bible Break wasn’t an album it was a single and there are rap singles before his. For example Ketty Lester had a rap song on her 1984 album I Saw Love. When it comes to the titles of first Rap Album that goes to Roy Suthard’s Plain White Rapper by my research. Thanks to Christian Tape Underground for enlightening me to that album which is rare but does exist. So on to the album now. As I said this was Stephen’s first album and Brentwood Music went out on a limb on this one. I do find it kind of humorous that they actually put “Christian Rap Music” on the cover. I don’t know if they did it as a warning or a guide but there it is. Anyway the album is kind of fun. I’m not as fan of rap but as I have matured in age I have kind of started liking the 80’s rap. As such this album kind of grew on me and I’ll admit I listened to it a few times. What the 80’s really needed was a Stephen Wiley mashup with Resurrection Band. Think Aerosmith/Run DMC. Now that I would have loved.

Tracklist
1 – Intro Rap – 0:32
2 – Heroes – 4:26
3 – Big Man – 3:41
4 – Best Friend – 5:42
5 – The Rock – 3:30
6 – Where Will I Go? – 3:38
7 – Stand (Ephesians 6:10-20) – 3:08
8 – Why I Rap – 3:02
9 – Fourth Man (Daniel 3) – 7:49

Credits
Art Direction – Dill Beaty
Backing Vocals – Glenda Barclay, Kim Lucas
Engineer – Bret Teegarden
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Music By – Bret Teegarden, Mike Barnes
Producer – Mike Barnes
Producer, Performer – Stephen Wiley

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brentwood Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Brentwood Music, Inc.
Recorded At – B.T. Productions
Mixed At – B.T. Productions
Mastered At – Mastermix

Wayne Watson – The Fine Line – 1988

This is Wayne’s 7th studio album and the follow up to his wildly successful “Watercolour Ponies” album. It had 3 top 10 singles on the CCM charts. “Untouched By Human Hands” #6, “The Long Arm Of The Lord” #9, and “We Belong To Him #9. It might as well have had 4 as “That’s Not Jesus” made it to #11. As for the album it is what you would expect from Wayne Watson. Mainly easy listening and somewhat dull in spots for me. That said just because it’s not my style doesn’t mean it’s a bad album and if you are a fan of your CCM a little on the mellow side then this one is for you.

Tracklist
1 – The Long Arm Of The Lord – 4:40
2 – That’s Not Jesus – 4:45
3 – The Fine Line – 6:02
4 – Yesterday’s News – 5:59
5 – Every Now And Again – 5:20
6 – Untouched By Human Hands – 4:28
7 – Before My Very Eyes – 5:52
8 – No Other Gods – 6:53
9 – We Belong To Him – 4:49
10 – I Could Live Without You – 3:41
11 – The Fine Line (Reprise) – 1:15

Credits
Acoustic Guitar [Additional], Percussion – Wayne Watson
Arranged By – Paul Mills, Wayne Watson
Art Direction – Bill Brunt Designs
Artwork [Art Coordination] – Terri Short
Backing Vocals – Susan Rae Hill, Toni Raider, Wayne Watson
Bass Guitar – Gary Lunn
Choir – Adam Watson, Alan Carpenter, Ann Barbor, Biff Adam, Callie Sills, Carol Snipes, Carolyn Christian, Claude Hand, Jere Luck, Jim Pruitt, John Armor, Kara McGee, Linda Hudgins, Lois Chambliss, Michael Burt, Mike Hudgins, Neal Watson, Paul Farrington, Phil Beck, Sallie Sills
Drums, Electronic Drums, Programmed By [Percussion] – Mark Hammond
Electric Guitar – Jerry McPherson, Mark Baldwin
Engineer – Paul Mills, Smitty Price, Carry Summers, Steve Dady, Mike Clute
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Harmonica – Buddy Greene
Keyboards – Mark Heimermann, Smitty Price
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Paul Mills, Wayne Watson
Photography By – Larry Dixon
Producer – Paul Mills, Wayne Watson
Steel Guitar, Guitar [Gut String] – Mark Baldwin
Synthesizer – Paul Mills, Wayne Watson
Vocals [Duet] – Toni Raider
Words By, Music By – Jeff Nelson, Wayne Watson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Rivendell Recorders, OmniSound Studios, The Bennett House, BDR Sound
Mixed At – Rivendell Recorders
Mastered At – Mastermix

Joseph Lamm – Standing in the Tower – 1988

This is one of the rare examples of someone suggesting an album that I had no idea existed and it climbs into my top 100 albums of the 80’s. I have never heard of Joseph until his name came up in an “unknown artists” thread on our Facebook page. As I always do I give the poster the courtesy of listening to the album but this time I listened to the whole album several times. I really can’t find out much about Joseph Lamm but this is actually his second album. Both were self released and had limited distribution. He rereleased this album in 2018 with a bonus track which we have included. Joseph continues to make music and you can visit his webpage (linked below) to hear more. The album has an strong 80’s alternative feel in places and straight up Rock & Roll in others. Yes there are a few different styles but Joseph pulls them all together with his strong vocals. I’m hearing stuff here that would have done well in the secular market never mind the Christian market and “See No Evil” is definitely going into my regular rotation. In fact dare I say that as it stands this may be my favourite independent release of the 80’s and I’m pretty excited to hear his first album soon.

https://josephlamm.com/home

Tracklist
1 – The Preacher – 3:36
2 – Stepping Into Paradise – 3:58
3 – Yes I Will – 3:37
4 – In A Watered Garden – 2:18
5 – Standing In The Tower – 6:12
6 – Three Kings – 3:15
7 – Self Portraits – 5:22
8 – Awaken In My Heart – 3:21
9 – Essence – 4:54
10 – See No Evil – 4:43
2018 Bonus Track
11 – Approaching The Next Plane – 2:14

Credits
Bass, Guitar – Randy Melson
Drums – Dane Clark, Jeff Hiatt
Guitar – Rex Thomas, Sandy Williams
Keyboards, Vocals – Steve Millikan
Percussion – John Bolt
Producer – Steve Millikan
Vocals, Percussion, Keyboards – Joseph Lamm

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – HMS Recordings, Inc.
Copyright © – HMS Recordings, Inc.
Copyright © – HMS Publishers

The Woebegone Brothers – Get On Board! – 1988

This is another of those rather oddball albums that don’t sound like they belong on the channel but have a story behind them. In the summer of 1988 someone thought these guys would be a great addition to the Greenbelt festival. As poor a decision as it seemed it turned out to be brilliant as these guys were a huge hit. They didn’t have an album yet so they rushed into the studio so they could get their music out to their fans. The Woebegone Brothers are actually brothers and they say they were influenced by 50’s Rock & Roll stars and developed a style they call “gospel skiffle” I’m thinking more 40’s country personally but it’s a great sound and the whole story is a great piece of CCM history.

Tracklist
1 – Gospel Train – 4:43
2 – Sinner Man – 2:55
3 – Gonna Live The Life – 2:49
4 – Well Well Well – 3:03
5 – Jordan River – 2:15
6 – Mean World – 3:25
7 – Walk All Over Heaven – 4:26
8 – Trying To Get To Heaven In Due Time – 2:37

Credits
Design [Cover Design] – Paul Clowney
Engineer – Andy Thornton
Photography By – Trevor Williams
Vocals, Double Bass – Nigel Griffiths
Vocals, Guitar – John Griffiths
Vocals, Harmonica, Drum, Guitar – Glyn Griffiths

One-Eighty – Turning Point – 1988

I still really can’t find any information on this band. I previously heard their 4 song EP which was released in 1986 and really liked it. Then I found this full length album and it’s even better. Again all I know about this band is that they were out of Castro Valley, CA. Both of their releases were self released but luckily this one was re-released in 2011 on Retrocross records. We have a great album here that should have been picked up by one of the mainstream CCM labels because I think it would have sold. Only have time for one Rock & Roll track? Try “Everything for Nothing”.

Tracklist
1 – Holy Fire – 4:32
2 – Everything For Nothing – 4:03
3 – Reach For The Light – 4:09
4 – Will – 4:27
5 – If You Love Me – 3:40
6 – Adonai – 4:32
7 – One Day – 5:10
8 – White Horses – 3:57
9 – Don’t Give Up – 3:09
10 – Wake Up – 4:39
11 – I Come To You – 3:44
12 – No Turning Back – 4:11

Credits
Rich Reif – vocals, keyboards
Ralph Otteson – keyboards, backing vocals
Todd Peterson – guitars, backing vocals
Allen White – bass, guitars
Don Walker – drums