This is one of the early of many many demos from Mortal Wish who would become Mortal as we know them now. Many of these demo’s have the same tracks but with different mixes. Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan were serial recorders and cataloged the bands work over the years. This demo is more new wave than the industrial sound we would be used to hearing from them. This album has more a The Cure sound and I absolutely love it. In fact I far prefer this sound than their sound as Mortal. Now in fairness the new wave sound was getting pretty well played out by the time of their first Mortal album in 1992 so the decision to lean industrial metal was a good decision. But for me I love this sound and there’s not a bad track on this demo for me.
This is one of the best CCM pop albums I’ve ever heard but I can almost guarantee you’ve never heard it. Let’s start out with a bit of background. Craig Ginn was born in Churchill MB but his music career started in Winnipeg MB. The original Craig Ginn Band started in the mid 80’s with Craig’s wife, Carla, Paul Kutcher, and Sam Kennedy. They were well known in the Winnipeg Christian scene playing coffee houses, youth conventions, and church events. People from Winnipeg will probably remember them appearing frequently at The Heartline Cafe, a coffee house in the basement at Fort Garry MB church.
This version of the band however never recorded in the studio. This version came to an end when Craig moved to Alberta but this wasn’t the end of Craig’s music. I don’t know the backstory but Craig ended up in the studio with producer Roy Salmond at the same time as he was recording albums for Connie Scott and Hope Sterling, both of whom make appearances on this album. Paul from the original band also makes an appearance as well as Craig’s wife of course. From that studio appearance came this album. I do not know how many of these were recorded or distributed but other than this copy I have never heard or seen one and there is no mention of this album anywhere on the entire internet. We added it to Discogs so at least it’s there now. I do know that the lead track made it onto a sampler released by a local radio station in Edmonton AB. The album is very very good and I’m a bit baffled how this couldn’t find a label release. It is pop oriented but Craig’s vocals are fantastic and distinctive enough that I would have thought some record company would have jumped on this especially with Roy Salmond producing it. Unfortunately it didn’t so no one ever heard it. Craig did record a second Christian album which we have but I don’t have a date or any info on that album. Craig continues to make music today. He has two albums that concentrate on his indigenous background and education of indigenous issues through music.
Tracklist 1 – Easily Manipulated 2 – His Promise 3 – It Takes Heart 4 – Is There Someone? 5 – Soothe The Wounds 6 – Never Say It 7 – Real Time 8 – Everything I’ve Got 9 – Restore Me 10 – This Need 11 – Help Me See Through Your Eyes 12 – My Jesus I Love Thee
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Programmed By, Keyboards, Sequenced By, Backing Vocals, Producer – Roy Salmond Backing Vocals – Carla Ginn, Cecile Laroche, Connie Scott, Donny Hackett, Hope Sterling, Joani Bye, Paul Kutcher, Pete Wistoff Bass Guitar – Brian Newcombe, Rene Worst Drums – Daryl Bennett, Jerry Adolphe Flugelhorn, Lead Vocals – Craig Ginn Guitar – Brett Wade, Carl Strempler, Harris Van Berkel Guitar, Classical Guitar – Dane DeViller Piano – Dave Pickell Recorded By, Mixed By – Gary Tole Recorded By, Mixed By, Mastered By – Dave Slagter Saxophone – Ian Putz
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Inside Trax Studio Mixed At – Inside Trax Studio Produced At – Whitewater Productions, Vancouver, BC
Youth alive is actually Youth Alive NSW out of Australia. It is an organization formed in 1986 to minister to kids and this is a recording of one of their concerts. The organization is still active today and is still ministering to kids across Australia, a cause I love. So we have a fun little live concert here. Don’t expect anything rising to Dove awards level but it’s a fun album and the band is tight. No one in the band had a stand out name for me other than John Waller from Avion on drums. Was great to see him involved with the group. A few other members appeared on Hillsong albums. Anyway a simple but fun live album that I enjoyed listening to.
Tracklist 1 – God Didn’t Give Me A Spirit Of Fear 2 – The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail 3 – King Of Kings 4 – God Has Not Given Us 5 – Rise Up 6 – Speaking [Pat Mesiti] 7 – I Delight In The Lord 8 – Holy Holy Holy Lord (Hosanna) 9 – Open Worship [Spontaneous] 10 – The Spirit Is Falling 11 – Speaking 12 – Blessed Be The Lord My Rock 13 – He’s My Roof Top 14 – We Will Not Bow To The World 15 – Jesus Is The Rock (And He Rolls My Blues Away) 16 – This Joy That I Have 17 – Amen 18 – Youth Alive
Credits Artwork – Damien Lange Bass – Ian Fisher Brass – Cathy Byrne, Paul Stiles, Ray Price Coordinator – Jonathon De Jong, Peter Laughton Drums – John Waller Engineer [Concert Sound] – John McConnell Guitar – Chris Falson Keyboards – Brian Shirtliffe MC [Worship Enthusiast] – Pat Mesiti Percussion – Peter Kelly Producer, Piano – Geoff Bullock Recorded By – Wyn Wynyard Vocals – Chris McKinnon, David Reidy, Gerard Keehan, Lucy Fisher, Ruth Grant
Companies, etc. Record Company – Refuge Music Group Distributed By – Spectra Distribution Mixed At – Albert Studios Recorded At – Hordern Pavilion
This is Al Denton’s second album and was self released on his own label same as he did for his first. This album however is as good as anything else available at the time. What I mean is that this album is one of the best self released albums I have ever heard. The material is fantastic, the studio work is excellent, and the production is top notch. The album was produced by Paul Mills and Kemper Crabb and you can hear their talents. I have no idea who was in the studio other than Jerry McPherson but this was a great team of musicians. The albums leans more to light rock but I will say that “This Ice” is headed into my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Nothing Can Separate Us 2 – Thin Ice 3 – As You Are 4 – The Battle Is On 5 – Two Wrongs Tonight 6 – Do The Same 7 – We Can Make A Difference 8 – Cut To The Heart 9 – Burning Bridges 10 – In His Sanctuary
This may be one of the best Soul Gospel albums of the 80’s. As I have said before I didn’t listen to this style of music in the 80’s which is a real pity. I know I would have loved this album. Now to be clear Pastor Shirley is the star of this album but special praise should go out to Joe Neil. Joe did the primary mix for the concert and final mix for the album. You may have heard of Sam’s Tape Truck which was used for recording live concerts and Joe was responsible for Sam’s Tape Truck. The mix for a live concert is not the same mix that usually makes it onto an album. While I never heard the concert mix I can tell that Joe laid down a fantastic mix for the album. I would argue that this is one of the best mixed live albums I have heard. Anyway let’s talk about the album. This album was one of the top Soul gospel albums of the time. It made it to #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums charts and the single “Hold My Mule” made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. It won the Dove award for Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female. As it stands today this is my favourite Live Soul album and I suspect it’ll be there for quite awhile.
Tracklist 1 – Never – 7:16 2 – His Blood – 6:16 3 – Feel The Spirit – 4:31 4 – Things Are Going To Get Better – 4:32 5 – Hold My Mule – 8:41 6 – Born Again – 5:02 7 – Yes Lord, Yes – 3:54 8 – Peace In The Midst Of The Storm – 4:51
Credits Al Willis – Guitar Albertina Walker – Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist Ann Caesar-Price – Vocals (Background) Bubba Smith – Agogo, Anvil, Bells, Producer, Tambourine Darius Brooks – Composer, Piano, Synthesizer Denis Solee – Sax (Tenor) Doug Moffet – Sax (Baritone) Hank Williams – Mastering Jay Rabbitt – Engineer Jim Whitmer – Photography Joe Neil – Engineer, Mixing Kevin Brunson – Drums Larry Goode – Engineer Lloyd Barry – Horn Arrangements, Trumpet Loris Holland – Composer Lynn Keesecker – Composer, Executive Producer Michael E. Mathis – Composer, Organ, Piano, Vocals (Background) Mike Haynes – Trumpet Oliver Wells – Synthesizer Pastor Donald Alford – Composer Rev. Milton Brunson – Guest Artist Richard Gibbs – Organ, Piano Robert Butler – Executive Producer Sam Levine – Sax (Baritone) Sanchez Harley – Horn Arrangements Shirley Caesar – Composer, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals Steve Adams – Composer Steve Huff – Bass Tyrone Block – Vocals (Background)
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
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
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
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
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
