Mike Pendleton joins the Rose brothers for the second album from Mad at the World. This album picks up where their first one left off. On this album their sound did evolve however and on some tracks we can here a tint of The Cult and/or The Cure. The Depeche Mode sound is still the mainstay of the album and you can’t help but hear it. The album reached number 38 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian Chart.
Tracklist
1 – Fearfully And Wonderfully – 3:50
2 – Flowers In The Rain – 4:15
3 – Why – 4:36
4 – Puppet Strings – 4:17
5 – No Mistakes – 3:18
6 – Wait – 3:29
7 – I Don’t Wanna Go There – 3:17
8 – Faith Is A Perfect Road – 3:36
9 – In My Dream – 3:51
10 – Lovelight In The Midnight – 5:08
11 – This Lie – 3:30
12 – Dancing On Your Grave – 5:58
Credits
Art Direction, Design – Ed McTaggart
Band [Mad At The World Is], Keyboards – Mike Pendleton
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Drum Programming – Randy Rose
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar [Guitars], Drum Programming – Roger Rose
Design Concept [Cover Concept By] – Brian Kay, Ed McTaggart
Graphics [Logo Colorization By] – Brent Gordon
Illustration [Rose By] – Roger*
Photography By, Illustration [Cover Illustration By] – Bob Rowe
Producer [Produced By] – Roger Rose
Screen Printing [Litho-Prep By] – Orbis
Songwriter [All Songs Written By], Arranged By – Roger Rose
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – MATW Studios
Mixed At – MATW Studios
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus
Published By – Broken Songs
This is the debut album from Undercover, one of the early and influential pop punk bands to come out of California in the early 80s. Incubating alongside Altar Boys and Lifesavors.
I consider Undercover to be the forerunner to MXPX, although not their sole influence. MXPX managed to merge Green Day, Ramones, Undercover and other ideas into a cohesive, long standing package.
The style of this album is now referred to as pop-punk, or even California-punk. In 1982 though, it seemed like the division of punk styles wasn’t so defined and it just was what it was.
This was a great alternative, or at least an addition to the musical diet for anyone addicted to The Ramones at the time.
Note the names. Joey Taylor on subsequent albums becomes Ojo Taylor, and Jim Nicholson becomes Gym Nicholson.
From the 1988 CD release “Volume 1” we receive this explanation in the liner notes:
Once upon a time, a long time ago in the 1970’s, there were two bands aimlessly wandering around a small town in Southern California called Yorba Linda. The name of one of those groups was J.C. Rose and the name of the other, Boaz. Jim Nicholson and myself, best friends since high school, were members of J. C. Rose along with Dave Hackbarth, who has been a priceless catalyst to a great many records and Artists since. The members of Boaz were Chris Winber, Danny Pavlis, Ray Hersom and Rick Alba among a few others. After a year or two of fruitless effots, the two groups disbanded, to form two new groups. Jim and I sayted together and added Danny Pavlis on Drums and Rick Alba on bass and started Undercover. Chris Winber and Ray Hersom went on to form Lifesavors. Undercover started rehearsing in a greenhouse owned by Danny’s parents and after a couple of months, had our first concert along with The Lifesavors (also their first concert) and another group, The Chosen Ones, consisting of Chris Pavlis (Danny’s brother) and Brian Doidge (who would later join The Lifesavors).
(the story is continued in the liner notes…)
The 1988 CD release “Volume 1” includes the two first albums from Undercover, plus an additional bonus track written by Taylor, and attributed to the debut album, “Dying In Love.”
Track Listing: A1 Excuse Us Written-By – Walden, Alba 2:45 A2 Heal Me Written-By – Taylor 2:15 A3 I’ll Be A Fool Written-By – Taylor 1:15 A4 Francine Written-By – Alba 2:45 A5 It’s Official Written-By – Taylor 2:20 A6 Turn Your Head Written-By – Nicholson 2:45 A7 Look It Up Written-By – Taylor 2:40 B1 Read It In A Letter Written-By – Nicholson 2:05 B2 Daddy-O Written-By – Walden, Taylor 1:15 B3 Tonight Written-By – Nicholson 1:47 B4 Stop Written-By – Nicholson, Taylor 2:50 B5 He’s In Love With You Written-By – Alba 2:45 B6 I.C.U. Written-By – Taylor 2:40 B7 He Gives We Have Written-By – Taylor 2:25 Credits Arranged By – Undercover Artwork [Cover And Sleeve] – Milton R. Sue Bass Guitar, Vocals – Rick Alba Drums, Performer [Kindling], Vocals – Danny Pavlis Engineer – Dan Willard, Thom Roy (tracks: A7), Tim Pinch (tracks: A1 to A6, B1 to B7) Guitar [All Guitars], Vocals – Jim “Nuclear” Nicholson Lead Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Bill Walden Musician [Additional] – Giggles – Benjamin Taylor, Chris Pavlis, Dave Hackbarth Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals – Joey Taylor Photography By [Cover] – George Zaferes Producer – Dan Willard, Joey Taylor Rhythm Guitar [After Tracks] – Ray Hersom
Tracklist
1 – Excuse Us – 2:45
2 – Heal Me – 2:15
3 – I’ll Be A Fool – 1:15
4 – Francine – 2:45
5 – It’s Official – 2:20
6 – Turn Your Head – 2:45
7 – Look It Up – 2:40
8 – Read It In A Letter – 2:05
9 – Daddy-O – 1:15
10 – Tonight – 1:47
11 – Stop – 2:50
12 – He’s In Love With You – 2:45
13 – I.C.U. – 2:40
14 – He Gives We Have – 2:25
Bonus Track
15 – Dying In Love – 4:29
Credits
Arranged By – Undercover
Artwork [Cover And Sleeve] – Milton R. Sue
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Rick Alba
Drums, Performer [Kindling], Vocals – Danny Pavlis
Engineer – Dan Willard, Thom Roy (tracks: A7), Tim Pinch (tracks: A1 to A6, B1 to B7)
Guitar [All Guitars], Vocals – Jim “Nuclear” Nicholson
Lead Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Bill Walden
Mastered By – KPG
Musician [Additional] – Giggles – Benjamin Taylor, Chris Pavlis, Dave Hackbarth
Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals – Joey Taylor
Photography By [Cover] – George Zaferes
Producer – Dan Willard, Joey Taylor
Rhythm Guitar [After Tracks] – Ray Hersom
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Ministry Resource Center
Copyright (c) – Ministry Resource Center
Copyright (c) – B-1 Music
Mastered At – The Cutting System, Inc.
Recorded at Rapture Repertory Theatre’s Warehouse and C.C.C.M. on Tim Pinch’s Mobile Recording Studio except for A7, recorded at Whitefield Studio
The Pankratz brothers changed the name of the band to Ruscha for this album. They had two previous albums as “The Russians”. If you don’t know the brothers are/were Siberian emigrants who defected from Russia in the early 80’s. It was really this album that broke the brothers into the main stream. They were featured on many newscasts and did a speaking tour in connection with the album tour. The Pop album had a mainstream feel and in fact they were negotiating with several major labels but alas as happened so often none of them took up the band and they stayed on Pan-Trax Records. This was it from the brothers but the rest of the band went on to become Legend Seven and released an album in 1993.
Tracklist
1 – Come Alive – 4:49
2 – Someone Listening – 3:38
3 – Broken Heart – 4:06
4 – Holy And True – 3:38
5 – Come Home – 4:21
6 – The Word Stands Forever – 4:42
7 – Burning Bridges – 4:20
8 – Exalt The Name – 3:41
9 – Do You Care? – 3:49
10 – Lord Of The Impossible – 3:15
Credits
Nikolai Pankratz – rhythm guitar, keyboard programming, bgvs
Peter Pankratz – bass guitar, bgvs, lead vocals
Andy Denton – lead vocals, bgvs
Billy Williams – drums, percussion programming
Lance Batchelder – keyboard
Michael Jackson – keyboards, bgvs, vocoder vocal, keyboard programming, string programming
Michael Jacobs – lead guitar, background vocals
Studio Credits
Produced by: Nikolai R. Pankratz & Bubba Smith
Executive Producer: Nikolai R. Pankratz
Mike Radovsky – drums
Duncan Mullins – bass, drum programming
Tom Hemby – guitar
Phil Naish – keyboards, bass programming
Tim Akers – keyboards
George Cocchini – guitar
Mark Douthit – sax
Jeff Teague – drums
Bubba Smith – cymbals
Recorded at: Gold Mine, Omni, Bullet, & Stage III studios
Mixed at: Woodland Studio
This is the third studio album from Saint. The style is a continuation of their previous two albums although a little more matured. There is nothing of particular note on the album which is not to say it’s not a good album, it’s just that it is more of what Saint fans loved. There are a couple notable personnel situations on the album however. Dee Harrington took over guitar work on this album taking over from John Mahan. Strangely John was credited on the album but apparently did not actually do any work on the album. Personally after listening to albums from bot John and Dee I believe Dee is a better guitarist. Just my opinion. John Perrine took over drumming duties from Brian Willis and I believe this was just a trade off as neither drummer stood out to me. I’m not saying that either isn’t a good drummer just that I didn’t find anything on either album that allowed them to show their skills.
Tracklist
1 – Too Late For Living – 3:57
2 – Star Pilot – 3:29
3 – Accuser – 2:00
4 – The Rock – 2:50
5 – On The Street – 3:38
6 – Returning – 4:48
7 – The Path – 3:48
8 – Through The Sky – 3:49
9 – The War Is Over – 3:16
Credits
Bass – Richard Lynch
Drums – John Perrine
Executive-Producer – Gavin Morkel
Guitar – Dee Harrington, John Mahan
Producer – David Lohr, Richard Lynch
Vocals – Josh Kramer
Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Lexicon/Spectra, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Pure Metal Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Pure Metal Records
Published By – Refuge Music Group
Resurrection Band billed themselves as “Rez” during this phase of their highly influential career in Christian Rock. They were one of the first out of the gate to define the hard rock genre within CCM.
1988’s Silence Screams introduces a new band member, Roy Montroy on bass, replacing original member Jim Denton. Roy gets writing credits for the music on six of the ten tracks on the album, paired with Glenn’s lyrics. He obviously fit right in, easily making this band his home.
One of the things that always set Rez Band apart was the lyrical depth. Eight of the ten songs on this album were written by an Glenn Kaiser, an ordained minister with a heart for social issues. Lyrics and messages were never an afterthought for this band, and they never skimped on the content there.
This record started a new tradition that carried on for the next three studio albums. Namely, they started doing mainstream cover songs. Eric Clapton’s “Presence of the Lord” gets the Rez treatment here, which is their typical hard edged Chicago blues rock. This is probably my favourite version of this song.
Tracklist
1 – Silence Screams – 4:11
2 – You Got Me Rockin’ – 3:13
3 – Someone Sleeps – 5:18
4 – Waitin’ On Sundown – 4:04
5 – Presence Of The Lord – 4:33
6 – Light / Light – 3:43
7 – Rain Dance – 5:03
8 – Every Waking Hour – 4:05
9 – Three Seconds – 4:36
10 – You Get What You Choose – 4:30
Credits
Artwork [Cover Art By] – Dick Randall
Band [REZ Is], Bass, Keyboards – Roy Montroy
Band [REZ Is], Drums – John Herrin
Band [REZ Is], Guitar, Vocals – Glenn Kaiser
Band [REZ Is], Lead Guitar, Keyboards – Stu Heiss
Band [REZ Is], Vocals – Wendi Kaiser
Design [Cover Design], Photography By – Cornerstone Graphics
Engineer [Engineered By] – Ed Bialach, Roger Heiss, Roy Montroy
Guest, Keyboards – Percy Bady (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Producer [Produced By] – REZ*, Tom Cameron
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Grrr Records
Copyright (c) – Grrr Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Engineered At – Tone Zone Recording
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – Rez Band Music
Published By – Unichappell Music, Inc.
Axia was another great Swedish Metal/Hard Rock Christian Band. Their music however was geared at a secular audience their core audience was Christian. This was their only full length album in the 80’s. They also released an EP and a single in the 80’s. There is a 2000 album but I don’t know if it was old or new material. The only noteworthy member of the band was Peo Pettersson who went on to record with Leviticus. That is not to diminish the other members as I believe this was a good tight band who deserve recognition. The album was essentially a self release on Pettersson’s label “Pop Productions”. The album was re-released in 2004 on a German label (MTM Music) with 4 bonus tracks. That is the version we have uploaded here.
Tracklist
1 – Intro (Instrumental) – 1:10
2 – It Ain’t Love – 3:34
3 – Loser – 5:17
4 – In For Rock ‘N Roll – 3:27
5 – Falling Apart – 4:55
6 – On My Way – 2:33
7 – Angela – 3:13
8 – Get Down – 3:49
9 – Confession Of Love – 3:57
10 – Fire – 3:15
Bonus Tracks
11 – Increasing Action – 2:29
12 – Forced Into Darkness – 4:38
13 – Never Ending Love – 3:12
14 – The Savage Ramblers – 3:32
Credits
Artwork, Design [Logo] – Ulrika.A.
Bass, Backing Vocals – Peter Andersson (30)
Crew – Björn Andersson (9), Patrik Süttenbach, Peter Pettersson (3), Stefan Bister
Drums, Backing Vocals – Michael Pethrus
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Morgan Blomquist
Lacquer Cut By – HCB*
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Robert Jacobsson
Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Peo Pettersson
Producer, Arranged By, Engineer – Axia (2)
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Studio Vanäs
Lacquer Cut At – Holland Cutting Room
Limit was another excellent band out of Sweden. This was their only release though apparently they did release a single in 1983 using the name Reflex. A few of the tracks have a Hard Rock sound but mostly the album has a Pop sound. It is very well produced which is surprising as it was producer Mårten Eriksson first album. There was such a great sound coming out of Sweden in the 80’s and this album is example of it.
Tracklist
1 – When The Clock Strikes
2 – Lifeforce
3 – Honestly
4 – There Is Power
5 – Over And Under
6 – King Of Love
7 – You Are Called
8 – Come
9 – Marching Out
10 – Passion Sea
11 – Divine Wind
Credits
Backing Vocals – Helena Sehlberg, Urban Johansson
Drums, Backing Vocals – Peter Olsson
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Trazan Nordström
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Anders Svedberg
Photography – Leif Wikberg
Producer, Engineer, Bass, Vocals – Mårten Eriksson
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Samsound Musikstudio
Mixed At – Samsound Musikstudio
Printed By – SIB-Tryck AB, Norsborg
This was the third release from Bloodgood. Many consider this to be their most “commercial” sounding album. It is easily my preferred album by them probably because there are tracks that lean more Hard Rock than Heavy Metal. The original recording had poor low end leading to complaints about the production quality. The 2015 re-release on CD was remastered to solve this problem. All in all I like this album which is saying a lot as I really don’t like Heavy Metal.
Tracklist
1 – Shakin’ It – 2:52
2 – Never Be The Same – 3:59
3 – The Presence – 3:29
4 – What Have I Done? – 3:41
5 – Heaven On Earth – 3:43
6 – Do Or Die – 2:21
7 – She’s Gone – 4:29
8 – The World (Keeps Movin’ Around) – 4:09
9 – Seven – 4:47
Credits
Arranged By [All Songs] – Bloodgood, Terry B. Shelton
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Band [Bloodgood], Bass, Vocals – Michael Phillip Bloodgood
Band [Bloodgood], Drums – Mark Howard Welling
Band [Bloodgood], Guitar, Vocals – David Vincent Zaffiro
Band [Bloodgood], Vocals – Claude Leslie Carlsen
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Sherri Jongeward
Engineer [Assistant] – Dave Dysart
Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – Terry B. Shelton
Graphics [Air Brushing] – Jeff Foster
Orchestrated By – Brook Lazotte, Terry B. Shelton
Photography By – Lynn DeBon
Producer [Produced By] – Terry B. Shelton
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Produced For – Black Coat Productions
Recorded At – Bear Creek Studios
Published By – Broken Songs
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
This is Stryper’s 4th studio album and it starts up where the last album “To Hell With The Devil” left off. Actually it was more highly produced than the previous albums including overdubbed four part harmonies that were all the rage at the time. I find myself in a love hate relationship with this album. The album is way over produced/engineered but the songs are better lyrically and music wise than previous albums. The album did get 2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart including “Always There For You” which hit #71 and “I Believe in You” which hit #88. “Keep The Fire Burning” was also released as a single but did not chart. #71, and #88 may not sound like great numbers but we are talking about a Christian band here remember.
Tracklist
1 – In God We Trust – 3:58
2 – Always There For You – 4:11
3 – Keep The Fire Burning – 3:35
4 – I Believe In You – 3:15
5 – The Writings On The Wall – 4:16
6 – It’s Up 2 U – 3:52
7 – The World Of You And I – 3:46
8 – Come To The Everlife – 4:09
9 – Lonely – 4:10
10 – The Reign – 2:48
Credits
Bass – Brad Cott
Engineer – Carmine Rubino, Dan Nebenzal
Engineer [Assistant] – Bob Vogt, Brian Scheuble, Charlie Brocco, Dave Deavalon, Gary Myersburg, Jeff DeMorris, Mark McKenna, Mike Bosley, Robert Hart (3), Scott Gordon
Keyboards [Additional] – Billy Meyers, John Van Tongren
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Carmine Rubino, Dan Nebenzal, Michael Lloyd, Stryper
Mixed By [Assistant] – Jeff DeMorris, Robert Hart
Producer – Michael Lloyd, Stryper
Programmed By [Synclavier] – Steven Croes
This is Mark Farner’s first solo album after the dissolution of Grand Funk Railroad though he did have 2 solo albums while the band was still together. It was released on Frontline Records and left no argument that it was a Christian album. This is a great Rock & Roll album which plays to the patriotism of it’s mainly American audience. I’m not entirely sure who to compare the album to but there are a few songs on the album that Huey Lewis could have felt right at home singing. My favourite track is Come to Jesus which took me back to Sunday School but with a huge Rock & Roll upgrade. One cool thing on the album is a guest appearance from Phil Keaggy.
Tracklist
1 – Airborne Ranger – 3:57
2 – Judgement Day Blues – 4:46
3 – Isn’t It Amazing – 4:35
4 – Come to Jesus – 3:58
5 – Give Me the Works – 3:25
6 – An Emotional Look at Love – 3:16
7 – Workin’ for the Winner – 3:40
8 – Just Another Injustice – 3:55
9 – The Writing on the Wall – 4:30
10 – Only You – 3:43
Credits
Lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, bass – Mark Farner
Keyboards – Tim Heintz
Drums – David Huff
Guest guitars – Phil Keaggy
Additional bass – John Patitucci
Additional bass – Kirt Shearer
Guest backing vocals – Bob Carlisle
