Tag: 1988

Steve Camp – Justice – 1988

This is the 10th release from Steve Camp and by this point in his career Camp had music mastered.

The quality of this album is excellent and the song writing spot on. While he is usually classed as easy listening I would argue this album really isn’t. I found it to be upbeat and edgier than previous releases.

The highlight of the album for me is Camp’s cover of the Larry Norman song “Great American Novel”. He covers it with a Springsteen feel that is perfect for the song. All in all a great release in my opinion.

Track Listing:
1 – Justice – 4:35
2 – Playing Marbles With Diamonds – 5:03
3 – Don’t Tell Them Jesus Loves Them – 5:19
4 – Living Dangerously In The Hands Of God – 5:04
5 – Do You Feel Their Pain? – 6:18
6 – Hell Is Burning While The Church Sleeps – 4:28
7 – Great American Novel – 4:57
8 – Servants Without Scars – 4:04
9 – Love That Will Not Let You Go – 5:09
10 – I Believe In You – 4:25

Credits:
Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn
Artwork By, Design – Peter Nomura
Engineer [Assistant] – Carry Summers, Howard Steel*, Kevin Twit, Wade Jennings
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Bill Schnee (tracks: A1, A3, A5, B4), David Schober (tracks: B1, B3), Jeff Balding (tracks: A2, A4, B2, B5)
Photography By [Collage] – Mark Tucker (7)
Photography By [Portrait] – Victoria Pearson (2)
Producer, Arranged By – Steve Camp
Recorded By – David Schober

Barren Cross – Atomic Arena – 1988

This is the second album from Christian metal band Barren Cross.

It is much like the first album but has been produced to a more radio friendly level. In fact the production is much better than the previous album which actually had fairly good production on its own.

Both albums were produced by the Elefante brothers who never really go wrong on any album.

Track Listing:
1 – Imaginary Music – 4:26
2 – Killers Of The Unborn – 3:28
3 – In The Eye Of The Fire – 4:57
4 – Terrorist Child – 3:30
5 – Close To The Edge – 4:55
6 – Dead Lock – 4:18
7 – Cultic Regimes – 2:48
8 – Heaven Or Nothing – 4:10
9 – King Of Kings – 3:30
10 – Living Dead – 6:50

Credits:
Art Direction – Marco Registrada
Artwork By [Album Cover Painting] – Steve Huston
Bass Guitar, Synthesizer [Taurus Synthesizer Pedals], Backing Vocals – Jim LaVerde
Concept By [Album Cover] – Ray Parris
Drums, Backing Vocals – Steve Whitaker
Engineer – Dino Elefante, Mike Mierau
Keyboards – John Elefante
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Mike Lee
Other [Costumes] – Sharon Shubin
Other [Hair And Makeup Artist] – Lisa Lee
Photography By [Additional Live Shots] – Rebecca May, Renee Parris
Photography By [Inside Photos] – ‘Nar’ Of Limelight
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ray Parris
Vocals [Additional] – Dino Elefante, John Elefante

Steve Taylor – The Lost Demos Bootleg – 1988

Today’s offering is The Lost Demos, a bootleg of twelve classic Steve Taylor tunes. No-one’s sure where it came from, but I’m glad it surfaced.

I suggest listening to the demos back to-back with the officially-released versions. Listen for slight (or drastic) lyric variations, changes in instrumentation and tempo, and even differences in vocal delivery. Beyond the expected demo-to-pressing upticks in performance and production quality, some songs have a noticeably different feel.

Of particular note:

Hero – Compared to the Meltdown version, this is almost lullaby-like. The bell-like 80’s synth would become a harsher 80’s synth; the driving bass riffs aren’t here; and in the bridge, the ascending chord progression maintains the lighter, ‘major’ mood.

Bouquet – Starting out almost folks-y, it slides into 80’s elevator music territory – far more mellow than the officially released track (which ST has said he doesn’t much like, preferring Sixpence None The Richer’s acoustic version on the I Predict A Clone tribute album). Numerous lyric changes for this emotional story.

Whatever Happened To Sin – A faster tempo, and more lyric changes. The official version was controversial, but here we see that Steve had actually toned it down a bit.

Jenny – As with Hero, this has a different mood from the Meltdown version; slightly faster, more acoustic guitar – a lighter backing for a heavy lyric.

Lead Me – Written for the musical “Dreamer: What Really Happened To Joseph”. As far as I can tell, this version seems to have been released only on the album Jeremiah People: The Reunion.
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Track Listing:
1 – I Want To Be A Clone – 2:40
2 – Written Guarantee – 2:44
3 – Steeplechase – 1:44
4 – Hero – 3:30
5 – Sin For A Season – 3:41
6 – Bad Rap (Who You Tryin’ To Kid, Kid?) – 2:57
7 – Whatcha Gonna Do When Your Number’s Up? – 4:07
8 – Guilty By Association – 3:27
9 – Bouquet – 3:04
10 – Whatever Happened To Sin? – 3:00
11 – Jenny – 3:48
12 – Lead Me – 2:45

The Holidays – Everything Is New – 1988

It is very difficult to find much information on this band and album. I do know that this is the first of 2 albums (there is a demo floating around too) the band put out.

I do know that 2 members went on to form a band called The Glimmer Stars but can’t find any info on them either. Though I have no info I will say is that this is a great album.

If you’re looking for CCM music with a new wave sound these guys are for you.

Track Listing:
1 – True Love
2 – Little Love
3 – This Night
4 – American Dream
5 – Grace on Grace
6 – Salvation
7 – Better Than Before
8 – Maybe Someday
9 – Breakaway
10 – I’m Just Another Boy
11 – Everything Is Now

Various – The Axemen – 1988

This is a 1988 sampler from Pure Metal Records (a division of Refuge Music Group). It features some of the best heavy metal bands of the late 80’s.

Track Listing:
1 – Whitecross – Shakedown – 4:13
2 – Bride – Hell No – 3:50
3 – Saint – Returning – 4:45
4 – Force 3 – Warrior Of Light – 5:32
5 – Lightforce – Babylon – 6:54
6 – Jerusalem – Covered By Blood – 3:34
7 – The Daniel Band – Party In Heaven – 2:57
8 – Rosanna’s Raiders – Serve Someone – 4:04
9 – Novella – Running Home – 4:49
10 – Scarlet Red – You Live Fast – 4:46
11 – Bjorn Stigsson – Come Together – 2:59

Force 3 – Warrior Of Light – 1988

in 1988 the Guitarist of the band 100% Proof, Charlie Wilson, recorded an album with a new band, Force 3 and this is their first and only album.

It had a sound that was reminiscent of 100% Proof but Wilson allowed himself more latitude on his guitar work. The album suffered from poor production and the mix is questionable also.

That said, this album should fill the listening needs of any late 80’s metal head as the songs are well written and there are several excellent guitar solos.

Track Listing:
1 – Heartbeat – 3:04
2 – Trouble On The Streets – 2:45
3 – Wondering – 2:52
4 – Golgotha (He Is Risen) – 6:03
5 – See The Light – 2:55
6 – Miracles – 4:50
7 – Don’t Give Up – 2:54
8 – Warrior Of Light – 5:30

Credits:
Bass – G.B. Bennett
Drums – Andy Jackson
Executive Producer – Peter Gavin Morkel
Guitar – Charlie Wilson
Illustration, Design Concept – Peter Geissler
Producer, Engineer – Armand John Petri
Vocals – Andy Jackson, Charlie Wilson

The Swirling Eddies – Let’s Spin – 1988

This was the debut album from The Swirling Eddies.

Who were the Swirling Eddies? Well, when this album was released it was a secret and a contest asked listeners to identify the band members. It was eventually revealed that it was the Daniel Amos band reincarnated, but with a different drummer. This album is a fun loving rock, pop album with a slight taste of alternative sounds.

Track Listing:
1 – Let’s Spin!
2 – Catch That Angel
3 – The Unsuccessful Dutch Missionary
4 – The Big Guns
5 – Rodeo Drive
6 – Ed Takes A Vacation (a suite)
7 – Snowball
8 – I’ve Got An Idea
9 – Don’t Ask Me How I Feel
10 – Ed Again
11 – What A World, What A World

Credits:
Art Direction, Design – Jeb McSwaggert
Backing Vocals, Voice [Speaks] – Jany Macklebee (tracks: 7)
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Bass Guitar – Berger Roy Al
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Drums [Real Live Drums], Percussion – Hort Elvision*
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Spot (5)
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Electric Guitar, Keyboards – Gene Pool (3)
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Arthur Fhardi*
Band [The Swirling Eddies Are], Vocals [All Vocals], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Camarillo Eddy
Concept By [Cover Concept By] – Camarillo Eddy, Jeb McSwaggert
Directed By [Horns] – Buckeye Jazzbo
Engineer [Engineered By] – Sir Douglas Jr.
Horn – Buckeye Jazzbo
Horns – The Horns O’Plenty
Mixed By – Camarillo Eddy, Sir Douglas Jr.
Photography By – R. Michael Seeley*
Producer [Produced By] – Camarillo Eddy

Rosanna’s Raiders – Calling Down Fire – 1988

Rosanna’s Raiders were/are an Australian hard rock band.

Lead by the vocals of Rosanna Palmer this album has a Lita Ford sound on some tracks and Patty Smyth on others. I think the best comparison of this album is to Barnabas, though much more highly produced.

It is a well produced hard rock album that fit in nicely with it’s release period.

Track Listing:
1 – We Are Raiders – 3:48
2 – Just Like A River – 3:52
3 – Serve Someone – 3:24
4 – Good News – 4:02
5 – So Far Away – 3:38
6 – Breakaway – 2:45
7 – No Reason – 3:32
8 – Run The Race – 3:21
9 – Inside Is Living Hell – 3:42
10 – Not Gonna Let You Go Again – 3:58

Credits:
Backing Vocals – Dave Palmer, Phil Butson
Bass – Dave Palmer
Cover – Boris Vallejo
Drums – Johno Zaffarese
Engineer – Phil Butson
Graphics – Jeff Spencer (2)
Guitar – Rosanna Palmer
Keyboards – Dave Palmer, Phil Butson
Layout – Jeff Spencer (2)
Producer – Phil Butson
Vocals – Rosanna Palmer