This may actually be the best Metal band that never got a record deal. Hear me out on this one. They appeared on two Metal compilations, Heavy Righteous Metal,Chapter II and Brave New Music. They opened for Rez Band, Shout, Sacred Warrior, Mylon LeFevre and Allies. They also took second place in the new talent stage at Cornerstone 1989 and won the battle of the bands competition at metal club Alrosa Villa in the winter of 1989. These guys were hugely popular yet a record deal evaded them. They recorded 14 tracks for this demo but only 6 tracks made it and of course it’s almost impossible to find this demo now. That said Eonian Records stepped up in 2010 released all 14 demo tracks on CD. It took 20 years but the guys finally got their music out there.
Tracklist 1 – Salvation Is Law – 4:44 2 – Live It – 4:04 3 – Don’t Run Away – 3:13 4 – Change Of A Broken Heart – 2:54 5 – You Need Love – 4:22 6 – Red, White, And Blue – 5:57
Credits Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – John D. Rice Drums, Percussion [Other Rude Noises] – “Jungle” John Jenkins Engineer, Producer – Brian Strittenberger Guitar, Backing Vocals – Fred Blanchard, Matt Rice Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Doug Meacham Piano, Keyboards – Jeff Koenig
Companies, etc. Recorded At – The Recording Workshop Studio
This album was released in 1988 as a 6 song live EP recorded at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston on April 26, 1988. There had been a lag in the bands popularity so some record executive though the answer would be a live EP. I don’t quite understand why they didn’t just release a full length concert album but more on that later. The EP did not have any of their early hits and had songs that the public were probably less familiar with. Strangely a 2000 re-release had 14 tracks from the concert. Re-issues before and after this one are only the 6 original tracks. We have uploaded the full 14 track version for you to enjoy here. Live is where The Alarm really shined and while the album did not do that well I think it is some of their best work.
Tracklist 1 – Strength – 6:41 2 – Knife Edge – 4:54 3 – Newtown Jericho – 5:17 4 – Permanence In Change -5:08 5 – Dawn Chorus – 6:48 6 – Blaze Of Glory – 5:02 7 – Bound For Glory – 3:23 8 – Hallowed Ground – 3:52 9 – One Step Closer To Home – 5:34 10 – Shelter – 3:30 11 – Rain In The Summertime – 6:05 12 – Rescue Me – 8:35 13 – Spirit Of ’76 – 8:42 14 – We Are The Light – 3:44
Credits Art Direction – Nick Egan Bass – Eddie MacDonald Design – Tracy Veal Drums – Nigel Twist Guitar – Dave Sharp Keyboards – Mark Taylor Mixed By, Engineer – Elliot Scheiner Photography By – Cary Lander, Ebet Roberts Producer – Gary Katz Vocals – Mike Peters
Yet again I have found an album where I can’t find any info on the band. IN this case it even stranger than usual because the album was re-released in 2009 with bonus tracks but the company that re-released it, RetroCross Records, doesn’t appear to know anything about the band either. Anyway so we know nothing about the band or any of it;s members but here’s what I do know. This is a really good album. The cover looks metal but this is actually a Pop album which leans New Wave at times and Rock and Roll at other times. It lacks a consistent sound but because it’s so well done that’s irrelevant. The albums producer doesn’t appear to have ever produced an album other than this one so kudos to him for doing such a great job. This one is a must listen to.
Tracklist 1 – Welcome To The Real World – 4:35 2 – Going All The Way – 4:38 3 – Hear Me – 4:34 4 – Make It Real – 4:35 5 – Wait Of The World – 6:04 6 – I’m So Glad – 4:23 7 – How Long? – 5:05 8 – Never Alone – 4:53 9 – Smoke Screen – 4:17 10 – All The World – 5:52
Credits Bass, Vocals – Greg Hudson Drums – Alison Cate Guitar [Additional] – Butch Price Guitar, Vocals – Larry Trainor Guitar, Vocals, Cover, Design, Artwork By – Ted Hoehne Lead Vocals – Scott Walters Photography By – Jim Dalool Producer, Arranged By, Engineer, Mixed By – Bill Pearson Vocals, Keyboards – Brian Mercer
Companies, etc. Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
This is the second album from Steven Curtis Chapman. Its a pretty pop oriented album but there a few tracks that lean towards light rock. I had not listened to this one before and I was pleasantly surprised when I finally did. While it’s certainly not Rock it is pretty good and there are a few tracks here that will go in my regular rotation. The album was very successful with 2 #1 CCM chart hits, “His Eyes” and “My Turn Now”. “For Who He Really Is” also made it to #4, and “His Strength Is Perfect” to #10. “His Eyes” also won the Dove award for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song Of The Year and “His Strength Is Perfect” for Inspirational Recorded Song Of The Year. Steven also won the Dove award for Songwriter Of The Year on the heels of this album.
Tracklist 1 – Faithful Too – 4:00 2 – Tuesday’s Child – 4:05 3 – For Who He Really Is – 5:03 4 – Consider It Done – 3:43 5 – His Eyes – 3:33 6 – The Human Race – 3:44 7 – Wait – 4:14 8 – Truth Or Consequences – 5:00 9 – My Turn Now – 3:27 10 – His Strength Is Perfect – 4:38
Credits Arranged By [Strings Arranged By] – Alan Moore Arranged By [Tracks And Background Vocals Arranged By], Guitar, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Steven Curtis Chapman Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Geoff Moore, Herb Chapman, Phil Naish Bass – Mike Brignardello Design – 5 Penguins Design, Inc. Drums – Mark Hammond Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Carry Summers Guitar – Jon Goin Mandolin, Mandola – Mark O’Connor Mastered By – Denny Purcell Mixed By – Jeff Balding Photography By – Mark Tucker Producer [Production Manager] – Cindy Wilt Producer, Arranged By [Tracks And Background Vocals Arranged By], Keyboards – Phil Naish Recorded By – Ronnie Brookshire Recorded By [Strings Recorded By] – Bob Clark Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine Vocals [Guest Vocal] – Geoff Moore
Jeoffrey music career was a matter of family tradition. His father was a popular Christian singer and his son Aaron is also a popular Christian artist. Jeoffrey has performed and recorded with both his father and son. As for this album apparently there was some problem with it’s distribution. It’s was one of the early album on ForeFront Records who knew what they were doing and was an artist owned label. Apparently there was some dispute on revenue but I really can’t find much on the issue. As a result of this apparently this album just didn’t get the proper promotion that it probably deserved. The album did have a CCM charting single, “The Redeemer” made it to #36. As for the album well I’m going to describe it as Worship pop. I say this because the album has a pop sound but Jeoffrey’s voice and lyrics are more worship oriented. It’s an interesting sound that is not my preferred sound but I actually think it’s well done and should be listened to.
Tracklist 1 – Come O Great Jehovan – 3:33 2 – His Majesty The King – 3:00 3 – By His Power – 3:55 4 – The Redeemer – 4:51 5 – Strength For The Journey – 4:45 6 – Great And Mighty – 3:16 7 – Church Of The Living God – 3:34 8 – Calvary Casts A Shadow – 3:41 9 – So Much Love – 5:02 10 – A Man Of God – 3:36
This was Trace’s first album and lets just say she came out with a bang. The album sprouted 3 top 10 CCM chart songs, “Only For You” Made it to #4, “We Need Each Other” #5, and “All I Wanna Do” to #6. Rounding out the singles for the album was “We Are An Army” which made it to #17. That’s pretty darn good for a first album. That said the album was set up for success as some of the top songwriters in the industry penned the songs and even Greg X. Volz did some backup work. Personally my favourite track is “Rock These Rafters” which is an excellent song and I really think it might have suited Petra a few years earlier. The opening track “Champions” is also pretty good and displays her great vocal skills.
Tracklist 1 – Champions – 4:22 2 – All I Wanna Do – 3:15 3 – Only For You – 4:25 4 – We Need Each Other – 4:55 5 – We Are An Army – 3:52 6 – Walk In The Spirit – 4:50 7 – Take Me There – 4:20 8 – Rock These Rafters – 4:28 9 – Use Me Jesus – 4:42 10 – I Don’t Deserve Your Love – 4:16
Credits Arranged By – Brett Teegarden, Carl Marsh, Joel Balin, JDB Art Direction, Design – Bill Brunt Designs Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Carol Becker-Rizzo, Greg X. Volz, Trace Balin Bass – Spencer Campbell, Tommy Sims Cover [Coordination] – Terri Short Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker Guitar – Dann Huff, Jerry McPherson Keyboards – Brett Teegarden, Carl Marsh, JDB, Phil Kristianson Management, Booking – Painter Associates, Richard Painter Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Photography By – Mike Mitchell Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown Programmed By [Programming Assistance] – Joel Balin Recorded By [Assisted By] – Brett Teegarden*, Howard Levy
I’m going to preface this short review by saying that if you want to read a little bit more about the aftermath of this album you need to read Ian Tanner’s blog on Bandcamp. It is a very well written explanation of the aftermath of the album and how it all went wrong but I will cover a few points of his story here. The album was released in the summer of 1988 and had a great single “Lonely Place” which made it to #25 on the CCM charts with very little support from their album label. In fcat they had so little support that this would end up being their last album. The record label also made no effort to set up a support tour for the band and the band themselves had trouble setting up a tour. The band were not a bunch of 20 year olds who could live on spam and as a result they needed an actual money making tour as they were adults with families and careers. This is such a pity as the album is great and they should have had a successful tour but it was not to be. So instead we are left with a great album and one that probably would have had a few more singles if it had been properly promoted.
Tracklist 1 – Remember Me – 2:30 2 – Don’t Wait For Me – 5:25 3 – Wrestling In The Jungle – 4:21 4 – Thoughtful – 3:50 5 – Again – 4:20 6 – Lonely Place – 4:46 7 – Where Is The Love? – 4:58 8 – Knife Of Life – 3:55 9 – Into Thy Hands – 4:31 10 – Onward – 4:39 11 – Never Say Goodbye – 4:59 12 – Clear Day – 4:16
Credits Art Direction, Design – Bill Brunt Designs Artwork [Sculpture], Illustration – Tony Novak Bass, Percussion – Allan Powell Co-producer – The Awakening Drums [Ludwig Drums], Percussion, Backing Vocals – Michael Powell Engineer [Additional Engineering By] – Darren Walters Engineer [Additional Engineering By], Mixed By – Lloyd (Froid) Walker Engineer [Engineered By] – Richard Hutt Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – Andrew Horrocks Executive Producer – Jeff Moseley, Terry Hemmings Guitar – Andrew Horrocks Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Programmed By [Computer Programming], Grand Piano – Ian Tanner Producer [Co-produced By], Mixed By – The Awakening Producer [Produced By] – Richard J. Hutt Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Glenn Koehler, Mike Powell Programmed By [Keyboard and Computer Programming By] – Ian Tanner Programmed By [Keyboard and Computer Programming By], Mixed By – Richard J. Hutt
Things To Come is the debut album from Sydney band In The Silence. It was the first Australian album in a long time to be released by Word Australia. When asked what the band name means, John Dickson replied: ‘In The Silence was a little phrase we worked out because we’re really into the Second Coming….It’s a theme we’re really excited about. A lot of our songs are about the times we are in. While we never get up on stage and say He will be coming back on the third of March, we do believe it is biblical to preach Christ in the light of His return. We see the times we are in as the calm before the storm. We are in the silence.’ (p. 36, On Being, July 1988) The band got their break at Australian Christian music festival JAM ’88. Winners of the JAM ’88 talent quest, the band were recipients of the first prize – recording time at Melbourne’s Timbertop Studio. Things To Come was the result of this recording time. The band’s musical style has been described as ‘guitar-based urban rock, a la U2’. Music reviewer Kirsten Hill states: ‘There is a passionate intensity to all their music. John’s vocals are emotional, breathy pleas, vaguely reminiscent of Bono. In fact, the band at times can sound like a very young U2…But they refuse to join the ranks of the U2 clones – they do cite other influences and do have a sound uniquely their own.’ (p. 36, On Being, July 1988) Music reviewer, promoter and musician Martin Fawkes mentions these ‘other influences’ as ‘bands like Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure and other ‘alternative’ musics.’ (p.37, On being, April 1988) The album opens with the explosive ‘City Walk’. The band even dabbles in some blues on the track ‘Steamboat’. The album’s final track ‘Why’d You Never Tell Me?’ appeared on the band’s previous 7-track cassette-only release ‘It’s Only Time’. (Does anyone have this? Would LOVE to hear it!) Kirsten Hill says the song ‘echoes the thoughts of non-Christians as they meet up with their Christian friends on Judgment Day. It is a sober reminder of responsibility.’ (p. 36, On Being, July 1988)
Contributor – Frank Axel Rasenberger
Tracklist 1 – City Walk – 3:55 2 – Waiting Here – 4:17 3 – If Only You – 3:34 4 – Like I’m Home – 4:45 5 – Easter Song – 5:27 6 – In The Silence – 2:22 7 – Storm Inside – 3:09 8 – Steam Boat – 3:35 9 – Help Help – 3:39 10 – Very Long Time – 2:47 11 – Why’d You Never Tell Me – 5:31
Credits Bass – Angus McLeay Drums – Jacques Zeelie Engineer – Peter Maclean Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Todd Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ben Shaw Lead Vocals – John Dickson Mixed By – In The Silence, Phil Lake Producer – David Gilmour, In The Silence
Recently David Lowman said the following, “If there was any real justice in the world of 80’s CCM, artists Jon Gibson and Tim Miner would have sold out arenas.” Upon reading that I broke out this album, Tim’s second, and gave it a listen to see if I agreed and David is absolutely correct. This is a fantastic 80’s pop album. 1988 might have been a little too late for it but really Christian music was always a little behind the secular trends and this was actually a good thing in my opinion. While Tim had been writing music for others, about the time of this album is when his writing skills really took off and his songs appear on many hit albums. He also started producing at this point in his career and his skills in that capacity are excellent. If you only have time for one track I suggest “Too Casual”, it’s easily the best track on the album.
Tracklist 1 – Hey You! – 3:55 2 – I Know You Think You Know – 4:14 3 – Did I Forget To Say – 4:08 4 – Too Casual – 3:43 5 – Cover Me – 4:08 6 – Smarter Than Crack – 4:24 7 – Degeneration – 3:07 8 – You Know I Love This Feelin – 3:55 9 – Masquerade – 3:09 10 – Now (I Lay Me Down To Sleep) – 3:00
Credits Arranged By [Horn Arrangement] – Don Wallace, Tim Miner Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Angie Winans, BeBe Winans, Cindy Cruse, Cliff Jones, Debbie Winans, Debra Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Gavin Potter, Janice Archer Cruse, Janie Cruse Stone, Joe Cruse, III, John Cruse, Karen Cruse Adams, Mark Freeman, Nancy Cruse, Nicole “Bubbles” Bruce, Rob Johnson, Ronnie V., Todd Walters Backing Vocals – David Pack Backing Vocals – The Winans Bass – Tommy Sims Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmed By, Backing Vocals, Engineer, Mixed By, Producer – Tim Miner Design – Peter Nomura, Stan Evenson Design Inc. Drums – Ric Norris Engineer – Kelly Hemphill, Ron Lagerloff Engineer, Mixed By – Loyd Harris, Randy Adams Guitar – James Dillingham, Michael Gallaher, Michael Landau, Phil Keaggy Guitar, Backing Vocals – Michael Sembello Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer – Brian Tankersley Keyboards, Programmed By, Programmed By, Engineer – Rhett Lawrence Mastered By – Steve Hall Mixed By [Remixing] – Brian Tankersley, Don Wallace, Loyd Harris, Tim Miner Percussion – Charles Barnett Photography By – Bonnie Schiffman Photography – Mark Tucker Piano, Keyboards, Strings, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals], Engineer, Mixed By – Don Wallace Producer – Brian Tankersley, Don Wallace, James Everette Trombone – Keith Adkins Trumpet – Jay Saunders, Keith Jourdan, Scott Marsrow
I want to start out being clear about one thing. Bill is/was an excellent producer and in fact I believe he’s one of the best in the business. That said when it came to his own album my praise for him falls short. As you listen to this album know that the following artists all chipped in on the project, Dann Huff, Phil Keaggy, John Elefante, and David Huff. With that line up you would think that this should be an excellent album. Unfortunately it’s just an average album. Not a bad album, just a dull album. This is not the first time I’ve seen this from a producer. I can only theorize that their opinion of their own musical skills clouds the proper ability to produce a great album. That said the album does have a real high point with “Turn Your Heart Around” being an excellent duet with Crystal Lewis. Bill produced her albums so this seems like a natural pairing. So as I usually say in these situations, not a bad album, just not a great album.
Tracklist 1 – The Kindling – 4:14 2 – The Only Game In Town – 4:33 3 – Could It Be You Knew? – 4:58 4 – Turn Your Heart Around – 3:31 5 – No More Night – 4:22 6 – Heaven – 5:30 7 – Return The Favor – 3:48 8 – Lost Inside Of You – 4:32 9 – I Will Be There – 3:55 10 – Theme For A Child – 4:33 11 – Take It – 4:31 12 – Praise Medley – 5:02
Credits Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Artwork [Litho Prep] – Gershwin Graphics Backing Vocals – Allison Beech, Bill Baumgart, Bob Carlisle, John Elefante Bass – James Jamerson, John Patitucci Drums – David Huff, Pete Pfiefer Engineer – Bill Baumgart, Dave Jahnsen, Eric Kibbe, Kirt Shearer, Tim Heintz Guitar – Bob Somma, Dann Huff, Phil Keaggy Illustration [Cover] – John Dickenson Keyboards – Bill Baumgart, Tim Heintz Photography By – Michael Seeley Producer, Arranged By – Bill Baumgart Saxophone – David Koz Trumpet [Tpt] – Greg Prechel
