Tag: 1989

The Reign – Back From Euphoria – 1989

The Reign were/are a Christian rock band from Southern California in the late 80’s/early 90’s. They only had this one album but it was a real cult favourite. I had not heard this one as obviously it didn’t make it’s way to Canada but I wish I had. This is a great Rock Pop album that had a perfect sound for 1989. The album did get picked up for distribution by Image Records and the CD got the cover we have here. The Cassette had a much simpler and quite frankly better cover. The band recently recorded a new album which was inspired/encouraged by drummer Doug Lada’s granddaughter. It’s really good too, what a great bunch of talented musicians. If you only have time for one track I’m telling you that you need to hear “Looking For You (On Christmas Day)”, though really you should be listening to the whole album. You simply can not go wrong with Darrell Mansfield playing harp on a few tracks and Riki Michelle singing backing vocals on two tracks. I was really impressed with the production quality of this self recorded piece and then I saw that it was produced by Gene Eugene. Suddenly it all makes sense. Anyway the band is till at it and you can check out some of their work on their YouTube channel listed below.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheReign-Official

Tracklist
1 – In Another Room – 3:29
2 – Cold Desert Wind – 3:52
3 – Looking For You (On Christmas Day) – 3:48
4 – Running Out Of Time – 3:27
5 – Trouble On My Mind – 3:19
6 – Weakness – 4:38
7 – Love Survive – 3:53
8 – Don’t Let It Take You Down – 4:56
9 – Dancer – 3:01

Credits
Harold Bloemendaal, Jr – Lead Vocals, guitars, Backing Vocals
Greg Kemble – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Travis Sheets – Synth, Hammond B-3, Backing Vocals
Curtis Holtzen – Bass, percussion, Backing Vocals
Doug Lada (Dug Dorr) – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Darrell Mansfield – Harmonica (Track 2, 5)
Gene Eugene – Producer, Acoustic Guitar (Track 9)
Riki Michelle – Backing vocals (Track 4, 8)

Companies, etc.
Marketed By – Image Records

The Alarm – Change – 1989

This was the fourth studio album from The Alarm and the band/label continued their Russian roulette approach to producers. Tony Visconti was chosen as the producer/engineer for this one and quite frankly wasn’t the best choice. He completely failed to capture the feel of The Alarm and instead produced a commercial sounding album that made the band sound like anything else that came out in 1989. This is not to say that the album isn’t good, in fact the songs are great, it’s the arrangements/mix that sucked. So many great songs and if you see any of them live they are fantastic but for whatever reason the label thought the band needed a mainstream sound. The Alarm were not a mainstream band, they were a band of Christians with an edge that Rock and Roll needed, especially in 1989. Some interesting trivial about the album is that it was released on vinyl even though the vinyl version had to eliminate 2 tracks because the album was 2 long. There was a version of the album released in the U.K. that had the extra 2 tracks on a 7 inch insert. If I still collected vinyl I’d love to have that version. The album’s first single, “Sold Me Down the River” is a fantastic track and if you ever hear it live you realize how good a track it really is. It reached #13 on the UK charts, #75 in the US charts and in Canada it reached # 19 so I remember it very well. My personal belief is if this had been mixed properly it would have been a top 10 hit but the label knew better than me, or at least they think they did. Anyway I urge you to listen to the album as it really is very good and I absolutely love it. BUT, if it had been produced properly it would have been huge in my opinion.

Tracklist
1 – Sold Me Down The River – 5:25
2 – The Rock – 4:39
3 – Devolution Workin’ Man Blues – 4:11
4 – Love Don’t Come Easy – 4:08
5 – Hardland – 4:09
6 – Change II – 2:52
7 – No Frontiers – 3:53
8 – Scarlet – 4:17
9 – Where A Town Once Stood – 3:48
10 – Black Sun – 4:30
11 – Prison Without Prison Bars – 3:48
12 – How The Mighty Fall – 4:19
13 – Rivers To Cross – 3:42
14 – A New South Wales – 4:46

Credits
Arranged By – The Alarm
Bass – Eddie MacDonald
Drums – Nigel Buckle
Guitar – Dave Sharp
Keyboards – Mark Taylor
Management – Barry Dickins, Elliot Roberts
Producer, Engineer – Tony Visconti
Vocals – Mike Peters

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Cinram
Record Company – I.R.S. Records
Distributed By – MCA Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – International Record Syndicate, Inc.

Triumph – Cry Freedom – 1989

This is the second album from U.K. band Triumph. There is not much info out there on these guys or perhaps their is but due to their choice of names it’s impossible to find. The album was produced by Norman Barratt and because of this I couldn’t wait to listen to it. This is an excellent album. It leans new wave with hints of progressive rock think The Cult light perhaps. The unfortunate part of this 80’s CCM project is that I have to listen to many many albums that just aren’t my style or preferred genre so I get pretty excited when I find a new to me album that I like. This is one of those albums. I’m a little unclear if this album was released in North America but I don’t think it was. Feel free to correct me though.

Tracklist
1 – Run With The Wind – 3:51
2 – Son Of Man – 3:50
3 – I Am Waiting – 4:17
4 – It Is Finished – 5:09
5 – Paid On The Nail – 5:36
6 – Cry Freedom – 4:36
7 – Never Trust A Stranger – 3:21
8 – Take My Life – 4:52
9 – Liberty – 4:00
10 – I Will Rise – 5:25

Credits
Jim Ritchie – Lead vocals, bass, percussion
Gordon Cowan – Keyboards, backing vocals
George McConnachie – Drums, percussion
Murray McEwen – Guitars
Andi Tooth – Drums, percussion
Norman Barratt – Producer
Ted Blakeway – Producer

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Gerth Medien GmbH
Distributed By – Grandslam Europe
Licensed From – Pulse Records

Paul Clark – Awakening From The Western Dream – 1989

Paul Clark was one of the most prolific CCM artists of the 1970’s through the 90’s. Strangely he only ever had 3 CCM singles which is absolutely absurd considering the quantity and quality of his work. I think this is my favourite album from him yet. I haven’t listened to then all yet but this one really is my kind of music. Many artists in the CCM industry get more mellow as they go along but not Paul. This is his 10th album and it is a solid pop effort with a great 80’s sound. On the mellow end “As Long As I’m Still Breathing” should have easily singled on the CCM charts especially in 1989. Somehow I missed Paul in the 80’s but I sure like him now.

Tracklist
1 – More Heat Than Light – 5:54
2 – Everywhere I Turn – 3:04
3 – You Can’t Accuse Me – 2:53
4 – I Can Feel Your Heartbeat – 3:02
5 – Marianna – 3:11
6 – So They Say – 4:04
7 – 1NA100 – 3:37
8 – Foxhole Confession – 3:36
9 – Don’t Let Go Of My Heart – 3:36
10 – As Long As I’m Still Breathing – 3:03

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Paul Clark
Backing Vocals – Baby Lee, Donald Brown, Don Harris, Paul Clark
Bass – Don Harris
Drum Programming – Paul Clark, Rod Lincoln
Drums – Rod Lincoln
Graphics – Network Graphics, Inc
Guest [Guest Appearance] – Pat Mastelotto, Steve Farris, Steve George
Guitar – Don Harris, Paul Clark, Kevin Rogers
Keyboards – Don Harris, Paul Clark
Lead Vocals – Paul Clark
Mixed By [Mixdown], Engineer – Bill Schnee
Percussion, Programmed By – Paul Clark
Photography – Paul Clark, Jessica Clark
Producer – Paul Clark
Programmed By – Don Harris
Recorded By, Engineer – Craige Lindesay, Dan Garcia, Gary West, Paul Clark

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Seed Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Seed Records
Copyright © – Seed Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Seed Music
Published By – Minstrel’s Voyage Publishing Co.
Recorded At – Ground One Studio, Leawood, Kansas, Bill Schnee Studios, Sound Factory
Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Glass Mastered At – Denon Digital Industries

Al Denson – Al Denson – 1989

This is Al’s third or fourth album. The history is a little unclear as his previous albums were all self released so there aren’t well known. This album however is what most people think of as his first album as it was the first one on a label and with proper distribution. Al was one of those people that played music his whole life wit his first public performance at age 5 where he played “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on piano. At age of 18 Al played piano for Bob Hope’s USO tour as well as Kenny Rogers. That’s some pretty good history right there. In 1981 he released a 7″ single with 2 tracks that I am completely unable to find but it appeared to be secular judging from the song titles. He provided music at Southern Baptist Youth Conventions conferences and obviously became a hit with the youth movement and in this time as I said he release 2 or 3 albums. He then signed with Benson records which brings us to this album. I would say it’s a softrock album but there’s a couple tracks that pop his sound pretty good. The album had 3 CCM charting singles with “Peace Be Still” doing the best at #12 but it was his next album that really took off. I’m looking forward to hearing that one next.

Tracklist
1 – Reckless Heart – 3:15
2 – Love Is Taking Hold – 4:57
3 – Heaven Knows My Name – 3:34
4 – Right Where You Are – 5:08
5 – On The Upbeat – 3:45
6 – Strong Love – 3:29
7 – It Takes The Strong To Surrender – 4:08
8 – Warm Place In A Cold World – 4:29
9 – Faces And Names – 3:56
10 – Peace Be Still – 4:03

Credits
Backing Vocals – Chris Harris, Don Nalle, Ed Nalle, Gary Janney, Guy Penrod, Mark Heimermann, Mike Eldred, Michele Wagner, Rob Neal
Bass – Jackie Street, Lee Jones
Design – Joel Anderson
Drums, Percussion – Mark Hammond
Engineer – David Murphy, John Yandell, Keith Compton, Ronnie Brookshire
Guitar – Mark Baldwin, Tim Norris
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Producer, Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary
Trumpet, Soloist – George Tidwell

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Benson Company, Inc.
Copyright © – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – Mitchell Family Books, Inc.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – The Doghouse
Recorded At – Omni B
Recorded At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Recorded At – 21st Street Recording
Mixed At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mastered At – Mastermix

Scott Anderson – Somebody Loves You – 1989

This is Scott’s first album and while it is lesser known artist this was a great album. I really don’t know much about how Scott got into CCM but I have spoken to him very briefly about his current work. Some tracks have a great blues feel that I have been told becomes more prominent on his next album. The album also has a great sense of humour and while 80’s humour doesn’t always translate to today it stands well on this album. Some times I try to point out a best track but in this case the album really works best when listened to as a whole.

Tracklist
1 – Somebody Loves You – 3:58
2 – I Ain’t Clowning Around (No More With God) – 3:12
3 – I Believe In Him – 4:55
4 – Give It All You Got – 3:53
5 – I Forgot – 4:25
6 – Penny Arcade – 1:55
7 – Too Cool For Sunday School – 5:11
8 – I’m Not That Kind Of Guy – 4:56
9 – Peanut Butter And Jelly – 3:12
10 – What I’m Living For – 3:42
11 – I Belong To You – 4:45

Michael Card – The Beginning – 1989

The 9th studio album from Michael Card is another like the others. That’s not as negative as it sounds as this was the magic that Card did. He put out albums very consistently and every one had great tracks so his fans constantly had new material to listen to. This album was successful with 3 charting CCM hits. Jubilee made it to #1, Lift Up The Suffering Symbol to #5, and They Called Him Laughter to #15. You just can’t argue with the success Card had. Anyway not much more to say about the album, if you like Card you will like this album. If you’re not a fan of easy listening than this one isn’t for you.

Tracklist
1 – The Beginning – 5:03
2 – In The Wilderness – 3:11
3 – Jubilee – 2:42
4 – Lift Up The Suffering Symbol – 3:32
5 – The Word Is So Near – 2:17
6 – Meditation #3 Shema – 4:13
7 – God Will Provide A Lamb – 4:06
8 – They Called Him Laughter – 3:05
9 – Asleep On Holy Ground – 5:15
10 – A Face That Shone – 3:21
11 – Barocha – 2:43

Credits
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Alan Moore, Bergen White
Art Direction – Barbara Hearn
Concertmaster, Directed By [Director] – Gavyn Wright
Conductor [The Ambrosian Singers And Orchestra] – Bergen White
Design – Larry Vigon
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Barry Dixon, John Kunz
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Musician, Acoustic Guitar – Michael Card
Musician, Bass – Craig Nelson, Gary Lunn
Musician, Drum Programming – Gary Lunn
Musician, Drums, Percussion – Paul Leim
Musician, Piano – Michael Card, Phil Naish
Musician, Synthesizer – Phil Naish
Photography By [Front Cover Photography] – Merlyn Rosenberg
Photography By [Photography Of Michael Card] – Mark Tucker
Producer – Norbert Putnam
Recorded By, Mixed By – JB , Norbert Putnam, Willie Pevear
Vocals [Vocalists] – Ashley Cleveland, Bergen White, Michael Card, The Ambrosian Singers

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright © – The Sparrow Corporation
Produced For – Mole End Productions
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Word Music (UK)
Published By – Whole Armor Publishing
Published By – LITA Music
Distributed By – Word (UK) Ltd.
Distributed By – Pila Music
Distributed By – 3XM
Distributed By – Finngospel
Distributed By – Sephora Diffusion
Distributed By – Emmaus
Distributed By – GMI Records (3)
Distributed By – Filadelfia Forlag
Distributed By – La Sorgente Music
Distributed By – Master Music (5)
Distributed By – Grace Music (2)
Distributed By – Master-Vision-S.A.
Distributed By – Viva Music (4)
Distributed By – Kir Music
Printed By – Sleeveprint
Made By – Sleeveprint
Pressed By – CBS, Haarlem

Paul Smith – Back To Who I Am – 1989

This is Paul’s 3rd solo album after leaving the Imperials and his 5th solo album over all. While he had tons of success I think this might be his most successful album as far as chart positioning goes. The album had 4 charting singles, “Back To Who I Am”, “It’s Alright”, “Bigger Than Life”, and “Beat Of A Different Heart”, all of which singled at #2 or #3. To have 4 singles in the top 3 is absolutely stunning. He also had a great studio band for this album including Paul Brannon (Joe English Band) and Gary Lunn (White Heart). As for the album well it’s a rather light Pop album in the similar vein as the Imperials at the time. When I see an album titled “Back To Who I Am” I always wonder what the artist was thinking at the time. This was well after he left the Imperials and he had a good relationship with them so I don’t think it referred to that so I’m just left to wonder. So this is a pretty good album, not really my style but I appreciate a good album in any style.

Tracklist
1 – Back To Who I Am – 5:36
2 – Beat Of A Different Heart – 5:17
3 – Bigger Than Life – 5:31
4 – Silence Isn’t Golden Anymore – 6:08
5 – Homesick For Eden – 4:47
6 – The Lion Roars – 5:15
7 – It’s Alright – 5:21
8 – Comforter – 4:44
9 – Hunger And Thirst – 5:01
10 – So Satisfied – 4:44

Credits
Arranged By – Joe Hogue
Art Direction – Terri Short
Backing Vocals – Joe Hogue, Marabeth Jordan, Marsha Wells, Michelle Wagner, Paul Smith
Bass – Gary Lunn
Design – Bill Brunt Designs
Drums – Jonathan David Brown
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Guitar – Paul Brannon, Tom Hemby
Keyboards – Joe Hogue
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion – Eric Darken
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mixed At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mastered At – Mastermix
Made By – Discovery Systems

Trace Balin – Here And Now – 1989

As Trace’s first album started to hit the charts Dayspring got her back in the studio ASAP. They could tell the first album was going to take off so they wanted a second album out there as quick as possible. This album proved she wasn’t a one album wonder as this one also hit the charts. It had 3 top 20 singles with “Well Done” making it to #10, “Never Let It Be Said” to #19, and “Eye Of The Hurricane” to #8. Not quite as successful as her debut but nothing to sneeze at. The album is very similar and I’m relatively sure the record company chose the songs from their library but Trace did get some cowriting credits this album. That said the songs were solid pop choices and it’s another great album if you enjoy female pop. Funny that history would hold Trace out as a great blues singer but at this point in her career it was all pop all the time. That said I am listening to her albums in order so maybe I’ll start to hear a transition in the next two albums.

Tracklist
1 – Here And Now – 3:50
2 – Well Done – 4:55
3 – If I Don’t Have Love – 4:11
4 – Eye Of The Hurricane – 3:47
5 – Never Let It Be Said – 4:31
6 – When The Well Runs Dry – 5:15
7 – Jesus At The Heart – 3:54
8 – Just Between You And Me – 3:50
9 – All Hail The Power – 4:44
10 – Why Me – 3:33

Credits
Arranged By – Carl Marsh
Art Direction [Cover Coordination] – Amy Linde
Backing Vocals – Greg X. Volz, Greg Hall, Michael Sandifer, Trace Balin
Bass Guitar – Gary Lunn
Design – McConnell Graphics
Drums, Drum Programming – Jonathan David Brown
Engineer – Jonathan David Brown
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Guitar – Paul Brannon, Tom Hemby
Keyboards [Fairlight 3] – Carl Marsh
Management – Richard Painter
Mastered By – Ken Love
Percussion – Eric Darken
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer – Jonathan David Brown

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – DADC – DIDX-007094
Recorded At – Johnny DB’s Basement
Mixed At – Johnny DB’s Basement
Mastered At – Mastermix

Various – White Metal Invasion – 1989

This is a great metal sampler from E & E Records which is in some way connected with the band Armada. Nice selection of lesser known metal bands here including 2 previously unreleased tracks. We’ve compiled a tracklist of the origin of the tracks;

1 – Divine Right – All I Got – From 1988 independent release “Powerchange”
2 – Chariot – Truth – From the 1987 release “Step Into Light”
3 – Emerald – Battle Ground – Unreleased until the 2022 release “Demo 1984”
4 – Xalt – The Cross – From the 1988 release “Dark War”
5 – 7th Angel – I Will See You In Heaven – From 1988 independent release “7th Angel”
6 – Armada – Suicide – From the 1988 release “Black & White”
7 – Seraiah – C’mon Get Up! – Unreleased elsewhere
8 – Full Armor – White Knights – From 1988 independent release “4-Song E.P.”
9 – Soldier – Louder Than Hell – From 1988 independent release “Babylon”
10 – Taker – Look Into His Eyes – Unreleased until the 2014 release “It Is Finished”
11 – Angelica – Follow Me, Follow Him – Unreleased elsewhere
12 – Apostle – I Am Persuaded – From 1988 independent release “Hymns”