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”
Electrik started in the late 80’s in Los Angeles. They actually did things a little different than others in that they actually didn’t care about their JPM and instead sang about regular topics with a Christian overview. Unfortunately this obviously winning formula just didn’t work for the CCM industry as obviously the bands JPM would be way too low for them. They released their first 3 track EP in 1989 and it was well received. They continued to play in California and as I said were well liked even appearing at Cornerstone in 1991. In 1993 they self released a 7 track album and again it was very well received but not by the CCM industry. Instead the bands popularity remained “underground” and centered in the Los Angeles area. Luckily in 2004 Retroactive records released the album we have here today. It included the 7 track album, their 3 track demo EP and 2 newly recorded tracks. Obviously I never heard this album before today and that’s a real pity because I love these guys. They are an excellent hard rock band but the real stand out to me is the quality of the writing in these songs. These guys did what I was begging the industry to do in the mid 80’s. That was write songs for youth to help them understand the issues that effect them everyday with a Christian overview. If you want to hear what I mean simply listen to the track “Good Thing”. It is an excellent track with an excellent message to teen boys. Anyway this is the album the industry needed but never wanted. Thank goodness Retroactive Records made it available for us.
Tracklist 1 – Krush My Groove (Make A Wish) – 4:51 2 – Good Thing – 4:05 3 – She Loves – 4:53 4 – Never Too Much – 4:03 5 – Show Me Your Soul – 3:55 6 – Blindman’s Holiday – 3:54 7 – Nu Style – 3:03 8 – Under A Rainbow – 4:50 9 – Have U Ever? – 5:04 10 – Shine Candy Shine – 3:48 11 – Daisy – 4:40 12 – Count It Joy – 4:44
Credits Bass Guitar, Vocals – Eddie Krystal Drums, Vocals – Michael Kei Guest, Bass Guitar – Tracie Ferrie Guitar, Vocals – Jett Stevens Lead Vocals – Benjamin Leigh Performer – Electrik Written-By – Electrik
This album starts the sad story of D-Boy Rodriguez. If you don’t know he was murdered but we will cover that when we listen to his last album. For this album we will cover his rise. D-Boy Rodriguez (Danny Rodriguez) was raised in the church by parents that had a keen interest in teens lost on the streets. Though they had a church in PA they often preached on the streets of New York. That interest in street teens led to Danny’s interest in the music of the streets. Danny’s sister also became interested in the street sound and went on to have a couple albums after Danny’s passing. I don’t understand much of the story of how this project started but somehow Tim Miner was able to talk Frontline Records into taking on Danny. A subsequent visit to the studio which included Tim Miner and Tommy Sims and this album was born. While yes there were other Christian rap albums out at the time This one had a more mainstream sound than the others. As such it did quite well and Frontline was happy to release a second one. In my opinion the highlight of the album is “Church Hoppers” which touches on a topic I don’t think anyone else has ever covered. The track is hilarious and may be the first Christian track to use a sample of secular song. In fact it might be the first sampling in the industry period. Sampling just wasn’t big yet in secular or Christian markets. The album actually peaked at No. 35 on Billboard’s CCM album charts but needless to say Christian radio was not ready for this sound in early 1991 so it received almost no radio play. Here again we have an album that is not in one of my favourite genres but it is a great album. Even if you don’t like rap I think you should give this one a listen.
Tracklist 1 – Plantin’ A Seed – 3:47 2 – Church Hoppers – 3:55 3 – Pick Yourself Up – 3:53 4 – When I Strut – 4:36 5 – Doggin’ The Devil – 3:30 6 – King David – 3:56 7 – It’s A Disease – 3:40 8 – G.O.D.S. Possee In Effect – 5:30 9 – Stompin’ Satan – 2:54
Credits Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Backing Vocals – Cindy Cruse, Ronnie V. Engineer – Brent Jeffers, David Ebensberger, John Wirtz Other [Grooming] – Kimberlee Couts Photography By – Michael Seeley Producer, Engineer, Bass, Recorded By, Mixed By, Keyboards [Keys], Drum Programming, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tommy Simms Producer, Engineer, Bass, Recorded By, Mixed By, Keyboards [Keys], Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tim Miner Written-By – D-Boy*, Tim Miner, Tommy Simms
This is the last album from Koinonia. They had a fantastic run and it’s hard to believe there were only 4 albums and only 3 of them were studio albums. I think we can all agree that Koinonia were bigger than there discography shows. I noticed this album actually leans more towards easy listening than their previous jazz fusion sound and as such it’s not quite as good. I still think it’s a good album but the sound on several tracks is not really them per se. I don’t know if this had anything to do with the fact this is their last album but obviously the band was leaning towards a change. Anyway all the members of the band over the years went on to successful studio careers but none of them had a particularly successful headliner album again.
Tracklist 1 – Talk About It – 4:50 2 – We Know The Way By Heart – 3:54 3 – Alegria – 4:01 4 – Is It Too Late – 5:01 5 – Mistral – 4:56 6 – We’re All In This Together – 4:17 7 – Come Share My World – 4:29 8 – You Are My Love – 4:24 9 – Straight To Paradise – 3:51 10 – Lyn – 2:52
Credits Backing Vocals – Alfie Silas, Brenda Eager*, Jean Johnson, Jeff Pescetto, Lou Pardini, Patti Henely, Rose Banks Bass – Abraham Laboriel Drums – Bill Maxwell Engineer – Richard McKernan Executive Producer – Jerry Levin Guitar – Dean Parks, Michael Landau Guitar [Acoustic] – Abraham Laboriel Keyboards – Harlan Rogers, Lou Pardini Lead Vocals – Lou Pardini Percussion – Michael Fisher Producer – Jerry Hey
Comedian and singer Mark Lowry is back with his 7th album and his first on Word records. At this point in his career Mark was also in the Gaither Vocal Band as the baritone. I can not imagine how busy his life was at this time. He was a very popular member of the Gaither Vocal Band as his sense of humour went over very well with their audiences. This album is a mix of worship songs, humorous songs, and spoken word. As near as I can tell this was the first of his albums that was released outside of the U.S. (though only to Canada) which surprises me as I think his humour would have had worldwide acceptance.
Tracklist 1 – I’m Here To Tell You – 3:04 2 – Noah – 3:16 3 – Feelings Or Faith – 1:13 4 – Alarm Clock – 5:34 5 – You Can Be Sure – 3:51 6 – The Church Brat – 0:48 7 – Psychiatric Help – 4:15 8 – Wrestling In The Kitchen – 1:03 9 – Mama Had “Enough” – 3:44 10 – Miss Barth – 4:31 11 – Summacum Laude – 1:49 12 – Living Love – 4:31 13 – His Love Says – 3:23 14 – Bedtime Stories – 5:24 15 – The Greatest Story Ever Told – 7:53 16 – What A Savior He Is – 4:11
DC Talk started in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith though the real story started the year before when Toby and Michael performed the song Heavenbound for their fellow students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The song was a huge hit and the band immediately sold out 3000 copies of their actual first demo “Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm” (Coming soon to the channel). Kevin subsequently joined the band and they recorded a 10 track demo. It was also very successful and some how Eddie DeGarmo over at ForeFront Records heard of them and decided to rerelease their demo minus 2 tracks as their first album. This is that first album. It was very popular as I guess the industry was looking for a new sound. While there were rap groups before them none of them had quite this sound.
Tracklist 1 – Heavenbound – 3:53 2 – Gah Ta Be – 3:58 3 – Final Days – 4:08 4 – The King (Allelujah) – 4:10 5 – Spinnin’ Round – 3:48 6 – Voices Praise Him – 3:51 7 – Time Ta Jam – 2:02 8 – He Loves Me – 5:11
Credits Cover, Design – Jon Timian Engineer, Mixed By – E. Q. Monroe, Richard Hartine, Ron W. Griffin Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock Human Beatbox – Mike Valliere Mastered By – Hank Williams Photography By – Jon Timian, Steve Eastham Producer – Ron W. Griffin, Toby McKeehan Rap – Toby McKeehan Vocals – Kevin Smith, Michael Tait
I can’t really find much info on the band which is surprising because they had 3 albums and a pretty good following. I do know they were from Olivet Nazarene University and actually started out using the name Gentle Reign. As near as I can tell the leader of the band was Tim McGuire who while not doing much work in the industry is well known and highly respected. As for the album it’s a pretty fun pop album that I would have really liked in the day. Vocals are strong and the production is great. I have a feeling many of you know this one so give it a listen again all these years later.
Tracklist 1 – Born Again (And I Love It) – 5:14 2 – Reckless – 5:15 3 – Time Out – 4:12 4 – Nothin’ I Wouldn’t Do – 4:17 5 – Search Me – 4:22 6 – Dead Ain’t Always Six Feet Under – 5:03 7 – Choices – 4:15 8 – Back Off – 3:20 9 – Don’t Keep It Inside – 4:02 10 – Are We Wastin’ Time – 5:14
This album was recorded on Martyn’s “Acoustic Tour” in May 1989 except for Contradictions, No Choices and An Aching And A Longing recorded at Blue Strike Studio, Harrogate. Apparently he paid for the entire album production himself but seeing as it was released on Myrrh with a one album deal surely he got some help. That aside this album sold fantastic and was his jump into a record deal with Epic records (Sony). This is another artist that was very well known and loved in Europe but was completely unknown in the west. Well maybe not completely unknown but we couldn’t buy his albums so he was only known by a select few. Anyway this is a great album and though it was recorded on his “Acoustic” tour that actually refers to his guitar not the entire album. He is backed up skilfully by a great travelling studio band.
Tracklist 1 – Nobody’s Fool – 4:17 2 – Contradictions – 5:08 3 – Treasure The Questions – 5:38 4 – Reminded Of Heaven – 4:33 5 – Vincent – 4:30 6 – Real World – 3:46 7 – Power Of Your Love – 4:34 8 – Candle In The Wind – 4:23 9 – Beautiful Woman – 4:05 10 – I Will Follow – 3:30 11 – Dolphin’s Make Me Cry – 6:32 12 – Sunday’s Coming – 2:15 13 – An Aching And A Longing – 4:47 14 – No Choices – 3:29
Credits Backing Vocals – Mike Haughton Design – James Kessell Engineer – Will Jackson Flute, Recorder, Backing Vocals – Mike Haughton Guitar, Vocals – Martyn Joseph Keyboards, Bass Guitar – Will Jackson Lighting – Pete Allison Photography By – Theresa Wassif Recorded By – Frank Mizon Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Mike Haughton
In 1989 Kerry took a break from AD and did this solo album and when I say solo I mean solo. He played each and every instrument on this instrumental album. It has a fairly progressive rock sound and really shows some of Kerry’s best guitar work. Personally nothing on the album jumps out at me but I am not a fan of instrumental songs. That said I am not disrespecting the album, it’s just not my genre but it is a great album. Track 10, “Tenth of Nisan”, has a footnote reading: “(The obvious debt to M.R. is acknowledged.)”. M.R. is Maurice Ravel a classical composer of the early 20th century. Kerry re-released this album in 1996 on his Numavox label and included a bonus track which we have included.
Tracklist 1 – Ancient Wing – 4:28 2 – And I Saw, As It Were… Konelrad – 4:57 3 – Colonnade Gardens – 4:10 4 – In The Sides Of The North – 4:26 5 – Alenna In The Sun – 4:23 6 – Tannin Dance – 3:37 7 – The Far Country – 3:46 8 – Diaspora – 3:36 9 – A Fistful Of Drachma – 4:11 10 – Tenth Of Nisan – 4:46 11 – Eerie Cove – 4:04
Credits Instruments (All), Recorded By, Mixed By, Producer – Kerry Livgren Mastered By – Glen Meadows
Here’s another one of those mystery 80’s cassettes. This one has a great late 80’s alternative feel and sound and is well produced and engineered. This is all we got from them and it doesn’t look like any of the members went on to do any other published projects. So this is one we have to enjoy as a standalone and wonder why we never got more.
Tracklist 1 – You Don’t Know Me – 4:25 2 – Lightning – 3:50 3 – Nothin’ To You – 3:06 4 – Private 1 – 4:02 5 – Overflow – 4:16 6 – Running Out – 3:36 7 – Black And White – 4:05 8 – Nova Huta – 4:39 9 – St. Peter’s Village – 3:34 10 – Beach Tags – 4:48
Credits Bass, Vocals – T. William Gallagher Drums, Percussion – Mike Ling Guitar, Vocals – Doug Davidson
