This is the first of 2 demo’s from Saint Attack though I am completely unable to confirm the second one titled “First Watch”. So in the end this may be all we have from Saint Attack. They never went on to record an album and I can only find info one one member. Vocalist Frank Schepp went on to sing with Chryztyne on their one and only album. Other than Frank the 2 bands don’t appear to have anything in common so I don’t believe it was a rename. OK now onto the demo. It’s a metal album and is actually really well produced and mixed. As they were a German band I wonder why no record deal. I believe it was easier for metal bands to get record deals in Germany and that’s why we have all these oddball German metal releases. Anyway they never did an album and this is all we get form them. If your a metal head this one is for you. I predict you will really like it.
Benny Hester returns with another great Pop Rock album and as was pretty normal for him at this point it was very successful. It had 2 top 10 hits, “Perfect” made it to #5 and “You Weren’t Meant To Live Your Life Alone” to #6. Rounding out the singles was “Before You Know It” at #15 and “Shall We Gather At The River” crept into the chart at #34. As is normal for the CCM charts the best track on the album is actually “Headlights On The Highway” didn’t chart and doesn’t even appear to have been released as a single.
Tracklist 1 – Headlights On The Highway – 3:13 2 – Before You Know It – 4:15 3 – If You Die Before You Die – 4:20 4 – Perfect – 4:23 5 – Hungry World – 3:30 6 – You Weren’t Meant To Live Your Life Alone – 4:55 7 – Two Good Reasons – 3:50 8 – This One’s For Keeping – 3:30 9 – Passion, Possession, Position – 3:40 10 – Shall We Gather At The River – 3:48
Credits Arranged By – Bill Baumgart, Tim Heintz Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Backing Vocals – Allison Beech, Benny Hester, Bill Baumgart, Bob Carlisle Bass – Neil Stubenhaus Drums – Jeff Porcaro Engineer – Dave Jahnsen Engineer [Assistant] – Beth Wisner, Doug Beiden, Eric Kibbe, Kirt Shearer Guitar – Marty Walsh Keyboards – Aaron Zigman, Tim Heintz Mixed By – Bill Baumgart, Dave Jahnsen Percussion – Pete Pfiefer* Photography By – David Dobson Producer – Benny Hester, Bill Baumgart
This was the last real studio album from Altar Boys though they did come together in 2018 to release an album. At this point they simply weren’t the punk powerhouse they once were. If anything at this point they were more new wave than punk. That said I missed this one in the 80’s and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. The band were super tight at this point and Steve Griffith was an excellent choice as producer. Though I preferred their commercial punk sound this album is good too.
Tracklist 1 – Forever Mercy – 4:20 2 – Listen Up – 4:28 3 – Faith! – 4:03 4 – The Meaning Of Life – 4:26 5 – Ride This Train – 4:26 6 – World Burning – 4:00 7 – Here Ends The Night – 3:53 8 – Love Eternal – 3:55 9 – More Than Words – 3:48 10 – Silent Night – 4:13
Credits Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Bass – Ric Alba Drums – Jeff Crandall Drums [Additional] – Steve Griffith Engineer – Steve Griffith Engineer [Additional] – Dave Jahnsen Guitar – Mike Stand, Ric Alba Guitar [Additional] – Steve Griffith Harmonica – Mike Stand Lead Guitar – Mike Stand, Steve Pannier Lead Vocals – Mike Stand Percussion – Jeff Crandall Performer [Altar Boys Is] – Jeff Crandall, Mike Stand, Ric Alba Photography – David Dobson Producer – Steve Griffith Vocals – Jeff Crandall, Ric Alba Vocals [Additional] – Steve Griffith
Australia’s Rosanna Palmer is on a par with other great female hard rock vocalists such Nancy Jo Mann (Barnabas), Wendy Kaiser (Resurrection Band), Sandie Brock (Servant), and Lisa Faxon (Ransom). Add to this her proficient guitar skills which are showcased on various tracks, especially ‘Crying in the Night’. Her husband, David Palmer, is a great bassist. Dave & Rosanna continue ministering through music and spoken word to this very day. They have performed as a duo at several of our Live at the Chapel live music events. Clothed In Fire is the band’s second album released on an American record label. Here’s a review of this particular album by Steve Rowe (Lightforce & Mortification): – ‘When Rosanna’s Raiders release an album, you can expect a message straight from the heart of God. This is definitely the case with their latest effort Clothed In Fire. The production is world-class thanks to US producer Joey Powers who worked with the band at Grand Slam Studios in New York. The additional keyboards and back-up harmonies enhance Rosanna’s already catchy songs, making the album very memorable even after only a few listens. The highlight track is Crying In The Night – a song addressing the helplessness of children who are abused by adults. The passion of the chorus in this song is strong enough to move the hardest heart. All the songs, especially the final five, display the Raisers’ punchy Aussie hard rock at its best ever.’ (p. 32, On Being, April 1990)
Contributor – Frank Axel Rasenberger
Tracklist 1 – He Is The King – 3:54 2 – Blind Eyes – 4:26 3 – You Are Special – 4:11 4 – Crying In The Night – 4:05 5 – Hell On Earth – 4:28 6 – I’m Ready – 3:17 7 – Crazy World – 3:45 8 – Do It Right – 4:04 9 – The Loser – 3:32 10 – Love The Lord Your God – 3:56
Credits Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Palmer Booking – Vic Campbell Drums – Johno Zaffarese Engineer – Doug Oberkircher Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Dan Rudin Featuring, Backing Vocals – Carolyn Nieto, Gary Roz, Jo Clayton, Jonathan Pagano Featuring, Guitar [Additional Guitars] – Gary Roz Keyboards, Featuring – George Small Lead Vocals, Guitar – Rosanna Palmer Producer [Produced By] – Joey Powers
It was 1989 and time for another winning album from Kim Boyce. I truly believe that Kim was better than Amy Grant but was just a little to Pop oriented so she didn’t get the worship crowd to listen to her. It was another successful album for Kim with 4 top 40 hits including 2 top 10’s. “Faith” made it to #6 and “For Every Lonely Heart” to #10. Now I do have one point of confusion on this album. Bryan Duncan was brought in to do a duet, “I’m Asking You” for the album. They did not release it as a single and it is by far the best track on the album. Maybe it was something to do with legalities or maybe just more bad decisions out of the industry but they missed a #1 song there in my opinion.
Tracklist 1 – Holdin’ My Hand – 3:46 2 – For Every Lonely Heart – 4:01 3 – Love Is You To Me – 3:37 4 – Dancin’ My Heart Away – 4:06 5 – Faith – 3:48 6 – Tender Heart – 5:03 7 – Best Friend – 3:32 8 – O Lord You’re Beautiful – 4:50 9 – I’m Asking You – 3:37 10 – It Always Comes Back To You – 4:06
Credits Ken Allardyce – Assistant Engineer Margaret Barnett – Choir Vocals Paul Boone – Choir Vocals Dave Boroff – Saxophone Denny Bouchard – Songwriter Kim Boyce – Songwriter, Vocals, Background Vocals Nicole Bruce – Choir Vocals Sharon Burton – Choir Vocals Spencer Campbell – Electric Bass Kristina Clark – Background Vocals Claire Cloninger – Songwriter Denny Correll – Songwriter Bryan Duncan – Guest Vocals David Ebensberger – Engineer Angie Ebensberger – Choir Vocals Dan Garcia – Engineer, Mixed Keith Green – Songwriter Michael Hodge – Guitar Imperials – Duet Vocals Win Kutz – Mixed Rhett Lawrence – Producer, Arranger, Engineer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Fairlight CMI, Background Vocals Brenda Marshall-McClure – Choir Vocals Mark Maxwell – Executive Producer Oscar McClure, Jr – Choir Vocals Carrie McDowell – Background Vocals Craig Miles – Choir Vocals Tim Miner – Producer, Engineer, Songwriter, Vocal Arrangements, Keyboards, Background Vocals S. O’Brien – Songwriter Becky Pearce – Choir Vocals Jimmie Pearce – Choir Vocals Cindy Cruse Ratcliff – Background Vocals Dona Robinson – Choir Vocals John Andrew Schreiner – Arranger, Songwriter, Keyboards Phil Sillas – Songwriter, Arranger, Synth Bass, Keyboards Tommy Sims – Bass, Guitar, Background Vocals Luis Chi Sing – Assistant Engineer Jimmie Lee Sloas – Songwriter, Arranger, Keyboards Brian Tankersley – Producer, Executive Producer, Mixed, Songwriter, Background Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Synth, Bass, Keyboards, Arranger Don Wallace – Vocal Arrangements, Background Vocals B. Weaver – Songwriter Kirk Whalum – Saxophone BeBe Winans – Songwriter
This album was recorded right when Haworth started worked with the SW London Vineyard developing their worship and prison ministry. I always consider artists who do prison ministry to be one notch above others. Prison ministry is very difficult and just getting into a prison to play music is very labour intensive and requires a level of dedication few artists have. As for the album well it can best be classified as a rock album with some blues tracks but Haworth is really one of those artists that is difficult to pigeon hole into a genre. The album may also have the best version ever of Joy, Joy, Joy. Yes the one from Sunday School. The album was released on Edge records but strangely it was picked up and re-released by Refuge Records in 1991.
Tracklist 1 – We’re All One (’89) – 4:04 2 – Cover For Me – 3:26 3 – I Serve A Risen Saviour – 3:27 4 – Two Worlds – 4:11 5 – Give Me Your Heart – 5:04 6 – Joy, Joy, Joy – 3:27 7 – Word Of Our God – 4:24 8 – Waiting – 4:18 9 – Is This Love ? – 4:45 10 – Hurt People – 4:25 11 – Love, Acceptance And Forgiveness – 6:29
Michele grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Nashville in 1984 to begin her music career. She was signed as a staff songwriter with Meadowgreen Music Publishers in 1985 and in 1989 Benson signed Michele to a recording contract and this is the first album from that contract. It goes without saying that I missed this album back in the 80’s so this was the first time I heard this album. Quite frankly it didn’t sound that great to me. I just found it a little dull. But when I looked up how well the album did and I was surprised that it actually had 5 charting CCM singles with “Love’s On The Other Side” making it to #4. I re-listened to that track and it is a good track but I think it’s just too easy listening for my taste. One thing I will give Michele credit for is that she actually wrote her songs. This is a rare thing for a lot of female CCM artists of the era as usually the writing was left to songwriters. Interestingly the track “Psalm 1” had been written for Kim Hill and was a #1 hit for her a year earlier.
Tracklist 1 – I Care For You – 3:45 2 – In The Quiet – 3:52 3 – You’re Beautiful – 3:59 4 – Love’s On The Other Side – 3:59 5 – Holy One – 4:23 6 – Psalm 1 – 3:55 7 – Whatever You Ask – 5:01 8 – Simple Devoted And True – 3:03 9 – You Are So Good To Me – 3:03 10 – Patiently – 4:14
Credits Arranged By – Bret Teegarden, Jonathan David Brown, Michele Wagner Art Direction, Design – Jackson Design Backing Vocals – Joe Hogue, JDB, Michael James Murphy, Michele Wagner Bass – Gary Lunn, Jonathan David Brown Drums – Jonathan David Brown Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary Guitar – Jerry McPherson, Mark Baldwin, Paul Brannon, Tom Hemby Keyboards – Bret Teegarden, Michele Wagner Keyboards [Additional Overdubs] – Jonathan David Brown Keyboards [Overdubs], Strings [Overdubs] – Carl Marsh Mastered By – Ken Love Percussion – Eric Darken Photography By – Peter Nash Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown
Awhile ago I reviewed an album by a band called Freeway that had a limited release in Canada. I remember us listening to the album in the 80’s but it wasn’t really our style. Then recently Artie Dison from the band contacted me to let me know he actually had 2 solo albums in 1989 and 1997. This is the 1989 album. Now I’ll be honest, I was not very excited going into this album as his previous work wasn’t my style. Wow was I surprised as this is a fantastic Rock album. This was several years after his Freeway work and boy did he mature. The album almost has a Kansas feel in places but I hate pigeon holing albums. Listen, it’s just a great Rock & Roll album that deserves to be heard. The best track on the album in undoubtedly “What About Home” which has a great message. That said my favourite track is “I Feel Love” which has an excellent commercial radio sound. If you missed this one in the 80’s don’t miss it now.
Tracklist 1 – Lonely Heart – 3:25 2 – Don’t Run – 4:42 3 – What About Home – 6:01 4 – Crying In The Night – 3:48 5 – Conquest Of Love – 2:45 6 – I’ll Show You The Way – 3:42 7 – Forgiving Eyes – 4:31 8 – Mysteries Of The Sky – 3:43 9 – I Feel Love – 3:06
Credits Art Direction, Design – Pete Claproth Bass [Additional] – Darrell Cook Drums [Additional] – Jim Ripley Drums, Backing Vocals – Donny Henderson Engineer [Assistant] – Brian Davis, Josh West, Steve Vaughan Executive-Producer – Lewis McVay Guitar – Bob Somma Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Artie Dison Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Yabo Obien Photography By – Dave rigg Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals – Tim Jaquette Synthesizer, Programmed By – Dave Spurr
This was Rick’s last real Rock & Roll album. Subsequent albums to this one too a far more easy listening sound. This however is a pretty good Rock & Roll album and personally is one of my favourite album from him. Rick was joined by his usual studio musicians including Keith Thomas whose keyboard work I always enjoy. I really hate to just classify this as “another Rick Cua” album because it’s quite good but there’s just not a lot to say about this album. Rick had making an album down to an art at this point so you knew you were going to get a great album if you bought one of his albums from this era. Probably the highlight of the album for me is Young Boy Young Girl on which he is joined by Rebecca Sparks wife of Greg Sparks on vocals.
Tracklist 1 – Streetwise – 3:45 2 – I Can I Will – 4:09 3 – Young Boy Young Girl – 4:13 4 – I’ll Be Satisfied – 4:26 5 – Dedicated – 3:33 6 – Somethin’ You Got – 3:35 7 – No Man Will Know – 3:43 8 – Plenty Of Love – 4:11 9 – Tear Down The Walls – 3:17 10 – The Lost Can Still Be Found – 3:30
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drum Programming, Percussion, Keyboards [Additional] – Tom Hemby Arranged By – Tom Hemby Backing Vocals – Bob Halligan Jr., Jimmy Lee, Kim Fleming, Michael Mishaw, Ron Hemby, Vickie Hampton Drums, Percussion – Mike Mead Engineer – Bill Deaton Guitar – Dave Perkins Keyboards, Synthesizer – Keith Thomas Producer – Tom Hemby Vocals, Bass – Rick Cua Vocals – Rebecca Ed Sparks
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
This is David’s 10th album and his first with Star Song/Sparrow and that’s the reason I dislike this excellent album. Okay let me explain. It is obvious that Star Song threw a TON of money at this album. The production list is like something from a mainstream platinum album. So what’s the problem you ask. The album is way way over produced. I mean there are some great tracks on this album. “When I Was Seventeen” is an excellent track with an excellent guitar track BUT it is just too smooth. It needs to be rough with a Bryan Adams feel not the smooth calculated and way over mixed version we get. Another example of what’s wrong with this album is that David, one of the best pianists in the world, only plays keyboards on 2 tracks. What? The album instead chooses to center around his vocals which quite frankly are secondary to his keyboard skills. Okay but is it a good album? Yes it’s a very good album and there are some timeless tracks but I just wish it was a little more raw.
Tracklist 1 – Prelude (Instrumental) – 0:34 2 – When I Was Seventeen – 4:26 3 – Learning To Trust – 4:59 4 – To Know Him – 3:48 5 – To The Glory Of God – 4:01 6 – The Man With The Nail Scars – 4:47 7 – Interlude In B Minor (Instrumental) – 0:55 8 – This Time – 4:43 9 – When All Colors Turn To Love – 4:11 10 – Somebody’s Calling Your Name – 5:05 11 – The Rest Of My Life – 3:56
Credits Backing Vocals – Chris Eaton, Chris Rodriguez, Donna McElroy, Gordon Kennedy, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Vickie Hampton, Wayne Kirkpatrick Bass – Jimmie Lee Sloas, Mike Brignardello, Tommy Sims Bass [Programming] – Shane Keister Design – Janice Watson Director Of Photography – Joan Tankersley Drum Programming – Shane Keister Drums – Chris McHugh, Paul Leim Engineer – Jeff Balding Engineer [Assistant] – Byron House, Carry Summers, Jeff Borders, Roy Gamble, Shawn McLean, Steve Bishir Engineer [Overdubs] – Brown Bannister Guitar – Gordon Kennedy, Jerry McPherson, Tom Hemby, Wayne Scott Farley Keyboards – David Meece, Phil Naish, Shane Keister, Tommy Dorsey Keyboards [Additional] – David Meece Mastered By – Doug Sax Mixed By – Billy Whittington, Jeff Balding, Nick Fromme Mixed By [Assistant] – John David Parker Percussion – Chris McHugh, Paul Leim, Terry McMillan Photography By – Eika Aoshima Producer – Brown Bannister, Shane Keister Production Manager [Production Coordinator] – Richard Headen Tom Tom, Cymbal – Chris McHugh
