Tag: 1989

X-Sinner – Get it – 1989

X-Sinner was formed in 1988 by guitarist Greg Bishop in Orange County California. It also appears to have been the first album released on the Elefante brothers label Pakaderm Records. I can’t think of a better intro album for a new label. X-Sinner’s comparison to AC DC is rather obvious but they are more than that I would argue. I can definitely hear some original ideas and they didn’t just copy AC DC as often accused. To say the album was well received is an understatement as they were named the favourite new band of 1989 by the readers of HM Magazine. If the intro track doesn’t hook you then there’s something wrong with you. My only complaint about the band is that I wish they would have some out earlier in the 80’s but you can’t really blame the band for that. The album is perfectly produced by the Elefante brothers and is one of my personal favourite CCM albums of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XQCg4GcEEd9t19zUMHDV2J-

Tracklist
1 – Medicine – 3:22
2 – Steppin’ On Toes – 3:28
3 – Hearts On Fire – 4:13
4 – No Way In – 3:43
5 – Get It – 4:18
6 – Accountable – 4:13
7 – Walking Evil – 4:48
8 – Lift Him Up – 3:13
9 – Kick ‘Em Out – 3:17
10 – Livin’ On The Edge – 4:07

Credits
Art Direction – Terry Degraff
Band [X-Sinner Is], Bass – Rob Kniep
Band [X-Sinner Is], Drums – Michael Buckner
Band [X-Sinner Is], Guitar – Greg Bishop
Band [X-Sinner Is], Vocals – David Robbins
Engineer [Assistant] – Jeff Simmons
Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – Dino Elefante, John Elefante, Mike Mierau
Graphics [Title] – Noah’s Art
Layout – John Shaffer
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Musician [Additional], Backing Vocals – Dino Elefante
Musician [Additional], Backing Vocals, Keyboards – John Elefante
Musician [Additional], Drums – David Raven
Photography By [Cover] – Jodi Summer
Producer [Produced By] – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Written-By – Robbins* (tracks: 1 to 9), Bishop* (tracks: 1 to 9)

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pakaderm Records
Copyright © – Pakaderm Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

The Call – Let The Day Begin – 1989

I have written this elsewhere on several occasions and will repeat it again here: Michael Been was the single most impressive and passionate lead vocalist to ever grace a rock and roll stage. Others may bellow, scream and prance about, but Been could stand perfectly still and show little or no emotion and still drive me to tears with the sheer passion and believability of his voice. The rich baritone that could elevate to staggering heights of emotion has simply not been matched. I miss him… Let the Day Begin was the 6th album from The Call and carried the band into the 1990’s with what should have been the coming out party. Rock radio loved the title track, making it the bands only number one single, but it just wasn’t to be. It is one of the great mysteries of rock and roll music that a band like The Call could never break into the mainstream music fans consciousness despite a consistently impressive output of amazing music. This album was that one shot. It was filled with radio friendly rock music with a slight alternative twist that seemed reared and ready for success. The first four songs (Let the Day Begin, Run, Surrender and When) should have been runaway hits and appeared on several movie soundtracks. Been’s history in Christian music is actually relatively unknown. His first known appearance (that I am familiar with) is playing bass on the first two Barry McGuire albums as well as being a musician for 2nd Chapter of Acts. He regularly appeared on Jesus Music/CCM albums before creating The Call and heading into a more mainstream world. But his Biblical worldview is present here and on every able he was connected with. It should not difficult to see the hope, grace and mercy that poured from his been and voice. Yes, he will be missed. Greatly!

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Let The Day Begin – 3:50
2 – You Run – 5:34
3 – Surrender – 4:07
4 – When – 5:18
5 – Jealousy – 5:38
6 – Same Ol’ Story – 3:36
7 – For Love – 6:13
8 – Closer – 5:00
9 – Communication – 5:38
10 – Watch – 4:16
11 – Uncovered – 2:24

Credits
Art Direction – J.A.
Design – Jeanne Bradshaw
Drums, Vocals – Scott Musick
Engineer [Assistant] – Matthew “Boomer” LaMonica, Paul Dieter
Engineer [Studio Monitor] – Gary Sanguinet
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals – Michael Been
Guitar, Vocals – Tom Ferrier
Keyboards, Vocals – Jim Goodwin
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Photography By – Richard Corman
Producer – Jim Goodwin, Michael Been
Recorded By [Additional Recording] – Ed Cherney
Recorded By, Mixed By – Rob Eaton
Supervised By [Equipment Supervision] – Mike Smith
Technician [Guitar Techs] – Edd Kolakowski, Rich Modica

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – MCA Records, Inc.
Copyright © – MCA Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Cinram
Manufactured For – MCA Records Canada
Distributed By – MCA Records Canada

Bridge 2 Far – Bridge 2 Far – 1989

In 1989 Mark Williamson (Mark Williamson Band/Lyrix) put out an album with John Robinson on a secular label. This appears to have been a one off idea with musical support with some excellent studio musicians. Chris Eaton did write a few of the tracks so there’s also that connection to CCM. The album is a solid AOR project and the 2 artists work very well together. I am a big Mark Williamson fan but I did not know about this album until it was sent to me. I don’t know if I would say it’s his best work but it is definitely good and it’s always exciting to find “bonus” work from an artist you love.

Tracklist
1 – Heaven On Earth – 4:22
2 – I Must Be Blind – 4:14
3 – Say You Will – 3:55
4 – Anyone Out There – 4:52
5 – Caught Inside Your Heart – 4:52
6 – We Got A Way – 4:18
7 – Hold You Tonight – 5:03
8 – Straight To The Heart – 4:22
9 – This Is Killing Me – 4:52

Credits
Arranged By [Horns] – Jerry Hey
Bass – Freddie Washington, Neil Stubenhaus
Drums, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Producer – John Robinson
Electric Guitar – Michael Landau, Steve Lukather
Executive-Producer – Brad Westering
Guitar – Al McKay, Clem Clempson, Marty Walsh
Keyboards – Aaron Zigman, Alan Shacklock, David Paich, John Van Tongeren, Larry Williams, Richard Souther
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Producer – Mark Williamson
Mixed By – Chris Lord-Alge
Piano – David Paich
Producer – Alan Shacklock
Saxophone – Kim Hutchcroft
Saxophone [Solos] – Kirk Whalum
Trumpet – Dan Higgins, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Vocals [Additional] – Chris Eaton, Lance Ellington

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS –

Whooz It – Rock Along – 1989

I have to admit that I am a little confused by this album. It’s an album of covers by relatively unknown artists. Well that’s not actually true I guess. Mark Williamson (Mark Williamson Band/Lyrix) sings a couple tracks, and Dennis Holt (AD) plays drums and the rest seem to be relatively successful studio musicians. I really have no idea what the idea was behind this album other than to put out some Rock versions of some songs that weren’t really Rock. That said it covers “The Rock That Doesn’t Roll” that was definitely a Rock song. The strangest thing on the album is a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Man Gave Names To All The Animals” which is actually pretty good. I actually like a lot of the tracks but I think my favourite is a cover of Randy Stonehill’s “Shut De Do”. Give this one a listen if for no other reason than it’s nice to hear some of these songs with a different arrangement.

Tracklist
1 – The Rock That Doesn’t Roll (Larry Norman) – Gene Miller – 3:43
2 – Shut De Do (Randy Stonehill) – Carrie McDowell – 3:23
3 – Can’t Do Nothin’ Without Jesus’ Love (Darrell Mansfield) – Mark Williamson – 3:23
4 – Jesus Is Calling (Erick Nelson) – Christi Jacobs – 3:26
5 – Man Gave Names To All The Animals (Bob Dylan) – Moses Toth – 3:18
6 – Take Me Closer (Phil Keaggy) – Marty Walsh – 3:41
7 – I Love You Lord – Laurie Klein – 3:28
8 – Say It Like It Is – (Alwyn Wall, Malcolm Wild) – Mark Williamson – 3:24
9 – The Flood – Sumner Mering – 3:12
10 – Take No Chances (Love Song) – Gene Miller – 3:58

Credits
Art Direction – Terry De Graff
Bass – Glen C. Holmen
Design – Bradley Grose
Drums – Dennis Holt
Engineer – Jim Scheffler, Steve Vidger, Thom Roy, Wally Grant
Executive-Producer – Tom Coomes
Guitar – Marty Walsh
Organ [Hammond B-3] – Brad Cole
Percussion, Art Direction – Alex MacDougall
Producer – Roby Duke
Vocals – Angel Smythe, Elizabeth King, John Randall, Julie Bonney, Linda Punt, Moses Toth, Troy Kennedy

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Recorded At – Wayne Cook Studios
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios
Mixed At – Frontpage Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Petra – The Rock Cries Out – 1989

This is the eleventh studio album from Petra who actually called themselves Petra Praise for this release. This was an entirely experimental/new idea for them. The album is mainly traditional worship songs done in a Petra style. Not all of them them are hard rock but of course those are the standouts. The album also has 2 original tracks written by Bob Hartman, “I Love the Lord” and “The King of Glory Shall Come In.” The album also released an accompaniment track for the youth groups. Pretty bold idea for the time. Actually it would be a bold idea today. It appears the idea was popular as Petra released 2 more worship albums over the years and they were even more popular than this one. The album was also released in Spanish and I’m currently on the hunt for that version as I love Spanish music. Personally I think the whole idea was perfect for the time as this was needed to dispel the anti Rock & Roll holdouts in the Church. All that aside my actual favourite tracks are the last 2. They are live versions of “I Will Call Upon the Lord” and “I Exalt Thee” but I’m always a sucker for live tracks.

Tracklist
1 – I Love The Lord – 3:35
2 – King Of Kings – 1:47
3 – Jesus, Jesus, Glorious One – 2:18
4 – The Battle Belongs To The Lord – 3:04
5 – Take Me In – 4:11
6 – Salvation Belongs To Our God – 2:56
7 – The King Of Glory Shall Come In – 3:10
8 – No Weapon Formed Against Us – 1:44
9 – I Will Celebrate / When The Spirit Of The Lord – 4:15
10 – I Will Sing Praise – 2:45
11 – Hallowed Be Thy Name – 4:12
12 – Friends (All In The Family Of God) – 4:20
13 – I Will Call Upon The Lord – 3:48
14 – We Exalt Thee – 3:46

Credits
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement] – Walt Harrah
Backing Vocals – Kathy Riso, Charlie Hoage, John Elefante, John Lawry, Rick Riso, Sara Tennison, Walt Harrah
Bass Guitar – Ronny Cates
Concept By [Cover Concept] – Loren Balman
Coordinator [Cover] – Terri Short
Design [Cover] – Jackson Design
Drums – Louie Weaver
Guitar – Bob Hartman
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – John Lawry
Lead Vocals – John Schlitt
Mixed By [Duckworth Studio] – Bret Teegarden, Tommy Greer
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer [Production Assistant on Guitars and Vocals] – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Producer, Arranged By – Bob Hartman, John Lawry
Recorded By [Assistant at Pakaderm studios] – Jeff Simmons
Recorded By [Pakaderm studios] – Dino Elefante, John Elefante, Mike Mierau
Recorded By [Recording Arts] – Carl Tatz, Dino Elefante
Recorded By [The Pond] – Gary Hedden, Howard Levy
Saxophone [Sax Solo] – Greg Vail

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – The Pond
Recorded At – Recording Arts
Recorded At – Pakaderm studios
Mixed At – Pakaderm studios
Mixed At – Duckworth Studio
Mastered At – Future Disc
Produced For – Firstborne Productions, Inc.
Published By – Petsong Publishing
Published By – Word, Inc.
Published By – Maranatha! Music

Roby Duke – Down To Business – 1989

This was Roby’s 4th album. I’ll be honest I had no idea who Roby was before getting this album. Considering his first album was in 1982 I would have thought I would have heard of him. Furthermore he wrote several songs for other bands in the early 80’s including Sweet Comfort Band, and Russ Taff. I have not listened to his previous albums but you can expect reviews of them in the future as I look forward to hearing them. As for the album it’s a synth heavy adult pop album with some pretty good vocals. I don’t honestly know if I would have liked it in 1989 but I sure like it now.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XTfM2yHIDPP-lsEJrAHu3fS

Tracklist
1 – I Try (Walk In The Park) – 3:40
2 – Dreams Alive – 3:20
3 – I Shall See God – 4:25
4 – Moon Over Me (Waiting For You) – 4:01
5 – Rain – 3:54
6 – Down To Business – 3:18
7 – Nonetheless – 3:27
8 – Modern Man (Want Will Steal Your Heart Away) – 3:57
9 – Maybe – 3:23
10 – Thief On The Hill – 4:18

Credits
Backing Vocals – Alfie Silas, Angie Alan, Bill North, Cindy Cruse-Miner, Don Wallace, Tim Miner
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – John Robinson
Executive-Producer – Teri Piro
Guitar – Marty Walsh, Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Richard Souther
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Producer [Associate] – Win Kutz
Producer [Associate], Synthesizer – Eric Persing
Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Roby Duke
Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument – Steve Tavaglione

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Good News Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Good News Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.

Compassion All Star Band – 1 By 1 Live! – 1989

The Compassion All Star Band was a collection of great CCM artists recorded live at 1989’s Creation Festival. The album was a fund raiser for the charity organization Compassion International and though recorded in June the album includes a few “Christmas” songs as the album was scheduled as a Christmas release. The band was Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, Margaret Becker, Rick Cua, Joe English, Mike Mead and John Andrew Schriner. I had read about this album but honestly hadn’t listened to it when it was released. That’s too bad because I really enjoyed it. It’s not a musical wonder by any stretch as I’m guessing there wasn’t much rehearsal BUT that’s what makes projects like this so great. The unpolished sound gives the tracks more meaning and you can really get a feel for what was a fantastic performance. Strangely the crescendo track “Who Will Save The Children” had to actually be recorded in studio as the concert was rained out. These types of compilation albums are my favourites and it’s too bad CCM music didn’t have more of them.

Tracklist
1 – Randy Stonehill – Defender – 3:022
2 – Rick Cua – You Can’t Stand Too Tall – 4:07
3 – Margaret Becker – Sacred Fire – 7:06
4 – John Andrew Schreiner – Silent Night – 4:54
5 – Randy Stonehill – Christmas Must Be Tonight – 3:58
6 – Margaret Becker – Find Me – 3:31
7 – Joe English – Yield To The Spirit – 4:18
8 – Phil Keaggy & Randy Stonehill – Ain’t Got No – 3:35
9 – Randy Stonehill – Crossroads – 6:12
10 – Randy Stonehill – Rap – 5:11
11 – Randy Stonehill & Phil Keaggy – Who Will Save The Children – 5:04

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Rick Cua
Co-producer [Production Assistance] – John Andrew Schreiner
Crew [Stage Assistance] – Bill Goings
Design [Cover Design] – Kugizaki Design, Inc.
Directed By [Musical Director] – Lynn Nichols
Drums, Percussion – Mike Mead
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Joe English
Engineer – Gary Heddon
Engineer [Additional] – Jim Kaiser
Engineer [Live Monitor Engineer] – Jody Nachtigal
Engineer [Live Sound Engineer] – Mike Nachtigal
Executive-Producer – Devlin Donaldson
Guitar, Vocals – Margaret Becker, Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill
Keyboards, Vocals – John Andrew Schreiner
Photography By [Cover Photos] – Russ Harrington
Photography By [Inside Photos] – Keith Baum
Producer – Gary Heddon

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Compassion International
Copyright © – Compassion International
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
Published By – Stonehillian Music
Published By – Word Music, Inc.
Published By – Undone Tunes
Published By – Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc.
Published By – MCA Music
Published By – His Eyes Music
Published By – John Andrew Schreiner Music
Published By – Medicine Hat Music
Published By – Norman J. Clayton Publishing Co.
Glass Mastered at – Nimbus, Virginia

The Steven Prince Band – You Can Fly – 1989

I don’t really know much about Steven Prince but I do know he was an artist is Australia. This year he re-released this 1989 album with new and improved audio. It is very sad that we didn’t get to hear more about these Australian artists in North America. For some reason the music industry chose not to share them with us. This actually continues to this day as there are several country stars in Australia that don’t get released in America. Anyway Steven re-released this album this year and it’s lucky for us because it deserved a chance to be listened to again. It is a little conceptual in places and is without a doubt has the closest track to Pink Floyd in “Forrest Fear”. Overall a fantastic album.

Tracklist
1 – Keep On Trying – 4:06
2 – Hurting Me – 5:03
3 – A Friend Beside You – 6:50
4 – Looking Out From Circles – 4:43
5 – Invader-Crusader – 4:18
6 – You Can Fly – 5:00
7 – Wintertime – 5:53
8 – Forest Fear – 5:59
9 – Lifetime – 7:12
10 – Old Timer – 4:39
11 – The Next Plateau – 3:58

Rich Mullins – Never Picture Perfect – 1989

This album marked Rich’s start to a more country sound. It opens with a beautiful A cappella where he is joined by Ashley Cleveland and Pam Tillis and is the highlight of the album to me. That said the CCM charts disagreed with me. The album had 3 top 10 CCM singles, “While The Nations Rage”, “Alrightokuhhuhamen”, and “My One Thing” with “While The Nations Rage” made it to number 1. It also had 2 other single that lingered around the middle of the charts, “First Family” and “Somewhere”. 5 singles on one album is pretty darn good but that said I’m neither here nor there on the album. It’s not bad, it’s not great. To me it just feels like it’s there. This is probably no fault of the album but instead just my personal taste. This album is where Christian music was headed at the time and if anything Rich was actually ahead of the trend.

Tracklist
1 – I Will Sing – 1:28
2 – Hope To Carry On – 2:35
3 – While The Nations Rage – 4:55
4 – First Family – 3:09
5 – Alrightokuhhuhamen – 4:15
6 – Higher Education And The Book Of Love – 4:53
7 – Bound To Come Some Trouble – 3:40
8 – The Love Of God – 2:52
9 – My One Thing – 3:49
10 – Somewhere – 4:36
11 – The Love Of God (Reprise) – 0:47

Credits
Rich Mullins – lead vocals, acoustic piano, hammered dulcimer
Reed Arvin – keyboards, Synclavier, string arrangements
Jerry McPherson – guitars, mandolin
Mark O’Connor – mandolin, fiddle
Tom Hemby – guitar solo
Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass
Danny O’Lannerghty – bass
Paul Leim – drums
Bill Sinclair – harmonica
Ed Calle – saxophone
Kris Wilkinson – string contractor
Ashley Cleveland – featured vocals
Pam Tillis – featured vocals
Richard Gibson – backing vocals
Donny Monk – backing vocals
Guy Penrod – backing vocals
Jon Sherberg – backing vocals
Gary Smith – backing vocals
Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals
Bonnie Keen – backing vocals
Marabeth Jordan – backing vocals
Marty McCall – backing vocals
Margaret Becker – backing vocals

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word Records Limited
Copyright © – Word Records Limited
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright © – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Mixed At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Big Dog Studio, Wichita, KS
Recorded At – The Pond
Mastered At – Mastermix
Published By – Edward Grant, Inc.

Swirling Eddies – Outdoor Elvis – 1989

This is the second album from The Swirling Eddies which were just a new and improved version of Daniel Amos. I’m going to ruffle a few feathers today in that I don’t believe this is some super duper album. Everywhere on the internet people go on about what a wonderful album this was but I just don’t get it. Yes the album had some great tracks. The radio single “Driving In England” is a fantastic song as is “Mystery Babylon” and a few others. My complaint about the album is the silly songs. It detracts from the actual talent that is on the album. If you want to do a silly album then do a silly album but having both quality songs with silly songs just detracts from the whole album in my opinion. I don’t even find the silly songs funny but maybe I did when the album came out but I don’t remember it that way. So if you can struggle through the stupid tracks you have a great album here and it would have been one of my favorites but they ruined it for me.

Tracklist
1 – Outdoor Elvis – 4:07
2 – Driving In England – 3:33
3 – Urban Legends – 3:09
4 – Tiny Town – 3:22
5 – Attack Of The Pulpit Masters – 3:08
6 – Mystery Babylon – 2:31
7 – Arthur Fhardy’s Yodeling Party – 2:06
8 – Hell Oh – 3:24
9 – Blowing Smoke – 3:00
10 – Hide The Beer, The Pastor’s Here – 3:25
11 – Hold Back The Wind, Donna – 4:04
12 – Knee Jerk – 3:35
13 – Don’t Hate Yourself – 1:00
14 – All The Way To Heaven – 3:06
15 – Rubber Sky – 3:10
16 – CoCo The Talking Guitar – 0:52
17 – Yer’ Little Gawd – 3:21
18 – Billy Graham – 1:12
19 – Potential – 3:27
20 – Strange Days – 2:40
21 – Elimination (The Band That Won’t Go Away) – 3:16

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Jeb McSwaggert
Band [The Eddies], Bass, Trombone – Berger Roy Al
Band [The Eddies], Drums – Hort Elvison
Band [The Eddies], Guitar – Greg Flesch
Band [The Eddies], Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jerry Chamberlain
Band [The Eddies], Guitar, Backing Vocals, Keyboards [Additional] – Gene Eugene
Band [The Eddies], Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Rob Watson
Band [The Eddies], Lead Vocals, Guitar – Terry Taylor
Design Concept [Cover Concept By] – Terry Taylor
Directed By [Horns] – Dan Michaels
Engineer [Engineered By] – Gene Eugene
Guest [Our Guests, The Little Eddies], Backing Vocals – Miracle Babe
Guest [Our Guests, The Little Eddies], Percussion – Ed McTaggart
Horns – The Horns O’Plenty
Photography By – David Dobson
Producer [Produced By] – Terry Taylor
Written-By [All Songs Written By] – Terry Taylor

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Alarma Records
Copyright © – Alarma Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Produced For – Quagmire/Billy Bong Productions
Recorded At – Mixing Lab A
Recorded At – Mixing Lab B
Mixed At – Mixing Lab A
Mixed At – Mixing Lab B
Glass Mastered at – Nimbus, Virginia
Published By – Broken Songs