Tag: 1990

Scaterd-Few – Sin Disease – 1990

Scaterd-few is an interesting band. They actually formed in 1983 and recorded a demo that year with Terry Scott Taylor as producer. That demo never made its way out but we do get to hear some of the cuts on their 1991 “Out Of The Attic” album. They broke up in 1985 but reformed in 1989 and got together with Terry again for this album. The band eventually put out a total of 5 albums which given the controversy that surrounded them is pretty good. I’ll cover those controversies in future album reviews. The controversy of this album is that some said it was Rastafarian and not traditional Christian. This caused distributor Zondervan to drop the album. I listened to this album and I don’t think it spouts Rastafarian beliefs but on the other hand I don’t care, I’m here for the music. As for the album it has that angry punk feel on many tracks but some tracks are more structured and resemble a commercially viable song. There are a few tracks that have a Reggae feel which may have caused this whole silly Rastafarian thing. As I said it was produced by Terry Scott Taylor and personally I can feel and occasionally hear his influence but I could just be reading into the album. Anyway when people talk about 90’s Christian punk this album is often their number one or two favourite.

Tracklist
1 – Kill The Sarx – 1:26
2 – While Reprobate – 1:41
3 – Beggar – 2:22
4 – Lights Out – 2:51
5 – Later (LA 1989) – 3:37
6 – Groovey – 2:56
7 – Glass God (No Freedom In Basing) – 2:08
8 – As The Story Grows – 1:28
9 – U – 1:53
10 – A Freedom Cry – 2:30
11 – Scapegoat – 1:17
12 – Wonder Why – 1:36
13 – DITC – 1:09
14 – Self – 1:13
15 – Look Into My Side – 4:09
16 – Kill The Sarx II (Apocalypse) – 7:05

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Backing Vocals [Additional BGVs] – Jav
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Omar Domkus
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Samuel West
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jamie Mitchell
Vocals [Vox], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion – Rämald Domkus
Graphics – Drewzig
Guitar [Additional Guitars] – Ed Lover, Greg Flesch, Greg Lawless, Tools
Layout – Joe Potter
Mastered By – John Matousek
Photography By – David Dobson
Photography By [Cover Photo By] – Drew Domkus
Producer [Produced By] – Rämald Domkus, Terry Taylor
Producer [Produced With] – Omar Domkus
Recorded By – Gene Eugene

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Alarma Records
Copyright © – Alarma Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab
Mixed At – The Mixing Lab
Overdubbed At – Mixing Lab B
Mastered At – Soundworks West
Published By – Broken Songs
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

M.C. Ge Gee – I’m For Real – 1990

Many people think M.C. Ge Gee (Genie Rodriguez) started her Rapping career after her brother, D-Boy Rodriguez, was murdered but after researching her a bit I found this wasn’t true. Executives at Frontline Records had already identified her as something the industry needed and she had been studying rapping with her brother before his death. When her brother was in the studio she was there often playing drums on his tracks and helping him with rhythm. As for her album Danny contributed vocals, programming and scratching as the album was recorded before his death. The album is not just Danny’s style by a female. It has a completely different sound and feel. Yes the actual rapping is similar but the backing tracks are a completely different sound. In fact what I find so fun about this album is her use of different music styles backing her backing. We have everything from Reggae to Jazz to African and I Love it. Again not my favourite genre but honestly I loved this one.

Tracklist
1 – Let’s Fight Back – 3:19
2 – Try This One – 3:19
3 – Jazzin It Up – 3:47
4 – Jesus Loves Me – 3:15
5 – Unity – 4:41
6 – Latino Style – 3:34
7 – I’m For Real – 3:36
8 – You Can Make A Difference – 3:53
9 – Loving Him In Return – 3:44
10 – Go Ge Gee – 3:28

Crashdog – Humane Society – 1990

Wikipedia annoyingly states that Crashdog were “one of the first Christian punk bands” Obviously those of us who followed the industry know that isn’t true but I do think they may have been one of the first recorded bands that did what I refer to as angry punk. Punk crossed many styles over the years but these guys were definitely one of the first to do this style successfully. There isn’t much information about how the band came to be but we do know that they were part of the Jesus People U.S.A. movement in Chicago. They must have had some connection with REZ as this album is the first on REZ album on REZ’s label Grrr Records. The band does a real mix of social commentary songs along with straight up Christian songs on this album. While I’m not the biggest fan of what I call angry punk I do quite like this album. The music is fantastic and the lyrics are good and this must have been a refreshing change of sound at the time. These guys were together for a further 4 albums which means they were doing something right.

Tracklist
1 – Progress – 2:30
2 – Brainfill – 1:18
3 – Numbered By Color – 3:13
4 – Electric Drug – 2:41
5 – Distorted View – 1:36
6 – Never Again – 3:28
7 – Bloody Lane – 3:20
8 – End Of The Rope – 3:30
9 – American Dream – 2:45
10 – Your Ugly Face – 2:44
11 – Injustice – 2:07
12 – The Cold Within – 2:36
13 – Midnight Ride – 2:42

Credits
Bass – Brian Grover
Drums – Greg Jacques
Engineer – Ed Bialach
Engineer [Assistant] – Roy Montroy
Guitar – Andrew Mandell
Vocals, Harp [Mouth Harp] – Spike Nard

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Tone Zone Recording
Pressed By – Disctronics USA

Mortification – Break The Curse 1990 – 1994

This album is partially a rerelease of the 1990 Lightforce demo Break The Curse. It includes 4 other tracks from the period as well as a bonus track. I read a few reviews of this album and it appears to have been well received. One of the stranger things I read said “The album focuses on Mortification’s thrash metal style rather than their later death metal.” I have to be completely honest and say that I don’t even really know the difference. In fact I just have no knowledge of this genre at all. I can definitely hear some talent on this album especially the guitar work of Cameron Hall. I read the lyrics are pretty good too but unfortunately my ears are just not tuned to this style of music. Anyway the album is well liked by people who like this style so if you are a thrash kind of person this is one you should give a listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Blood Sacrifice – 3:35
2 – Brutal Warfare – 4:02
3 – Impulsation – 4:29
4 – Turn – 0:57
5 – New Beginning – 2:37
6 – Break The Curse – 2:38
7 – Illusion Of Life – 4:56
8 – Your Last Breath – 3:24
9 – Journey Of Reconciliation – 4:27
10 – The Majestic Infiltration Of Order – 1:08
11 – Butchered Mutilation (Bonus Track Recorded 1993) – 4:46

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Steve Rowe
Drums – Jayson Sherlock
Executive-Producer – Markus Staiger
Guitar – Cameron Hall
Producer, Engineer, Remastered By – Doug Saunders

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – SPV GmbH – CD 077-140832
Pressed By – Pilz Compact Disc – K 40303 A
Remastered At – Toybox Studios
Recorded At – Timbertop Studios

Jeff Scheetz – Woodpecker Stomp – 1990

After the relative success of Jeff’s excellent demo “Warp Speed” Pure Metal records decided it was time for a full album project. This of course is that album. Jeff’s guitar work was on display on his demo but he turned it up even one more notch for this album. The album did well, especially for a metal guitar instrumental album. The single and title track actually was the first instrumental song to make it on to the CCM rock charts. Jeff did carry over some tracks from his demo but most of these are new tracks. Now I’m gonna offer one criticism and I know Jeff’s fans are gonna bash me but here goes. Why an entirely instrumental album? He had Bill Westfall on keyboards who is an excellent vocalist though I suspect Bill wasn’t a Christian and was brought in more as a studio musician for this album so perhaps that idea wasn’t going to work. But it was 1990. There were metal vocalists everywhere and several looking for work at that time. That said Jeff’s vision was a metal acoustic album and that’s what he did and it turned out just fine.

Tracklist
1 – Woodpecker Stomp – 4:07
2 – Neo-Neo – 4:44
3 – Get Busy – 4:32
4 – Parker Street – 1:22
5 – Lost Island – 6:03
6 – House Of Stairs – 4:09
7 – Digital White – 4:15
8 – Lone Wolf – 5:23
9 – Amazing Grace – 4:13

Credits
Bass – Lance Logan
Drums – Kent Burnham
Engineer – Jon Mathias
Guitar – Jeff Scheetz
Keyboards – Bill Westfall
Producer – Jon Mathias

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Re-Flexx Records, Inc.
Licensed From – Pure Metal
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution

Rhythm & News – Get With The Rhythm – 1990

Rhythm & News were a great a cappella band out of Vancouver Canada. Started by 4 guys in a basement singing along to a boom box they got a few dates performing across Canada. After some very successful small shows they headed into Roy Salmond’s studio to record this album that was also produced and engineered by super producer Roy Salmond. The album has the a cappella mandatory Randy Stonehill track “Shut De Do”. Another fun track is “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” which is a reworded version of Louie, Louie made famous by The Kingsman. It is mistakenly attributed to Chuck Berry but was actually written by Richard Berry but that’s a common mistake. All in all a great album that I missed back in the day so I’m glad I heard it now.

Tracklist
1 – Get With The Rhythm – 2:46
2 – Looking For Love – 2:41
3 – Sittin’ On The Steps – 2:47
4 – Lighthouse – 5:03
5 – Rhythm Thang – 4:10
6 – Real Salvation – 4:03
7 – This Little Light Of Mine – 2:39
8 – Pharaoh, Pharaoh – 2:49
9 – Shut De Do – 2:27
10 – It’s Gonna Rain – 2:22
11 – Lord Of All – 4:47

Credits
Arranged By [Arrangements] – Rhythm & News, Roy Salmond
Design [Cover Design] – Ferris, The Warning Guy, Rick Yeager
Mixed By – Dave Slagter
Performer [Rhythm & News Is] – Brad Strelau, Doug Zimmerman, Kevin Pollard (4), Mark Batten
Photography By – Francis Cheng
Producer, Engineer, Recorded By – Roy Salmond

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Image 7 Music Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Image 7 Music Inc.
Manufactured By – Image 7 Music Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disque Americ
Recorded At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mixed At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – R&N Boyz Publications

On Fire – Dance Like David – 1990

I simply can not find any information on this project. The album was released on Arcade Records but the album is copyrighted by Maranatha! Music. I can find no connection between the two labels but several Arcade albums have Maranatha! Music copyrights so there is obviously some connection. The project included Carvin/Lawrence Winans but that’s it, that’s all I can find. As for the album it’s a Rap / Hip Hop (90’s Hip Hop) album and quite frankly I don’t think it’s a very good. Admittedly this isn’t my favourite genre but if it’s done well I will still enjoy it. This one left me at the side of the road but maybe people who know and love this genre will be able to better critique the album.

Tracklist
1 – Spirit Of The Lord – 3:26
2 – Dance Like David – 3:47
3 – Stand Up – 3:32
4 – Gettin’ Busy – 3:45
5 – Lukewarm Christian – 3:29
6 – Are You Saved? – 5:06
7 – Whatcha Gonna Do – 4:01
8 – Why – 3:59
9 – Are You Saved (Remix) – 3:38
10 – Tomorrow – 4:41
11 – Prayer – 0:58
Credits
Art Direction – Terry DeGraff
Backing Vocals – Dorian Holley, Louis Price, Oren Waters
Design – Vincent Carino
Engineer [Assistant] – Sally Browder
Executive-Producer – Kim Carino, Roby Duke, Tom Coomes
Guest, Scratches – DJ Dove Of S.F.C., Rucky McKinley
Layout – Susan Steinman
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Doug Rider
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer – Scott V. Smith
Programmed By [Synthesizers Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Scott V. Smith
Stylist – Karen Clinkenbeard

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Recorded At – Up All Night Studio, Pasadena, CA
Recorded At – Minds Eye Studio
Mixed At – O’Henry Sound Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Rock Power Praise – Volume 1 The Hymns – 1990

Pakaderm Records strikes again. This is sort of a compilation album of artists singing rockified hymns. Now I’ll be straight up here. When rock artists try to interpret a hymn it rarely if ever works for me. Usually this is because the arrangements basically suck. It’s not as easy as people think to take and old Hymn and turn it into a rock song. That aside the Elefante brothers wrote the arrangements for these tracks and they know what they are doing. As a result this is hands down the absolute best collection of rockified hymns that has been produced. What’s even more impressive on this album as that some of the vocalists are actually Maranatha singers who certainly are not known for Rock & Roll. Case in point is Sara Tennison covering A Mighty Fortress Is Our God which she absolutely nails and Mike Hadley’s Amazing Grace. This album is an absolute must listen. Where others have failed the Elefante brothers have succeeded.

Tracklist
1 – The Old Rugged Cross – 4:48
2 – He’ Got The Whole World In His Hands – 4:40
3 – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – 4:19
4 – We Need Jesus – 4:49
5 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 4:00
6 – Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus – 3:21
7 – Amazing Grace – 4:02
8 – Go, Tell It On A Mountain – 4:27
9 – When We All Get To Heaven – 3:38
10 – I Have Decided (To Follow Jesus) – 4:41

Credits
Arranged By – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Backing Vocals – Barney Dunn (2), Gregg Lancer, Sara Tennison, Terry Stratton
Bass – Ba-Ba
Drums – Artemus Crowe, Jack Mac
Guitar – Rock Lobster, T-Mex
Keyboards – Jack Mac, John Andrew Schreiner, John Elefante
Lead Vocals – Gregg Lancer, Jamie Rowe, John Elefante, Sara Tennison, Scott Springer, Mike Lee, Mike Hadley, Russell Painter
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Saxophone – Greg Vail

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disctronics USA

Phil & John – Live – 1990

Whenever you sit down to listen to a Phil & John album you are never really too sure what you are gonna get. Some albums are pop, some are folk, some are humour, and some are worship. To be clear I do like them I just never know what to expect every time I get a new album. Anyway this is a live humour based album and is probably their best work. This is really where these 2 gentleman shined. I of course never got a chance to see them live as I live in Canada but I really wish I could have. If your in a poor mood toss this album on and you’ll find yourself in a much better mood soon.

Tracklist
1 – Oblivious – 2:55
2 – The Boxer – 4:16
3 – Australia Story – 7:14
4 – Homeward Bound – 3:44
5 – Child Of My Time – 5:17
6 – Stay Young – 3:28
7 – Teeth Story – 5:42
8 – The Day The North Left Town – 3:17
9 – Tommy The Tortoise – 5:48
10 – Echoes To Return – 2:40
11 – What Kind Of Love? – 4:13

Credits
Design – James Kessell
Guitar – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley
Mixed By – Neil Costello
Photography – Branka Jukić
Recorded By – Neil Costello
Vocals – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley

Hoi Polloi – Satisfy – 1990

Hoi Polloi was formed in New Zealand by Jenny Gullen, her husband, Andrew Horst, David Ball and Jozsef Fityus. This is their first demo recording and it likely propelled their career in the CCM industry. The Demo is fantastic and very very well produced by Tim Foreman at Airforce Recording Studio in Auckland NZ. The demo led to the band getting an invitation to Cornerstone and a 2 record deal from Reunion Records. All but one of the tracks on this album were rerecorded and released on the bands first album and the one remaining track showed up on their second album. The album has a great alternative sound and one can’t help but make a comparison to Lone Justice but with much less cow influence. The vocals are strong and the instruments are tight. This is probably one of the best produced demo’s I’ve ever heard. Definitely top 10.

Tracklist
1 – Rest Tonite – 3:22
2 – Rain – 4:05
3 – Love Shine Down – 3:14
4 – Satisfy – 4:13
5 – The Other Name – 4:23
6 – Come To Me – 4:09

Credits
Jenny Gullen – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
David Ball – Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Andrew Horst – Bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Jozsef Fityus – Drums
Jasmine Kemp – Background vocals on “Satisfy”
Dave Henderson – Background vocals on “Satisfy”
Youth Renewal Singers – Background vocals on “Rest Tonight”
Guy Wishart – Acoustic guitar on “Satisfy”
Jeff Tribe – Trumpet
Peter Slainey – Saxophone
Dave Parry – Keyboards on “Love Shine Down”