1992 – Real 80s CCM

Vicki Yohe – Everlasting Love – 1992

This is Vicki’s second album though her first one isn’t well known as it was self released. This album was the first of a 3 album deal she had with Giant Records, a label created by David and the Giants. The album is a relatively easy listening project which really focusses on her vocal skills. I understand the album didn’t sell all that well which as me a little confused because this is a very well done album. The production is crisp and on point, her vocals are excellent, and the quality overall is quite high. That said some albums do well and some don’t, often it has nothing to do with quality. Anyway if you’re a fan of easy listening genre of CCM this is a must listen.

Tracklist
1 – You Can’t Stop The Morning
2 – Everlasting Love
3 – Comforter
4 – Whosoever Will
5 – The Mercy Seat
6 – When I’m With You
7 – Always
8 – Prisoner
9 – I’d Trade A Lifetime
10 – All Through The Night

Kenny Marks – Fire Of Forgiveness – 1992

This is Kenny’s 6th album. While his style was waning a bit this was still a pretty successful album and one of my personal favourites. Personally I don’t think Kenny got enough recognition as a song writer. Yes I know he was popular among the CCM media but they never really gave his song writing the credit it deserved. This album is more an example of his song writing skills than a great music album. The album did do well though with 2 singles on the CCM charts, I Need A Savior made it to #22 and Like A Father Should Be to #12.

Tracklist
1 – Fire Of Forgiveness (Ashes Of Love) – 5:39
2 – When Love Comes Clean – 4:30
3 – I Need A Savior – 3:16
4 – Turn My World Around – 4:00
5 – Someone To Come Home To – 5:04
6 – Promises To Keep – 4:13
7 – 1932 – 3:33
8 – Like A Father Should Be – 3:19
9 – Tell Me You Love Me – 3:07
10 – Forever Love – 2:50

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Dave Perkins, Don Potter
Art Direction – Amy Linde
Bass Guitar, Synth [Bass] – Tommy Sims
Design – Tufts Design Studio
Drums – Paul Leim
Electric Guitar – Kenny Greenberg
Engineer [Assistant] – Ed Simonton
Engineer [Lead Vocal] – JB
Engineer [Overdubs] – Bert Stevens, Dennis Ritchie
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Marc DeSisto
Mixed By [Assistant] – Greg Parker
Percussion – Eric Darken, Paul Leim
Photography By – David Roth
Producer – Bubba Smith, Kenny Marks
Recorded By – Brent King
Synthesizer, Organ [Hammond B-3] – Mike Lawler
Twelve-String Guitar [Electric] – Dave Perkins

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Communications Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Recorded At – Treasure Isle Recorders
Overdubbed At – Quad Studios
Mixed At – Mastermix
Mastered At – Mastermix
Manufactured By – JVC

Michael Knott – Screaming Brittle Siren – 1992

This is Knott’s first official solo album and what an album it is. Michael was one of the hardest working people in the industry. At the time of this album he was still a member of L.S. Underground, he was helping produce several projects, and he was running his own record label. I will be honest and say that I didn’t really know much about him until he passed away earlier this year. Upon his death I read up and learned about his important contribution to the industry. There is an excellent website dedicated to his work which I will link below. As for this album it has a great 90’s sound and feel. Some might think it’s a little dark in spots but I believe for the main part it’s an upbeat positive great album.

https://knottheads.com/

Tracklist
1 – Miles From Shame – 4:18
2 – Crash And Burn – 2:43
3 – Apocalypse Lips – 3:20
4 – Brittle Body – 5:06
5 – Blood On My Hands – 3:49
6 – Liar – 3:53
7 – Hang Me High – 3:18
8 – Draw The Line – 1:22
9 – Gold Silver Soup And Silk – 0:52
10 – I Am No Christ – 5:23
11 – What You Know Now – 4:40
12 – Barnacle – 2:39
13 – Shine A Light – 5:08
14 – G.S.S.S. – 5:10

Credits
Arranged By [Strings] – Michael Knott
Art Direction, Design – Greg Sylvester
Bass – Bob Wohler
Cello – Melisa Hasin
Drums [Pearl] – Chuck Cummings
Engineer – Chris Colbert, Dave Hackbarth, Phil O’Keefe
Guitar, Vocals – Michael Knott
Mixed By – Derri Daugherty
Musician [Additional], Backing Vocals – Debbie Devore
Musician [Additional], Guitar – Dave Koval
Musician [Additional], Noises [Feedback] – Chris Colbert
Photography By – Colleen Hammond
Producer – Michael Knott
Violin – Mirium Mayer
Written-By – Michael Knott

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Blonde Vinyl Records
Copyright © – Blonde Vinyl Records
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution
Published By – Ttonk Publishing
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Perry & The Poor Boys – No Fear In Love – 1992

Depending on your definition of first this is the first album from Perry & The Poor Boys. Now that said they had 3 demo’s and an album released in Estonia before this one. While this album was released on the Spark label in Europe it was a self release in the U.S.A. Apparently the album did quite well for a self release which doesn’t surprise me as the quality of this album is fantastic. The album was produced by Mike Roe and he helped out on a few tracks on guitar and background vocals. The album is a mix of reworked previous tracks and some new ones. The re-recorded tracks really improved with some proper production. Lead vocalist Perry Springman when asked about the bands influences said “It’s like Elvis Costello meets REM meets God!” Personally I don’t hear the Costello influence but I can hear the REM influence. To some extent this band was kind of an urban legend but they did exist and they were great. Be sure to give this one a listen if you missed it back then.

Tracklist
1 – Guns – 3:23
2 – LADA – 4:04
3 – Live Like You Mean It – 5:23
4 – The Picture Of Laura – 5:01
5 – Where Can I Hide From You – 3:31
6 – Winter – 4:30
7 – It Must Be Hard For God – 4:04
8 – No Fear In Love – 4:01
9 – I Am Where You Stand – 3:41
10 – Ransom – 5:55

Credits
Arranged By – The Poor Boys
Artwork By – Mark Stay
Backing Vocals – Mike Roe
Bass – Stef Loy
Bass, Recorder, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Magnus Sjölander
Drums – James D. Orvis
Engineer – Craig Long, Kirt Shearer
Guitar [Additional] – Mike Roe
Guitar [Guitar Abuse], Harmonica, Backing Vocals – Bo Hallbeck
Keyboards, Accordion, Vocals – Stef Loy
Layout, Photography By – Olli Tuomola
Photography By – Paul Markert
Producer – Mike Roe
Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Electric Guitar –

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Poor Boys Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Oy Finngospel Ab
Copyright © – Oy Finngospel Ab

Seraiah – Seraiah – 1992

This is the second and final, kind of, album from Seraiah but I have still been unable to find out much about this band. Their previous album was a metal classic but this album leans a little more hard rock on several tracks. Personally I really liked this album and I’m not a heavy metal kind of guy. But I do love a good hard rock album however and several tracks here fit that bill. As I said this was their last album kind of as several members went on to form the band Kid Promise and released an album with them. I’m looking forward to hearing that one soon.

Tracklist
1 – No More Lies – 4:04
2 – Angry Young Boy – 3:21
3 – When It Rains – 4:25
4 – Love Has No Bounds – 4:11
5 – Fever – 4:06
6 – New Kind Of Voodoo – 4:07
7 – Song And Dance – 3:44
8 – Whatever Happened To Your Love – 3:24
9 – Bullseye – 3:51
10 – Time For A Change – 4:30

Credits
Art Direction – Dawn Allen, Toni Thigpen
Bass, Backing Vocals – Tracy Ferrie
Design, Layout – Diane Painter
Drums, Percussion – Kyle Dietz
Executive-Producer – Dez Dickerson
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Quinton Gibson
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Bradley Beckey
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Steve Griffith
Product Manager – Jackie Patillo

Companies, etc.
Mastered At – Mastermix

Under Midnight – Under Midnight – 1992

This is the first “industrial” album I have heard in the Christian genre. This was a style of music I listened to heavily in the secular world in the mid 80’s. I was surprised that it took until 1992 for this sound to show up in the Christian genre. I’m not saying this was the first in the genre but I can’t find one earlier than this. The album is actually Caesar Kalinowski, and Mark Robertson who were both in The Stand. Caesar was a pretty popular producer in the CCM scene through the 80’s. Anyway we have here an industrial concept album. The album tells a sci-fi dystopian future story and the tracks tell a great story. It solidly stays in the Christian genre including a couple alter calls. I was able to find several reviews from secular reviewers that loved the album and they said they tolerated the Christian content as it was so good. Personally I think it is pretty good and is easily as good as anything secular I listened to in the mid 80’s.

Tracklist
1 – Babylon USA – 4:11
2 – Die To Myself – 4:03
3 – Love, Pain, Truth, Fire – 4:30
4 – New Way – 4:34
5 – Cybervision – 4:42
6 – Learning To Fly – 3:52
7 – Two Worlds, One Cry – 4:53
8 – In A Mirror Dimly – 3:34
9 – Who Am I? – 5:03
10 – Fear And Trembling – 4:35
11 – Yes, I Am – 4:33
12 – Arise – 3:55

Credits
Backing Vocals – Michelle Thompson, Tony Valenziano
Backing Vocals, Vocals [Guest] – Beki Hemingway
Design, Photography By – Lark
Executive-Producer – C.Kalinowski, P. Gavin Morkel
Guitar [Additional] – Kurt Bachman
Producer, Written-By, Performer, Backing Vocals – D.B. Allen, Frankie
Programmed By [Additional] – Luke Mazzeri, Max Hsu
Written-By [Co-Written By] Track 7 – Max Hsu

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Wonderland
Copyright © – Wonderland
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.

Towne Cryer – Against All Evil – 1992

I often hear this album referred to thrash metal but really I think it leans more to dark metal. What makes this band unique is that they had a female vocalist which was quite rare n this genre. For these guys it worked and it worked well. You probably already know that this is not one of my preferred genres. In fact Thrash is one of my most hated but quite frankly there is something different about this album. There are several tracks here that I kind of like. I would like to have heard lead vocalist Gena do some straight up Metal/Hard Rock, I think I would have really liked that.

Tracklist
1 – Shadow Of Death – 3:08
2 – Stone Cold Heart – 3:45
3 – Hound Of Heaven – 4:46
4 – Free – 3:29
5 – Seek Life – 2:54
6 – Time Ran Out – 4:31
7 – Lights – 4:12
8 – Sacrifice Of The Lamb – 5:04
9 – Let Go – 4:07

Credits
Bass – Gary Ottosi
Drums – Ron McClure
Guitar – Jerry Rotz, Steve Metzger
Vocals – Gena McClure

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Nehemiah Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Nehemiah Ministries Music
Copyright © – Nehemiah Records

Adam Again – Dig – 1992

This is the fourth album from Adam Again. I have read in about 3 reviews now that this band wasn’t all that successful. Of course we don’t have any access to sales numbers but I heard of these guys in the 90’s after I was done listening to Christian music. Obviously I heard it when I was listening to secular music so obviously it had some recognition there. There’s not too much info on the recording of this album in fact I can’t find anything about how this album came to be. As for the album lyrically it continues to have an R.E.M. feel thinks to Gene Eugene’s vocals but the music has a great 90’s feel. This is one of those albums that falls in the “I didn’t like it” but it is very good category. This was not my style of music but I know a good album when I hear it and this is a great album. Jars Of Clay did an excellent cover of Dig on their 2003 album “Furthermore: From The Studio/From The Stage”.

Tracklist
1 – Deep – 4:15
2 – It Is What It Is (What It Is) – 3:43
3 – Dig – 3:25
4 – Hopeless, Etc. – 4:53
5 – Songwork – 5:28
6 – Worldwide – 2:07
7 – Walk Between The Raindrops – 3:30
8 – Hidden, Hidden – 3:25
9 – River On Fire – 5:46
10 – So Long – 4:19

Credits
Art Direction, Design, Photography – Anna Cardenas
Bass – Paul Valadez
Drums – Jon Knox
Executive-Producer [Executive Producers] – Gene Eugene, Ojo Taylor
Guitar – Greg Lawless
Lyrics By [All Lyrics] – Gene Eugene
Mastered By – Brian Gardner
Producer [Additional Production] – Greg Lawless, Jon Knox, Paul Valadez, Riki Michele
Producer [Produced By], Recorded By – Gene Eugene
Vocals – Riki Michele
Vocals, Guitar, Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Gene Eugene

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brainstorm Artists International
Copyright © – Brainstorm Artists International
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Mixing Lab A
Recorded At – Mixing Lab B
Recorded At – Steve McCrum’s House
Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Published By – Chenka, Chenka Music
Manufactured By – U.S. Optical Disc

Angelica – Time Is All It Takes – 1992

Dennis Cameron is back with Drew Baca on lead vocals with Angelica’s third and last studio album. This album definitely has a different vibe than their other ones. Many reviewers say it has a funk feel but I just think it concentrates a lot more on acoustic guitar work. While I’m in the minority I actually think this might be their best work. I actually really liked this album which is rare for me of a Metal album. This album was released in the US and Canada as Angelica but it was released as a Dennis Cameron album in Japan. Considering he did all the work but lead vocals I guess I can see why but I suspect it was more likely due to some oddball legal issue.

Tracklist
1 – Gotta Get Ready – 3:55
2 – Running Wild – 4:40
3 – Second Chance – 5:03
4 – I Can Hardly Wait to See – 4:19
5 – Open Your Mind – 3:48
6 – Don’t Stop – 4:04
7 – Time is All it Takes – 3:37
8 – Carry Me – 3:56

Credits
Backing Vocals – Daniel Ysais
Guitar [Guitars], Lead Vocals – Dennis Cameron
Lead Vocals – Drew Baca
Producer – Dennis Cameron
Written-By – Dennis Cameron

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Intense Records
Copyright © – Intense Records
Published By – Broken Songs
Distributed By – FMG Distribution
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus

Modest Attraction – Get Ready – 1992

Modest Attraction Featured Christian Liljegren (Narnia) and Mick Nordstrom (Leviticus) and rose from the ashes of Swedish band Borderline. This album is actually their first 2 Demos put together. These may have been demos but the production is fantastic. Mick Nordström is credited with production and this was one of the first albums he produced and he nailed it. This was only released in Sweden until 2021 when Retroactive Records did a U.S. re-release so you may have missed this one. This is without a doubt one of my favourite Metal albums I’ve reviewed yet. Everyone knows that Metal is not my preferred genre but wow this album is just so good it doesn’t matter. If you like hard rock I think you’ll like this one as its well produced and the guitar is decipherable so give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Action – 3:30
2 – King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll – 3:47
3 – Get Ready! – 4:31
4 – Come On! – 4:08
5 – Unfailing Love – 3:25
6 – Be Your Child – 2:40
7 – Love Shot Me Down – 4:08
8 – Calm Before The Storm – 4:47
9 – Shake The World – 3:29
10 – Down On My Knees – 4:11

Credits
Arranged By – Modest Attraction
Artwork [Album Cover By] – Jonatan Samuelsson
Bass, Vocals – Simeon Liljegren
Drums, Keyboards [Keys], Vocals – Mick Nordström
Engineer [Engineered By] – Mick Nordström, Peter Jingsäter
Executive-Producer – Matthew B. Hunt
Guitar [All Guitar Parts on Side A Played By] – Stefan Selvander
Guitar [All Guitars] – Stephan Mohlin
Layout, Design – Scott Waters
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Christian Liljegren
Liner Notes – Christian Liljegren
Producer [Produced By] – Mick Nordström

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Retroactive Records
Licensed To – Retroactive Records
Recorded At – PLC Recording Studio Hultsfred
Mixed At – PLC Recording Studio Hultsfred
Designed At – NoLifeTilMetal
Manufactured By – The ADS Group – 24379-CD-0085