Tag: 1992

Bride – Snakes In The Playground – 1992

Snakes in the Playground is the fifth studio album from Bride. Strangely many of the reviews for this album say “it was their breakthrough album”. I am assuming most these reviewers actually had no idea about Christian metal. Bride was well established and already revered as one of the best Metal acts of the period. That said it was a great album and I think everyone recognized that including the Dove Awards who gave it 2 nominations for “Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year” which they won for 1992 (Rattlesnake) and 1993 (Psychedelic Super Jesus). Interestingly the album featured several guest musicians, Peter Furler and John James from the Newsboys, Rick Florian from White Heart for backing vocals, Greg Martin from the Kentucky Headhunters, Rick Elias, and Derek Jan from Novella for some solo guitar spots. As for the naming of the album Dale Thompson gave us the story “We were in the beginning stages of recording, and took a break to drive to the store. A large reptile was lying beside our car sunbathing on the pavement. In my attempts to chase the snake away, I chased it under the car. To make matters worse, the effort to move the snake from under the car drove it up into the fender wells. We spent the next hour and a half trying to get the snake to come out. We sprayed it with the water hose, poked at it with a broom handle, even shook the car, but it would not come out. Finally, when we thought we would just have to let the snake have the car, it crawled out and back into the wooded area next to the studio.” If you were living on the moon in 1992 and missed this album it is a must listen.

Tracklist
1 – Rattlesnake – 4:34
2 – Would You Die For Me – 3:35
3 – Psychedelic Super Jesus – 4:18
4 – Fallout – 4:03
5 – Saltriver Shuffle – 0:38
6 – Dust Through A Fan – 3:08
7 – I Miss The Rain – 3:52
8 – Don’t Use Me – 4:01
9 – Picture Perfect – 4:21
10 – Love, Money – 3:48
11 – Some Things Never Change – 4:09
12 – Goodbye – 5:20

Credits
Art Direction – Toni Thigpen
Bass – Rik Foley
Design, Layout – Tufts Design Studio
Drums – Jerry McBroom
Edited By [Digital Editing] – Alan Douches
Executive-Producer – Dez Dickerson
Guitar, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Cello, Viola – Troy Thompson
Illustration – Todd Tufts
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer – Salvatore Giglio
Recorded By, Mixed By – Salvatore Giglio
Vocals, Backing Vocals, Tambourine, Shaker – Dale Thompson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song
Copyright © – Star Song
Recorded At – The Saltmine
Recorded At – West West Side Music
Mixed At – The Saltmine
Mixed At – West West Side Music
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Published By – Dawn Treader Music
Published By – Plink Publishing
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Dance House Children – Jesus – 1992

This is the second and last album for Dance House Children though the brothers would go on to work on other projects together. The album continues the dance club sound that really didn’t have that much of a market but the people who liked that style loved this album. I was pretty heavily into the secular dance club scene at the time and I will admit that this album measures right up there with any secular release of the period. My only real criticism for the album is the ugly album cover. I really wish Michael Knott would have stepped in and said no to it. As for the brothers Jason would go on to form Starflyer 59 and Ronnie would form Joy Electric which are both excellent projects by their own right. To say these brothers had great talent would be an under statement.

Tracklist
1 – Once Upon Your Lips – 4:58
2 – The Locket Maker – 4:24
3 – Old And True – 3:45
4 – Eve Leaf – 3:05
5 – Autumn Comes But Once, Dear – 4:19
6 – Homespun Is Happy – 4:19
7 – Simon Sister – 3:31
8 – Keepsake Melody – 3:54
9 – A Lull In The Fairest Maple – 4:43
10 – Uncle Art – 4:02
11 – A Cottage Song – 4:40
12 – Oleanders (Our Happy Place) – 4:02
13 – Sea Breeze – 3:25
14 – Merry – 3:49
15 – Wisteria Time – 4:47

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Ed McTaggart
Design Concept [Cover Art Concept] – Jason Martin, Ronnie Martin
Design [Cover Logo By] – Ronnie Martin
Engineer – Christopher Colbert, Dave Hackbarth, Greg Kemble
Keyboards, Sampler [Samples] – Jason Martin
Mastered By – Doug Doyle
Mixed By – Christopher Colbert
Photography By – Rob Powell
Producer – Dance House Children
Vocals, Keyboards, Sampler [Samples], Programmed By [Rhythm Programming] – Ronnie Martin
Written-By – Ronnie Martin, Jason Martin

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Disco House Publishing
Copyright © – Ttonk
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Blonde Vinyl Records
Copyright © – Blonde Vinyl Records
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution
Recorded At – Neverland Studios
Mastered At – Digital Brothers
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Russ Taff – A Christmas Song – 1992

This is Russ’s only Christmas album and I don’t have much to say about it. It is a collection of traditional Christmas carols with very traditional arrangements. Often these albums they lay down the music track with studio musicians then the singer comes in and does the vocals and it’s off to the stores. But credit to Russ here, he used his band for the album and the engineering/production group is his usual team. That makes me respect this album a little more though it’s still not my style. This one is for people looking for traditional songs with traditional arrangements and stand out vocals.

Tracklist
1 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 4:34
2 – Angels We Have Heard On High – 2:57
3 – The Christmas Song – 2:19
4 – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – 4:01
5 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 4:01
6 – Let It Snow, Let It Snow – 2:39
7 – White Christmas – 3:51
8 – What Child Is This? – 2:41
9 – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 4:07
10 – What A Wonderful World – 2:27

Credits
Bass – Byron House
Conductor [Strings Conducted By] – John Darnall
Drums, Bells [Sleigh Bells] – John Hammond
Executive-Producer – John Huie
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Matt Rollings
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Recorded By, Mixed By – James Hollihan, Jr.
Recorded By [Strings Recorded By] – Lynn Fuston
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Strings – The Nashville String Machine
Trumpet – Mike Haynes

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright © – The Sparrow Corporation
Produced For – Russ Taff Productions
Recorded At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mixed At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mastered At – Mastermix
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

TRB (Toni Rossi Band) – TRB – 1992

This is the one and only album using the TRB (Toni Rossi Band) moniker. After Daniel band Toni Rossi did a few projects and all of them were excellent. I’ve not heard anything from him I didn’t like and this album is no exception. While in a way it’s typical Toni on the other hand it is somewhat distinctive. I don’t really know who was involved in the project other than Frank Catrambone on drums. Frank was also involved with the obscure Canadian Christian band Ammi who had 2 singles neither of which I can find but I hear they are good. Anyway as I said, other than Frank I don’t know who was helping out with this project but they were pretty tight and the album meshed really really well. The album is the typical Rossi hard rock and is probably my favourite work from him outside of Daniel Band.

Tracklist
1 – Edge-U-Cate – 4:00
2 – Are You Listening – 3:34
3 – End Of Time – 3:42
4 – Love Survives – 4:27
5 – It’s Who You Know – 3:51
6 – Son Comes Down – 4:30
7 – The Answer – 4:05
8 – Take It – 4:27
9 – Chickens – 0:20
10 – Down By The River – 4:24
11 – Stay – 5:04

Credits
Drums – Frank Catrambone
Guitar, Mandolin, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Producer, Composed By – Toni Rossi

Companies, etc.
Mixed At – Phase One Studios

Lisa Bevill – My Freedom – 1992

I am willing to guess that almost all fans of 80’s CCM have heard Lisa. We may not have known her name until this introductory album but her vocals were all over the industry. I’m not going to even bother with a list but she sang backup for a lot of our favourite 80’s artists. For those of you who liked the Prism albums she made an appearance on Blue and Red. Anyway this album started out her solo career but yet I don’t find many people talking about this album. I see more discussion of her later albums but quite frankly I think this is a great album. With Brown Bannister pulling the purse strings and Chris Harris and Mark Heimermann producing it I knew this would be a great album. Now I readily admit this album isn’t exactly my style but I always enjoy a great album and this album falls in that category. It has a fun 90’s hip hop pop feel and also has a great music video for the single “Chaperone”. That video also features DC Talk’s Toby Mac and was nominated Video of the Year at the 1993 Dove Awards. Regarding the “single” it seems like originally the single was “Place In The Sun” but they decided to cut a video for “Chaperone”. Now singles aside the album did produce 2 top 10 songs on the CCM charts. “My Freedom” made it to #4 and “Alone In Love” made it to #9. The album also did very well on Christian radio and I read somewhere that both “My Freedom” and “Place in the Sun” made it to #1. Hopefully Jay Whitehurst will chime in and confirm that. Anyway give the album a listen if you missed it back in the day especially if hip hop dance stuff is what you like.

Tracklist
1 – Chaperone – 4:43
2 – It’s Gonna Worth It – 3:47
3 – Falling Off The Face Of The Earth – 4:32
4 – Love Oughta Be – 3:56
5 – My Freedom – 4:31
6 – Place In The Sun – 4:02
7 – Second Chance – 4:41
8 – Alone In Love – 4:28
9 – I Took A Tumble – 3:32
10 – Shirley (Keep It To Yourself) – 5:31

Credits
Lisa Bevill – Songwriter, Vocals
Carolyn Arends – Songwriter
Paula Carpenter – Songwriter
John Catchings – Strings
George Cocchini – Guitars
David Davidson – Strings
Mark Douthit – Sax
Julius Drummin – Songwriter, Drums
Chris Eaton – Vocals
Mark Hammond – Drums
Chris Harris – Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
Mike Haynes – Brass
Mark Heimermann – Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals
Joe Hogue – Drums, Vocals
Wayne Kirkpatrick – Songwriter
Sam Levine – Sax
Gary Lunn – Bass, Drums
Chris McDonald – Brass
Toby McKeehan – Songwriter, Vocals
Jerry McPherson – Guitars
Tommy Sims – Songwriter, Keyboards, Bass, Drums
Pam Sixfin – Strings
Jackie Street – Bass
Kristen Wilkinson – Strings

Liaison – Hard Hitter – 1992

The North Dakota Melby brothers are back with their 3rd and last album with Frontline Records and boy did they go out with a bang. This is by far the best produced album they had. Is it the best album? That’s actually going to be a little dependent on what you like. For me this is their best because I generally don’t like Metal unless it’s well produced and leans more to arena rock which describes this album. The band also include a couple acoustic metal ballads as was the trend in the late 80’s which is the period of sound this album best fits. The guest guitarist list for this album is stunning with Lanny Cordola (Magdallan), Oz Fox (Stryper), and Tony Palacios (Guardian). Could you think of a better trio of guest guitarists for an arena metal album? They absolutely nailed this album and it is probably one of the best arena rock albums in CCM history.

Tracklist
1 – Hard Hitter – 4:48
2 – Attitude – 4:06
3 – Up At Night – 4:45
4 – Steal, Kill, And Destroy – 5:38
5 – Who Can Heal The Pain – 3:58
6 – Whatsoever U Sow – 4:07
7 – Wicked Ways – 4:35
8 – Violent Burning – 3:44
9 – As Far As The East Is From The West – 4:41
10 – My God Is A Rock – 3:08

Credits
Art Direction – Brian Godawa
Bass Guitar – Kelly Burns
Design – Joe Potter
Drums, Percussion – Gregg Bissonette
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Tim Jones*
Engineer, Mixed By – Mike Mierau
Guitar – Lanny Cordola, Oz Fox, Tony Palacios
Keyboards – John Andrew Schreiner
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Music Consultant [Guitar Consultant] – Tim Ellis (5)
Photography – Wayne Armstrong
Producer, Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Acoustic Guitar – Lary Melby
Producer, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Tim Melby

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Frontline Records (3)
Copyright © – Frontline Records (3)
Recorded At – Shelter Studio
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab (2)
Recorded At – John Andrew Schreiner Studio
Recorded At – Front Page Recording
Mixed At – The Mixing Lab (2)
Mastered At – Tower Mastering
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
Record Company – Frontline Music Group
Distributed By – FMG Distribution

Lanny Cordola – Of Riffs And Symphonies – 1992

Lanny was best known as a member of Giuffria, House of Lords and Magdallan/Magdalen but he actually was in many bands. He grew up in L.A. and joined the music scene as a young man and worked as a Guitar tech for a few bands. His recording career started with Giuffria. Anyway to make long story short he eventually started the band Magdallan for which he is probably best known amongst our readers. While still in Magdallan he released this solo album. While this album is mostly instrumental tracks there are a few tracks with guest vocalists that included Jon Gibson. I’ll be honest I wasn’t expecting a lot from this album but I was horribly wrong. This is a fantastic album that deserved much more recognition than it got. The album really centers around Larry’s fantastic guitar work but the whole band is spot on. The band included brother Matt and Gregg Bissonette who are some of the best in thew business. We also have a guest appearance from Darrell Mansfield. So if you missed this one in 1992 be sure to give it a listen now. Full disclosure I played producer by merging a few tracks that were separated but were probably meant to be merged. This is another album that should have been listened to on vinyl and not on CD.

Tracklist
1 – Kaleidescope – 0:49
2 – Armashreddin’ – 5:39
3 – Play It Again Shem (That Funky Music) – 4:12
4 – Interlude – 0:18
5 – The Real Thing – 3:19
6 – YV – 4:58
7 – Gettysburg – 3:58
8 – Won’t Be Long Till Paradise – 4:32
9 – The Obstinate Toy Soldiers – 5:14
10 – Nan – 5:00
11 – The Revelation – 4:50
12 – For The Brothers – 5:30
13 – Donna Lee – 4:19
14 – Lo I Be With You Always – 4:02

Credits
Art Direction – Robert Beeson
Co-producer, Engineer – Charlie Watts
Design [Production] – Michael Seeley, SP&D
Mixed By – Paul Freeman
Musician, Backing Vocals – Allegra Parks, Sandra Stevens
Musician, Bass – Matt Bissonette, Mike Norton
Musician, Drums – Greg Bissonette*
Musician, Guitar – Lanny Cordola
Musician, Harp – Darrell Mansfield
Musician, Horns – the Martin Bros.
Musician, Keyboards – Tim Heintz
Musician, Percussion – Scott Breadman
Musician, Vocals – Bret Taylor, James Christian, Jon Gibson, Phil Bardowell
Producer, Arranged By – Lanny Cordola

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Front Page Studios
Mixed At – Front Page Studios
Distributed By – Brentwood Music, Inc.
Glass Mastered At – U.S. Optical Disc, Inc.

Jeff Fenholt – Jesus – 50’s – 1992

A fun 50’s themed project here from Jeff. Like most of his work this was self released and really there’s no way a record label would have touched this album anyway as many of the tracks sound very very familiar musically. That said I love all things 50’s so I love this album. It’s not Lifters level good but it is good nonetheless. I notice that the drummer is Jeff Olson. I don’t now if this is the same Jeff Olson from Trouble but if it is this is quite the style change for him. Rex Delong is on piano. He was in a great 60’s group called The Rumblers so he brings some authenticity to the project. Anyway as I said this is just a fun album that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is real easy to listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Jesus (Rocked My Soul) – 1:58
2 – Praise The Lord Tonite – 2:48
3 – Jesus The Lord – 4:16
4 – Everybody – 1:50
5 – Jesus, My Savior, My Lord – 3:37
6 – Jesus Is The Rock – 2:55
7 – I Got Saved – 2:11
8 – Jesus, You’re So Wonderful – 3:43
9 – I’m In Love – 2:16
10 – Jesus Loves Me – 1:12

Credits
Jeff Fenholt – Vocals, Producer, Arrangement
Larry Hernandez – Guitar
Rex Delong – Piano
Robert Nance – Upright Bass
Jeff Olson – Drums
Rick Balentine – Synthesizer, Producer, Arrangement
Glen Meyercough – Sax

Companies, etc.
Published By – Messiah Music
Published By – Heartwarming Music
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
Recorded at – Asaph Recording Studio

Magdallan – Big Bang – 1992

Magdallan’s “Big Bang” is the audio definition of an album that was hurt by too many delays in its release. Delayed well over a year (maybe two?), the album would have been the best album in its genre in 1989, but two or so years later and the whole music world changed. but even taking that into consideration, when one considers the album exclusively on its merit it cannot be denied as truly great work. The title may also be a track on the album, but it is also an adequate description of the totality of the album. It is BIG. Really, really big! Production is over the top with literally hundred of vocals layered on top of another and blazing guitar solos that are simply unmatched in CCM. I had lunch one day with Ken Tamplin and he spent the entire time talking about Hal Lindsey and the soon coming end of the world. I was really into the topic at the time and was fascinated. My ideology has shifted drastically in the past 25 years, but even though the album comes across like a track for the Pre-Trib Rapture theory, I cannot deny the unequaled quality of the album. The theme is so interwoven throughout the project that it becomes inescapable. the lead track is called “End of the Ages” and the content lyrically should be clear without any discussion. But what shines here though is some thoroughly enjoyable late 80’s guitar god, over-the-top solos. Though Tamplin was the lead vocalist for the project and primary songwriter, it should be noticed that the band really belongs to Lanny Cordolla. The famed House of Lords guitarist enlisted the help of his former band mates to round out the rest of the band. The high level of musicianship sets the record a[part from the rest of its contemporaries. This is shown in the diversity of arrangements and some of the greatest drumming on any arena rock album. Other stand outs include the title track, Radio Bikini (about the American nuclear bomb testing around WW2) and the ballad Wounded Heart. Despite a Dove Award nomination, the album never met sales projections though it was the best selling album for Intense Records (Frontline) of all time. Radio wouldn’t touch the ballads and the musical direction of rock radio had gone toward grunge and alternative.

Tracklist
1 – End Of The Ages – 6:12
2 – Radio Bikini – 4:41
3 – Shake – 3:50
4 – Wounded Hearts – 5:34
5 – Love To The Rescue – 5:07
6 – Old Hard Line – 4:31
7 – Dome Of The Rock – 4:47
8 – Big Bang – 4:51
9 – House Of Dreams – 4:17
10 – Cry Just A Little – 4:57
11 – Heartbreak Woman – 4:08
12 – This 1’s 4U – 2:46
13 – End Of The Ages (Reprise) – 0:34

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Bass, Acoustic Bass – Brian Bromberg
Co-producer, Engineer [Mixing], Engineer [Tracking] – Mick Guzouski
Cover [Painting “The Last Judgement”] – Michelangelo Buonarroti
Design – Brian Godawa
Drums – Ken Mary
Engineer [Second] – Eric Rudd, Pat Woehl
Engineer [Tracking] – Kim Bullard
Engineer [Tracking], Engineer [Second] – Gil Morales, Kevin Becka
Keyboards – Kim Bullard
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Ken Tamplin
Management – Mike Slarve, Nicki Slarve
Orchestrated By – Roger Mielke
Producer, Written-By – Ken Tamplin, Lanny Cordola
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Sitar, Banjo, Mandolin – Lanny Cordola

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording, Mama Jo’s, The Lighthouse, The Barn, Los Angeles, CA
Mixed At – The Lighthouse, The Village Recorder, Mixing Lab A
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Intense Records (10)
Copyright © – Intense Records, Ken Tamplin Music, Cordman Music
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Jon Gibson – Forever Friends – 1992

This is Jon’s 6th album and he had it down to an art at this point. This was also his final album with Frontline Records which apparently he was pretty happy about. He struggled for the rest of his career finding a label he could get along with which is a tend I see over and over. Anyway, as much as he hated his label this album was probably his most successful. It had 3 top 20 hits with “Can’t Live Without Jesus” making it to #3, “You Are The One” to #12, and “Forever Friends” making it to #7. It was also chosen as album of the year by CCM magazine. This album was far less soul than his previous work and was for the main part a straight up pop album. That said my favourite track “Happy To Know Jesus” definitely has that soul feel he was best known for.

Tracklist
1 – You Are The One – 3:47
2 – Can’t Live Without Jesus – 3:00
3 – Found A Home – 4:38
4 – On My Way To Heaven – 4:09
5 – Forever Friends – 4:52
6 – Happy To Know Jesus – 3:31
7 – You’ve Gotta Love Somebody – 5:47
8 – Happier Than The Morning Sun – 6:00
9 – To My Father’s House – 5:31

Credits
Allegra Parks Choir/Chorus – Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Bob Moon – Engineer
Brian Godawa – Layout Design
Brian Price – Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background)
Dennis Cameron – Engineer
Don Feinberg – Engineer, Mixing
Doug Webb – Saxophone, Soloist
Edwin Hawkins – Composer
Greg Vail – Saxophone, Soloist
James Jamerson, Jr. – Bass
Jon Gibson – Arranger, Choir/Chorus, Composer, Drums, Guitar (Synthesizer), Linn, Primary Artist, Producer, Programming, Sampling, Sequencing, Synthesizer Strings, Trumpet, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Lanny Cordola – Guitar, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Acoustic)
Larry Kimpel – Arranger, Bass
Lenny Castro – Percussion
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler – Arranger, Drums
MC Peace – Rap
Michael Sewell – Choir/Chorus
Milton Comeaux – Percussion
Rob Mullins – Arranger, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Strings, Trombone
Sandra Stephens – Choir/Chorus, Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Stevie Wonder – Composer
Thom Roy – Engineer
Wayne Armstrong – Photography
Wilton Felder – Saxophone, Soloist

Companies, etc.
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab