1992 – Real 80s CCM

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

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 –

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