To say this was a successful album is an understatement as it had 2 #1 hits and 4 #2 hits. Yet it did not get a Grammy or Dove award nomination. Until the end of time I will never ever understand the Christian Music industry. When 60% of an album goes to #2 or #1 it obviously should have been in the running. Furthermore the best track on the album, “Five Smooth Stones”, a duet with Crystal Lewis, wasn’t even released as a single. I am again left speechless by the industry. Anyway, the album has a few tracks where we get to hear that big band sound that Bryan loved and perfected and other than that we have some very solid pop tracks. I feel the album leans a little more to the ballads than his previous ones but it’s not a problem. This is a great album and several tracks are on my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Mercy Me (Love Is My Responsibility) – 3:17 2 – Step By Step – 4:41 3 – Into My Heart – 3:55 4 – You Don’t Leave Me Lonely – 3:59 5 – When It Comes To Love – 5:58 6 – Looks A Lot Like Me – 3:45 7 – Love Takes Time – 3:51 8 – Faithful To You – 5:04 9 – I’ll Not Forget You – 4:27 10 – Five Smooth Stones – 3:31
Credits Arranged By, Keyboards [Arranged By] – Michael Omartian, Peter Wolf, Robbie Buchanan Art Direction – Diana Barnes Backing Vocals – Alexis England, Darrell Brown, David Pack, David Robertson, Diana DeWitt, Gene Miller, Leslie Smith, Suzie Benson, Tom Burns Bass – Neil Stubenhaus Brass – Bill Reichenbach, Dan Higgins, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey Design – Larry Vigon, Rowena Rivera Curtis Drums – John Robinson Engineer – Mike Mierau Engineer [2nd] – Slamm Andrews Engineer [Additional] – Al Phillips, Paul Erickson, Terry Christian Guitar – Glenn Pearce, Paul Jackson Jr. Mastered By – Steve Hall Mixed By – Daren Klein Organ [B-3], Keyboards [Additional] – Alan Pasqua Percussion – Mike Fisher Photography By – Denise Milford Producer – Dan Posthuma
This is the fifth studio album from the guys. Strangely it’s also the last one that founding member Mike Pendleton and guitarist Brent Gordon are on. Nothing has ever been officially said about their departures but to quote Roger Rose, “they didn’t really quit the band–they kinda quit and got fired all at the same time.” Anyway that aside this album continues there new Rock/Grunge style we were introduced to on their previous album. It’s not as good as their previous album which I found kind of odd as I thought they would be perfecting this sound but it’s still a pretty darn good album and if you really like this style of music this is probably still in the 10 of this style.
Tracklist 1 – That Lonesome Road – 4:27 2 – Trapped – 3:44 3 – Lost In The Forest – 3:35 4 – If I Lose My Way – 3:31 5 – Always Be My Love – 4:08 6 – M.A.T.W. (Reprise) – 4:22 7 – Alone – 5:45 8 – I’ve Got A Heaven – 4:25 9 – I’ll Never Go Back There – 3:54 10 – If I Can Dream – 2:53
Credits Art Direction – Brian Godawa Bass – Mike Pendelton Cover – Brent Gordon Design – Brian Godawa Drums – Randy Rose Guitar – Roger Rose Lead Guitar – Brent Gordon Lyrics By – Roger Rose Photography By – Patrick House Producer – Roger Rose Rhythm Guitar – Brent Gordon Vocals – Mike Pendelton, Randy Rose, Roger Rose
This is Twila’s 1992 compilation album. I really think she might hold the record for her amount of compilation albums. The album did contain two new tracks including the title track that was a charting single. I have indicated the original album for all the tracks below.
1 – A Heart That Knows You – New Track 2 – Destiny – New Track 3 – How Beautiful – Cry For The Desert – 1990 4 – I See You Standing – Cry For The Desert – 1990 5 – Every Heart That Is Breaking – For Every Heart – 1988 6 – Prince Of Peace – Same Girl – 1987 7 – Wandering Pilgrim – It’s The Thought… – 1989 8 – Runner – Kingdom Seekers – 1986 9 – The Warrior Is A Child – The Warrior Is A Child – 1984 10 – Holy Is The Lamb – From Dick Tunney album Twila Paris Piano Classics 11 – Sweet Victory – For Every Heart – 1988 12 – True Friend – For Every Heart – 1988 13 – Bonded Together – Same Girl – 1987 14 – Release Of The Spirit/He Is Exalted – Kingdom Seekers – 1985 15 – Lamb Of God – Kingdom Seekers – 1985 16 – Do I Trust You Medley – The Warrior Is A Child – 1984
Tracklist 1 – A Heart That Knows You – 4:41 2 – Destiny – 5:12 3 – How Beautiful – 4:42 4 – I See You Standing – 4:05 5 – Every Heart That Is Breaking – 4:12 6 – Prince Of Peace – 4:37 7 – Wandering Pilgrim – 4:06 8 – Runner – 4:04 9 – The Warrior Is A Child – 4:09 10 – Holy Is The Lamb – 3:26 11 – Sweet Victory – 4:29 12 – True Friend – 3:00 13 – Bonded Together – 4:59 14 – Release Of The Spirit/He Is Exalted – 5:59 15 – Lamb Of God – 4:11 16 – Do I Trust You Medley – 5:50
Credits Art Direction – Buddy Jackson, Toni Thigpen Design – S.Combs Executive-Producer – Darrell A. Harris, Jack Wright Mastered By – Doug Sax Photography By – Mark Tucker
Two Hearts are the husband and wife team of Michael Hodge and Carrie McDowell. Michael was a very talented studio musician and Carrie had released an album on Motown records in 1987 and actually had a top 40 hit with “Uh Uh, No, No Casual Sex”. Carrie next showed up in 1989 on a Maranatha! Music sampler with a fantastic cover version of Randy Stonehill’s “Shut De Do” which was the song that started my hunt to learn more about her. This is a solid pop album and Carrie handles most the vocal work and Michael mainly handles the guitar work but does supply some vocals. Definitely well worth a listen if you missed it back in the 90’s.
Tracklist 1 – Hold On Me – 4:03 2 – Celebrate New Life – 3:54 3 – Stand Your Ground – 4:06 4 – Holy Fire – 3:38 5 – Miracles – 3:33 6 – Promise Me Tonight – 4:40 7 – Are You Ready? – 3:29 8 – Heaven Help Me – 3:40 9 – Teach Me How – 3:25 10 – Heaven Help Me (Instrumental Mix) – 2:23
Credits Art Direction – Buddy Jackson Backing Vocals – Carrie Hodge, Cris Willis, Guy Penrod, Michael Hodge, Robert Street, Vicky Hampton, Yvonne Hodges Bass, Drums, Keyboards – Brian Tankersley Creative Director – Toni Thigpen Design – L. Franke Executive-Producer – Jeff Moseley Guitar, Vocals – Michael Hodge Keyboards [Additional] – Bo Cooper, Don Koch, John Andrew Schreiner, Michael James, Paul Mills, Phil Kristianson Lead Vocals – Carrie Hodge Mastered By – Hank Williams Photography By – Mark Tucker Producer – Brian Tankersley Recorded By, Mixed By – Brian Tankersley
I really Can’t find much about The Brave other than they formed in 1991 in Lancaster, California. I do know that they came to the attention of John and Dino Elefante over at Pakaderm Records. This album is the result of their work together and what an album it is. I often struggle with the line between hard rock and metal and this album really dances that line for me. In the end I say it’s hard rock and is one of the best hard rock albums I’ve heard in CCM. The album has 10 solid rock tracks with two remixes thrown in as bonus material. Judging from the bonus tracks I am assuming they felt the singles were “All Together Now” and “Running All My Life”. Personally I think “Little Love” is the single of the album as the intro guitar rifts get you ready for a great song which doesn’t disappoint. All that said here’s the problem with the album. It was released in 1992 and that was right at the tail end of this style. After this much harder metal became more popular and this arena rock style just didn’t fit. Lucky for us it’s years later and we can just enjoy the album as a great hard rock album.
Tracklist 1 – All Together Now – 4:28 2 – The Waiting – 4:33 3 – If That Ain’t Love – 4:59 4 – Running All My Life – 4:45 5 – Tears Of A Broken Heart – 4:31 6 – Little Love – 4:27 7 – Never Live Without Your Love – 4:38 8 – Big World – 4:23 9 – Ride With The Rythm – 3:53 10 – Just A Man – 4:42 11 – All Together Now (Studio Mix) – 4:28 12 – Running All My Life (Studio Mix) – 4:44
Credits Backing Vocals [Additional] – Doug Beiden, Jeff Gunn Bass – Malcolm Paris Design, Art Direction – Terry DeGraff Drums – Randy Roberts Drums [Additional], Percussion [Additional] – Dave Raven Engineer – Dino Elefante, Doug Beiden, J.R. McNeely, John Elefante Engineer [Assistant] – Chuck Swindoll Jr. Guitar – Freddie Tierra, Stayce Roberts Guitar [Additional], Bass [Additional] – J.R. McNeely Guitar [Solo, Guest] – Tony Palacios Lead Vocals – James Salters Mastered By – Chris Bellman Mixed By – Neil Kernon Photography By – Patrick House Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante Vocals – Freddie Tierra, Malcolm Paris, Randy Roberts, Stayce Roberts Written-By, Arranged By – Brandon Starr, Dino Elefante, Ian Sabretti, Jean-Luc Lajoie, John Elefante, The Brave
This is Amy’s second Christmas album. In fact I believe it’s the most successful CCM Christmas album of all time. According to Nielsen SoundScan it is actually the eighteenth best-selling Christmas album in the U.S. since 1991. It reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian album chart. The album is a combo of traditional Christmas songs along with some originals just for this album.
Tracklist 1 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 2:36 2 – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – 2:26 3 – Joy To The World / For Unto Us A Child Is Born – 2:33 4 – Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song) – 5:29 5 – O’ Come All Ye Faithful – 3:01 6 – Grown Up Christmas List – 5:00 7 – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – 2:07 8 – Winter Wonderland – 2:17 9 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 3:27 10 – The Night Before Christmas – 3:52 11 – Emmanuel, God With Us – 4:56 12 – Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – 4:47
Credits Amy Grant – lead vocals Shane Keister – acoustic piano (4, 10), keyboards (8, 10, 11), string arrangements (10) Carl Marsh – synthesizer (4), keyboards (11, 12), orchestration (12) Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (6) Clare Fischer – acoustic piano (9) Blair Masters – keyboards (10, 11) Phil Keaggy – guitars (5) Tom Hemby – guitar (6, 12), acoustic guitar (10) Jerry McPherson – guitar (7), acoustic guitar (10) Dann Huff – guitar (10) Craig Nelson – bass (7, 9) David Hungate – bass (8, 10) Chris McHugh – drums (7) Steve Forman – percussion (7) Paul Leim – drums (8, 10), percussion (10) Harold Jones – drums (9) Mark O’Connor – violin (12) Ronn Huff – orchestration (1, 2, 3, 9), choral arrangements (3, 5, 11), conductor Alan Moore – orchestration (6) The London Studio Orchestra – strings (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12) Nat Peck – contractor The American Boychoir (3, 5, 10), directed by James Litton Chris Eaton – background vocals (2, 7, 11), acoustic piano (11) Marty McCall – background vocals (2, 7, 10) Marabeth Jordan – background vocals (2, 7, 10) Bonnie Keen – background vocals (2, 7, 10) John Darnall – children’s choir director (10) Children’s choir (10) – Jessica Owen, Kristina Owen, Carrie Gardner, Lisa Pardin, Asher Larrison, Emily Estes, Bethany Wright, Skyla Carnahan, Katy Dunham and Ellie Bannister Brown Bannister – producer Ronn Huff – producer (2, 3) Amy Grant – executive producer
This is the second and last album from Crystavox as they broke up shortly after it was released. I was quite surprised while I was researching this album that most reviews were either very positive or very negative. Personally I think it’s a pretty good album. It has a nice commercial metal feel and sits nicely amongst the metal albums of the day and I would rank it above average for the time. Luckily for their fans the band reunited and signed with Roxx Productions, who released a compilation album and DVD, “The 20 Year Mix”. In 2018 this album was reissued on a limited vinyl run of 500 pieces. 350 in black vinyl and 150 in translucent red.
Tracklist 1 – The Big Picture – 3:33 2 – Break Down The Wall – 4:41 3 – Rise Up – 4:59 4 – Snakes In The Grass – 3:44 5 – Stick To Your Guns – 3:34 6 – Paradise – 4:45 7 – Cry Out – 2:57 8 – Shame – 4:40 9 – Rockin’ A Hard Place – 5:46 10 – No Boundaries – 3:57
Credits Bass Guitar – Brent Ford Design, Layout – Fred Helm Drums, Percussion – Fred Helm Engineer – Loren Holmquist, Michael Geiser Lead Guitar – George Ochoa Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Tony Lopez Mastered By – Doug Doyle Mixed By – Adam Lee Kemp, John Sarappo, Loren Holmquist Music By – Crystavox Photography By – Andrew Watrous Producer – Adam Lee Kemp, Loren Holmquist Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Keyboards – Loren Holmquist Vocals [Additional Vocals] – Jamie Rowe Vocals, Keyboards, Lyrics By – Adam Lee Kemp
New Zealander Steve Apirana is back with his second album and while I liked his first album this is a huge improvement from that album. This is a straight up blues album and it is good, real good. Again this album wasn’t released in North America which is a pity because I think it would have sold pretty good. Most people will recognize the title track as done by DeGarmo and Key bur in fact it’s a traditional so they didn’t get credited. That said this version is very good and I think I prefer it to the D&K version. Track 7 is kind of an instrumental but has some humming. The real gem of the album is the last track “It’s No Miracle”. It’s a spoken word track over a fantastic instrumental score and at 10 minutes long it’s definitely one not to miss. All in all this is probably the best album I have listened to this month and if you like blues I bet you’re gonna love this one.
Tracklist 1 – That Same Old Road – 4:54 2 – Hear Me Knocking – 3:51 3 – Postscript – 5:45 4 – No Turning Back – 4:19 5 – Song For The Bride – 6:33 6 – I Choose To Follow – 4:58 7 – E Te Ariki – 5:31 8 – It’s No Miracle – 10:02
Credits Steve Apirana – Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Guitars, Lead and Background Vocals Alison Ahu – Background Vocals Ainsley Apirana – Lead and Background Vocals Kuru Apirana – Drums Tai Brown – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Leza Corban – Background Vocals Graham Flaws – Bass Steve Garden – Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards Dallas Graham – Keyboards John Misky – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Pepe Nahu – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Stuart Pearce – Keyboards Donna Tai Rakena – Flute, Background Vocals Jay Tamati – Sounds, Haka, Vocals Ray Totorewa – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
This album is very tough for me. As readers of the original blog can attest, the Nashville music machine that put out very similar sounding, country infused, safe pop music was never in my wheelhouse. For decades the same singers, songwriters, record companies would put out similar sounding albums and then take home armfuls of Dove Awards. It was an industry that gave the “Rap Dove Award” to Carman! So, as a result, I came to this album very , very late. The first few Steven Curtis Chapman albums were so wrapped up in that world, that when “The Great Adventure” was released I just ignored it. I knew that hits that were incessantly on Christian radio and as a record representative that sold accompaniment cassettes, I knew virtually every song. But they meant very little to me. It wasn’t until I began the painstaking process of creating the original “Top 500” blog that I decided to familiarize myself with the album and tried to listen with new ears. It still did not make the original blog, but I did gain a higher level of respect for the singer/songwriter himself. I then saw Chapman in a solo acoustic concert several years ago where he performed several of the songs from this album with just his guitar, and even acapella. I started to discover the songs behind the processed production and my appreciation grew even more. But albums have to be judged according to their time and the way they were produced. And so the album is included here. But let’s be honest upfront…”Got to Be True” is just an awful, awful song! Most are very, very familiar with the bigger hits from the album like the title track, “Where We Belong,” and “Go There With You.” All are deserving of their success and I struggle to really be too critical here. For me the John Mellencamp ( or was he Cougar then?) inspired “That’s Paradise” is the stand out cut on the album. If Chapman only didn’t have such a pleasant voice, it could have been a mainstream radio single. Chapman also really shines here and throughout his career when accompanied by a more simple, sparse production as heard on “Don’t Let the Fire Die.” Chapman excels on simple ballads, especially when they are more focused on relational issues. “Maria” falls into the same category. Even this song has just too much going on musically. A stripped down acoustic guitar and nothing else would have been plenty. “Hearts Cry” is the very best example of what I am referring. No strings needed! With “The Great Adventure” Chapman truly broke as an artist. He had quite a bit of previous success, but this album was certified gold pretty quickly and brought previous albums along with it. It was from this point that the Gospel Music Association just backed up the Dove Award delivery truck to the Chapman estate annually. This isn’t the last album to be discussed here, but it is the one that fit the most securely in the Nashville Music Machine category, but worthy or more.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Prologue – 2:37 2 – The Great Adventure – 4:35 3 – Where We Belong – 4:19 4 – Go There With You – 5:21 5 – That’s Paradise – 4:59 6 – Don’t Let The Fire Die – 4:48 7 – Got To B Tru – 4:18 8 – Walk With The Wise – 4:34 9 – Maria – 5:01 10 – Still Called Today – 6:00 11 – Heart’s Cry – 5:10
Credits Accordion – Jo-El Sonnier Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Steven Curtis Chapman Arranged By [Strings, Brass], Conductor – Don Wyrtzen, J.A.C. Redford Backing Vocals – Brent Lamb, Chris Rodriguez, Herb Chapman, Kip Raines, Lionel Cartwright, Mark Heimermann, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman, Trace Balin Backing Vocals [Yells] – Chad Ballantyne, Chris Moore, Herb Chapman, James Isaac Elliott, Jason Cole, Marty Funderburk, Phil Naish, Steve Charles, Steven Curtis Chapman, Todd Robbins Bass – Jackie Street Contractor [Orchestra] – Carl Gorodetzky Design – Carol Bobolts, Red Herring Design Dobro – Scott Sanders Drum Programming – Mark Hammond Drums – Paul Leim Engineer – Ronnie Brookshire Engineer [Additional] – Carry Summers, Patrick Kelly, Steve Bishir Engineer [Assistant] – Carry Summers, John Kunz, Patrick Kelly, Todd Robbins Executive-Producer – Peter York Guitar – Dann Huff, Jerry McPherson Keyboards – Phil Naish Lap Steel Guitar, Dobro [Additional] – Rusty Young Mixed By – Bill Deaton, Ronnie Brookshire Orchestra – The Nashville String Machine Photography By – Frank W. Ockenfels Piano – Cheryl Rogers Producer – Phil Naish Rap, Guest – Toby McKeehan Soprano Saxophone – Mark Douthit Vocals [Duet] – BeBe Winans
On November 16th, 1994 Reverend Dan Smith died. He was 84 years old. To most of the world, including the world of CCM, the passing went by without much of an acknowledgement. But for 80 of his 84 years, Smith was a blues crooning, harmonica blasting, Gospel/folk, street preaching treasure. I challenge people to try to listen to this amazing album with being moved emotionally or spiritually. His life was filled with difficulties, trials and pain. Born in Alabama under Jim Crow laws he faced racism, depression and financial hardship. He struggled to educate himself while living the life of southern sharecroppers. He eventually landed a decent paying job the 1940’s, but was blinded in an industrial accident. All the while he played, sand and preached anywhere and everywhere. He even joined Pete Seeger in the fight to clean up the Hudson River. But despite all that, it is hard not to feel, sense, experience the sheer joy he expresses in every note. His love for his Savior is so obvious it drips from every note. His harmonica playing was very influential in the 60’s folk and blues world. The album being discussed here was recorded intermittently at his home as he was in poor health. The album was produced by Buddy Miller and features Miller’s wife and CCM icon, Julie Miller along with Victoria Williams and Bryan Duncan. Almost 30 years after it’s unheralded release and over 25 years since Smith’s death this masterpiece reminds us not only of a great musician, preacher, singer, but hopefully reminds of a long and treasured tradition of this truly American musical expression. If you do not own this amazing album…just find it!
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – God’s Radar – 3:23 2 – Just Keep Goin’ On – 2:48 3 – Introduction – 0:59 4 – I’ve Never Been To Seminary, But I’ve Been To Calvary – 4:38 5 – I Walk By Faith – 3:24 6 – To Another Room – 4:51 7 – Dan Speaks – 0:15 8 – It Takes God To Build A Home – 3:37 9 – When Your Time Comes To Die – 2:52 10 – Jesus Knows My Name – 4:06 11 – This Is The Lord’s House – 3:14 12 – Down Through The Years (Testimony) – 8:47
Credits Acoustic Bass – Denny Croy Acoustic Guitar – George Ward Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass – Buddy Miller Backing Vocals – Dexter Dickerson, Julie Miller, King Cotton, Mark Heard, Victoria Williams, Willie Greene Jr. Dobro, Mandolin, Fiddle, Banjo – Dennis Caplinger Drums – Scott Babcock Mastered By – Doug Doyle Organ [Hammond], Piano – John Andrew Schreiner Percussion – Steve Hindalong Producer – John Flynn Producer, Mixed By – Buddy Miller Resonator Guitar – Michael Hackanson-Stacy Vocals [Duet] – Bryan Duncan Vocals, Harmonica – Rev. Dan J. Smith Written-By – Rev. Dan J. Smith
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