1993 – Real 80s CCM

Killed By Cain – Killed By Cain – 1993

This is the one and only album we would get from Killed By Cain, kind of. Before this one album deal with R.E.X. Music the band was actually called White Ray and they actually had 4 demo’s which were very well liked and sought after. At this point I have only listened to one of those demos and it’s okay but nothing special. This album is very well produced thanks to Dale Thompson and the mix is good. That said the album just doesn’t stand out to me. It’s not bad, just nothing special. I admit this isn’t my preferred style of music but I know a good album when I hear it. Is it a good album? Yes, but it’s not a great album. It has a typical metal sound that was just overdone at this point. I do have all of their demo’s and maybe I’ll be more impressed there and I will give them an honest listen.

Tracklist
1 – Intro To Hypocrisy – 0:54
2 – Burn The Church – 3:09
3 – Violence – 3:46
4 – Thou Shalt Not Kill – 3:48
5 – Gasoline – 4:12
6 – Jezebel – 3:15
7 – Father – 4:47
8 – Sin City – 3:30
9 – Walk The Line – 3:58
10 – Gun Control – 3:47

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Noisegrind/Jeff Spencer*
Bass – Steve Curtsinger
Drums – Stephan Roland
Engineer – Martin Woodlee
Executive-Producer – P. Gavin Morkel
Guitar – Tony Bowling
Photography By – Forest Williams
Producer – Dale Thompson
Vocals – John Warren

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – R.E.X. Music Inc.
Copyright © – R.E.X. Music Inc.
Recorded At – The Saltmine
Mixed At – OmniSound Studios

Petra – Wake Up Call – 1993

I think I’m safe to say that this was Petra’s most successful 90’s album. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album and the Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. Personally I struggle with Petra’s 90’s albums. They are very well done and I’m not being critical of their talent but I think I am so stuck in the 80’s I don’t appreciate their 90’s work. They stepped away from the Elefante brothers as producers for this album and went with Brown Bannister and you can tell. The album is much more mellow than their previous few and well quite frankly, just dull in spots. I respect Bannister but he was well known for leaving too many out right boring songs on an album. That said the album was hugely successful so what do I know. If you drifted away from Petra in the 90’s and missed this one I would suggest giving it a listen, I think it deserves that but I wouldn’t get excited based on the hype. I simply don’t think it’s that level of an album.

Tracklist
1 – Midnight Oil – 3:17
2 – Good News – 4:29
3 – Strong Convictions – 3:53
4 – He’s Been In My Shoes – 4:22
5 – Praying Man – 4:25
6 – Underneath The Blood – 3:30
7 – Sleeping Giant – 5:28
8 – Believer In Deed – 4:06
9 – Marks Of The Cross – 4:35
10 – Just Reach Out – 4:28

Credits
A&R – Lynn Keesecker
Art Direction – Diana Barnes
Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Chris Eddy, Dale Thompson, Gordon Kennedy, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Joe Pizzulo, Judson Spence, Michael Black, Nanette Britt, Robert White Johnson, Ron Hemby, Tommy Funderburk, Vicki Carrico
Bass – Ronny Cates
Design – Gabrielle Raumberger
Drums – Louie Weaver
Engineer [Additional] – Steve Bishir
Engineer [Assistant] – Martin Woodlee, Rory Romano, Wayne Mehl
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Guitar – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – John Lawry
Lead Vocals – John Schlitt
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By [Assisted] – Greg Parker, Jeff Demorris, Pete Martinez
Photography By – Michael Llewellyn
Producer, Engineer [Additional] – Brown Bannister
Production Manager [Coordinator] – Tracy Sterling
Typography – Dylan Tran

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – U.S. Optical Disc
Produced For – RBI Productions
Recorded At – Power Station
Recorded At – The Dugout
Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording
Mixed At – Ocean Way Recording
Mixed At – Sixteenth Avenue Sound
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

Roma – Talking Eyes – 1993

Here we go again with another great Australian artist that didn’t make it to us in North America. “Roma” is Roma Waterman and this is her first album. It was released on micro label Triune Music which was best known for releasing the Steve Grace album Children Of The Western World. They hit a homerun with that one and this one should have been a homerun too. As near as I can find it sold relatively well but wasn’t a must buy in Australia. Roma had been working as a back up singer on a lot of Christian artist tours in Australia. I believe they self funded this album. I actually think they did a great job on this album my only nitpick is a little of the production is off. As an example the track “The Letter” was a song with huge potential but the arrangement is just wrong. It’s still an excellent song but just needed a little more oomph. That said I’m sure the album had limited funds and quite frankly knowing this makes the album even more of an achievement. As for the album it is a great pop album and I wish we had got a chance to buy it in North America.

Tracklist
1 – Give My Love To You – 3:20
2 – Change Your World – 3:42
3 – By The Faith – 3:54
4 – And I – 5:01
5 – Does It Really Matter – 5:14
6 – Look Up – 3:26
7 – Fly – 4:47
8 – People Change – 3:06
9 – Rain On Me – 3:16
10 – The Letter – 6:02

Credits
Executive Producer – Ted Waterman
Mixed By – Carl Laurens, David Carr, John Bosua
Producer, Arranged By – Carl Laurens

Companies, etc.
Made By – Disctronics B
Recorded At – Fortress Productions
Mixed At – TLC Studios, Melbourne

Children Of The Consuming Fire – Come Home Phlubber – 1993

This is the 2nd and final album from Children Of The Consuming Fire. I still can not find out much about this great band so let’s just talk about the album. Personally I love this album but I don’t get a 1993 feel from the album. It would have fit much better in the mid to late 80’s but it doesn’t really matter to me because I prefer the 80’s era of music anyway. One of the things that stands out on this album for me is that so many tracks have a proper catchy intro. This is a technique that helps your mind recognize a track right away and is such good writing. “Swim” has a great Bass intro and essentially set’s up the bass to be the lead instrument for the song. This is not a common thing to do because it usually doesn’t work but it sure does work on this track. My favourite track is “One Small Step” which has a great 80’s alternative feel with great U2 feeling guitar track. All in all this is a great album and there’s a few tracks here that are going in my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Come Home Phlubber – 2:58
2 – Swim, Swim, Swim – 3:31
3 – Hold This Child – 3:51
4 – Father Take Me – 2:48
5 – One Small Step – 3:13
6 – Say You Will – 4:26
7 – Taste And See – 3:52
8 – I See – 2:34
9 – Modern Pharisee – 3:36
10 – I Don’t Know Why – 3:56
11 – Love Like You Do – 3:31
12 – Phlubber’s Prayer – 3:24
13 – Bonus Track – 3:50

Credits
Backing Vocals – Andreana Arganda, Eddie Arizmendi, Jon Bestwick, Tim Curiel
Bass Guitar – Marc Rivera
Crew – Gabriel Aguirrie
Drums – Tim Curiel
Effects [Gun Shot] – John Wyrosdick
Finger Snaps – Andreana Arganda, Gabriel Aguirrie, Larry Hampton
Guitar – Eddie Arizmendi, Jon Bestwick
Keyboards – John Wyrosdick
Lead Vocals – Marc Rivera
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Percussion – Tim Curiel
Performer [The Children Are] – Skeddie Arizmendi, Jon Bestwick, Marc Rivera, Tim Curiel
Photography By – Albert D. Gonzales
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Chris Wimber
Sampler [Disco Drum Samples] – Chris Wimber
Sounds [Live Sound] – Danny McDonnell

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Vineyard Studios
Mixed At – Vineyard Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc

Horizon – Futuristic Triangle – 1993

This is the first album from Sammy Hall and his 2 sons using the band name Horizon. I don’t know who played what instrument as Sammy didn’t document it on the album information. This album is made up of secular cover tracks with the exception of Amazing Grace. We have here the following covers;

Hold On Tight to Your Dream originally by ELO
In My Life originally by The Beatles
Back to Paradise originally by 38 Special
Some Gave All originally by Billy Ray Cyrus
To Love Somebody originally by Bee Gees
Against the Grain originally by Garth Brooks
Homeward Bound originally by Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water originally by Simon & Garfunkel

I’m guessing this was just a fun project for Sammy and his sons as they just self released it and if they took it too serious it would have been licensing nightmare. But remember this was 1993 and the record companies hadn’t lost their minds over licensing yet. Horizon would go on to record several more self released albums similar to this one.

Tracklist
1 – Hold On Tight to Your Dream – 3:04
2 – In My Life – 2:25
3 – Back to Paradise – 3:46
4 – Some Gave All – 4:08
5 – To Love Somebody – 3:41
6 – Against the Grain – 2:21
7 – Homeward Bound – 3:17
8 – Bridge Over Troubled Water – 4:46
9 – Amazing Grace – 1:03

Credits
Sammy Hall
Monte Hall
Brannon Hall

Lost Dogs – Little Red Riding Hood – 1993

It was very difficult to decide exactly which of the first two Lost Dogs projects would be ranked higher on this list as both are incredible projects. Ultimately it came down to the fact that the debut had “Breathe Deep,” which amongst the Top 10 greatest CCM songs ever. But this album should not be missed by anyone that…well…just anyone! No Ship Coming In opens up the album and should have earned the band a charting single. But it was 1993 and CCM radio was too busy with Point of Grace and Carman. The acoustic melody and tight harmonies are just fantastic. Inspired by the best of the Beach Boys vocally the songs is a sing-a-long fest. It would literally expand beyond the normal limitations of these reviews to discuss every great song the album. But Imagine That, You Satisfy, Dunce Cap and Jimmy are just stand outs. The latter featuring a subdued and touching vocal by Gene Eugene. “Jesus Loves You, Brian Wilson” is just a true treasure. The follow up to “Breathe Deep” is the wonderful “Pray Where You Are,” though one does get the sense that it is really “Breathe Deep: Part Two.” But when a song is that great you can’t blame them for trying. The song itself is great and stands as one of the best the group has ever recorded.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – No Ship Coming In – 3:56
2 – Imagine That – 4:04
3 – You Satisfy – 4:06
4 – Bad Indigestion – 3:25
5 – Dunce Cap – 3:47
6 – Jesus Loves You, Brian Wilson – 3:16
7 – Precious Memories – 3:10
8 – Rocky Mountain Mines – 4:12
9 – Jimmy – 2:50
10 – Eleanor, It’s Raining Now – 6:17
11 – Free At Last – 4:59
12 – Red, White And Blue – 2:45
13 – I’m A Loser – 2:51
14 – No Room For Us – 4:11
15 – Pray Where You Are – 3:46
16 – (no audio) – 0:11
17 – (no audio) – 0:11
18 – (no audio) – 0:11
19 – (no audio) – 0:11
20 – (no audio) – 0:11
21 – (no audio) – 0:11
22 – On The Good Ship Lollipop – 1:07

Credits
Art Direction, Design, Photography By – Anna Cardenas
Backing Vocals – Jerry Chamberlain
Dobro, Pedal Steel Guitar, Banjo – Greg Kellogg
Drums, Percussion – Burleigh Drummond
Guitar, Vocals – Terry Taylor
Guitar, Vocals, Bass – Derri Daugherty
Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Harmonica – Mike Roe
Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Piano – Gene Eugene
Bass – Tim Chandler
Executive-Producer – Gene Eugene, Ojo Taylor
Layout [Additional], Producer [Additional Production] – Ed McTaggart
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Producer [Produced By] – Derri Daugherty, Gene Eugene, Mike Roe, Terry Taylor
Recorded By – Gene Eugene
Recorded By [With] – David Hackbarth, The Dogs, Mark Rodriguez

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – U.S. Optical Disc
Produced For – The WAL By Brainstorm Productions
Recorded At – The Green Room
Mixed At – The Mixing Lab
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – B-1 Music, Chenka Chenka Music, Word Music, MacLen Music

Crystal Lewis – La Esposa – 1993

This is a Spanish language version of Crystal’s “The Bride” album. The music appears to be just direct copies of the English version and “Little Jackie” and “Amazing Grace live version appear in their original English versions. The song “Holy Place” didn’t make it on to the album probably because they would have had to find a Spanish Choir for the chorus. Probabvly just too much hassle but I don’t know why they just didn’t include the English version.

English listing – https://real80sccm.com/?p=8177

Tracklist
1 – La Madre Y La Esposa – 5:50
2 – Necesitas A Cristo – 5:30
3 – Angeles – 4:36
4 – No Te Afanes – 4:01
5 – Mi Redentor Vive – 5:21
6 – Regresaras Por Mi – 4:31
7 – Sublime Gracia – 4:40
8 – Little Jackie – 4:08
9 – Amazing Grace (Live At Harvest Crusade) – 3:39

Credits
Acoustic Bass – Ernie Nunez
Arranged By – John David
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drum Programming – Chris Cooper
Drums – Dave Spurr, Jon Knox
Engineer – Chris Wimber, Gene Eugene, Scott Osborne
Guitar, Arranged By – Shawn Tubbs
Keyboards, Arranged By – John Andrew Schreiner
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Crystal Lewis
Mixed By – Doug Ryder
Percussion – Brian Kilgor
Producer – Brian Ray
Trumpet – Andrew Carney

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Diamante Music Group
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Metro One Recordings
Copyright © – Metro One Recordings

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Crystal Lewis – The Bride – 1993

Though it would be three more years before Crystal Lewis became one of the biggest names in CCM with her best-selling “Beauty For Ashes” album, it was in 1993 with the release of The Bride that Lewis achieved her artistic triumph. Following the very cool and funky “Remember,” The Bride was a genre shifting work of artistic merit that expanded Lewis’ musical palette and vocal prowess. The musicians on the album read like a who’s who and their playing is true and authentic. Abraham Laboriel, Shawn Tubbs, Dave Spurr, John Knox and John Andrew Schreiner. The production was more stark and “band” sounding than any in her career and this live band feel creating a vocal urgency and attitude that some earlier releases may have lacked. This is not the same Lewis who simply sang Bill Baumgart porcelain produced pop songs. This was confident and forceful woman with something to say. This is more evident on the stark and funky “Little Jackie.” The groove of “The Mother and The Bride” is just so smooth and cool while “Don’t Worry” is more progressive jazz influenced with amazing sax work. “You’ll Be back For Me” rocks with a power that would be seen later on her “Fearless” release but works best here. The centerpiece of the album is the tremendous “My Redeemer Lives.” This worship song shows Lewis’ vocal powers more than just about any other in her career. Lewis holds her own against backing vocal crew that included Alfie Silas, Debbie McClendon and Linda McCrary that accompanies her and leads to several spine tingling moments. The album also contains a wonderful version of “Amazing Grace” that would point toward the several hymns projects she has been involved with as well as being a nod to her traditional church upbringing the appreciation for the hymns in provided to her. Many fans that discovered her with “Beauty for Ashes” have little appreciation for this album. It is much more raw and edgy and nothing like the soft AC artists that sold hundreds of thousands of copies. But for those that watched her progress as an artist from “Hi Tops” through Beyond the Charade, The Bride marks a step of maturity and artistic confidence that is unmatched on any other release.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Don’t Worry – 4:00
2 – Little Jackie – 4:08
3 – The Mother And The Bride – 5:48
4 – Angels – 4:36
5 – My Redeemer Lives – 5:20
6 – You’ll Be Back For Me – 4:35
7 – Holy Place – 5:12
8 – Amazing Grace – 4:40
9 – Jesus Belongs In Your Heart – 5:32
10 – Amazing Grace (Live) – 3:39

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Diamante Music Group
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Metro One Recordings
Copyright © – Metro One Recordings

Poor Old Lu – Mindsize – 1993

One of the most influential and important bands of the 1990’s never really received all the recognition they clearly deserved. Check that: They didn’t reserve anywhere near the recognition they deserved. Borrowing a line from CS Lewis “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” the Seattle based quartet created some of the most significant and original music in CCM during their tenure. And no one album encapsulated that important edge quite like Mindsize. The teens that made up the band gave their demo to Randy Stonehill who passed it along to Terry Taylor. Taylor got it into the hands of Mike MacLane at Frontline Records who went after the band immediately. I remember Mike playing the demo for me in his office and I kept bugging him, asking when would the album be coming out! Part grunge, part alternative, part funk and all original and exceptional. From the riff to the last strum the band, with some creative production direction by Terry Scott Taylor, created a debut unlike any other from that era save Mortal’s debut. Someone still has to explain to me how a song like “All Pretty For the TV” can not make a serious ripple on college radio. Its retro funky grooves and alternative driven chorus are the stuff heroes are made of. Aaron Sprinkle guitar ranges from sleek and sexy to fuzzy and rough depending on the mood of the tune. Most often there’s a funky fuzz that dominates the lyrics of doubt, questions and searching. Christianese is limited as the songs (written by mere teenagers at the time) offer more insight than many of their contemporaries without the normal jargon associated with the genre. Is there a better and more fuzzy base line than the one found on “In Love With the Greenery?” The bass is so low at times it is felt more than heard. Utterly brilliant and fearless. “Sometimes Cry” is another song that deserved a wider hearing. Sprinkles weaving and swirling guitar drives one of the best chorus hooks on the entire album. Possibly the finest song on the album and in the entire Poor Old Lu catalog is “Cruciality.” The soulful groove and beautiful melody just works against the grungy guitar and plodding bass. Brilliant songwriting and execution. It is amazing that when one considers a good part of the group was still in their late teens that Taylor’s influence was not overpowering and they maintained their musical vision. This helped them create several more great albums and allowed them to be one of the great bands of the 90’s.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – More – 3:55
2 – All Pretty For The T.V. – 3:29
3 – So Good To See Me – 3:52
4 – In Love With The Greenery – 3:30
5 – Sometimes Cry – 3:47
6 – Do I? – 5:56
7 – Tried & True – 2:59
8 – Cruciality – 4:07
9 – To Be Awake – 4:21
10 – Tigger’s Daily Jog – 0:49
11 – Peapod – 3:54
12 – Shine – 4:11

Credits
A&R – Matthew Duffy
Arranged By – Poor Old Lu, Terry Taylor
Arranged By [Strings] – Aaron Sprinkle
Backing Vocals – Aaron Sprinkle, Brandon Thompson, Clark Leake, Derri Daugherty, Nick Barber, Terry Taylor
Bass – Nick Barber
Cello – Rick Rekedal
Design, Layout – Aaron Sprinkle, Marc Ludena
Drums, Percussion – Jesse Sprinkle
Engineer [Second Engineering] – John Goodmanson
Executive-Producer [Reissue] – Jeffrey Kotthoff
Guitar, Keyboards – Aaron Sprinkle
Lyrics By – Scott Hunter
Music By – Poor Old Lu
Percussion – Steve Hindalong
Photography By [Additional] – Lloyd McCracken
Photography By [Band Photography] – Anna Cardenas
Producer – Terry Taylor
Project Manager [Reissue Direction & Coordination] – Jeffrey Kotthoff, Scott Hunter
Recorded By, Mixed By – Derri Daugherty
Remastered By – Levi Seitz
Technician [Drum Technician] – Aaron Mlasko
Violin – Susan Jensen
Vocals – Scott Hunter

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – KMG Records
Copyright © – KMG Records
Record Company – Meis Music Group
Licensed To – Lo-Fidelity Records
Recorded At – Avast! Recording Co.
Recorded At – The Green Room
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab
Mixed At – The Mixing Lab
Remastered At – Black Belt Mastering
Published By – Carlotta Publishing
Manufactured By – Pirates Press
Pressed By – GZ Media – 184936E

Brian White And Justice – Livin’ In The Sight Of Water – 1993

This is the first album from Brian White And Justice. There’s not much info out there on the band but Brian White is very well known in Nashville. The band appears to be a bunch of session musicians so I’m not entirely sure if there was a “Justice” band. As for Brian he is a very well known song writer in Nashville in both Christian and Secular genres and I guarantee you’ve heard his work with over 400 recorded songs. As for the album it’s pretty good. Brian’s voice is strong and holds solid through all the tracks. I’m not really too sure how to classify the album but it leans AOR with a couple good rocking tunes. Definitely an album that should be heard.

Tracklist
1 – Livin’ In The Sight Of Water – 5:44
2 – You Can Get There From Here – 3:38
3 – You’ve Got To Hold On – 4:59
4 – Radical Love – 3:00
5 – I Need To Know You’re There – 3:38
6 – Love Will Find A Way – 4:36
7 – Out Of The Wilderness – 4:45
8 – Tonight – 4:45
9 – You’ve Got To Believe – 4:56
10 – Long Lost Friend – 3:47
11 – Lead The Way – 4:25

Credits
Accordion – Tim Lauer
Backing Vocals – Billy Simon, Jimmy Marks, Mark Pogue, Scott Walters, Tom Lane
Bass – Mark Burchfield, Matthew Pierson
Drums, Percussion – Bobby Blazier
Executive-Producer – Elisa Elder
Guitar, Sequenced By – Dennis Dearing
Keyboards, Organ [B-3] – Jeffery Roach
Producer – Dennis Dearing
Sequenced By – Bill Randall, Bo Cooper
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Brian White

Companies, etc.
Record Company – The Corinthian Group
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Broken Records
Copyright © – Broken Records