Tag: Allies

The followup to their premier album had a very similar sound and feel. Considering the lineup was the same and they were still being produced by Dino Elefante this wasn’t surprising. The odd thing though is that this album concluded their relationship with Light Records. Light had been very anxious to sign them but it looks like something changed a couple albums in. This album was also the last with vocalist Sam Scott, another rather odd turn of events. All that aside the album sold well and also gave the band their first chart single “Prayer For The Children” which made it to #20 in the 6 weeks it was on the charts. I never liked the album cover as it reminds me of a Russian communism poster, but maybe it was supposed to.

Tracklist
1 – Hardened Hearts – 4:32
2 – On With The Fight – 3:36
3 – If You Believe – 3:38
4 – Harmony – 3:50
5 – Prayer For The Children – 4:39
6 – In America – 3:26
7 – Jacque Remembers – 3:44
8 – Somebody Told Me You Were Crying – 3:01
9 – Let’s Fall In Love (All Over Again) – 4:30
10 – Runnin’ Out Of Time – 4:08

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards [Electric Keyboards], Vocals – Sam Scott
Art Direction – Jeff Fey
Drums [Acoustic Drums], Electronic Drums – Jim Erickson
Electric Bass – Matthew Chapman
Engineer – Mike Mierau
Engineer [Assistant] – Paul Abajian
Illustration – Warren Hile
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Bob Carlisle
Photography By – Richard Arrindell
Producer, Engineer – Dino Elefante
Producer, Guitar, Soloist [Guitar Solos], Guitar Synthesizer, Vocals – Randy Thomas
Programmed By [Keyboard Programming] – Tim Heintz

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging
Made By – Shorewood Packaging
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Designed At – Art Hotel

The final album from Allies was a very confusing album. The intro track “In My Life” almost has a 60’s feel. Then we get to a couple of Rockin tunes which are some of the best CCM songs available in 1992. Both “Man With A Mission” and “Feather In Your Cap” are excellent Rock tunes with a blues feel. From there however the album starts to go downhill. Actually it might be uphill depending on what you were looking for when listening to this album. After the first 3 tracks the album takes a turn to AOR and even makes it to straight out easy listening at times. I guess the album is good in that it can appeal to such a diverse audience. That said it’s a good album but just a little confusing.

Tracklist
1 – In My Life – 3:28
2 – Man With A Mission – 3:57
3 – Feather In Your Cap – 4:55
4 – Grand Facade – 4:18
5 – Devoted To You – 5:24
6 – The Deepest Part Of Me – 3:23
7 – Heaven – 6:32
8 – Just Like A Father To Me – 3:31
9 – I’m Crying – 4:40
10 – Last Chance Cafe – 6:05

Credits
Art Direction – Amy Linde, Ed Goble
Bass, Vocals – Mark Hill (2)
Design – Tufts Design Studio
Drums, Percussion, Programmed By [Programming] – “Shoeless” Brian Fullen*
Edited By [Digital Editing] – Carlos Grier
Executive-Producer – Bubba Smith (2)
Guitar, Soloist [Guitar Solos], Vocals – Randy Thomas (2)
Keyboards, Vocals – Scott Sheriff
Lead Vocals – Randy Thomas (2) (tracks: 8)
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Bob Carlisle (2)
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Mixed By – Rodney Good
Mixed By [Assistant] – Steve Ledet
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer, Arranged By [Vocal & String Arrangements] – Bob Carlisle (2)
Producer, Recorded By – Randy Thomas (2)
Recorded By [Assistant] – Kirk Eberhard
Soloist [Solo Violin] – Chris Fullen (tracks: 9)
Vocals [Choir On] – Bob Carlisle (2) (tracks: 7), Dawn Thomas (4) (tracks: 7), Londell Ivan Alvestad (tracks: 7), Lori Cotton Thomas (tracks: 7), Scott Sheriff (tracks: 7)
Vocals [Co-Vocal] – Randy Thomas (2) (tracks: 6)

The fourth album from Allies turned it up a notch from their previous releases. Even though this album had several Rock tunes there were plenty of fluff tunes to single on the Christian charts. It spawned 4 singles with “All Day, All Night” doing the best peaking at #14 after 6 weeks on the charts. “Take Me Back” came in at #15 with 12 weeks on the charts. A cover of “Crying In The Chapel” made it to #20 with 10 weeks on the charts and it’s actually a pretty good cover but I am always biased to the 50’s/Rockabilly tunes. Finally “Trust In God” made it to #40 in the 2 weeks it was on the charts. Regardless of the fluff pieces there are some good rock tunes on the album and it’s well worth listening too. Probably my favourite album by them.

Tracklist
1 – Long Way From Paradise – 2:29
2 – Trust In God – 4:35
3 – All Day, All Night – 3:45
4 – Take Me Back – 4:39
5 – Old Man Down – 2:55
6 – Christian Man – 4:16
7 – Devil Is A Liar – 4:36
8 – I Wanna Be Like You – 4:11
9 – Walk With Me Silent – 5:05
10 – Rock Of Salvation – 4:50
11 – Crying In The Chapel – 3:51

Credits
Art Direction – Bill Brunt Designs
Art Direction [Cover Coordination] – Terri Short
Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle
Bass – Matthew Chapman
Drums – Jimmy Erickson
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Guitar – Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas
Keyboards [Additional] – Tim Heintz
Lead Guitar [Solo] – Randy Thomas
Lead Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas (tracks: 10)
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Photography By – Stewart Ivester
Producer, Arranged By – Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas
Recorded By [Assistant], Mixed By [Assistant] – Fred Tedesco
Recorded By, Mixed By – Randy Thomas
Saxophone [Additional] – Glen Myerscough
Vocals – Jimmy Erickson, Matthew Chapman
Written-By – Artie Glenn (tracks: 11), Bob Carlisle (tracks: 1 to 10), Randy Thomas (2) (tracks: 1 to 10)

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Allies Recording Studio
Mixed At – Allies Recording Studio
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering