Various – Back To The Rock #2 – 1983

This is the second in a series of samplers form A&S Records. This is one is a treasure trove of unreleased and barely released material. The first album in this series had more mainstream tracks but this time they went with some real obscure stuff. Below I’ve listed the tracks and the album they came from;

1 – Bill Batstone – Silver And Gold – Unreleased
2 – Spurr And McNeil – Walkin’ Again – Unreleased
3 – Apocalypse – Call On Jesus – Unreleased
4 – Michael Gonzales – Mountaintop – Mountaintop – 1983
5 – The Lifters – Living Water – The Lifters – 1983
6 – Eden – Break Out Of The Night – released on a 45 – 1983
7 – The Altar Boys – Where’s It Gonna Lead Ya – Altar Boys – 1984
8 – Sheryl Olguin – Easy Rider – Unreleased
9 – James Ledlie – Strangers – released on a 45 – 1983
10 – Danny Daniels – Flyer – Sons Of Thunder – 1982

Tracklist
1 – Bill Batstone – Silver And Gold – 3:50
2 – Spurr And McNeil – Walkin’ Again – 3:44
3 – Apocalypse – Call On Jesus – 4:32
4 – Michael Gonzales – Mountaintop – 3:58
5 – The Lifters– Living Water – 1:48
6 – Eden – Break Out Of The Night – 4:09
7 – The Altar Boys – Where’s It Gonna Lead Ya – 2:21
8 – Sheryl Olguin – Easy Rider – 3:50
9 – James Ledlie – Strangers – 3:38
10 – Danny Daniels – Flyer – 3:40

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&S Records
Copyright © – A&S Records
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Mixed At – Whitefield Studios
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △26182

Altar Boys – Forever Mercy – 1989

This was the last real studio album from Altar Boys though they did come together in 2018 to release an album. At this point they simply weren’t the punk powerhouse they once were. If anything at this point they were more new wave than punk. That said I missed this one in the 80’s and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. The band were super tight at this point and Steve Griffith was an excellent choice as producer. Though I preferred their commercial punk sound this album is good too.

Tracklist
1 – Forever Mercy – 4:20
2 – Listen Up – 4:28
3 – Faith! – 4:03
4 – The Meaning Of Life – 4:26
5 – Ride This Train – 4:26
6 – World Burning – 4:00
7 – Here Ends The Night – 3:53
8 – Love Eternal – 3:55
9 – More Than Words – 3:48
10 – Silent Night – 4:13

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Bass – Ric Alba
Drums – Jeff Crandall
Drums [Additional] – Steve Griffith
Engineer – Steve Griffith
Engineer [Additional] – Dave Jahnsen
Guitar – Mike Stand, Ric Alba
Guitar [Additional] – Steve Griffith
Harmonica – Mike Stand
Lead Guitar – Mike Stand, Steve Pannier
Lead Vocals – Mike Stand
Percussion – Jeff Crandall
Performer [Altar Boys Is] – Jeff Crandall, Mike Stand, Ric Alba
Photography – David Dobson
Producer – Steve Griffith
Vocals – Jeff Crandall, Ric Alba
Vocals [Additional] – Steve Griffith

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Frontline Music Group
Copyright © – Broken Songs
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Alarma Records
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab
Marketed By – Frontline Records
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Altar Boys – Altar Boys – 1984

Altar Boys’ self titled debut album came out in 1984. This California style punk was typical of what punk was at the time, although now we seem to have a lot of splinters of types of punk – melodic, thrash, pop, hardcore, metalcore, screamo, and more. A lot of punk was poppy at the time, modelled after The Ramones, and sounding like a precursor to MXPX or Green Day. Starting to play together around 1978, musicians that would later form the bands Undercover, Lifesavors, and Altar Boys (in that order) all came out of the same scene. Mike Stand and Ric Alba ended up in Altar Boys along with Jeff Crandall and Steve Pannier, while Mike’s brother was in Undercover, and Ric had previously done some playing with Lifesavors. Ric also played with Undercover before Altar Boys. In the spirit of punk rock, these songs are all high energy and a lot of fun, a hallmark of Altar Boys from start to end.

Track Listing:
1 – Alright! – 2:24
2 – I’m Into God – 2:52
3 – Have A Clue – 2:36
4 – Where’s It Gonna Lead You – 2:24
5 – You Found Me – 3:46
6 – Take In The Son – 2:44
7 – Well O.K. – 2:36
8 – Good Life – 3:31
9 – Oh, Oh Nancy – 1:33
10 – We Love Jesus – 2:40
11 – It’s Up To You – 3:07

Credits
Art Direction – Alex McDougal
Backing Vocals – Ojo
Backing Vocals, Drums, Vocals – Jeff Crandall
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Guitar – Mike Stand
Bass, Keyboards – Rick Alba
Cover, Design – Debby Edwards
Engineer – Derald Daugherty
Engineer, Producer – Joey Taylor
Executive Producer – Bradley S. Hamilton
Guitar – Steve Pannier
Photography By – Oh Oh Nancy
Saxophone [Sax] – Bill Walden
Written-By – Annis

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Ministry Resource Center
Copyright (c) – Ministry Resource Center
Recorded At – Sound Affair
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios
Mixed At – Sound Affair
Mixed At – Whitefield Studios
Published By – Oh Oh Nancy Music
Published By – Maranatha! Music

Altar Boys – No Substitute – 2018

As the story goes Mike Stand was resting after a surgery and decided to break out his Tascam 4 track and listen to some recordings the band made in 91 & 93. For some reason back in the day the boys were unable to release these recordings. Mike decided to see if he could get these recordings released so he ran a kickstarter to raise funds for the album. They successfully raised over $23,000 so we are blessed with a new, old album. The sound of this album is classic Altar boys so any fan of them back then will be a fan of this album. It’s not that often a situation likes this comes so I found it to be a real treat.

Tracklist
1 – Rebel Rock – 4:37
2 – No Substitute – 4:00
3 – Let Me See Your Hands – 3:31
4 – Light Of Freedom – 4:01
5 – Outside In The Distance – 3:25
6 – History Comes Back – 5:18
7 – The Kids Cry – 3:58
8 – Surround Me – 4:33
9 – Thousand Miles – 4:27
10 – Devotion – 4:28
11 – Give Our Hearts – 4:16
12 – Revolution Of Love – 2:53

Credits
Design [Artwork Design] – Ron Lara
Mixed By, Mastered By – Keith Sorrells
Performer [Altar Boys Are:] – Jeff Crandall, Mark Robertson, Mike Stand, Steve Pannier

Companies, etc.
Mixed At – Project K Studios
Copyright (c) – Lo-Fidelity Records
Copyright (c) – Oh Oh Nancy Music

Altar Boys – Against The Grain – 1987

The 4th offering from Altar Boys is a transition album for the guys. They have drifted away from 2 minute punk sounds to a more Rock and at times New Wave sound. I was surprised when I went surfing to read up on the album and actually found very little commentary on it. I find this surprising as I was under the understanding that this was one of their best selling albums. I quite enjoy this album as I’m sure many others did. If your looking for a bit of the older Altar Boys sound listen to “Hearts Lost in Nowhere”. If you needed proof the band was evolving how about “Where’s The New World?” coming in at a whopping 5:18, an incredible long song for the band that started out specializing in two and a half minute songs. My personal favourite track is “Kids Are On the Run” in which I can hear a bit of their original sound but really it has a more “The Alarm” feel.

Tracklist
1 – Fallen World – 4:05
2 – Kids Are On The Run – 3:48
3 – Hearts Lost In Nowhere – 4:01
4 – Broken – 3:56
5 – Where’s The New World? – 5:18
6 – Against The Grain – 2:28
7 – Human Sound – 4:21
8 – Take Control – 3:11
9 – Shout Louder! – 3:33
10 – Count On Love – 4:27

Credits
Band [Altar Boys Are Still] – Jeff Crandall, Mike Stand, Ric Alba
Bass, Backing Vocals, Piano – Ric Alba
Design [Cover], Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Drums, Backing Vocals – Jeff Crandall
Guitar, Vocals – Mike Stand
Mixed By – Doug Doyle, Rob Watson
Photography By – Linda Baley
Producer – The Altar Boys, Terry Scott Taylor
Tambourine, Instruments [Other] – Al-x

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records (3)
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records (3)
Copyright (c) – Broken Songs
Published By – Broken Songs
Produced At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Recorded At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Mixed At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Distributed By – The Master’s Collection
Distributed By – Kingsway Publications Ltd.
Mastered At – Record Technology Incorporated – 24139
Mastered At – Record Technology Incorporated – 24140

Altar Boys – Gut Level Music – 1986

The Altar Boys are back with their 3 album and their best up to that point. It is a rockin album with no silly ballads to spoil it. Of interest is the Donna Summer “Unconditional Love” cover. Whoever had this idea nailed it. The song works fantastic in their style. I actually went back to listen to the Donna Summer version and it was actually pretty good too but this version tops all other versions. Strangely the song was originally written by Michael Omartian who I guarantee never imagined a version like this. Probably the best track on the album was You Found Me and it was a staple on most mixed tapes of the period.

Tracklist
1 – You Are Loved – 4:12
2 – G.L.M. (Gut Level Music) – 4:04
3 – I’m Not Talking About Religion – 3:58
4 – I Question It – 2:45
5 – You Found Me – 3:42
6 – Unconditional Love – 3:33
7 – There Is A Love – 4:18
8 – Calling To You – 3:12
9 – Final Hour – 2:56
10 – Life Begins At The Cross – 4:09

Credits
Bass – Ric Alba
Drums – Jeff Crandall
Engineer [Original Release] – Doug Doyle
Executive-Producer – Gregory Hays
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Mike Stand
Producer [Original Release] – Terry Scott Taylor
Producer [Original Release], Engineer [Original Release] – Rob Watson
Remastered By – Keith Sorrells

The Fourth Watch – Dare To Be The One – 1986

What happens when Undercover meets the Altar Boys? The Fourth Watch is what happens. Apparently Bill Walden (Undercover) and Steve Steve Pannier (Altar Boys) were working together from 84 to 87 along with drummer Bill Lawrence, and bass players, Kevin Elling and then Mike Cowden. In 1986 they released this album and what an album it is. It has a decidedly New Wave/Rock sounds that screams 80’s. I hate to do this but there are several tracks that have an intro that has me waiting for Bono vocals to kick in. Too bad this was their only offering as I would have liked to hear more.

Tracklist
1 – Dare To Be The One – 4:39
2 – You Can Change The World – 3:43
3 – Chase Away The Darkness – 4:08
4 – Holy – 4:25
5 – Slipping Thru Your Fingers – 3:22
6 – One Truth – 4:50
7 – I Will Sing – 3:00
8 – On Fire For You – 4:18
9 – Burning Hearts – 5:06

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bill Batstone, Warren Ham
Bass – Kev • X
Drums – Bill Lawrence
Engineer – Gord Driver
Guitar – Steve Pannier
Keyboards – Jeff Lams
Layout – Ed McTaggart
Lead Vocals – Bill Walden
Mixed By – Gord Driver
Percussion – Bill Lawrence
Performer [The Fourth Watch Is] – Bill Lawrence, Bill Walden, Kev • X, Steve Pannier
Producer – Jeff Lams
Written-By – The Fourth Watch

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Regency Music
Mastered At – Future Disc

Altar Boys – When You’re A Rebel – 1985

When You’re A Rebel was the second album from the Altar Boys. The first album had sold well considering the style of the music, and the second sold better establishing the Altar Boys as a mainstream Christian band regardless of the punk flavourings of their music. The album was also released in Germany but unfortunately I was unable to find any sales numbers. I’d be interested to know how well it did there.

Track Listing:
1 – Difference In Me – 4:06
2 – More Of You – 2:58
3 – Calling Out To Believers! – 3:23
4 – When I’m With God – 2:33
5 – I’m Into God (Reprise) – 1:44
6 – When You’re A Rebel – 3:58
7 – Jesus Is Number One – 2:46
8 – If You Let Him In – 2:25
9 – When I See You – 3:08
10 – He Knows You Better – 2:58
11 – Does God’s Heart Cry? – 4:35

Credits:
Bass, Piano, Backing Vocals – Rick Alba
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Jeff Crandall
Engineer – Derald Daugherty
Guitar [Additional] – Steve Pannier
Guitar, Vocals – Mike Stand
Mixed By – Leroy Cahuenga
Producer – B.B. Stone

MRC Sampler – What’s Shakin – 1984

This album was a sampler from the record label “Ministry Resource Center”.

It features some known bands but there are a few bands on the album which never released an album. There are also some songs that were previously unreleased. All in all a must have album.

Track Listing:
1 – Undercover – One Of These Days – 2:24
2 – The Proclaimers – Rejoice – 2:10
3 – Stephen Crumbächer – It Don’t Matter – 4:00
4 – Youth Choir – It’s So Wonderful – 1:56
5 – Altar Boys – Go For It – 2:14
6 – The Lifters – Listen Children – 2:15
7 – The Omega Band – Idols – 2:43
8 – Sharon McCall – From The Grave – 3:50
9 – Malcolm And The Mirrors – Apathy – 4:00
10 – CIA – Your Choice – 2:30
11 – Stephen Crumbächer – It Don’t Matter (Reprise) – 1:02