This was the last gasp for Found Free. They had a one record deal with Greentree but this album appears to have been self released. I’m a little unsure who was in the band at this point and the liner notes are a little fuzzy. We do know that Greg Sparks and Rebecca Ed were there, but I don’t believe they were married yet and also Keith Lancaster. These 3 would go on to form Bash-n-The Code so I’ve seen it said that this version of Found Free was an early version of Bash. I can’t tell you much more about the history of this album so lets turn to the music. The album is very well produced has a great funk/soul sound. The album is heavy on the harmonies which it hurts it a little in my opinion because there isn’t a stand out vocalist. The album would have been better if they had just let Rebecca sing. Anyway I quite like the album though I don’t think there’s anything here to go in my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – It’s So Good – 4:15 2 – Hope – 4:21 3 – Front Lines – 3:59 4 – I Need You Lord – 4:00 5 – Just Like a Child – 3:43 6 – Individually Wrapped – 4:12 7 – Don’t We Need To Know – 4:44 8 – Hold On To Me – 3:21 9 – Sing Solo – 3:25 10 – Miracles – 3:25 11 – It’s So Good (Reprise) – 0:54
Credits Band – Greg Sparks Band – Rebecca Ed Band – Keith Lancaster Art Direction, Cover – Randy Rogers Engineer – David Starobin, Glen Barrett, Travis Turk
This is the second album from Bash ‘N The Code but the last with Greg and Rebecca Sparks. I have not listened to the next album so I shouldn’t really comment as to whether this was a good or bad thing but to be honest I really like Rebecca Sparks vocals on this album so for me the next album will likely be a let down. Again the album is an attempt (successfully) to recreate an 80’s pop radio sound. Strangely I actually agree with the the CCM charts on the best song on the album, “He Says” which made it to #19. Rebecca channels her inner Cindy Lauper and does a great job on this track. The best song musically in my opinion is “The B-i-b-l-e” but unfortunately the lyrics are just too cheesy for me, pity because I really like the feel of the song. The CD release of the album had a bonus track, and Extended remix version of “You Are The One” which is moderately OK but nothing to write home about. To sum up a pretty good pop album but they really should have worked to be a little more creative.
Tracklist 1 – The B-i-b-l-e – 3:53 2 – You Are The One – 3:42 3 – Righteous Dance – 4:20 4 – Use This Child – 4:21 5 – Big Mouth – 3:57 6 – Soon And Very Soon – 3:48 7 – He Says – 3:46 8 – Fall Down – 3:50 9 – We Magnify You Lord (I Will Call Upon The Lord) – 3:34 10 – You Are The One (Extended Mix) – 6:23
Credits Art Direction – Joan Tankersley Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Bass, Vocals, Other [Hoover Upright With Variable Height Adjust] – Kirk Eberhard Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Drums, Other [Concussions (Boink!)] – Chris Kearney Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Guitar [Guitars], Lead Vocals, Guitar [Bat-Strat (Gadzooks, Batman!)] – Mark Townsend Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Keyboards [Keys], Vocals, Other [Whitman Sampler] – Gary Williams Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Lead Vocals, Other [Cruise Control] – Jamie Kearney Band [Bash-n-the Code Is], Vocals, Xylophone [Lead Xylophone] – Keith Lancaster Design, Illustration – Phillip Spencer Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – David Schober Executive-Producer – Brian Tankersley Guest [Guest Performance By] – Randy Stonehill (tracks: 6) Mastered By – Howie Weinberg Musician, Backing Vocals – David Schober, Greg Sparks, Mark Townsend, Mark Maxwell, Marty (Go Greyhound) MacKeever, Rebecca Ed Sparks, Rick Altizer, Trent Dean Musician, Drum Machine [Drum Machine Programming] – David Schober, Eric Persing, Greg Sparks, Rick Altizer Musician, Guitar [Guitars] – Mark Townsend Musician, Keyboards – Eric Persing, Greg Sparks, Rick Altizer, Tim Hosman Musician, Lead Vocals – Greg Sparks, Rebecca Ed Sparks Musician, Programmed By [Keyboard Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Eric Persing Photography By [Sleeve Photography] – Cleo Sullivan Producer [Produced By] – David Schober, Rick Altizer
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Manufactured By – Word, Inc. Recorded At – Wayne Cook Studios Mixed At – Mama Jo’s Mastered At – Masterdisk Published By – Altizer Music Published By – Word Music Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc. Published By – Crouch Music Published By – Sound III Music Made By – Discovery Systems
Bash -N- The Code was put together by Keith Lancaster along with husband and wife team Greg & Rebecca Sparks. Keith had been in “Found Free”, a 70’s Jesus music band, with Rebecca. Other than that I don’t really know that much abut this band. Though I had not heard of them i have been told they were quite popular. As for the album it is the epitome of mid 80’s pop. In fact this could be used as the definitive example of mid 80’s Christian pop if anyone asks you. I think the standout track on the album is their version of “We Exalt You”. It’s a fun and easy album to listen to but you may grow tired of it pretty quickly.
Tracklist 1 – Power Praise – 3:26 2 – We Exalt You – 3:00 3 – Whatever I Do – 4:07 4 – Testify – 4:23 5 – Go Ahead – 3:49 6 – Diamond – 3:43 7 – Promises – 4:08 8 – I Will Win This Fight – 4:19 9 – Fanatic – 3:50 10 – Land Of The Living – 4:42
Credits Drums, Percussion – Chris Kearney Executive-Producer – Brian Tankersley Guitar, Vocals – Mark Townsend Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Scott Carmichael Keyboards, Vocals – Trent Dean Lead Vocals – Rebecca Ed Sparks Lead Vocals, Bass – Greg Sparks Producer – John Andrew Schreiner Sounds – Dave Wagner Vocals – Keith Lancaster
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Published By – Word Music (2)
