Cruse – Cruse – 1982

This was the first album after the Cruse Family renamed themselves “Cruse” to sound more hip and young. There really isn’t much info out there on the family and really the only member to go on to success was Cindy Cruse. The album has a pop feel on several tracks but others are very easy listening oriented. The interesting track is the lead track “First Love” which was written by producer John Rosasco. It’s interesting in that it is also done by Joe English on his Held Accountable album. John played keyboards on that album and also played keyboards on this album. Both versions came out in the same year but I’ll be honest I think I prefer this version. Anyway we have a pretty good album here and it’s definitely worth a listen.

Tracklist
1 – First Love – 4:26
2 – How Did God Know? – 4:10
3 – Everyday Life – 3:50
4 – I Am, The Mighty One – 3:35
5 – Sing – 4:07
6 – You Are That Man – 4:51
7 – Understanding Heart – 3:30
8 – Bless Your Name – 2:57
9 – One Day Closer Home – 3:02
10 – Me And My House – 3:11

Credits
Arranged By [Track], Arranged By [String], Keyboards – Larry Muhoberac
Arranged By [Track], Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith
Arranged By [Track], Keyboards – Smitty Price
Art Direction – Bob McConnell
Baritone Saxophone – Dennis Solee
Bass – Abe Laboriel
Drum Programming [Linn Drum Machine] – Robbie Buchanan
Drums – Ed Greene, Ron Krasinski, Steve Turner
Engineer – Bob Cotton
Engineer [Assistant] – Jim Baird, Wally Grant
Guitar – Jon Goin
Illustration – Mike Drake
Keyboards – Allen Steinberger
Percussion – Paulinho daCosta
Photography By – Larry Dixon
Producer, Arranged By [Track], Arranged By [Vocal], Keyboards – John Rosasco
Saxophone – Dennis Solee
Strings – Sid Sharp Strings

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Published By – Priority Music
Published By – John T. Benson Publishing
Recorded At – Weddington Studios
Recorded At – Bullet Recording
Recorded At – United Western Studios
Mixed At – Weddington Studios
Mastered At – MCA Whitney Recording Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc

Jacket Front
Jacket Back
Sleeve Front
Sleeve Back
Side 1
Side 2

Cruse – Cruse 2 – 1984

This was the second album after the Cruse Family renamed themselves “Cruse” to sound more hip and young. There really isn’t much info out there on the family and really the only member to go on to success was Cindy Cruse. The album is definitely Easy Listening synth driven music with the exception of “Roads” which has a good Rock sound. Unfortunately they didn’t let any of that sound sneak into any of the other tracks. The album is good in an Imperials kind of way but there is no way I would have owned it in the 80’s. I am kind of surprised that it didn’t have a single on the charts as it’s everything CCM magazine was looking for at the time.

Tracklist
1 – Angel Song – 3:14
2 – Sign Of The Times – 3:34
3 – Dancin’ In The Light – 3:35
4 – Unfailing Love – 3:51
5 – Love Of The Lord – 3:02
6 – Rise And Fly – 3:59
7 – Roads – 4:09
8 – Under Wings Of Love – 4:18
9 – Magnify The Lord – 4:03

Credits
Karen Cruse Adams – Vocals
Dennis Belfield – Bass
Claire Cloninger – Songwriter
Robert Cotton – Engineer, Mixed
Becky Cruse – Songwriter
Joe Cruse III – Vocals
Paulinho da Costa – Percussion
Wally Grant – Engineer, Mixed
Ed Greene – Drums
Steve Hall – Mastered
David Huff – Songwriter
Abraham Laboriel – Bass
Rhett Lawrence – Synthesizer Programmer
Larry Mohoberac – Arrangements, Keyboards
Smitty Mohoberac – Arrangements
Smitty Price – Keyboards
Cindy Cruse Ratcliff – Songwriter
Don Rogers – Songwriter
John Rosasco – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Keyboards
Mike Ross – Assistant Engineer
Janice Cruse Stone – Vocals
Carlos Vega – Drums
Marty Walsh – Guitar

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Nissi Records
Copyright (c) – Nissi Records
Distributed By – Sparrow Distribution