Awhile ago I reviewed a Fireworks album and I was whining how easy listening it was. Someone challenged me to listen to this album if I wanted some Rock & Roll. So here it is and yes there is definitely some great Rock & Roll here. Marty was sure on his game this day. Recorded live at the Lord’s Chapel-Nashville in Tennessee this one took me totally by surprise. I must admit I have a whole new opinion of Fireworks now and I will definitely be enjoying this album in the future.
Tracklist 1 – Rescued – 3:25 2 – Listen – 4:30 3 – Target Practice – 2:48 4 – Someone’s Got A Hold On Me – 3:30 5 – Toll Free – 3:25 6 – Good Thing – 3:09 7 – Rusty Burdens – 3:31 8 – It All Comes Down To You – 3:37 9 – Ready For The Best Of You – 3:46
Credits Bass – Bob Sinkovic Coordinator – Vickie McCall Drums, Percussion, Engineer – Lanny Avery Engineer – Bill Deaton, Jimmy Burch, Joe Wilson Executive Producer – Chris Christian Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Jerry Gaston Harmony Vocals – Mary Avery Lead Vocals, Piano, Percussion – Marty McCall Mastered By – Jim Loyd Producer – Fireworks
Companies, etc. Pressed By – MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville Mastered At – Masterfonics Recorded At – The Lord’s Chapel Recorded By – Fanta Professional Services Marketed By – Sparrow Records
The whole naming of “Fireworks” is an issue for me. One album they are called “Fireworks Featuring Marty McCall” but this album they are called “Marty McCall & Fireworks” and of course a couple albums they were just “Fireworks”. So I decided to do some research on who Fireworks were. This is when I discovered that on this album the entire band was replaced from the previous. So essentially the whole Fireworks thing should have just been released using Marty McCall’s name. I am actually quite mystified why they kept trying to represent that their was a band called Fireworks. While researching this story I was reading some writing by Marty and I have to admit it was hilarious. He was talking about the band taking risks by doing Rock & Roll. Marty if you ever read this no offence man but this is not Rock & Roll. Nothing you ever recorded even approached Rock & Roll and their was NO risk in what you were doing as bands such as the Imperials were selling hundreds of thousands of records. Now that I’ve had my poke at Marty lets get to the album. It is good, I can’t take that away from Marty. He was/is an excellent musician and songwriter and quite frankly the stuff he was doing was as good as the Imperials and it is sad he never saw the same sales numbers. So if your a easy listening kind of person this is an excellent album for you to listen to.
Tracklist 1 – Givin’ It Up – 3:00 2 – Let Me Be The One – 3:58 3 – Legal Now – 2:45 4 – Adam – 3:54 5 – Cleanin’ Up Our Act – 3:02 6 – Can’t Stop Running – 3:29 7 – Frontrunner – 3:47 8 – Maybe I’ll Trust You Now – 3:54 9 – Unless God Builds Your House – 3:07 10 – Thanks To You – 4:55
Credits Art Direction – George Osaki Backing Vocals – Gary Pigg, Gwen Moore, Jackie Cusic Bass – David Hungate Concertmaster – Anshel Brusilow, Steve Hall Design – John Georgopoulos Design Concept [Cover] – Vickie McCall Drums – Mark Hammond Engineer [Basic Tracks & Vocals] – Brian Tankersley Engineer [Mixdown] – Bill Deaton Keyboards – Shane Keister Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Marty McCall Management – Dharma Artist Agency Percussion – Russell Dunlap Photography By – Jim McGuire Producer, Keyboards, Horns – Fletch Wiley Saxophone – Bill Tillman
Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – MCA Records, Inc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – MCA Records, Inc. Manufactured By – MCA Records, Inc. Produced For – Chris Christian Productions Produced For – Home Sweet Home Productions Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio East Recorded At – January Sound Studio Recorded At – Sumet-Bernet Sound Studios Recorded At – Rivendell Sound Recorders Mixed At – Gold Mine Studio East Mastered At – MCA Recording Studios Pressed By – MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville
This was the final album from Fireworks and they went out with a bang. Dare I say this is a Rock & Roll album. Well it’s a lot more Rock & Roll than their previous releases. The lead track is definitely a Rock & Roll tune and sets the atmosphere for the rest of the album. Admittedly however after the first track it is more pop than rock but it is definitely a good album. Other than the lead track think Sweet Comfort Bands later works. Future Petra drummer Louie Weaver joined the band for this album and you hear his far superior drum skills. All in all they went out with a bang but part of me wonders if there was a dispute over the direction of the band and this may have caused the subsequent breakup.
Tracklist
1 – I Got News For You – 3:04
2 – Because I Care – 3:19
3 – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down – 3:52
4 – Back In Business – 3:18
5 – Sightseeing At Night – 4:13
6 – Honorable Man – 2:43
7 – Confrontation – 3:42
8 – Broadway Mary – 3:17
9 – No Strings – 2:43
10 – Incognito – 5:29
Credits
Art Direction – George Osaki
Bass Guitar – David Kurfman
Co-producer, Engineer – Mark Richardson
Design – Georgopoulos/Imada Design, Inc.
Drums – Louie Weaver
Engineer [Assistant] – Greg Webster
Illustration [Cover] – Marilyn Montgomery
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Jerry Gaston
Management [Artist Representation] – Tom Willett, J. Wesley Yoder
Mastered By – Randy Kling
Photography By [Liner Photo] – Norman Benson
Producer – Jerry Gaston, Marty McCall
Product Manager – Tom Willett, Wes Yoder
Vocals, Piano [Acoustic], Keyboards [Profit V] – Marty McCall
This is the second album from Fireworks. What strikes me as odd with this album is that the title is subtitled with “Featuring Marty McCall”. Marty was with the band for their previous album and all subsequent albums so I have no idea why for this album he got such special billing. He hadn’t really done anything before Fireworks so he wasn’t some well known singer from another band or anything either. Very strange. Sound wise this album is a nice progression from their previous album which was painfully easy listening and their next album which was quite upbeat. This album settles into the middle nicely so no matter which version of Fireworks you like you should like this album.
Tracklist
1 – Change My Heart – 2:59
2 – Beautiful Woman – 4:17
3 – After The Rain – 2:07
4 – Calling My Name – 3:55
5 – Rock Band – 3:24
6 – Like Children – 3:11
7 – I Know Power – 2:39
8 – Love You Tonight – 3:37
9 – Shatter The Darkness – 5:05
10 – The World – 3:50
Credits
Bass – Bob Sinkovic, Chris Harris
Drums – Lanny Avery
Guitar – Jerry Gaston, Mark Christian
Keyboards, Vocals – Marty McCall
Producer – Chris Christian
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Fireworks formed in 1976 and released this album in 1977. It was well received and became a staple of late 70’s Jesus Music. The band was led by Marty McCall and he remained at the helm until the band split in 1983. Marty immediately went on to form the band “First Call” who performed into the late 90’s. Fireworks continued on after this album to release 5 more albums and had much success.
Tracklist
1 – New Day – 2:44
2 – Don’t Look Back – 2:47
3 – Carrying On – 3:27
4 – Presence Of The Lord – 2:45
5 – Forever With You – 3:40
6 – Maybe It’s Love – 3:27
7 – Family – 2:44
8 – Open Your Eyes – 3:07
9 – Talks With My Father – 3:03
10 – Takin’ A Rest – 3:06
11 – New Man – 3:06
Credits
Bass – Chris Harris, Steve Schaffer (tracks: A1, B2)
Cover – Dave Gaadt
Drums – Kenneth Malone (tracks: B2), Lanny Avery, Larrie Londin (tracks: A1)
Engineer – Brown Bannister
Executive Producer – Michael Blanton
Flute – Marilyn Maingart
Guitar – Chris Christian
Keyboards – Marty McCall, Ron Oates (tracks: B2), Shane Keister (tracks: A1)
Mastered By – Glenn Meadows
Photography – Mark Pleasant
Producer – Chris Christian
Synthesizer – Shane Keister
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
