Jeff Fenholt – Hymns I – 1990

Jeff performs some his favourite hymns and worship songs. Some of these are traditional hymns and some are more cent worship songs most of us are familiar with. This was an interesting album idea from Jeff and I think many artists wanted to try this idea bout no way a record label would touch this idea. Jeff didn’t have those impediments as he was independent and really didn’t care about record labels. These are not Rock & Roll covers but just a contemporary arrangement. I’m not a big fan of the Heavy Metal versions of hymns so I’ll be honest I was a little concerned about listening to this album. Instead I love it. These are great arrangements and nowadays you could hear any of these arrangements in a regular Sunday service. Guitar work is handled by Charles Fearing (Raydio) and all the other instruments are handled by famed producer Freddie Perren who also produced the album. Jeff’s vocals are the real focal point of the album and I don’t think he ever got the credit he deserved as a vocalist. You probably missed this one back in the day so you should give it a listen now.

Tracklist
1 – The Old Rugged Cross – 4:32
2 – The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power – 4:54
3 – Goin Up Yonder – 5:56
4 – Holy Ground – 6:05
5 – Amazing Grace – 5:19
6 – Sometimes Alleluia – 5:45
7 – He touched Me – 5:35
8 – Blessed Assurance – 4:30

Credits
Art Direction, Design, Layout – Ben Bull, Walter Ebrahimzadeh
Backing Vocals – Carmen Twilley, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters
Engineer – Freddie Perren, Jack Rouben
Guitar – Charles Fearing
Instruments – Freddie Perren
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography – Ron Blanchard
Producer, Arranged By – Freddie Perren
Programmed By, Engineer – Ran Ballard
Vocals – Jeff Fenholt

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Mom & Pop’s Happy House Studio
Mixed At – Mom & Pop’s Happy House Studio
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Produced For – Grand Slam Productions, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Messiah Records
Copyright © – Messiah Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Grand Slam Productions, Inc.
Copyright © – Grand Slam Productions, Inc.
Pressed By – Disctronics USA – 114576

Jeff Fenholt – Live – 1989

If you know of Jeff you know of his claim to have sung with Black Sabbath. There is a lot of disagreement over this claim but quite frankly I’m not going to repeat the back and forth between Jeff and Joe Siegler (Black Sabbath Historian). After reading both sides of the story this is my take away. Yes Jeff did some studio work with Tony Iommi (BS guitarist). This is a fact as the tracks are out there floating around the internet. The Jeff version of these tracks were not released on any album. What really happened is lost in Rock & Roll history. I think both versions are somewhat correct and the absolute truth lays somewhere in the middle. Did Jeff embellish his role with Black Sabbath? Probably. Is Jeff one hell of a vocalist? Absolutely. I heard of Jeff’s ministry through the grapevine but quite frankly I never had any interest in it. I have listened to a few of his albums and I’m still not much interested except for this album. This is a very good album. Jeff’s vocals are spot on and the choice of tracks is excellent. I am a bit mystified as to why called a studio album “Live:” however. Anyway this album was released through his ministry and several pressings were done. Not all these pressings are the same. At some point the track order was changed and the track “I Exalt Thee” was added or removed. That track is a cover of Phil Driscoll so there may have been licensing issues. All in all I think this is a great album and regardless of your opinions of Jeff you can not deny that he is a fantastic vocalist.

Tracklist
1 – Living Sacrifice – 3:33
2 – He Will Carry You – 4:22
3 – Make Us One – 3:24
4 – Oh, Happy Day – 4:23
5 – The Anointing – 6:29
6 – Standing In the Shadow of The Almighty – 3:40
7 – I Need To Be Still – 2:41
8 – Hosanna – 4:35
9 – I Exalt Thee – 6:06