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

Wild Blue Yonder Featuring Crystal Lewis – Wild Blue Yonder – 1986/1995

Wild Blue Yonder were a new incarnation of the CCM Rockabilly band The Lifters minus Rex Harvey and of course the addition of Crystal Lewis doing lead vocals. The album essentially came out on Crystal’s 17th birthday so ignore the “she was 15” stuff on the internet. The album was released September 9th 1986 and her birthday is September 11th 1969. Both Terry Taylor and Rob Watson from DA were involved in the project and they bring some quality production to the album. The album has a Rockabilly sound in places and is often referred to as Cow-punk but it’s not really Cow-punk in my opinion. It’s just a fun 80’s album with Rockabilly influences though Crystal’s vocals are so strong she really dominates the album almost making you forget about the rest of the band. The album was re-released in 1995 with 2 bonus tracks (this upload is that 1995 release) and is catalogued as being a Crystal Lewis album titled Wild Blue Yonder.

Tracklist
1 – Just One Look – 3:49
2 – You And Me – 3:07
3 – This Love’s For Real – 4:05
4 – Where Can I Go (Bonus Track) – 2:24
5 – Heart Beat – 2:34
6 – Over The Rainbow – 3:20
7 – Every Day (Bonus Track) – 3:23
8 – Only One – 3:42
9 – Revival Meeting – 2:35
10 – You’re My Love – 3:19
11 – Only You – 2:45
12 – Crying Eyes – 3:07
13 – If I Could Write A Poem – 5:01

Credits
Art Direction, Layout [Original] – Phillip Kim
Artwork By [Logo] – Dave Gibson
Artwork, Design [New] – Timothy McCaig
Backing Vocals – Terry Taylor
Bass – Paul Martin
Drums – Joey Mitchell
Engineer – Doug Doyle
Guitar – Chris Brigandi
Pedal Steel Guitar – Garry Brandon
Photography By – Brian Ray
Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals – Rob Watson
Producer – Terry Taylor
Remastered By – Dave Hackbarth
Remix – Chris Brigandi, Gene Eugene
Vocals – Crystal Lewis

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Metro One, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Metro One, Inc.
Distributed By – Diamante Distribution
Glass Mastered At – Disctronics USA – 131230

The Lifters – The Lifters – 1983

This EP came out in 1983 from another great group of guys from the MRC group over at the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. Their Rockabilly style was like nothing else in CCM at the time. In an era where the Stray Cats were popular this album filled a gap in Christian music. These 6 short fun tracks will leave you tapping your foot and even singing along. I have a love of the rockabilly style so I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw this album. I knew from the cover it was something I was gonna like. The EP must have been popular as the Band came out with a full album (also great) in 1985. Point of trivia is that Darrell Mansfield supplied the harmonica track for “Bucket of Blues”. Also trivia worthy is Ojo Taylor also played some piano and assisted with song writing.

Tracklist
1 – Living Water – 1:51
2 – Baby Left Me – 2:20
3 – Bucket of Blues – 3:10
4 – Eternity Bop – 1:41
5 – I’m Yours – 2:52
6 – He’s My Lord – 2:07

Credits
Antwan Adams – Horns
Chris Brigandi – Songwriter, Guitars, Lead Vocals
Eddie Espinosa – Songwriter, Guitars
Dave Hackbarth – Horns
Kass – Bass Fiddle, Electric Bass, Background Vocals
Mark Kirschak – Songwriter
Michael Knott – Songwriter
Darrell Mansfield – Harmonica
Brian Ray – Songwriter, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals
Ojo Taylor – Songwriter, Piano
Bill Walden – Horns
Dan Willard – Producer

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

Real 80s CCM Podcast #2 Stonehill, Lifters, Larry

Episode #2 Featuring

  • Randy Stonehill
  • The Lifters
  • Larry Norman
  • Scott and Ray talking about old music
  • Another guest appearance by Gena the dog

To view this episode with its original live video, see it here on Youtube:

Listen to just the audio below, or Right Click Here To Download


 

The Lifters – What Love’s All About – 1985

The Lifters return after their successful EP release.

This regular length album is more of the same Rockabilly sound. There was one track carry over from the EP “Eternity Bop” which is very slightly altered. If you had to pick a “single” that would be it, but personally I suggest “C’mon Back” Bottom line is that this is a fun sounding album that should keep your toes tapping.

Track Listing:
1 – Be Like You – 2:10
2 – Operator – 2:45
3 – Scream and Shout – 2:41
4 – I’m Goin’ to Heaven – 3:01
5 – Front Slidder – 1:49
6 – No Middle Ground – 3:13
7 – What Love’s All About – 2:24
8 – Do What I Do – 2:48
9 – Eternity Bop – 2:21
10 – C’mon Back – 3:13
11 – My Love For You Will Stay – 4:04

Credits:
Albert Berry – Background Vocal
Chris Brigandi – Producer, Songwriter, Guitars, Lead Vocals
Lucky Chuck – Background Vocals
Derri Daugherty – Engineered, Mixed
Stan Endicott – Over Dub Production
Rex Harvey – Songwriter, Guitars, Background Vocals
Dave Kaplowitz – Sax
Kass – Bass, Background Vocals
Mark Kirschak – Songwriter
Joey Mitchell – Drums, Background Vocals
Kathy Perry – Background Vocals
Brian Ray – Drums
Joanne Saundenberg – Background Vocals
Marnie Saundenberg – Duet Vocal, Background Vocal
William Spivery – Songwriter
Adrian Tapia – Sax, Clarinet
Joe Van Gilder – Piano