Steve Taylor – Liver – 1995

We have a great live album from Steve here. While most live albums are a compilation of the best takes from several concerts this one was recorded in just one take in October 1994 in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Even the tracks are in the order played except for “Jim Morrison’s Grave” and “On The Fritz” which were switched around to allow for proper timing on the cassette. Steve even played a couple tracks from his Chagall Guevara band. The fire alarm incident that closes out the album actually occurred at Judson College and was dubbed in. As for the album there’s not much to say other than it’s another example of Steve’s live brilliance and is pretty well engineered for a live album.

Tracklist
1 – Jim Morrison’s Grave – 3:19
2 – The Lament Of Desmond R. G. Underwood-Frederick IV – 4:37
3 – I Want To Be A Clone – 2:05
4 – Escher’s World – 3:33
5 – On The Fritz – 6:31
6 – Bannerman – 3:19
7 – Hero – 5:14
8 – Jesus Is For Losers – 4:13
9 – The Finish Line – 5:41
10 – Violent Blue – 4:29

Credits
Art Direction – Buddy Jackson
Bass – Wade Jaynes
Drums – Chris Kearney
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Greg Wollan, Mark Townsend
Booking – Jeff Roberts & Associates
Crew [Driver] – Dave Fancey, Doug Rioux, Guy Johnson
Crew [Merchandise] – Curtis Swartzentruber
Design – Karinne Caulkins
Engineer [Engineered By], Engineer [Sound], Mixed By – Russ Long
Lighting [Design] – Scott Moore
Lighting [Operator] – Anthony Kordyjaka
Management – Proper Management
Management [Proper Management] – Amy Kyker, Glenda McNalley, Jeff Quistad, Nancy Kronemann, Norman Miller
Management [Road Manager] – Joe Nero
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Photography By – Ben Pearson
Producer – Russ Long, Steve Taylor
Production Manager – Mike Jones
Recorded By [Recording Assistance], Engineer [Monitor] – Marc Chevalier
Written-By – Steve Taylor

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc., WEA International Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc., WEA International Inc.
Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing
Mixed At – The Carport
Mastered At – Mastermix
Designed At – Jackson Design
Published By – Soylent Tunes, Warner Alliance Music, Birdwing Music, Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc., MCA Publishing, GMMI, Inc., C.A. Music
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

Darrell Mansfield Blues Band – Live On Tour – 2000

Here we have another live album from Darrell. It contains most of his favourites that we see pop up on most of his later live work. Half the album was recorded in Los Angeles and half in Holland with 2 different bands not that you can really tell. Anyway I don’t have much more to say as there are plenty of live Darrell recordings and they are all excellent.

Tracklist
1 – Let’s Work Together – 4:08
2 – There’s Gotta Be A Change – 5:39
3 – Tell The Truth – 5:21
4 – Walk With Me Jesus – 5:35
5 – The Mission – 4:45
6 – Nobody But You Lord – 4:53
7 – Boom Boom – 7:12
8 – Stand By Me – 9:05
9 – Time To Go – 9:18
10 – People Get Ready – 7:10
11 – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – 7:12

Larry Norman And Beam – Shouting In The Storm (Flevo 2) – 1998

Beam is a band from the Netherlands that Larry toured with in 1998 on a European tour. The studio sessions “Breathe In, Breathe Out” were released as a double CD, revealing their rehearsals for the tour. This is a live recording, also noted as “Flevo 2” on the CD itself. Larry’s “Live at Flevo” with Q-Stone was a success and this recording is just as good as that one. Again, Larry is fronting a tight band here, and a more modern sounding one than the 60s groups he built up in the past to perform material from the People! years and the trilogy albums that followed that. This is a solid 90s sounding band backing Larry on some of his classic songs as well as some newer ones from that era. “God part 3” is a rock version here. We have heard Larry perform and record it in almost every style imaginable, from solo acoustic/folk to studio versions with some bite. Beam adds something here that isn’t in any of the other recordings with upgraded guitar riffs. “Six Sixty Six” is changed from a 70s folk song into a 90s grunge ballad with Larry’s distinctive voice still adorning. The closing track is Larry and Beam covering “Jesus Freak” which was a 90s anthem thanks to both DC Talk and Newsboys. “Shot Down” is remembered as a piano rock song from its original In Another Land release, however there is no piano here. Beam’s full guitar sound make a great update on this classic.

Tracklist
1 – Heaven Wants To Bless You – 4:57
2 – God Part 3 – 4:09
3 – Six Sixty Six – 6:06
4 – Shot Down – 2:23
5 – Let The Rain Fall Down – 7:29
6 – Sweet Song Of Salvation – 4:58
7 – Goodbye, Farewell – 4:00
8 – Let It Go – 6:20
9 – Bombs – 8:03
10 – The Rock That Doesn’t Roll – 4:56
11 – Jesus Freak – 6:08

Credits
Bass Guitar – Hans Sigmond
Design [Booklet] – Jason Carter, Wavelength
Drums – Gert Koudijs
Engineer – Johan Van Loo
Executive-Producer – Gerrit aan’t Goor
Harmony Vocals – Beam
Lead Guitar – Robert Riekerk
Lead Vocals – Larry Norman
Mastered By – Sander van der Heiden
Mixed By – Johnny Hulst, Larry Norman
Photography By – Bea Riekerk, David Carter, Nathalie Riekerk
Producer – Larry Norman
Promotion [Concert] – Gerrit aan’t Goor
Recorded By – Alpha Mobile Studio
Rhythm Guitar – Tommy Riekerk

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – GMI Music Partners
Produced For – Solid Rock Records
Produced For – The Street Level Cafe
Produced For – White Trash Communications
Published By – Ordure Blancu Music
Published By – Universal
Published By – Alliance 4K
Mixed At – Hulst Recording Studio Zwolle
Mastered At – Wisseloord Studios

Randy Stonehill – Live at Greenbelt ’79 – 2005/2021

This album has a but of a strange history. It was recorded at Greenbelt obviously but Larry Norman released it in 2005 on his label. I don’t think Larry actually had the rights to this recording. Yes it was recorded back when Larry and Randy were getting along but in 2005 they were not doing business together. I have no idea how Larry decided he had the rights to this album but who knows what was said back in 1979. That said after Larry passed suddenly Randy owned the rights and released it himself in 2021. Anyway the version you will listen to here is a hybrid I worked over offering the best versions in my opinion. !979 was a great year in CCM music and this album displays that.

Tracklist
1 – Intro-One True Love – 4:41
2 – Keep Me Running – 5:43
3 – Teen King -4:09
4 – Lung Cancer – 4:26
5 – Venezuela – 3:10
6 – Through The Glass Darkly – 5:53
7 – The Great American Cure – 4:26
8 – You Really Got Me – 3:06
9 – Trouble Coming – 4:44
10 – Good News – 4:47
11 – Let That Tape Keep Rolling – 6:09

Billy Crockett – In These Days Live – 1997

In 1997 Billy self released this live album of all his best songs. It was recorded Live between October 16th to 24th at University Baptist Church Ft Worth, Wilshire Baptist Church Dallas, Riverbend Church Austin, Custer Road United Methodist Church Plano, and on August 24th 1996 at First Baptist Church Duncanville. The album has 18 tracks which is a really good value for a self released album. Producer Billy Crockett says on the liner notes that the album was kept “raw and real”. Personally I think it’s very well recorded, engineered and produced but I know what he meant in that the album is just basic instruments and is relatively acoustic. So if you like Billy this is a definite must listen.

Tracklist
1 – How Good You Are – 4:10
2 – Walkin’ Home – 4:06
3 – The Bottom of Life – 3:34
4 – Couch Potato – 4:17
5 – The Wake Up Song – 2:47
6 – Song and Dance – 4:01
7 – 41 Lawnmowers – 5:02
8 – All Together – 5:16
9 – Storybook Dreams – 4:23
10 – The Crockosaurus – 1:28
11 – Bogart’s Independence – 3:17
12 – Elena – 6:46
13 – The Time is Now – 4:16
14 – Portrait of Love – 4:39
15 – Love Carrier – 3:57
16 – Best of Friends – 5:06
17 – Thankful Boys and Girls – 4:20
18 – A Father’s Love – 2:39

Credits
Accordion, Vocals – Jim Rommel
Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals – Billy Crockett
Mastered By – Sam Loy
Mixed By – Gordon Garrison
Producer – Billy Crockett
Recorded By – Gordon Garrison
Vocals – Milton Brasher

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Walking Angel Records
Copyright © – Walking Angel Records
Distributed By – Walking Angel

Fireworks – Live Fireworks – 1980

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

Steve Grace – One Night In A Million – 1991

Following up on the phenomenal success of his Children Of The Western World album Steve took his ministry on the road. At a 1991 concert in Mansfield Queensland Steve recorded this live release. It features some of the tracks from his previous album and a lot of new/other tracks. I know this might cause some controversy but personally I truly believe he is the Bruce Springsteen of Christian music. Again the album was only initially released in Australia so us in North America were robbed of getting to hear this great album. It did get a re-release in Europe but I don’t know when. Anyway I’m not going to bore you any further as your time should be spent listening to this fantastic album.

Tracklist
1 – Land Of The Rock – 5:31
2 – One Night In A Million – 3:55
3 – Stand Your Ground – 4:13
4 – Unknown Hero – 3:52
5 – Men Of God – 4:59
6 – Travelling Man – 3:12
7 – Kids On The Street – 5:05
8 – Lonely Feeling – 5:17
9 – World Turn Around – 3:34
10 – Reach Out – 3:04
11 – That’s Alright – 3:21
12 – I Live To Know You – 5:44

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Blues Harp – Steve Grace
Acoustic Guitar, Fiddle, Blues Harp – Peter Shurley
Backing Vocals – Chris Butson, David Vine
Bass – Jason Chandler
Drums – Steve Francis
Electric Guitar – Phil Yates
Electric Guitar, 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Phil Butson
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – David Richard, Greg Dore
Engineer [Live Engineer] – Steve Hartley, Wyn Wynard
Executive-Producer – Colin Dyer, Mike Jeffs
Keyboards, Piano, Backing Vocals – Karl Laurens
Producer, Engineer – Phil Butson

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Christian Outreach Center, Brisbane
Mixed At – Sing Sing Studios
Distributed By – Word Australia
Glass Mastered At – Disctronics USA – 114451

After The Fire – Radio Sessions 1979 – 1981 – 2009

Apparently After The Fire played 3 years in a row at the BBC Paris Theatre, London, England. Luckily these appearances were recorded but they stayed on a shelf somewhere until Angel Air Records released them in 2009. You can buy the CD on their website below. ATF were an excellent live band and this is a great release. Thank you Angel Air Records.

http://www.angelair.co.uk/?tcp_product=after-the-fire-radio-sessions-1979-1981

1 – Joy – 3:17
2 – A Little Sun, A Little Rain – 3:11
3 – Laser Love – 3:05
4 – Time To Think – 3:31
5 – One Rule For You – 3:15
6 – Suspended Animation – 4:52
7 – Check It Out – 3:06
8 – Like The Power Of A Jet – 2:50
1980 In Concert
9 – Laser Love – 3:26
10 – Life In The City – 4:04
11 – Can You Face It? – 3:50
12 – Who’s Gonna Love You? – 4:14
13 – Billy Billy – 6:07
1981 In Concert
14 – Frozen Rivers – 4:06
15 – Dancing In The Shadows – 2:53
16 – Sailing Ship – 3:39
17 – Bright Lights – 4:09
18 – Take Me Higher – 7:06
19 – Starlight – 5:03

77s – Eighty Eight – 1991

77s finally give us a live album which was recorded on March 12, 1988 at the Warehouse in Sacramento, CA. The album gives us live versions of all their hits along with a fascinating cover of “Over Under Sideways Down” by the The Yardbirds.

Tracklist
1 – Perfect Blues – 6:00
2 – I Can’t Get Over It – 6:10
3 – Wild Blue – 5:45
4 – Mary And The Baby Elvis – 4:25
5 – Closer – 5:23
6 – Where It’s At – 4:53
7 – The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride Of Life – 3:57
8 – Over Under Sideways Down – 2:56
9 – Mercy Mercy – 11:15
10 – You Don’t Scare Me – 12:20
11 – I Could Laugh – 12:30

Credits
Bass Guitar – Mark Harmon
Bass, Guitar, Voice – Jan Eric
Coordinator [Project Conceived and Coordinated by] – Shalom Aberly
Drums [Forever Pounding & Thrashing] – Aaron Smith
Grand Piano – David Leonhardt
Keyboards, Guitar, Voice – Mark Tootle
Mixed By – Steve Griffith
Organ [Hammond B-3] – Roger Smith
Post Production – Kirt Shearer
Producer – Mike Roe
Recorded By – Daryl Zachman
Voice, Guitar, Harmonica [Mouth Organ] – Mike Roe

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Brainstorm Artists International
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brainstorm Artists International
Published By – Fools Of The World Ltd.
Published By – 7 And 7 Is Music
Published By – Yardbirds Music Ltd.
Recorded At – The Warehouse, Sacramento
Mixed At – The Music Annex
Produced For – Gaga Productions
Produced At – Paradise Studios, Sacramento, CA
Mastered At – Fantasy Studios
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.

Semaja – Semaja Live – 1985

This is the last stuff we would get from Semaja as they unfortunately split up even before this album was released. If you were a fan of theirs then this was certainly a nice way for them to go out as many artists in this genre never even put out live albums. As for the band, Markus Egger has become leader of a missions society in Germany called Inter-mission, Claus Feldmann has got an recording studio, and Ulrich Plinke is working in the addictions field. The other members have moved on with normal jobs and from what I understand most of the members are involved in a church called Koinonia Calvary Chapel in Hannover.

Tracklist
1 – Dawning – 4:40
2 – Pilo – 5:03
3 – Wilderness – 6:00
4 – Baby Huey – 4:45
5 – Jesaja 53 – 6:00
6 – Come To Jesus – 4:50
7 – Big Noise – 10:50

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Wilfried Herrmann
Drums – Harald Nagel
Guitar, Vocals – Ulrich Plinke
Keyboards – Claus Feldmann
Lead Vocals – Markus Egger