Love Song – Welcome Back – 1995

In 1994 a version of Love Song came together to rerecord some of their top songs from their 3 albums in the 70’s along with a couple that were previously unreleased. The versions recorded here are updated and for the main part better I think and it’s nice to here Keaggy’s guitar work on these updated versions too. For me the highlight of the album is a fantastic blues rendition of “Take No Chances” which was previously unreleased at this point in history. Keaggy’s guitar work on that track is just awesome.

Tracklist
1 – A Love Song – 2:38
2 – Little Country Church – 2:46
3 – Let Us Be One – 3:44
4 – Little Pilgrim – 4:59
5 – Two Hands – 3:51
6 – Freedom – 3:45
7 – Take No Chances – 7:17
8 – Feel The Love – 5:14
9 – Changes – 2:21
10 – Front Seat, Back Seat – 3:04
11 – The Cossack Song – 3:43
12 – And The Wind Was Low – 3:35
13 – Welcome Back – 4:44
14 – Jesus Puts The Song In Our Hearts – 6:02

Credits
Alex Acuna – Percussion
John Barbour – Vocals
Chuck Butler – Songwriter
Tommy Coomes – Producer, Songwriter, Guitar, Vocals
Denny Correll – Songwriter
Koji Egawa – Mixed
Fred Field – Songwriter, Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
Chuck Girard – Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
John Hendrickson – Engineer, Mixed
Hadley Hockensmith – Guitar
JB Baird – Engineer
Jesse Johnston – Songwriter
Phil Keaggy – Guitar
Alan Pasqua – Engineer, Keyboard
John Patitucci – Bass
Tim Pierce – Guitar
Jim Scheffler – Engineer
Bill Schnee – Mixed
Tom Stipe – Songwriter
Chris Taylor – Engineer
Jay Truax – Vocals
Ron Tutt – Drums
Bob Wall – Vocals

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Recorded At – Bill Schnee Studios
Recorded At – Roman Foods Studio
Recorded At – Crossroads Studios, Santa Ana, CA
Recorded At – It’s All Music
Recorded At – The Salt Mine

Love Song – Feel The Love – 1976

This album was actually recorded in 1976 after the band split up but I am going to guess that the split was amicable. I say this because this concert was very tight. The band worked together well and didn’t miss a beat the whole concert. This indicates to me that they were well rehearsed. Bands that get back together for a concert that have hard feelings generally don’t rehearse much and often this is reflected in the concert. Generally I categorize Love Song as a worship band but this album does have a few pretty good 70’s rock tunes. Considering several members of the band went on to do Rock & Roll this shouldn’t be as much of a surprise as I found it to be. The album also included several Devotional moments which are all relevant to this day. I have chopped up this album a little different than the record company. I think it flows a little better my way.

Tracklist
1 – Intro/Front Seat, Back Seat 4:08
2 – Little Country Church 2:58
3 – The Cossack Song 4:14
4 – Manila Story (Devotional) 1:58
5 – A Love Song 2:49
6 – Two Hands 3:54
7 – Feel The Love 5:49
8 – So Thankful 3:28
9 – Since I Opened Up The Door 3:59
10 – Our Journey (Devotional) 5:00
11 – Freedom 4:15
12 – Let Us Be One 5:12
13 – Psalm 150 (Devotional) 1:19
14 – Drum Solo 8:46
15 – Jesus Puts The Song In Our Hearts 4:20
16 – Little Pilgrim 5:29
17 – The Path and the Prayer (Devotional)4:45
18 – Sometimes Alleluia 6:57
19 – Psalm 5 3:37

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Chuck Girard
Bass – Jay Truax
Drums – John Mehler
Electric Guitar – Bob Wall, Tom Coomes
Engineer – Bill Schnee
Keyboards – Chuck Girard
Lead Vocals – Chuck Girard, Tom Coomes
Mixed By – Joe Bellamy
Producer – Chuck Girard, Freddie Piro, Love Song
Vocals – Bob Wall, Jay Truax, John Mehler

Companies, etc.
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse
Recorded At – Paramount Northwest Theatre
Recorded At – San Jose Civic Auditorium
Recorded At – Warnors Theatre
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s
Distributed By – Word
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Good News Records
Copyright (c) – Good News Records

Jesus Sound Explosion – 1972

It’s not too often I get to post an album with Johnny Cash on it but this is the one. This album could not be purchased but instead was sent to attendees of the 1972 EXPLO music festival. The EXPLO festival was put on by Campus Crusade for Christ and there were actually 7 days to the festival in Dallas TX. If you were there you could order the album and it would be mailed to you later. The festival was able to get all the performer’s record companies to allow this album to be distributed. I suspect one of the conditions was that it would not be commercially sold. This album has the broadest style of performers I’ve ever heard. Everything from Larry Norman (Rock) to Connie Smith (Country) to Willa Mae Dorsey (Southern Gospel). It’s an enjoyable album but the abrupt genre changes can be a bit startling. This album is a piece of CCM history. Were you there? Leave a comment below and tell us what it was like.

Printed on the jacket;
“This album is not for sale. This album was produced for the sole purpose of offering to the EXPLO ’72 television audience musical reminders of this historic congress. This album is sent to individuals who let the ministry of Campus Crusade For Christ International know that they are interested in receiving this album. Material on this album was recorded live at EXPLO ’72 in Dallas, Texas, June 12-17, 1972. Special arrangements with the artists and their record companies have made this album possible.”

Tracklist
1 – Johnny Cash – I See Men As Trees Walkin’ – 3:18
2 – Armageddon Experience – One Way – 3:35
3 – Randy Matthews – Didn’t He – 4:26
4 – Andraé Crouch & The Disciples – I’m Satisfied – 3:37
5 – Larry Norman – Sweet Song Of Salvation – 3:55
6 – Great Commission Company – Anticipation – 3:05
7 – Danny Lee & The Children Of Truth – Spread A Little Love Around – 2:56
8 – Connie Smith – Plenty Of Time – 4:13
9 – Forerunners – Lord – 2:44
10 – Willa Dorsey – I Have The Joy In My Soul – 2:45
11 – Love Song – A Love Song (Narration Of I Corinthians 13) – 5:40
12 – The Speer Family – The King Is Coming – 3:48

Love Song – Love Song – 1971

In February 1970 four hippies entered the Calvary Chapel Church in Costa Mesa, California and asked Pastor Chuck Smith if they could perform their music at the Monday Bible Study. That Pastor listened to them perform “Welcome Back” and this is where it started for one of the most important Jesus Music bands of the era. This is considered by many to be one of the most important Jesus Music/CCM albums of the 70’s. It is said they shaped the sound of the mid Seventies. I don’t think I would go quite that far but they were ahead of the curve in the early 70’s. Of course it was the members of Love Song that made the band what it was. The vocals were headed by Chuck Girard who had a long storied CCM career. Also on Vocals was Jay Truax who would go on to be in the The Richie Furay Band. Most of the other members went on to have solo smaller yet notable solo careers.

Tracklist
1 – A Love Song – 1:46
2 – Changes – 1:47
3 – Two Hands – 3:37
4 – Little Country Church – 2:39
5 – Freedom – 3:47
6 – Welcome Back – 4:38
7 – Front Seat, Back Seat – 3:00
8 – Let Us Be One – 3:13
9 – And The Wind Was Low – 3:25
10 – A Brand New Song – 2:33
11 – Feel The Love – 5:08
12 – A Love Song (Reprise) – 0:47

Credits
Artwork By [Design] – Kernie Erickson
Bass, Vocals – Jay Truax
Drums – John Raines
Engineer – Stan Ross
Engineer [Remix] – Eirik Wangberg
Guitar, Vocals – Bob Wall, Tom Coomes
Keyboards, Vocals – Chuck Girard
Music By – Chuck Girard, Jesse Johnston
Photography – Rolland Baker

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Myrrh Records
Published By – Dunamis Music

Various – Jubilation! – 1975

This 1975 Myrrh Records sampler had some of the early 70’s best Jesus Music. Strangely, it had the exact same name (Including the exclamation mark) of an album released the same time from The Kingsmen. The album only had one unreleased track, Larry Norman – Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn. Larry did finally release the track in 1993 on the So Long Ago The Garden re-release as a bonus track.

Include below is the info on which album the songs were released on

Tracklist
1 – Barry McGuire – Enter In – 5:35 – Seeds
2 – Lamb – The Sacrifice Lamb – 5:09 – Lamb
3 – The Sonlight Orchestra – Easter Song – 2:45 – Love Songs And Other Greats
4 – Randy Matthews – Johnny – 3:30 – All I Am Is What You See…
5 – Petra – Back Sliding Blues – 4:31 – Petra
6 – Walt Mills – You Got The Power – 2:55 – Sincerely, Walt Mills
7 – Ron Salsbury And J.C. Power Outlet – I Choose To Follow You – 5:15 – Forgiven…
8 – Evie – Clean Before My Lord – 3:05 – Evie Again
9 – Parchment – Light Of The World – 4:00 – Light Up The Fire
10 – The Pat Terry Group – I Can’t Wait – 3:42 – The Pat Terry Group
11 – 2nd Chapter Of Acts – I Fall In Love/Change – 4:22 – With Footnotes
12 – Ray Hildebrand – Didn’t He – 5:08 – Special Kind Of Man
13 – Honeytree – Heaven’s Gonna Be A Blast – 2:22 – The Way I Feel
14 – Aleksander John – Days Go By – 3:15 – Days Go By
15 – Love Song – A Love Song – 1:46 – Love Song
16 – Larry Norman – Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn – 2:36 – Unreleased until 1993
17 – Malcolm & Alwyn – Tomorrow’s News – 3:30 – Fool’s Wisdom
18 – Ken Medema – Come Let Us Reason Together – 3:35 – Fork In The Road
19 – Chuck Girard & Love Song – Think About What Jesus Said – 4:54 – Final Touch
20 – Marijohn – Where I’m Going – 3:58 – Where I’m Going