Michael Card – The Beginning – 1989

The 9th studio album from Michael Card is another like the others. That’s not as negative as it sounds as this was the magic that Card did. He put out albums very consistently and every one had great tracks so his fans constantly had new material to listen to. This album was successful with 3 charting CCM hits. Jubilee made it to #1, Lift Up The Suffering Symbol to #5, and They Called Him Laughter to #15. You just can’t argue with the success Card had. Anyway not much more to say about the album, if you like Card you will like this album. If you’re not a fan of easy listening than this one isn’t for you.

Tracklist
1 – The Beginning – 5:03
2 – In The Wilderness – 3:11
3 – Jubilee – 2:42
4 – Lift Up The Suffering Symbol – 3:32
5 – The Word Is So Near – 2:17
6 – Meditation #3 Shema – 4:13
7 – God Will Provide A Lamb – 4:06
8 – They Called Him Laughter – 3:05
9 – Asleep On Holy Ground – 5:15
10 – A Face That Shone – 3:21
11 – Barocha – 2:43

Credits
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Alan Moore, Bergen White
Art Direction – Barbara Hearn
Concertmaster, Directed By [Director] – Gavyn Wright
Conductor [The Ambrosian Singers And Orchestra] – Bergen White
Design – Larry Vigon
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Barry Dixon, John Kunz
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Musician, Acoustic Guitar – Michael Card
Musician, Bass – Craig Nelson, Gary Lunn
Musician, Drum Programming – Gary Lunn
Musician, Drums, Percussion – Paul Leim
Musician, Piano – Michael Card, Phil Naish
Musician, Synthesizer – Phil Naish
Photography By [Front Cover Photography] – Merlyn Rosenberg
Photography By [Photography Of Michael Card] – Mark Tucker
Producer – Norbert Putnam
Recorded By, Mixed By – JB , Norbert Putnam, Willie Pevear
Vocals [Vocalists] – Ashley Cleveland, Bergen White, Michael Card, The Ambrosian Singers

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright © – The Sparrow Corporation
Produced For – Mole End Productions
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Word Music (UK)
Published By – Whole Armor Publishing
Published By – LITA Music
Distributed By – Word (UK) Ltd.
Distributed By – Pila Music
Distributed By – 3XM
Distributed By – Finngospel
Distributed By – Sephora Diffusion
Distributed By – Emmaus
Distributed By – GMI Records (3)
Distributed By – Filadelfia Forlag
Distributed By – La Sorgente Music
Distributed By – Master Music (5)
Distributed By – Grace Music (2)
Distributed By – Master-Vision-S.A.
Distributed By – Viva Music (4)
Distributed By – Kir Music
Printed By – Sleeveprint
Made By – Sleeveprint
Pressed By – CBS, Haarlem

Michael Card – Known By The Scars – 1984

This is the 3rd album from Michael and this album pretty well cemented his worship style music. As I have said before Michael was very faithful about getting an album out every year. I think if most artists tried to put out an album every year the quality would tire after awhile but I have to admit that I don’t think that is the case with Michael. The quality of every album is high and while this is not my style of music it is good. In fact as far as worship style music goes I find Michael to be a top 10 artist.

Tracklist
1 – He Was Heard – 3:52
2 – Ride On To Die – 4:16
3 – Come To The Table – 3:46
4 – In The Garden – 3:54
5 – Traitor’s Look – 3:30
6 – Why – 2:55
7 – Cross Of Glory – 3:48
8 – Crown Him – 3:58
9 – Known By The Scars – 3:52
10 – Crown Him (Reprise) – 1:18

Credits
Stan Armor – Choir Member
Jackie Binkley – Choir Member
Andy Blake – Choir Member
Niles Borop – Songwriter
Michael Card – Vocals, Classical Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion, Songwriter, Quartet Arrangement
Susan Card – Choir Member
Caroline Card-Howell – Choir Member
John Catchings – Cello, Choir Member
Sue Catchings – Choir Member
Jane Cates – Choir Member
Ron Coker – Choir Member
Martyn Ford – Conductor
Pat Fuller – Choir Member
Jon Goin – Electric and Classical Guitars
Lynn Hodges – Choir Director
Jim Horn – Recorders, Flute
Shane Keister – Synthesizer, Piano
Larry London – Drums
Glenn Meadows – Mastered
Alan Moore – String and Woodwind Arrangement
Farrell Morris – Percussion, Vibes
Chris Nelson – Acoustic Bass
Nancy Nelson – Choir Member
Norbert Putnam – Producer, Mastered, Fender Bass, String and Woodwind Arrangement
Cindy Reynolds – Harp
Michele Roberts – Choir Member
Scott Roley – Choir Member
Bill Schnee – Mixed
Randy Scruggs – Rhythm Guitar
Gene Sisk – Synthesizer, Piano
Andy Widders-Ellis – Stick
Bob Wray – Bass, Fender Bass
Betsy Yarborough – Choir Member
John Yarborough – Choir Member
Wes Yoder – Executive Producer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Michael J. Card
Published By – Whole Armor Publishing Co.
Recorded At – The Bennett House
Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
Published By – Full Armor Publishing Co
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Pressed By – KM Records Inc.

Various – Sparrow Spotlight Volume 3 – 1985

Sometimes these Sparrow samplers bewildered me and this one is one of them. How you can have Rez Band, Steve Taylor, and John Michael Talbot on the same sampler? I well remember us buying these samplers for 1 or 2 tracks and I bet a lot of people bought this one with the same intent. Anyway below I have listed all the tracks and their associated albums;

1 – Steve Camp – Help Is On The Way – Shake Me To Wake Me
2 – Connie Scott – Spirit Mover – Spirit Mover
3 – Silverwind – I’m Gonna Follow You – I’m Gonna Follow You
4 – Rick Cua – You’ve Only Got One Life – You’re My Road
5 – Steve Taylor – I Just Wanna Know – On The Fritz
6 – Michael Card – Come To The Table – Known By The Scars
7 – Terry Talbot – Mighty Rushing Wind – Face To Face
8 – AD – The Only Way To Have A Friend – Art Of The State
9 – Debby Boone – Teach Me How To Love – Choose Life
10 – Phil Driscoll – Jesus I Love You – Power Of Praise
11 – Wendy & Mary – Around The Walls – Battle Of The Heart
12 – Sheila Walsh – Light Across The World – Don’t Hide Your Heart
13 – Rez Band – Souls For Hire – Hostage
14 – Michele Pillar – Look Who Loves You Now – Look Who Loves You Now
15 – Steve Green – Praise To The King – He Holds The Keys
16 – John Michael Talbot – Lord Every Nation On Earth Shall Adore You

Tracklist
1 – Steve Camp – Help Is On The Way – 4:03
2 – Connie Scott – Spirit Mover – 3:20
3 – Silverwind – I’m Gonna Follow You – 2:59
4 – Rick Cua – You’ve Only Got One Life – 3:37
5 – Steve Taylor – I Just Wanna Know – 4:37
6 – Michael Card – Come To The Table – 3:48
7 – Terry Talbot – Mighty Rushing Wind – 4:11
8 – AD – The Only Way To Have A Friend – 4:15
9 – Debby Boone – Teach Me How To Love – 4:15
10 – Phil Driscoll – Jesus I Love You – 4:36
11 – Wendy & Mary – Around The Walls – 3:17
12 – Sheila Walsh – Light Across The World – 3:23
13 – Rez Band – Souls For Hire – 3:30
14 – Michele Pillar – Look Who Loves You Now – 3:18
15 – Steve Green – Praise To The King – 2:31
16 – John Michael Talbot – Lord Every Nation On Earth Shall Adore You (Psalm 72) – 4:14

Michael Card – The Final Word – 1987

Michael Card was very faithful in putting out an album a year and this is that album for 1987. Nothing really of note on this album it is pretty standard work for him. Standard work for Card in this case included 3 top 10 singles. “The Final Word” and “Celebrate The Child” both made it to #2 and “To The Mystery” made it to #5. It’s a little difficult to write too much about Card but lets let his numbers speak for the album. Definitely an Easy Listening must listen.

Tracklist
1 – To The Mystery – 3:55
2 – The Final Word – 3:24
3 – Spirit Of The Age – 4:07
4 – Celebrate The Child – 4:00
5 – Joseph’s Song – 3:25
6 – Overture To The Triology – 3:15
7 – The Promise – 2:27
8 – Immanuel – 4:00
9 – Carmen Christi – 2:40
10 – Joy In The Journey – 2:50

Credits
Arranged By [Choral] – Alan Moore
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Alan Moore
Artwork – Michael Going
Backing Vocals – Diane Tidwell, Donna McElroy, Lisa Silver
Bass – Gary Lunn, Norbert Putnam
Cello – John Catchings
Choir – The Ambrosian Singers
Concertmaster – Gavyn Wright
Conductor – Alan Moore, John McCarthy
Design – Stan Evenson Design
Drums, Percussion – David Humphries
Engineer – Don Cobb, Gary Paczosa, Norbert Putnam
Flute – Sam Levine
Guitar – Jon Goin
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Orchestrated By – Alan Moore
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Piano – Bobby Ogden
Producer – Norbert Putnam
Recorder – Sam Levine
Saxophone – Sam Levine
Synthesizer – Tommy Greer
Violin – Mark O’Conner
Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer – Michael Card

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Sarm West Studios
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters

Jacket Front
Jacket Back
Sleeve Front
Sleeve Back
Side 1
Side 2

Michael Card – Scandalon – 1986

This was Michael’s 3rd studio album and at this point in his music career he wasn’t afraid to make his lyrics a little more challenging to Christians. That said while his lyrics are a little edgy, they are somewhat prose rather than poetry. With the release of this album his music and lyric style is well established and even though this is an worship style album the quality is there.

Track Listing:
1 – Scandalon – 4:00
2 – What Will It Take To Keep You From Jesus – 3:41
3 – The Lamb Is A Lion – 2:52
4 – The Nazarene – 2:40
5 – The Gentle Healer – 2:02
6 – Meditation / Baptism – 5:29
7 – The Wedding – 2:46
8 – Forgiving Eyes – 4:07
9 – God’s Own Fool – 3:16
10 – Jesus Let Us Come To Know You – 1:59

Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Alan Moore (3) (tracks: B1, B3, B4)
Bass – Norbert Putnam (tracks: A1 to A4, B1, B3, B4)
Cello – John Catchings (tracks: A1, A2, B2, B5)
Concertmaster – Gavyn Wright
Design – Buddy Jackson
Drums, Percussion – Larry Londin (tracks: A1, A3, B3, B4)
Featuring – John Catchings – Cellist
Flute – Jim Horn (tracks: B1)
Guitar – Jon Goin (tracks: A1 to A3)
Orchestrated By – Alan Moore
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer, Recorded By – Norbert Putnam
Synthesizer – Dave Innis (tracks: A2)
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano, Drums [Digital Drums], Congas – Michael Card

Sparrow Christmas – 1988

It’s Christmas time so here’s Sparrows 1988 Christmas album. Highlights on this album are, White Heart – Little Drummer Boy, Steve Taylor – Winter Wonderland, and Geoff Moore & The Distance – Jingle Bell Rock.

Track Listing:
1 – Bebe & Cece Winans – Silent Night, Holy Night – 5:43
2 – Margaret Becker, Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore, Bebe & Cece Winans, White Heart And Steve Camp – Home For The Holidays – 4:18
3 – White Heart – Little Drummer Boy – 4:12
5 – Michael Card – What Child Is This? – 2:47
6 – Deniece Williams – Do You Hear What I Hear? – 4:13
7 – Steve Taylor – Winter Wonderland – 1:56
8 – Margaret Becker – O Come, O Come Emmanuel – 4:52
9 – Steve Camp – O Holy Night – 4:09
10 – Tim Miner – The First Noel – 4:35
11 – Geoff Moore & The Distance – Jingle Bell Rock – 2:59
12 – Steven Curtis Chapman – Away In A Manger – 4:18
13 – Margaret Becker, Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore, BeBe Winans And White Heart – Angels We Have Heard On High – 3:31