Michael & Stormie Omartian

Michael And Stormie Omartian – Seasons Of The Soul – 1978

This was Michael And Stormie’s first release using both of their names. Stormie had appeared on Michael’s previous albums but this is the first album she did lead vocals on. They actually married the same year they released this album so I guess we could consider this album a celebration of their partnership. If you hear a bit of darkness in some of Stormie’s writings she has previously shared that before Michael she was actually in a disastrous marriage and that her childhood wasn’t that great either. As such she wrote many songs reflecting her life experiences. While Michael was the musical driving force of the marriage without a doubt Stormie was the lyricist. Together they made a great musical couple from whom we would enjoy many more albums. Nice to see Matthew Ward and Phil Keaggy helping out with the album, I’ve been told they were all great friends.

Tracklist
1 – Ms. Past – 4:09
2 – Travel On With Me – 5:27
3 – Gonna Write Me A Song – 2:39
4 – More Like You – 3:19
5 – Where I Been – 4:08
6 – It All Comes Down To You – 3:46
7 – Heaven Will Wait For Me – 4:15
8 – Seasons Of The Soul – 6:47

Credits
Backing Vocals – Matthew Ward, Myrna Matthews
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums, Congas – Paul Leim
Engineer – Buck Herring, Wally Duguid
Engineer [Mixdown] – Jay Graydon
Lead Guitar – Phil Keaggy
Lyrics By, Vocals, Backing Vocals – Stormie Omartian
Music By – Stormie Omartian (tracks: A3)
Photography By [Back Cover & Sleeve] – Harry Langdon
Photography By [Front Cover] – Bob Anderson
Producer, Arranged By, Music By, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion [Tuned] – Michael Omartian
Rhythm Guitar – Bud Nuanez
Saxophone, Flute – Larry Wilson
Saxophone, Flute, Horn [Solos] – Kim Hutchcroft
Trumpet – Jerry Hey

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Published By – See This House Music
Recorded At – Buckskin Studio
Recorded At – Garden Rake Studio
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

Michael & Stormie Omartian – Mainstream – 1982

This is the third album released by Michael And Stormie Omartian as a couple. It is a follow up to the very popular The Builder album. This album had 2 CCM singles, “It Is Done” made it to #23 and “Praise His Name And See It Happen” made it to #10. I really believe that the CCM charts were manipulated and here is some proof. There was not a charting single on The Builder but 2 on this album. Quite frankly The Builder was a much better album. The song writing was much stronger and the music itself was far better. Here’s a clue as to what was going on, The Builder was on Myrrh Records but this album was on Sparrow. I’m not saying Myrrh was ignored by CCM magazine I’m just saying that Sparrow got more “attention”. I’d love to see the ad spend budget for both of these companies at this point in history. Anyway let’s talk about the album. It is your typical early 80’s worship album, nothing special or distinctive. But it is good, let their be no doubt there was a lot of talent in this marriage. So if you lean to Worship oriented music this is one you should listen to.

Tracklist
1 – The Calling – 8:09
2 – Mainstream – 4:22
3 – Man Out Of Time – 3:38
4 – Come And Give It All You’ve Got – 4:00
5 – Praise His Name And See It Happen – 3:10
6 – Give It Up – 3:40
7 – Believing For The Best In You – 3:27
8 – One Song Is Not Enough – 4:09
9 – It Is Done – 4:13

Credits
Art Direction – Stan Evenson
Artwork [Cover Painting] – Jacque Devaud
Engineer, Remix – John Guess
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Photography By – Harry Langdon
Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – Michael Omartian
Strings, Concertmaster – Assa Drori
Written-By – Stormie Omartian

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Published By – See This House Music
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc.
Produced For – Rhema Productions Inc.
Recorded At – Rhema Studios
Recorded At – Hollywood Sound Recorders
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

2nd Chapter Of Acts & Michael & Stormie Omartian – Together Live – 1983

This concert was recorded at Church On The Way, Van Nuys, CA. This is certainly not a Rock & Roll concert and though all we have is audio I think we can rest assured there wasn’t a light show or pyrotechnics. But seriously this is a decidedly easy listening and praise oriented album. The one exception was the one Matthew Ward song which even I found to be a little on the Rock and Roll side for a church concert in 1983. Nowadays it wouldn’t be an issue but in 1983 I’m betting there were some odd looks at the opening guitar riffs. Good version of the song however. Anyway, if you’re a fan of either of the headliners your gonna love this album, the songs are very well done and there is good testimony on a lot of the tracks.

Tracklist
1 – Rejoice – 3:05
2 – I Fall In Love / Change – 4:20
3 – Lightning Flash – 2:52
4 – Bread Of Life – 2:14
5 – Come Holy Spirit – 2:45
6 – Easter Song – 3:15
7 – Here I Go – 2:30
8 – ‘Til The Walls Fall Down – 2:53
9 – Nobody Can Take My Life – 3:24
10 – Mainstream – 4:33
11 – See This House – 3:04
12 – Believing For The Best In You – 3:27
13 – Dr. Jesus – 3:28
14 – Praise His Name And See It Happen – 3:07
15 – Which Way The Wind Blows – 4:22
16 – Killing Thousands – 4:12
17 – Mansion Builder – 3:23
18 – Haven’t You Heard – 3:37

Credits
Backing Vocals – 2nd Chapter Of Acts (tracks: B4 to C4)
Bass – Herb Melton
Cover [Cover Coordination] – B. Charlyne Hinesley
Design – Stan Evenson Design
Drums – Jack Kelly
Engineer – Buck Herring
Guitar – Peter York
Photography By – Mark Hanauer
Piano – Michael Omartian (tracks: B4 to C4)
Piano, Vocals – Annie Herring (tracks: A1 to B3, D1 to D4)
Producer – Buck Herring
Synthesizer – Greg Springer
Vocals – Matthew Ward (tracks: A1 to B3, D1, D3, D4), Nelly Greisen (tracks: A1 to B3, D1, D3, D4)
Vocals, Written-By – Michael And Stormie Omartian (tracks: B4 to C4)
Written-By – Anne Herring (tracks: A1 to A3, A5 to B1, B3, D2 to D4)

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Cherry Lane Music Pub. Co.
Published By – Ears To Hear Music
Published By – Holicanthus Music
Published By – Latter Rain Music
Published By – MCA Music
Published By – See This House Music
Published By – Word Music
Recorded At – The Church On The Way
Edited At – Weddington Studios
Remixed At – Weddington Studios
Recorded live at Church On The Way, Van Nuys, CA.