Steve Green – Joy To The World – 1987

Here’s a collection of Christmas tracks that the record company put together for Steve Green to sing. I say this because this is about the 3rd CCM artist Christmas album I’ve listened to that had nothing contemporary about it and doesn’t seem to have that touch from the artist. That said it’s an okay album but it won’t go on my Christmas playlist.

Tracklist
1 – Joy To The World – 2:25
2 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High – 2:41
3 – Angels From The Realms Of Glory / O Come, All Ye Faithful – 3:06
4 – Silent Night, Holy Night – 3:19
5 – The Birthday Of A King / O Holy Night – 4:24
6 – Jesus Is Born – 3:24
7 – Messiah Medley – 3:16
8 – Rest – 4:09
9 – Adorar Al Niño (Go And Worship Jesus) – 2:08
10 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne – 4:21

Credits
Arranged By [Percussion Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements] – Greg Nelson, Phil Naish
Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [String and Vocal Arrangements] – Alan Moore
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement], Conductor – David T. Clydesdale
Arranged By, Orchestrated By, Conductor – David T. Clydesdale
Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn
Bass – Craig Nelson
Contractor [Background Vocalists] – Beverly Darnall
Contractor [Orchestra] – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine
Design – Jackson Design
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer – Brent King
Engineer [Assistant] – Bill Whittington, David Murphy
Engineer, Mixed By – Bob Clark
Guitar – Jon Goin, Mark Casstevens
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Photography By – Steven A. Heller
Piano [Acoustic], Harpsichord – David Huntsinger
Producer – Greg Nelson
Sleeve Notes – Steve Green

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Word Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Downstage Studio
Mixed At – Great Circle Sound
Published By – LCS Songs
Published By – Pamela Kay Music
Published By – Beckengus Music
Published By – River Oaks Music
Published By – New Wings Music
Published By – Greg Nelson Music

Steve Green – Steve Green – 1984

This is Steve Green’s introductory album and this album was an example of everything that was wrong with Christian music at this time. Steve did not write a single song on this album though he was given cowriting credits for one track. The songs were written by great writers employed by Sparrow Records. In fact “Wounded Soldier” was also released on Debby Boone’s album the previous year. What? You couldn’t find another song Sparrow? So it leaves me to wonder, why Steve Green? Sure he’s a good singer but there were 100’s probably 1000’s of singers as good as him. He didn’t even play an instrument on his own album. Sure he had been a minor member of Truth but what was it that had Sparrow say “This is our guy”. Now Steve did go on to be a great success though he never really did much writing. Sparrow knew what they were doing when they picked artists like this. As for the album it’s good. Steve’s a good singer and the tracks were written by the cream of the crop over at Sparrow. I just sometimes wonder how these albums came to exist.

Tracklist
1 – Lift Up A Song
2 – Looking For The City
3 – Bring Back The Glory
4 – Proclaim The Glory Of The Lord
5 – Wounded Soldier
6 – Lamb Of Glory
7 – Other Side Of The Grave
8 – Broken And Spilled Out
9 – You Can Be (As Full As You Want To Be)
10 – People Need The Lord

Credits
Engineer [Additional Engineer] – Bill Deaton, Billy Sherill, James Baird
Engineer [Chief Engineer], Mixed By [Remixed By] – Bob Clark
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mastered By [With] – Ken Pennell
Orchestrated By – David T. Clydesdale
Producer [Produced By] – Greg Nelson
Strings [Strings By] – Nashville String Machine
Vocals [Choral Group] – Beverly Darnall, Dave Duram, Gary Music, Jon Mohr, Karla Worley, Kevin Hoffer, Kristi Cleary, Larry Brooks, Luanne Mohr, Melody Tunney*, Rick Gibson, Scott Douglas, Steve Green

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Hearn Records Fund II, Ltd.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – Center Stage Studio
Recorded At – Bullet Recording
Recorded At – Sound Emporium
Remixed At – Great Circle Sound
Mastered At – Future Disc

Various – Sparrow Spotlight Volume 2 – 1984

This was one of the more boring Sparrow samplers. But in all honesty I was not the target market for this one. It was obviously more pointed at the worship crowd. Below I’ve listed the tracks and the album they came from;

1 – Steve Green – Lift Up A Song – Steve Green
2 – Debby Boone – Can You Reach My Friend – Surrender
3 – Wendell Burton – Spreading All Over The World – Closer
4 – Sheila Walsh – Surrendering – Triumph In The Air
5 – Terry Talbot – I Am He – Terry Talbot Sings Stories Of Jesus
6 – Phil Driscoll – I Exalt Thee – I Exalt Thee
7 – John Michael Talbot – Glory To Thee (O God Of Life) – The God Of Life
8 – Michele Pillar – Reign On Me – Reign On Me
9 – Dennis Agajanian – If You Say – Where Are The Heroes
10 – Steve Camp – Living In Laodicea – Fire And Ice

Tracklist
1 – Steve Green – Lift Up A Song – 2:29
2 – Debby Boone – Can You Reach My Friend – 4:07
3 – Wendell Burton – Spreading All Over The World – 3:06
4 – Sheila Walsh – Surrendering – 4:30
5 – Terry Talbot – I Am He – 5:01
6 – Phil Driscoll – I Exalt Thee – 4:05
7 – John Michael Talbot – Glory To Thee (O God Of Life) – 7:23
8 – Michele Pillar – Reign On Me – 3:05
9 – Dennis Agajanian – If You Say – 3:18
10 – Steve Camp – Living In Laodicea – 2:38

Steve Green – He Holds The Keys – 1985

This is Steve’s second solo album and it follows along with his previous album. Quite frankly it’s hard to believe he was a member of White Heart at one point. I say this because Steve turned to a very Easy Listening style. Now let’s be fair, he’s very good at this style and he was very popular in that genre. This is the album that made him very well know and he actually received the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the CCM category. So if you like your CCM music in the worship style this album is for you.

Tracklist
1 – Praise To The King – 2:30
2 – Celebrate His Good Life – 3:18
3 – He Holds The Keys – 5:25
4 – The Lord Is Lifted Up – 3:11
5 – That’s Where The Joy Comes From – 3:12
6 – I Can See (On The Emmaus Road) – 5:30
7 – Honor The Lord – 2:26
8 – When His Kingdom Comes – 5:42
9 – Touch Your People Once Again – 3:58

Credits
Bass – Craig E. Nelson
Conductor [Strings] – Alan Moore, Greg Nelson
Drums – James Stroud, Mark Hammond
Engineer – Ed Seay
Engineer [Assistant] – Tom Harding
Guitar – Jon Goin, Pete Bordonali
Keyboards [Synthesizers] – David Innis, Shane Keister
Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall
Orchestrated By – Alan Moore
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Piano – Bill George, David Huntsinger
Producer – Greg Nelson
Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine

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

White Heart – Vital Signs – 1984

White Heart’s second album, Vital Signs was a masterpiece of finely produced songs. The band self-produced, with executive help from Chris Christian. The album was released on Chris Christian’s Home Sweet Home Records.

The opening song, “Sing Unto The Lamb” is a big sounding song that would qualify for a modern major Broadway number. The vocals stay true to this big performance sound all the way through the album, which is one of the things that made White Heart so popular. Standout tracks include the high energy “Carried Away” and power ballad “Let Your First Thought Be Love.”

The album was recorded in Nashville and attracted a who’s who of contributing artists. The closing song, “We Are His Hands” includes a choir with (among others) Bob Farrell (of Farrell and Farrell), Scott Wesley Brown, David Meece, Amy Grant, Steve Green, Russ Taff, Chris Christian and Kathy Troccoli. We Are His Hands was their first number one radio single.

Former lead singer, Scott Douglas went to prison in 1986. White Heart continued on with a new lead singer after this album, Rick Florian who was allegedly promoted from roadie to lead singer all at once. Florian remained in the lead post throughout the rest of White Heart’s existence.

Track Listing:
1 – Sing Unto The Lamb – 3:15
2 – Draw The Line – 4:38
3 – Walking In The Light – 3:56
4 – Carried Away (Safe On The Wings Of The Lord) – 4:19
5 – Quiet Love – 3:52
6 – Following The King – 4:05
7 – Let Your First Thought Be Love – 3:51
8 – Undercover – 3:54
9 – Vital Signs – 3:50
10 – We Are His Hands – 4:13

Credits:
Arranged By – Billy Smiley, Dann Huff, Mark Gersmehl
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Ronn Huff
Art Direction, Design – Bill Brunt
Bass Guitar – Gary Lunn
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Bill Brunt, Mark Tucker
Design Concept [Vital Signs Concept] – Kent Hunter
Drums, Percussion – David Huff*
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Bill Deaton, Brent King, Mike Psanos
Engineer [Assistant] – Doug Sarrett
Executive-Producer – Chris Christian
Graphics [Vital Signs Logo] – Ken Wolgemuth, Ken Wolgemuth
Graphics [White Heart Logo] – Ellen Hodnett, Ellen Hodnett
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Jack Joseph Puig
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Billy Smiley
Producer – White Heart
Recorded By – Jeff Balding
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Dann Huff
Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, Craig Nelson, Dennis Molchan, Gary Vanosdale, David Boyle*, Pam Vanosdale*, Phyllis Hiltz*, Roy Christensen, The Nashville String Machine, Walt Schwede*
Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals – Mark Gersmehl
Vocals – Scott Douglas