This is the Imperials 2nd Christmas album. While their first one was very very popular, this one, not so much. In part it is because they self released it so it probably only sold through their mail order program. This was a period that the Imperials were struggling with record labels. The album is traditional Christmas songs done in a very traditional quartet style. It’s not even in the same ballpark as their first album but I don’t think they wanted it to be.
Tracklist 1 – Sleigh Ride 2 – White Christmas 3 – Silent Night 4 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel 5 – I Have Seen The Light 6 – The Christmas Song 7 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 8 – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee 9 – What Child Is This 10 – Hark The Herald Angels Sing
This is an album from the Imperials that seemed to slip under the radar. I don’t even remember this one and we listened to the Imperials back in this era. Maybe we did hear it and just ignored it as it’s pretty worship oriented. This was the last album with Sherman Andrus and Terry Blackwood before they went on to their own duo act. Strangely Andrus is not credited on the album but he’s rather obviously there. It’s a little hard to believe this was done in error so there’s a story there for sure. As for the album it’s pretty standard fare for an early 70’s Imperials album. Nothing really stood out on it for me but if you like the Imperials form this era this album will satisfy your ears.
Tracklist 1 – Just Because He Loves You – 4:08 2 – Jesus Came Into My Life – 2:45 3 – Love, It Comes In All Colors – 2:47 4 – Sweet Jesus – 4:10 5 – He Made My Life Come Together – 5:10 6 – He’s Coming Back – 3:23 7 – He Loves Me So – 4:09 8 – David’s Psalm – 4:17 9 – Sunny Day – 4:02 10 – Sometimes Alleluia – 3:55
Credits Arranged By – Jack Williams Arranged By [Orchestral Arrangements By] – Buddy Skipper Arranged By [Track Arrangements] – Gary S. Paxton Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – Terry Blackwood Art Direction – Bob McConnell Bass – Jack Williams, Steve Schaffer Design [Cover Design], Illustration – Michael Harris Drums – Kenny Malone, Larri London Engineer – Bob Clark Guitar – Bobby Thompson, Steve Gibson Keyboards – Buddy Skipper, Pig Robbins, Ron Oates, Shane Keister Percussion – Farrell Morris Photography [Cover Photography] – Dill Beaty Producer – Phil Johnson
The Imperials entered the 90’s with some big changes. They left Myrrh records for Star Song records who actually had a distribution deal with Sparrow. This was a surprise in the industry as Star Song wasn’t considered a big dollar label but here’s the proof they were. Lineup changes continued with this album. David Robertson replaced Jimmie Lee Sloas who left for a solo career that never took off. David promptly left the band after this album also for a rather non spectacular solo career. They simply weren’t Russ Taff but I think that’s what they envisioned. Anyway drama aside the album was successful as usual. “It’s Raining Again” made it to #1, “I Will Follow You” to #3, “Come Into My Life” to #5, and “Original Love” made it to #9. Personally however I think the best track on the album is “It’s Gonna Be Alright” which personally I could have heard on a Blues Brothers album. Shout out to the horn section. Yes it’s that good a track and is in my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – Big Ball Turning – 5:17 2 – Love Can Make It Happen – 4:37 3 – Come Into My Life – 4:33 4 – Original Love – 4:36 5 – I Will Follow You – 4:51 6 – It’s Raining Again – 4:45 7 – It’s Gonna Be Alright – 4:47 8 – Love’s Still Changing Hearts – 4:26 9 – Come Let Us Worship – 4:40 10 – Goin’ Away – 3:40 11 – Platinum Medley – 8:46
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Billy Panda, David Barrett Alto Saxophone – James A. Perkins, Jr. Arranged By – Morris “Butch” Stewart Arranged By [Original] – Diane Louie Art Direction, Design – Jackson Design Backing Vocals – Jason Morales, Kim Fleming, Morris “Butch” Stewart, Tanya Goodman-Sykes, Vicky Hampton Baritone Saxophone – Steve Eisen Bass – Ronald Hall Drums – Wayne Stewart Electric Guitar – Peter Lerner, Richard Davis Engineer [2nd] – John David Parker, Scott Ahaus, Tom Russo Engineer [3rd] – Graham Lewis Executive-Producer – Armond Morales, Jeff Moseley Mixed By – Nick Froome Photography By – Russ Harrington Producer – Morris “Butch” Stewart Recorded By – Larry Millas, Paul Klingberg Sequenced By – “Kuk” Harrell, Morris “Butch” Stewart Synth, Organ [Hammond B-3] – Chris “Hambone” Cameron Synthesizer – Morris “Butch” Stewart, Neil Artwick Tenor Saxophone – James A. Perkins, Jr., Steve Eisen Trombone – Michael Halpin Trumpet – Grant Cramer, Mark Ohlsen Vocals [Guest] – Kim Fleming Vocals [The Imperials] – Armond Morales, David Robertson, David Will, Ron Hemby
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Star Song Copyright (c) – Star Song Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia Recorded At – River North Studios Recorded At – Home Boy Studios, Evanston, IL Recorded At – Reflections Studio, Nashville, TN Mixed At – 16th Avenue Sound Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
This was the Imperials album for 1988. They didn’t put out an album every year but almost. They toured so heavy that they missed the occasional year. After the shock of their previous album, “This Year’s Model”, this one wasn’t quite as rock and leaned back to Pop. Not that that album was rock but it was Rock for them. This is a solid Pop album and the vocals are even better than “This Years Model” in my opinion. This album is probably my second most liked from them and it’s a solid Pop effort. The album had an awesome 2 #2 singles, “Free The Fire”, and “The Boss”. “You” also made it to #24. I really like Dann Huff’s guitar work on the intro to “Higher Things” though that’s where I end liking the song. The intro doesn’t fit the song and they did one of those stupid abrupt ends. Not a producing masterpiece that one. That said this is a pretty good album and one of their best in my opinion.
Tracklist 1 – Free The Fire – 5:11 2 – Wild Geese – 4:08 3 – City In The Sky – 4:56 4 – You – 4:55 5 – The Boss – 5:17 6 – Higher Things – 5:11 7 – Rest In Your Arms – 4:16 8 – Let It Go – 4:15 9 – Better Than I Know Myself – 4:08 10 – Touchin’ Me – 4:03 11 – I Just Came To Praise The Lord – 1:59
Credits A&R – Lynn Nichols, Mark Maxwell Art Direction, Design – Roland Young Band [The Imperials Are] – Armond Morales, David Will, Jimmie Lee, Ron Hemby Engineer – Bart Stevens, Wade Jaynes Mastered By – Doug Sax Bass – Jimmie Lee Sloas Drums – Paul Leim Guitar – Dann Huff Keyboards – Robbie Buchanan Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano, Synthesizer – Michael Omartian Photography By – Howard Rosenberg Producer, Engineer – Bill Schnee Producer – Deborah Klein
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Manufactured By – Word, Inc. Pressed By – Discovery Systems Recorded At – Bill Schnee Studios Recorded At – The Bunny Hop Recorded At – 41B Studios Recorded At – O’Henry Sound Studios Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios Mastered At – The Mastering Lab Published By – See This House Music Published By – Swot Patch Music Published By – Marquis III Published By – Word Music Published By – Martin Noyes Publishing Published By – Todah Music Published By – Nanacub Music Published By – California Phase Music Published By – Whitney Katherine Music, Inc. Published By – Birdwing Music Published By – Waif Productions Ltd. Published By – ATV Music Ltd. Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
At this point in time the Imperials had the whole hit album thing down to a fine art and Dayspring/Word Records was in full profit mode even getting 2 albums out in 1979. The Russ Taff legacy was taking a strong foothold and they were churning out the radio hits. This album had 3 singles. The big one was “I’m Forgiven” which got stuck at #1 for an amazing 13 weeks. “What I Can Do For You” and “One More Song For You” peaked at #12 and #10 respectively. Of real note on this album is Michael Omartian coming on as producer and song writer. Personally this album just wasn’t that impressive to me. I really shouldn’t argue with radio success but at this point the guys could have put out an album of them all snoring and it would have been a #1 hit. CCM radio was only interested in playing tried and true performers and no one was more tried and true than the Imperials. That said I admit there was some good stuff coming on future albums when luckily they had to compete with up and coming acts that turned the electric guitar up past 3. That said to the normal Imperials fan this is a good album and I am sure they quite enjoyed it.
Tracklist 1 – What I Can Do For You – 2:59 2 – I’m Forgiven – 3:54 3 – All My Life – 3:24 4 – Living Without Your Love – 3:27 5 – Eagle Song – 3:14 6 – Closer Than Ever – 4:23 7 – One More Song For You – 4:38 8 – Higher Power – 4:20 9 – More Like You – 3:30
Credits Backing Vocals [Additional] – Marti McCall, Myrna Matthews, Stormie Omartian Bass – Abraham Laboriel Concertmaster – Assa Drori Congas – Victor Feldman Design [Album Design], Photography By – Bob Anderson Drums – Paul Leim Engineer [Additional] – Jack Lees, John Banuelos Engineer, Remix – John Guess Guitar – Marty Walsh Horns – Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Jackie Kelso, Steve Madaio Horns, Soloist [Saxophone] – Kim Hutchcroft Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Performer – Armond Morales, David Will, Jim Murray, Russell Taff Producer, Arranged By, Keyboards, Percussion – Michael Omartian
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc. Copyright (c) – Word, Inc. Published By – See This House Music Published By – Word Music, Inc. Published By – Norman Clayton Publishing Published By – I.A.M. Music Recorded At – Jennifudy Studios Recorded At – Hollywood Central Recorders Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
This was The Imperials first album after the departure of long time tenor Jim Murray and lead singer Paul Smith. Apparently their departure made for a rather odd decision for this album. It is much more youth oriented, and in fact you could argue it was a total pop album. This caused all sorts of consternation from their regular fans who were expecting another worship oriented album. I actually snicker at how they would have reacted on their first listen to this album. The album is well done and actually quite enjoyable. Let’s face it these guys knew what they were doing and probably could have put out a top notch heavy metal album. Try envisioning that for a minute. But alas the new pop sound must not have sold well as the next album they were right back to their worship oriented sound. Pity actually, this was a good album.
Tracklist
1 – Holding On (First Love) – 5:22
2 – Fallin’ – 4:03
3 – Warriors – 4:54
4 – How Do I Get You? – 5:38
5 – Wings Of Love – 4:38
6 – Power Of God – 4:07
7 – Outlander – 6:47
8 – Get Ready – 4:38
9 – Devoted To You – 3:44
Credits
Arranged By [Rhythm Track] – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1)
Art Direction – Joan Tankersley
Artwork [Jacket Concept] – Joan Tankersley, Lynn Nichols
Bass – Jimmie Lee* (tracks: A2, B4)
Drum Programming – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1)
Drums – Paul Leim (tracks: B4, B5)
Engineer [Second] – Bill Whittington, Danny Johnston, J.T., Spence Chrislu, Wade Jaynes
Executive Producer – Lynn Nichols
Guitar – Mark Grendel (tracks: A2 to A4), Tom Hemby (tracks: B2, B4, B5)
Keyboards – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B4, B5), Shane Keister (tracks: A4, B4)
Lyrics By – Chris Eaton (tracks: A3, B3), Jimmie Lee (tracks: A2, B4), Ron Hemby (tracks: B2, B5)
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Nick Froome
Mixed By [Assistant] – Ed Goodreau, Rob Jaczko
Music By – Chris Eaton (tracks: A3, B3), Jimmie Lee (tracks: A2, B4), Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, B1)
Photography By [Back Cover] – Aaron Rapoport
Photography By [Front Cover] – Ellen Schuster
Producer – Brown Bannister
Programmed By [Fairlight] – Carl Marsh, Peter Kaye, Rhett Lawrence, Shane Keister
Programmed By [Synclavier] – Steve Schaffer
Recorded By [Overdubs] – J.B., Jeff Balding
Recorded By [Rhythm Tracks, Assistant] – Joe Schiff
Recorded By [Rhythm Tracks] – Steve McMillan
Synthesizer [Fairlight Iii] – Carl Marsh (tracks: A1, A3)
This 1975 Imperials release provided their fans with more of what they loved. This album was more socially aware of the times. The title and lead track referred to the “shortage culture” of the mid 70’s. Other tracks spoke of negative issues and how God figured into them. Some pundits actually consider “No Shortage” as their best song ever. The album won both Grammy and Dove awards. No Shortage was probably one of the most popular Christian albums of all time but keep in mind the broad target audience of the album before you rush to correct me.
Tracklist
1 – No Shortage – 2:50
2 – Give Them All To Jesus – 3:32
3 – Would You Believe In Me – 4:07
4 – Holy Spirit, Speak To Me – 3:35
5 – My Child, Welcome Home 2:57
6 – Someday (It May Be Tomorrow) – 2:22
7 – I Just Came To Praise The Lord – 3:07
8 – Let Us Love One Another – 4:50
9 – Light At The End Of The Darkness – 3:42
10 – There Must Be A Better Way – 3:46
