Joe English - What You Need & The Best is Yet to Come (1985)

Joe English is unique in that he is not only the drummer for the English Band, but is also the lead singer. Although he only co-wrote one song on this album (Easy Street), all the songs are originals, mostly written by band member George Cocchini. A couple of the songs are co-written by Steve Camp. Joe English also has an interesting past history as a musician before he became a Christian, as seen in his Wikipedia entry:

"Joe English (born February 7, 1949) is an American musician who, during the 1970s, played drums in Paul McCartney's band Wings and in the Southern Rock/Jazz group Sea Level, among others.

"A native of Rochester, New York, Joe English was a member of Jam Factory, a band based in Syracuse, that evolved into the Tall Dogs Orchestra of Macon, Georgia. Searching for an opportunity to expand his talent, he answered an ad for a drummer. The address led him to the basement of an old building where, much to his surprise, he found himself face to face with Paul McCartney. The audition was for Wings, and English got the job. His first album with Wings was Venus and Mars and, one album later, he would even take the lead vocals for the song, "Must Do Something About It" from Wings at the Speed of Sound. He was the drummer on the Wings Over the World tour.

"In September 1977, during the recording sessions for London Town, English became sick and returned to Macon, Georgia, where he began playing with Chuck Leavell's band Sea Level.

Following his Christian salvation experience, he formed the Joe English Band, performing as lead singer and drummer. The band toured the world, playing with other major Christian bands of the era, including Petra, DeGarmo & Key, Mylon LeFevre and Servant. The Joe English Band recorded a release without Joe's vocals called AKA Forerunner. The band included John Lawry, who left to play for Petra in 1984. In 1986, Joe English played in former Petra vocalist Greg X. Volz's band, Pieces of Eight. In the late 1980s, English joined Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Rick Cua and others as part of the Compassion All Star Band. In 1988, the band recorded live One by One, their only album together."

Credits:

• Joe English: Drums, Lead Vocals
• George Cocchini: Guitar
• Paul Brannon: Bass
• Paul Mills: Keyboards

Track Listing:

1. What You Need
2. The Master
3. Take The Cross
4. The First Stone
5. Easy Street
6. I Will Follow You
7. Yield to the Worlt
8. The Joy of the Lord
9. Children of the Light
10. Therough a Veil

This recording is still in print and you can download it here: What You Need.

Also in 1985, Joe English released the solo album The Best is Yet to Come. This recording remains out of print.

Track List:

1. He Still Loves You
2. Long Line of Fools
3. Shine On
4. My Strength Is In The Lord
5. Praise Him
6. Heavenly Day
7. Hold On
8. Anthem
9. First Love
10. Dyin'
11. Best Is Yet To Come
12. On the Wings of My Victory

Download Links: Enjoy the Music!, or here.

Farrell and Farrell - Make Me Ready (1981)

Farrell and Farrell were one of my favorite comtemporary Christian artists when I was in college. They are a husband and wife team (as the name implies). The core members of the act were high school sweethearts Bob Farrell and wife Jayne Farrell, the Christian music singers who had sung in a local rock band with Bob prior to her conversion to Christianity at a crusade. It was through Jayne and a friend that Bob experienced his own conversion as he says: "Jayne and I became born again in the Spring of 1971, in Houston. Within a week of becoming a Christian I wrote my first song about my new Lord and new life. Within a couple of months, we began performing (quite innocently) in coffeehouses and backyard Bible studies. When we had to assume a name – we chose One Man Band."

Make Me Ready is their second album and already shows signs of the more New Wave direction they would take on their later releases. A number of the musicians involved in the recording went on to careers of their own, including Ed DeGarmo of Degarmo & Key and Michael W. Smith (simply Michael Smith in the credits). Brown Bannister, the producer, produced many contemporary Christian albums during this era as well.

Credits:

• Produced by Brown Bannister
• Piano—Larry Muhoberac, Shane Keister
• Drums—Paul Leim, Lynn Williams
• Bass—Leon Gaer, Mike Brignordello
• Guitar—Jon Goin, Billy Walker, Mike Demus
• Synthesizers and Keyboards—Shane Keister, Ed DeGarmo, Mike Demus, Michael Smith
• Percussion—Terry McMillan
• Flute/Saxophone—Dennis Sollee

Track List:

1. Make Me Ready
2. Still Here
3. You're The Heart Of Me
4. You Keep Me Holdin' On
5. Old Friends
6. Sonata
7. Just In Time
8. To Know That I'm Loved By You
9. Lead Me On
10. Only Love
11. All That You've Done For Me
12. He That Overcomes

Download Link: Enjoy the Music!, or here.

Pat Terry - Humanity Gangsters (1982)

Pat Terry's first solo effort after the Pat Terry Group's last album. This is my personal favorite of his solo ventures. The songs are still classic Pat Terry Group type stuff, but some of the songs have a slightly harder edge. I also like Bill Batstone on Bass, and of course, Mark Heard, who is doing a little of this and that as well being the producer and engineer. I transfered this from cassette tape years ago and just burned the mp3 files from that CD.

Credits:

• Bill Batstone: Bass
• Bill Cobb: Engineer
• Bernie Grundman: Mastered
• Mark Heard: Producer, Engineer, Mixed, Electric Guitar, Bass, Handclaps, Background Vocals
• Alex MacDougall: Percussion, Congas
• John Mehler: Drums
• Carl Pickhardt: Piano, Hammond B-3
• Strat Brothers: Background Vocals
• Chris Taylor: Engineer
• Pat Terry: Producer, Arranger, Mixed, Songwriter, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Prophet 5 Synthesizer, Harmonica, Vocals

Track Listing:

1. The Right Place
2. Too Many Voices
3. Sounds So Simple
4. Don't Take It So Hard
5. Steal Away
6. Open the Door
7. Can't Be Satisfied
8. I'll Come Back to You
9. Nothing I Say

Download Links: Enjoy the Music!, or here.

Pat Terry Group - Final Vinyl (1980)

One of my favorite Jesus Music era groups. Pat Terry is a great songwriter and many of his songs have been covered by other musicians. The group has a middle of the road CCM sound with a touch of Souther rock feel. This is the final recording by the group before Pat Terry went solo and produced a few subsequent albums.

Credits:

• Randy Bugg: Engineer, Mixed, Bass, Narration
• Bob Farrell: Songwriter
• Al Holley: Background Vocals
• Sonny Lallerstedt: Engineer, Mixed, Songwriter, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Marimba, Drums, Percussion, Vocals
• Tony Shannon: Acoustic and Electric Keyboards
• Pat Terry: Songwriter, Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

Track List:

1. One More Try
2. All I Can Be
3. Faith Has Eyes
4. Everyday Man
5. Seen It Now
6. Bring Me to the Balance
7. I Got to Go Down
8. IRIS
9. So Many Reasons
10. The Heart of His Will

Download Link: Enjoy the Music!, or here.

Children of the Day - Never Felt so Free (1977)

This is the 5th and next to last recordings by Children of the Day. Stylistically they go all over the place, sounding at times a little like 2nd Chapter of Acts or a little like Love Song and they even sound a bit like Chicago on a couple of tunes. All original material in a soft rock vein, most of the songs written by Peter Jacobs, with a couple by Wendy Fremin or Marsha Stevens. Several of the backup musicians will be familiar to long-time Jesus music fans (see the credits below.)

Credits:

• Vocals: Peter Jacobs, Wendy Fremin, Marsha Stevens, Russ Stevens
• Drums: John Mehler
• Guitars: Jim Stipech, Wendy Fremin and Bob Ayala
• Keyboards and Vibes: Peter Jacobs
• Bass: Russ Stevens
• Soprano Sax: Craig Olson
• Percussion: Marsha Stevens
• Congas: Al MacDougal
• Produced by Peter Jacobs and Marsha Stevens
• Arranged and Orchestrated by Peter Jacobs

Track List:

1. Let Me Take You
2. Sing Me A Song
3. Letting Go
4. Givin' To Jesus
5. I'm In Love
6. Born Again
7. God Has Become (Everything I Need)
8. I'd Do Anything
9. Reflection
10. Victory Song

Download Link: Enjoy the Music!

Children of the Day - With All Our Love (1977)

 

Children of the Day was a Contemporary Christian music group that recorded and toured from 1971 to 1979. After becoming a born-again Christian, 16 year-old Marsha Carter was instrumental to leading her sister Wendy and friend Peter Jacobs to Christianity. Utilizing Carter's talents as a songwriter, the three formed a Jesus music group they called Children of the Day. With the addition of friend, singer and upright bass player Russ Stevens to the group, the band became a quartet and released their first album. Following the release of the album, Marsha Carter and Russ Stevens married.

Released in 1971 on the Maranatha! Music label, the group's first album was titled Come to the Waters. In order to finance the project, the group borrowed $900 from Calvary Chapel pastor Chuck Smith in order to produce the album that included what would become the group's best known song penned by Marsha Stevens, "For Those Tears I Died". The well-received album was followed two years later by With All Our Love (1973). Two more albums by the group were produced on the Maranatha! Music label, Where Else Could I Go (1975), and Christmas Album (1975). The group later signed with Light Records, releasing, Never Felt So Free (1977) and Butterfly(1979). It was after the release of Butterfly that the group disbanded. Source: Wikipedia.

This recording is the re-released version of the album on Light Records, LS-5714.

 

Track List:

1. Under the Shadow (of My Wings)
2. If You'll Take My Hand
3. You're a Gift
4. Russ's Song
5. Two Lives, One Moment
6. Be Ye Still
7. Where Went the Days
8. Just Pretending
9. The Crucifixion
10. Can I Show You

 Download Link: Enjoy the Music!

James Sundquist (and Noel Paul Stookey) - Freedom Flight (1977)

This is a real rarity that I picked up at Goodwill many years ago. At the time I wasn't able to track any information down about it, but because Noel Paul Stookey is an integral part of the recording, it finally started showing up on his discographies. I digitized this several years ago and then somehow the CD became unplayable, so I re-digitized it today.

As far as I know this is the only recording of Christian folk music recorded by Sundquist. Since then he seems to have focused on classical guitar and new age type playing. Released on Lion & Lamb Records, it was produced by Noel Paul Stookey, who also provided a few vocals and other odds and ends. Those familiar with the Jesus Music era will also recognize a few other names on the list below. Tom Howard is the most notable of these, but there is also Wendell Burton, who released a few CCM albums in the 70s and Jon Linn, who played electric guitar on a number of Larry Norman albums.

Most of the songs are originals, but there is one Randy Stonehill cover, King of Hearts. The first song is also co-arranged by Stookey. This is a nice gem from the Jesus Music era which deserves a listen.

 Credits:

• James Sundquist: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, 12 Strings Guitar, Classical Guitar, Fender Telecaster, Piano, Synthesizer
• Noel Paul Stookey: Producer, Additional Lead Vocal on tracks 1 & 5, Maracas, Airship
• Tom Howard: Piano, Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Strings & Horn Arrangement
• Emil Gigliardi: Drums, Cowbells
• Peter Johnson: Drums
• Herbie Melton: Bass
• Jay Truax: Bass
• Charlie West: Acoustic Guitar
• Phil Ayling: Oboe, Recorder
• Bruce Powell: Flute
• Glen Grab: Cello
• Dave Siebels: Oboe, Cello, Flute, Recorder Arrangement
• Kathy Smith: Back-up Vocals
• Wendell Burton: Back-up Vocals
• Rhythm Dukes: Back-up Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
• Billy Swain: Tuba
• Ralph Benton: Trombone
• Miriam Cutler: Clarinet
• Jon Linn: Electric Guitar

 Track List:

1. Even Though The Devil Hate Me - Romans 8:35, 37,38 adpt. & arr. by Noel Stookey & James Sundquist
2. To Be Happy - by Julie Long & James Sundquist
3. King Of Hearts - by Rndy Stonehill
4. What Do Ah Need? - by James Sundquist
5. Gospel Ship - Trad. adpt. & arr. by James Sundquist
6. Loving Tree - by James Sundquist
7. First Love - by James Sundquist
8. Mountain Lady - by James Sundquist
9. Twelve Gates (Rev.21) - Trad. adpt. & arr. by James Sundquist & Tom Petersen
10. Golden Harp - by James Sundquist

 Download Link: Enjoy the Music!

The 77s - Ping Pong Over the Abyss (1995)

This is the first recording by the 77s and was originally released in 1983. The version here is from the re-issued CD version from 1995 which contains bonus tracks, mostly demos and live recordings. It was also re-issued as part of a 3-disc set of the 77s' first three albums in 1995. Looks like this is due for another re-issue as it is now out of print.

This has never been my favorite 77s album, but nevertheless it has a certain charm to it. The beginnings of what was to comne later are here. The songs range from more or less typical bluesy CCM to new wave Christian rock somewhat in the vein of Daniel Amos.

The title comes from Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl," section 3: "I'm with you in Rockland/where you scream in a straight jacket that you're losing the game of the actual ping pong of the abyss."

Credits:

Ping Pong Over the Abyss
Seventy Sevens
1982 - Exit
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• Jan Eric: Bass, Guitars, Background Vocals
• Tom Goodeluinas: Vocals
• Larry Hirsch: Engineer, Mixed, Percussion
• Chris MacDonald: Vocals
• G. Mascoli: Songwriter
• Mary Neely: Executive Producer
• Washington Phillips: Songwriter
• Mark Proctor: Songwriter, Drums, Vocals
• Michael Roe: Songwriter, Guitars, Vocals
• Steven Soles: Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
• Mark Tootle: Songwriter, Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
• Daryl Zachman: Engineer

 Track List:

1. A Different Kind of Light'
2. How Can You Love
3. It's So Sad
4. Falling Down A Hole
5. Someone New written w/Gene Mascoli
6. Renaissance Man
7. Ping Pong Over The Abyss
8. Time Is Slipping Away written w/Gene Mascoli
9. Denomination Blues (That's All)
10. A Different Kind Of Light (Live)
11. How Can You Love (4 - Track Demo)
12. It's So Sad (Live)
13. Falling Down A Hole (Live)
14. Ping Pong Over The Abyss (4 - Track Demo)
15. Denomination Blues (Live)

 Sources: Christian Music Archive, Allmusic.com, Wikipedia.

Download Link: Link removed at request of owner. Now available at Ping Pong Over the Abyss

Other Recordings by The 77s: 

• Pray Naked
• A Golden Field Of Radioactive Crows
• Seventy Sevens
• Revolution Rock
• 123 - All Fall Down / Ping Pong Over the Abyss / Seventy Sevens
• Sticks and Stones
• All Fall Down
• Drowning With Land in Sight
• Eighty Eight
• EP
• Tom Tom Blues

Tom Howard & Bill Batstone - One on One (1985)

This is Tom Howard's third recording and it is much more contemplative and laid back with some very nice songs. My favorites are "When the Curtain Fall," "Storm Moving on" and "Show Me the Shepherd." One by One can be seen as a foreshadowing of Howard's New Age instrumental sound that later became his trademark. As an added bonus Mark Heard was the engineer and mixer for the recording.

I digitized this recording from my own vinyl copy a few years ago.

 

Tracks:

1. When the Curtain Falls
2. Storm Moving On
3. Night and Day
4. Think on These Things
5. Heart of a Fool (Psalm 14)
6. Your Constant Love
7. He Took the Form of Man
8. The Best Thing
9. Show Me the Shepherd
10. And He Heard Them Sing

Credits:

• Bill Batstone: Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Guitars, Basses, DMX Programming, Vocals
• Jerry Chamberlain: Guitar Synthesizer
• Mark Heard: Engineer, Mixed
• Tom Howard: Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Keyboards, Vocals
• Alex MacDougall: Percussion
• David Raven: Drum Overdubs
• Harry Stinson: Percussion

Sources: Christian Music Archive

 

Download Link: Enjoy the Music!

 

You can also download View from the Bridge.