Navitas ’81

Navitas ’81
1981 (no label)

Recorded By: Larry Hirsch & Daryl Zachman
Produced By: Steven Soles

Nancy Alexander – Vocals
Darlya Griser – Vocals
Erika Granados – Vocals
Mellissa Schatz – Vocals
Debbie Ballard – Vocals
Linda Maurer – Vocals
Denise True – Vocals
Steve Griffith – Vocals
Doug Recher – Vocals
Kerry Robertson – Vocals
Mike Simpson – Vocals
Duane Cissna – Vocals
Chet Fite – Vocals
Roger Keskeys – Vocals
Cyndy Hubbard – Violin Janice Kyle – Oboe
Karly Lundgren – Flute
John Reitz – Guitar
Dann Wick – Banjo, Mandolin
Mark Tootle – Piano
Gary Landaker – Bass
Jack Stanfill – Percussion

Side 1:

1. Overture
2. Shiloh
3. Morning Will Come
4. Mary’s Song
5. Beautiful Mother

Side 2:

1. The Shepherds Song
2. Wise Men (Travel to Bethlehem)
3. Immanuel
4. Sleeping Babe

This was an interesting rarity recently shared by Randy Layton on SoundCloud. It is a recording of a Christmas piece presented at the Warehouse in 1981. It was written by Mark Tootle and Mary Neely. The overall feeling is something like ArkAngel or Kemper Crabb’s Medieval Christmas projects. I doubt many of us have ever heard a Christmas program like this. At least not with so much original music. It’s a really well-done program. Download it while you can.

Randy Layton · Nativus ’81 Side One

Randy Layton · Nativus ’81 Side Two

Asher – Demo

Asher
Demo
1981 (no label)
Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Billy Sutherland
(others?)

1. Been Set Free
2. If You Miss Heaven
3. I Didn’t Die
4. If I Had an Ear
5. Jump & Shout
6. I’ve Been Saved
7. Praises to You
8. Should Have Asked the Lord
9. Let Your Jesus Show
10. Goin’ to Heaven

So this is an early, early demo from Billy Sutherland, who went on to record with bands like L.E.D., and even played on Dale Thompson’s pre-Matrix/Bride solo demo Lost in His Love. The sound here is more rock than his later music. The first track is hard rock, with even has a slight prog rock influence to it. But then there are several slower rock ballad type songs after that one.  It really kind of hops back and forth between slightly hard rock and straight up rock for the rest of the demo, with only a few prog rock parts peaking through here and there. Then it ends with a very country song.

Missing Information: Who else played on this?

Just the Job – Living in the Welfare State

Just the Job
Living in the Welfare State
1981 Just Records (JUST 1)
Arden, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Davie Barbour – Drums
Graham Bryce – Lead guitar, vocals
Dave MacLachlan – Bass, vocals
Paul Middleton – Lead vocals, jumps
Craig Smillie – Rhythm guitar, vocals

Side 1:

1. Living in the Welfare State
2. World War Three

Side 2:

1. That’s the Way Love is
2. Movies

“Quirky Power Pop” is how this extensive write-up of Just the Job describes their sound, and that is a pretty good place to start. Was sent to me as a trade. This is waaaay back in 1981, so think more of early 80s Power Pop than later versions of Power Pop. To me, this sound has always been a bit groovy, a bit ska, a bit new wave, and a bit punk – and Just the Job seems to nail it perfectly. You can also find a fairly informative Facebook page. On that Facebook page, the “Band Profile” link has downloads of this demo, as well as many other Just the Job songs. Also, a couple of the songs from this demo were uploaded to YouTube as well: