| Musical Style: AOR | Produced By: Dino Elefante & Randy Thomas |
| Record Label: Light / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1985 / 1986 / 2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: Varies | Rating: 85% / 75% |
| Running Time: Varies |
Allies is a stalwart in the Christian AOR segment. And rightly so when considering its lineage, which traces to the early seventies and founding member and guitarist Randy Thomas, whom got his start as a member of Sunrise- later to change its name to Sonrise when each of its members came to the faith. Fast forward to the mid-seventies and Thomas is part of rhythm and blues influenced rock band Psalm 150 in which he recorded a pair of albums in Make Up Your Mind (released in 1974) and Chasin’ the Wind (Andraé Crouch produced but never released). When Psalm 150 reached its conclusion, Thomas joined the at times jazzy and others funky seventies influenced sounds of Sweet Comfort Band to see him record six albums between 1977 and 1984.
Allies came into being following the mid-eighties demise of Sweet Comfort Band, with Thomas joining forces with former Psalm 150 cohorts in front-man and guitarist Bob Carlisle, keyboardist Sam Scott and drummer Jim Erickson in addition to Sonrise bassist Matthew Chapman. The four formed the backbone to the group’s Light Records first two albums Allies from 1985 and sophomore effort Virtues released a year later. When placed alongside, Allies is arguably heaviest of the bands to involve Thomas with its muscular rock and pop based arena rock sound to stay true to the radio friendly times at hand. No, not hard rock, but if into Mastedon, noting the presence of co-producer Dino Elefante, not to mention Petra and White Heart then I can see Allies being of interest.
Despite out of print and hard to find collectors items, Allies and Virtues were re-issued by Retroactive Records in May of 2021 subsequent to being digitally re-mastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound. In addition to a foil stamped trading card, each album also features enhanced packaging, noting the work of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics, to include lyrics in an easy to read font, band/concert photos and a two-part interview with Thomas that starts with Allies and ends with Virtues.
Allies
Allies could not get to a stronger start than with “Surrender”, a classy arena rocker to align Carlisle’s powerful but heartfelt vocals with a preeminent refrain and complementary spiritual warfare infused message. I can see this finding a home on mid-eighties FM radio and MTV if given opportunity. In a similar musical vein and of equal quality is “Don’t You Worry”, with crunchy guitars underlining bright keyboards in upholding a mirthful uplifting quality (noting the catchy hook focus), and “Morningstar”, albums heaviest with open-air guitar to start prior to morphing into a worshipful hard rocker (heightened by the groups expansive backing vocals). Thomas’ lead guitar ranges from searing (former) to feedback driven (latter).
Also quite good is “Second Chance” in reinforcing a pronounced keyboard emphasis to resonate a pop feel in highlighting a duet between Thomas (verses) and Carlisle (refrain) and “I’ll Be Your Brother” to uphold a funk flavored bass line and rhythm and blues aspects to bring to mind Sweet Comfort Band. I also esteem AOR infused “Don’t’ Run Away” with its big keyboard sound and even bigger backing vocals with guitars to taste and eighties rocker “Don’t Keep Him Waiting” in trending towards the lighter side with its mid-tempo (almost reggae influenced) verses and resilient (organ driven) refrain.
Album also features a pair of very well done ballads. My favorite is “Send Me” to skirt traditional ballad territory with its emotional and moody facets not to mention ‘laborers are few, send me’ message, while I also highly regard “Pardon Me” in light of its piano and keyboard layering but not without guitars stepping in at the halfway mark. Give credit to Carlisle for his gritty and moving vocal touch on both.
Allies represents a solid debut from a talented group hitting its stride. Impressing this reviewer is manner in which Allies does not come across as an ‘all-star’ band featuring a random sampling of musicians but rather a focused unit benefiting from the experience of previously working together.
Final Verdict: A strong collection of songs backed by solid production and all the needed AOR ingredients adds up to a well deserved 85%.
Virtues
I identify with Virtues as the more polished effort in comparison to Allies with a greater keyboard emphasis while diminishing guitars to a lesser role. Hence, the refined sounds to opener “Hardened Hearts” with its thunderstorm opening and smoothest vocal melodies you will hear (quite catchy with its eighties commercial qualities) and follow up cut “On With The Fight” in giving rise to an arena rock aura in which funky bass and shouted ‘fight!’ refrain hold sway (further building upon the spiritual warfare themes). Also significant is aptly entitled “Harmony”, a lightly done acoustic rocker resonating distant guitar edges to go alongside expansive vocals and (you got it!) all the harmonies you could ask.
Of similar merit is “If You Believe”, pop infused to see elevated keyboards stand alongside dreamy verse sections and lively refrain in which impetus picks up exponentially, and “Runnin’ Out Of Time”, opening to quirky keyboards that give way to the animated guitars to carry things to their stylish (if not sublime) close. Both songs feature some of albums best scorching lead guitar from Thomas.
I do not value the Virtues ballads quite the same extent as those gracing Allies. Still, you cannot say “Prayer For The Children” does not lack quality in light of the moving disposition, lush melding of keyboards and piano and fitting child like backing vocals. Album is home to two additional ballads in acoustic driven “Somebody Told Me You Were Crying” and piano based “Lets Fall In Love (All Over Again). While worthy efforts and far from bad, I find both a tad predictable in sticking to the ballad formula a bit much for my taste.
Two Virtues songs in which I pass. I have never warmed up to “In America”, which despite bringing some needed up-tempo energy falls somewhat flat with its patriotic rock feel (not my cup of tea) and melody reminiscent to that of Nightranger’s “(You Can Still) Rock In America”. Likewise, “Jacque Remembers” fails to entice with its overriding acoustic pop flavorings. Yes, catchy and mirthful, but I also feel Allies is capable of better.
Final verdict: Virtues is not musically consistent or heavy as Allies but still highlights enough to warrant a solid 75%.
Allies and Virtues represent a good start to an Allies career that stretched into the early nineties and included four additional studio albums. If given choice I prefer Allies with what in my opinion is a stronger group of songs and overall heavier musical focus. That said do not discount Virtues in featuring more polished production along with its share of good material, albeit not to the same extent on a comparison basis. The vocal and guitar combination of Carlisle and Thomas is good as it gets, while Scott, Chapman and Erickson provide solid support. Thanks to Retroactive Records for re-releasing both albums in such upgraded formats after being hard to find collectors items for literally decades.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Allies track listing: “Surrender” (4:39), “Second Chance” (3:55), “Don’t Away” (3:31), “Send Me” (4:29), “Don’t Keep Him Waiting” (4:00), “Don’t You Worry” (5:10), “Morningstar” (5:07), “I’ll Be Your Brother” (3:59), “Pardon Me” (4:25)
Virtues track listing: “Hardened Hearts” (4:42), “On With The Fight” (3:42), “If You Believe” (3:43), “Harmony” (4:08), “Prayer For The Children” (4:52), “In America” (3:36), “Jacque Remembers” (3:56), “Somebody Told Me You Were Crying” (3:08), “Lets Fall In Love (All Over Again)” (4:43), “Runnin’ Out Of Time” (4:15)
Musicians
Bob Carlisle - Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Randy Thomas - Guitars, Guitar Synthesizer, Bass & Vocals
Sam Scott - Acoustic & Electric Keyboards
Matthew Chapman - Electric Bass
Jim Erickson - Acoustic & Electric Drums
