Carman in Christian & Gospel Music

"The Absolute Best" (03/09/1993) Gospel Carman, Sparrow RecordsA collection of what this unconventional artist does best, it spotlights his story-songs and hits and features one new song produced by David Foster. ~ Thom Granger

"The Champion" (1987) Gospel Carman, Word DistributionPersonnel includes: Carman (vocals), Tom Hemby (acoustic guitar), Jon Goin, Greg Jennings (guitar), Mark Douthit (saxophone), Mike Brignardello, Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), Mark Hammond (drums, programming), Keith Thomas (keyboards, programming), Neal Merick (programming), Patti Morris, Bonnie Keen, Melody Tunney, Marty McCall, Pam Mark Hall, Pete Carlson, Brent Lamb. Recorded at Goldmine East, Brentwood, Tennessee; Emerald Sound Studios, Bullet Recording and Hummingbird Recording, Nashville, Tennessee. All songs written or co-written by Carman. The Champion was a major commercial success for Carman. The title song, an inflated exercise in dramatic storytelling set to music that re-cast the Passion story as a Rocky-esque boxing match, became an instant classic in evangelical circles. The album received an additional boost from the burgeoning slew of Christian music video television programs, since Carman's dramatic flair and his Tony Danza-gets-religion persona made him a perfect fit for the new medium. But for all its popularity, The Champion is actually a scattered and disjointed effort with very little stylistic or thematic glue to hold it together. The flamboyant "Prepare to Die" follows the same Masterpiece Theater Rocks! approach used for "The Champion," but the other songs couldn't be more disparate in their sound. "Revive Us, Oh Lord" is a standard CCM inspirational power ballad in the vein of Steve Green or Bill Gaither. "It Happened to Me," "Fear Not My Child," and "Love Can" are Wayne Newton-style easy listening tunes that seem directed at either blue-haired retirees or dental chair detainees. "A Little Bit More Conviction" is an aggressive pop/rock song that seems to aim for a much younger demographic. "Abundance of Rain" is a catchy Manhattan Transfer-sounding ditty and "The Destination Is There" sounds like a refugee from the rock opera Chess. Just about all of them are polished and skillful imitations of their various source genres, but the overall effect is unsettlingly fragmented. ~ Evan Cater

"Mission 3:16" (01/27/1998) Gospel Carman, Sparrow RecordsPersonnel includes: Carman, Russ Taff, Tony Orlando, Out Of Eden (vocals); Matt Porter, Sigmund Johns, Jim Butler, Jonathon Carrey (rap vocals); Tom Hemby, George Cocchini, Micah Wilshire (guitar, background vocals); Kenny Vaughan, Jerry McPherson, Brent Rowan, Mark Baldwin (guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Joey Miskulin (accordion); Mike Haynes, Jeff Bailey, Barry Green, Chris McDonald, Calvin Smith, Allan Brown, Steve Patrick, Sam Levine (horns); Boh Cooper (piano); Tim Akers (keyboards); Byron Hagan (Hammond B-3 organ); Matt Pierson, Byron House (bass); Dan Needham, Michael Clarke (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Michael Linney, Michael Bragg (programming); Michael Mellett, Lisa Cochran, Bonnie Keen (background vocals). Engineers include: Steve Bishir, David Schober, Bryan Lenox. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. MISSION 3:16 was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Personnel: Tim Davis, Michael Mellett (vocals, background vocals); Andrea Baca, William Stroupe, Joey Richey, Lisa Bragg, Kristine Stroupe, Out of Eden, Russ Taff, Todd Smith , Tony Orlando, Danielle Kimmey (vocals); Sigmund Johns, Jim Butler (rap vocals, background vocals); Jonathan Carrey, Matt Porter (rap vocals); Dave Perkins (guitar, synthesizer); Micah Wilshire (guitar, background vocals); George Cocchini, Jerry McPherson, Kenny Vaughan, Mark Baldwin, Tom Hemby, Brent Rowan (guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); John Mock (tin whistle, bodhran); Joey Miskulin (accordion); Alan Brown , Sam Levine , Chris McDonald, Jeff Bailey , Barry Green, Calvin Smith, Mike Haynes , Steve Patrick (horns); Bo Cooper (piano, background vocals); Phil Madeira (Farfisa, keyboards); Tim Akers (keyboards); Michael Clarke, Scott Williamson, Dan Needham (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Danny Duncan, Michael Bragg, Michael Linn, Tedd T., Tommy Sims, Tony Miracle, Brian Tankersley, Bryan Lenox, Carl Marsh (programming); Aimee Joy Weimer, Rob Neal, Tina Vallejo, John Hartman , Lisa Bevill, Lisa Cochran, Lori Wilshire, Lynn Nichols, Phil Keaggy, Todd Cooper, Nicol Sponberg, Bonnie Keen (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Patrick Kelly ; Steve Bishir; Brian Tankersley; Bryan Lenox. Recording information: Air Studios, London, E Besik; Caravell Studios, Branson, MO; Dugout; GBT Studio; Playground; Positive Movement; White House. Editor: Ken Love. Photographers: Michael Grecco; Robert Fleischauer. Unknown Contributor Roles: Dan Cleary; London Session Orchestra. Arranger: Carl Marsh. It's techno! No, it's a James Bond soundtrack, no it's Midge Ure! No, it's pop Gospel! Wait a second, it's all those things and more! In an unprecedented act of genre-hopping, Christian pop vet Carman, combines all those styles and more (most of them in the first song!) on MISSION 3:16. This eclectic electronic pop opus is as far from anybody's idea of conventional spiritual music as you're ever likely to get. Carman's innovations are established so firmly from the start as he worships the Lord in his own unique way, that it doesn't seem at all incongruous when bits of rap, heavy metal-guitar and ominous spy-movie themes pop up. Indefinable, unpredictable, and utterly original.

"The Standard" (09/27/1993) Gospel Carman, Sparrow RecordsPersonnel includes: Margaret Becker (vocals). Producers include: Brown Bannister, Dan Clearly, Robbie Buchanan, Chris Harris, Mark Heimmerman. Carman tries his hand at some new musical directions, with less extended stories and more song-oriented material, alienating some old fans but winning some new ones in the process. ~ Thom Granger

"Heart of a Champion" (10/24/2000) Gospel Carman, Sparrow RecordsPersonnel: Carman, Tammy Trent (vocals); Alan Pasqua (arranger, Hammond B-3 organ); Chieli Minucci, Glenn Rosenstein (guitar); Joel G. Derouin, Charles Bisharat, Eve L. Butler, Charles Everett, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Endre Granat, Norman Hughes, Peter Kent, Brian Leonard, Michael Markman, Sid Page, Dave Carpenter (strings); Steve Skinner (harmonica, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, programming); Crispin Cioe (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Arno Hecht (tenor saxophone); Jim Horn (saxophone); Larry Etkin, Randy Brecker, Mike Haynes, Jeff Bailey (trumpet); Bob Funk, Chris McDonald (trombone); Dan Muckala (keyboards, programming); Mike Brignardello, Leland Sklar (bass); Chris McHugh, Curt Bisquera (drums); Luis Conte (percussion). Producers: Glenn Rosenstein, Brown Bannister, Keith Thomas, Chris Harris, Robbie Buchanan. Engineers: Steve Skinner, Jay Healy, Steve Bishir. Personnel: Tammy Trent (vocals); Chieli Minucci, Glenn Rosenstein (guitar); Steve Skinner (harmonica, keyboards, programming); Jim Horn (saxophone); Crispin Cioe (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Arno Hecht (tenor saxophone); Laurence Etkin, Randy Brecker, Jeff Bailey , Mike Haynes (trumpet); Chris McDonald, Bob Funk (trombone); Dan Muckala (keyboards, programming); Chris McHugh, Curt Bisquera, Keith Carlock (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); Chris Rodriguez, Kristin Swinford, Chrissy Conway, Gene Miller, Chris Rodgriguez, Alisa Girard (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Aaron Shannon; Gary Paczosa; Steve Bishir; Steve Marcantonio; Tony Green; Tony Maserati; Sam Hewitt; Brian Tankersley. Recording information: Antarctica Media, Nashville, TNCello Studios, Hollywood; Glorious Mono Studios, Nashville, TN; Music Grinder Studio, Hollywood, CA; Nervous Music, New York, NY; Right Track Recording Studio, New York, NY; Sound Kitchen Recording Studio, Franklin, TN; The Dungeon, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Kristin Barlowe. Unknown Contributor Roles: Paula Hochhalter; Barbara Porter; Ken Yerke; Darwin Hobbs; Dave Carpenter; Shandra Bennet; Marc Sazar; Debbie Winans-Lowe; Jodi Burnett; Karie Prescott; Norman Hughes; Robert Adcock; Gale Mayes-West; Eve Butler; Charles Everett; Joel Derouin; Nirva Dorsaint; Sid Page; Larry Corbett; Roland Kato; Peter Kent; Janet Lakatos; Brian Leonard; Armen Garabedian; Michael Markman; LeAnne Palmore; Ed Meares; Berj Garabedian; Victoria Miskolszy; Thomas Dienner; Samuel Formicola; Charlie Bisharat; Endre Granat. Carman is truly a one-of-a-kind artist. While he's ostensibly a Christian artist, he crosses so many stylistic boundaries and engages in so many off-the-wall, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sonic explorations, that it's impossible to nail him down to anything as easily definable as Christian pop. This two-disc compilation finds him dabbling in everything from bizarre spoken-word to electronica to heavy rock, R&B, and much more. The attraction for hardcore Carmaniacs is the inclusion of six characteristically unpredictable brand new tracks. The title track is a Latin pop-inflected number that could have slipped out of Marc Anthony's dresser drawer. "Jesus Period" bears a ferocious guitar riff that brings to mind early '80s Kiss. "Prayer" is a ballad of faith that wouldn't sound out of place on one of Elton John's Disney film soundtracks. HEART OF A CHAMPION confirms the fact that the one thing consistent thing about Carman is his ability to surprise.

"Live and Reloaded" (09/20/2005) Gospel Carman, Alliant Music GroupThis release contains a bonus DVD. As the energetic tracks on 2005's LIVE & RELOADED! reveal, Contemporary Christian artist Carman (aka Dominic Licciardello) is intent on getting the word of Jesus out to younger generations. "House of Praise" is a revved-up funk workout, while "My Pledge" features prominent synthesizer lines, and "This Is My Bible" walks the line between gospel and rock. Carman fans will particularly enjoy the bonus remix disc, which includes lively reworkings of the aforementioned songs.

"Absolutamente Lo Mejor" (04/04/1995) Gospel Carman, Capitol Records (USA)Personnel: Carman (vocals); Carman; Brian Randolph, Wes McKinzie, Max Plaster, Max Plaster, Brian Rudolph (background vocals); Johnny Green, Marty McCall, Melodie Tunney, Bonnie Keen (background vocals). Recording information: GBT Studios; Skylab. Photographer: Aaron Rapoport. Translators: Alejandro Allen; Susana Allen.

"Lawrence the Kat and the Bible" (08/20/1996) Gospel Carman, Everland EntertainmentPersonnel includes: Michael Anthony Taylor (Lawrence The Kat); Nicole Mullen (Sarena The Kat); David Mullen (Nails The Bloodhound); Carman (spoken vocals). This is part of Carman's Yo Kidz! series.