STEVIE & THE SAINTS - EYE ON THE PRIZE-1990

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-POWER IN THE BLOOD
2-PSALM 3
3-PASS ME NOT
4-ROCK AND HARD PLACE
5-NO BLOOZ BLOOZ
6-EYE ON THE PRIZE
7-MOMENT OF THE PLEASURE
8-BALL & CHAIN
9-SOLDIER OF FUTUNE
10-WAYFARING STRANGER
CREDIT:
Steve Olson - Vocals,Guitar, Slide Guitar, Harmonica
Ken Roberts - Guitar, Percussion
John Tinker- DrumsKen Koehn - Bass
Bob "Oil Can" Beeman - Piano
Other Saints:
Suzie Cappetta - Lead & Backing Vocals
Ralph Clayton - Bass Guitar, Organ, Horn Arrangements
Kathy Jameson - Backing Vocals.
There are signs of life from the Christian rock world. What we get here is a "No-frills,Head-crunching array of religious themed rock. And it comes with lots of hard-as-brick guitar and bluesy, screaming vocals. And who cares if the band cops a ZZ Top lick here and there? Breathing life into the lazy world of Christian Rock is a higher cause.For The Daily Breeze.
















STEVIE & THE SAINTS-METLABLUE-1986















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(8-TRACKS)
1-WE ARE THE SAINTS
2-SAINT'S BOOGIE
3-CODE NAME,JESUS
4-ONE IN ONE HUNDRED
5-DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK
6-TALKING ABOUT LOVE
7-JEHOVEH JIRAH
8-PRISONER OF LOVE














Stevie & the Saints recorded this gem in 1987. It was released on Vinyl and cassette and only now is on CD. Digitally remastered to crank it up a step.Stevie was always an enigma. He tells the story of never playing an instrument until praying at an altar and seeing a vision of himself on a stage playing guitar. He and the Saints (John Tinker on drums and Kenny Kuehn on Bass guitar) appeared at a time when rock music was beginning to make a break thru in the Christian community although many church leaders still accused those involved with rock as "worldly." And on the other hand, there would be no massive acceptance for a band that wasn't interested the "Sex, Drugs" part of "Sex,Drugs and Rock 'n Roll." One of his songs captured his dilemma perfectly, "You're too saintly for the sinners, and the saints can't stand your face." However whenever they played to a secular audience, Stevie would have the entire audience in the palm of his hand the moment he wielded his red stratocaster and blistered a staccato-machine gun like volley of a combination of Bluesand Van Halen like guitar pyrotechnics. He was in the league of guitarists like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Van Halen, but would never have the opportunity to rise to the level he deserved.So now here at last is the blazing "METALBLUE." Even if you're not into God, check this very deserving musician out. You might just hear something very worthwhile.ReviewsThere are signs of life from the Christian rock world. What we get here is a "No-frills, head-crunching array of religious themed rock. And it comes with lots of hard-as-brick guitar and bluesy, screaming vocals. And who cares if the band cops a ZZ Top lick here and there? Breathing life into the lazy world of Christian Rock is a higher cause.-The Daily BreezeStevie & The Saints is ZZ Top "born-again" -KerrangThis is THE hard rock album of 1987!! Saint's Boogie is the best instrumental of 1987. If you like hard rock, buy it. Nothing else comes close, except 100% proof. -White ThroneThis is tough, street-smart music. Their "in-the-world-but-not-of-it" approach is
fresh,and,invigorating. - CCMA hot, blistering taste of mid-western Rock 'n Roll. If you want to impress some bikers with Christian music, use this tape. Over all I'd say this is a must for its originality and performance. - Heaven's MetalOver all, these songs are alive, full of punch and surprises in the area of musical variety, especially the Blues/Boogie influence on several numbers. This tape has become an unexpected marvel for me these past few weeks. METALBLUE will surely become a cherished part of your listening experience. -The Cutting Edge.

What made the Saints stand out? Steve Olson's guitar prowess. And maybe the fact that the Saints played a form of high-energy, hard-core Rhythmn and Blues closer to a cross between The Sex Pistols and George Thoroghgood with Steve Vai on lead guitar. British magazine Kerrang! called them "Z Z Top Born-Again". It probably wasn't meant as a compliment, but the Saints never cared what anybody thought. They just did what they did. Metalblue was exactly what the industry says shouldn't happen. A zero budget production on some very questionable home recording equipment. A 16x8x2 board and a 1/2 inch eight track machine. Fortunately, Ken Roberts had honed his skills learning from some of the finest engineers in the industry. And the fact is, The Saints just rocked. Maybe they could have done as well with a stereo live recording. And not to be forgotten, God was with them. There never was the typical infighting that goes on between most bands. They knew the cards were stacked against them from the get-go. But The Saints didn't care. They had no other choice. It was do or die.After years,Metalblue doesn't sound dated. It still rocks. It holds up. And that is the sign of a great piece of music.(http://cdbaby.com/cd/steviesaints1)

After a three year hiatus, armed with more tracks and newer equipment, producer Ken Roberts phoned Steve Olson and said, "Let's do another album." Stevie's response was, One problem, I don't have a band." To which Ken replied, "Well, I have a band for you and I have a studio, so let's go." In 1990, the "Eye On The Prize" album was started at Victoria Underground Studio. This time the Saints consisted of Ken Roberts (who had been performing with the earlier Saints) on Rythmn guitar, Tony Wilson from "Trilogy" on Bass and world's most dangerous Drummer, former Ray Charles sideman Tim Pope on Drums. The band began recording with Stevie and Ken doing guitars, Ralph Sappington on Bass, Keyboards and Horns, Suzie Cappetta and Kathy Honaker on Vocals. Pastor Bob Beeman of Sanctuary made a special appearnce on piano on "Power In The Blood". Ken said that "Pastor" a little too formal for the Saint's so Stevie lovingly nicknamed him "Oil Can Beeman" to give him a bit more a blues title. A few more gigs were played one in particular opening for Holy Soldier at the Waters Club.With the release of "Eye On The Prize" on cassette (this was the transition time between vinyl and compact disc) there was interest in booking the Saints at the Cornerstone Festival in 1991. Out of the blue, disaster struck the Saints once again. Stevie had some major family problems and deceided to move his family back to their native Fairbanks Alaska to get his house in order. Everything ground to a halt. Immediately. The Saints never contacted each other for 15 years. Then in 2005, the talking and forgiving began.(http://www.stevieandthesaints.com/)
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