Rockland Road – Planet Time

Description

Planet Time is an album by the American country/rock combo Rockland Road, first released on the Swedish gospel label Signatur in 1977. Also released in the US on Trend Music in 1978, featuring different cover artwork. The album was recorded by Brent King at Sound Stage Studios and by Al Pachucci at Pete Drake Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. As well recorded by Bo-Göran Lundberg at Europa Film Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. Mixed by Lennart Sjöholm and Lundberg at Europa Film Studios. Produced by Chris Hamrin and arranged by the band.

Rockland Road is fronted by vocalist Christine Lakeland and features three members of the backing band of The Oak Ridge Boys – guitarist Skip Mitchell, bassist Don Breland, and drummer Mark Ellerbee – as well as Garland on keyboards.

Oak Ridge Success

Nashville – The Oak Ridge Boys, nominated for NARAS Grammy awards in both the gospel and country categories, are also enjoying chart success in Canada where their song «Easy» has become a favorite.

Meanwhile the Rockland Road Band, comprised of the four band members for the Oaks, has recorded a new “philosophical gospel” album. Entitled ‘Planet Time,’ the LP will be released first in Sweden and then in the U.S. within a month.

[A note featured in the February 4, 1978 issue of Billboard Magazine]

It all starts with the Oakridge Boys in the early 70’s. In 1974 the backing band for the Oak Ridge Boys put out an album using the moniker “The Oakes Band”. It was on the label “Rockland Road” (foreshadowing alert) which appears to be a tiny label owned by The Oak Ridge Boys. Then in 1977 Skip Mitchell, Don Breland, and Mark Ellerbee from The Oakes Band did this project. Joining them was someone using the name Garland and also vocalist Christine Lakeland. I went on a quest to find out who Garland was and the only clue I can find is perhaps it is Dave Garland who was also in Gentle Faith/Darrell Mansfield Band, and David Edwards studio band.

OK now if you made it through that let’s talk about the music. The album was first released in Sweden with 11 tracks and was then released in the United States a few months later with 10 tracks. This is odd as they were an American band and most of the album was recorded in Nashville but I’m sure there’s a good backstory to it. The United States version ommited the #11 Track «Did You?».

The album is great and in fact I would say it is probably a notch up from most of the Jesus Music albums of the day. «For Crying Out Loud» is a pretty good 70’s rocking song but my favourite track is a blues/southern gospel song entitled «The Shelter». That style will always be timeless. As you can see there’s a few different styles on this album which really was typical of the period. That said they do a great job with all the styles and this will go down as one my favourite 70’s albums. [Real 80s CCM]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Planet Time” – 5:30
A2. “Jesus Wasn’t In It For The Dollar” – 2:14
A3. “The Shelter” – 4:35
A4. “I Could Be Forever” – 3:04
A5. “Somebody Lead Me” – 3:38

Side Two
B1. “Alpha And Omega” – 1:35
B2. “For Crying Out Loud” – 3:52
B3. “Children” – 4:10
B4. “All His Love” – 3:12
B5. “Heaven Is A High Place” – 3:12
B6. “Did You?” – 3:52

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