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The
Nashville Music Connection:
Behold! The Top Five Contemporary Christian Albums of All TimeBy
Twila McBride I have been a listener of Contemporary Christian Music since the late 70’s. (I realize that some of you were still in diapers or not even on the planet yet.) I was in my early teens, and it was during this time that I was mesmerized by a new sound that I dialed up on my AM radio late one Sunday evening. It was the Larry Black Show. I had never heard anything like the songs he played! They were electrically charged with distorted guitars, synthesizers and drums yet the lyrics were overtly Christian. My life would never be the same! My love for Christian music was sparked by groups and artists such as The Sweet Comfort Band, Keith Green, Larry Norman, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Marty McCall and Fireworks, Farrell & Farrell, The Resurrection Band, The Archers, Andre’ Crouch, The Imperials and Chuck Girrard. The rocking sounds of the 70’s gave way to the pop wave of the 80’s with artists coming on the scene such as Russ Taff, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Petra, Bryan Duncan, White Heart, The Allies and The Winans. The stage was set for Christian music to reach a larger audience than ever before. The 90’s ushered in a new acceptance of artistic style and expression. Artists like DC Talk, Michael English, 4HIM, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, Avalon and Anointed sold millions of records proving that Christian music was marketable and was no longer confined to one genre. Here we are in the year 2000 with a plethora of groups and artists bombarding the music scene. The artists of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s paved the way for groups and artists like Third Day, Caedmon’s Call, FFH, Plumb, Nicole Nordeman, Rachael Lampa, Ginny Owens, Chris Rice, Sonicflood and many others. Today they are carving out their own niches in Christian music history and rightfully so. Undoubtedly songs from these artists will be remembered as classics years from now. At the dawn of this new millennium I believe it is an appropriate time to compile a list of the Top Five Contemporary Christian albums of all time. The albums on this list were not chosen because of record sales, but rather because of the impact they have made on the Christian Music industry, breaking new musical ground and raising the bar for other Christian artists. The songs on these albums are classics and some of my favorites. My own musical style of songwriting has been influenced greatly by these albums. I’m sure my age will show, but here goes! The
Top Five Contemporary Christian Albums of All Time
#
5 . Fred Hammond and Radical for
Christ – Pages of Life – Chapters I & II
(1998) I have
loved Fred’s music since his early days with Commissioned. This album opens
with the infectious groove of “Let the Praise Begin.” This is my kind of worship music! Grooving bass lines and RFC’s powerful, tight vocals
combine to ignite a worship experience for the listener. “Glory to Glory to
Glory” is a simple song of praise that is moving quickly into classic status.
“Your Steps Are Ordered” is a song of encouragement reminding us that
“before the world was framed,” our steps were ordered.
Songs like “No Weapon,” “When The Spirit of The Lord,” and
“Just to Be Close to You” are great examples of Fred’s desire to minister
through music rather than perform music. His
lyrics are straight from the scriptures and aim right for the heart. The man loves to have church!
He is a worship leader, talented musician and songwriter, but Fred is a
preacher disguised as a singer, though he is a gifted vocalist in his own right.
But it is evident that it’s not about Fred, it’s all about God.
It doesn’t get much better
than this! #4.
Michael W. Smith - Michael W. Smith - Project (1983) Coming
in fourth would have to be MWS’s album, Michael
W. Smith - Project. Smitty’s
distinct vocals soared over the synth heavy tracks breaking new ground with his
electronic, programmed music. His first solo effort gave us the classic songs
“Great is the Lord” and “Friends.”
I know, I know, we all have heard “Friends” one too many times, but
that only goes to show that he hit the mark when he penned that tune; we all
know every word because it’s universal. #3.
BeBe and CeCe Winans - Heaven (1988) *TIE BeBe
and CeCe’s Heaven was certified gold
in 1988. It was the first gospel
album to reach the Top 10 on the BillBoard charts since Aretha Franklin’s
Grammy for “Amazing Grace” in 1972. This
album won four Dove awards and crossed the genre lines.
BeBe and CeCe colored outside the lines of gospel music with their
contemporary, R&B and pop sound, reaching people from different ethnic
backgrounds and musical tastes. I
got the feeling that these two know what they are singing about.
More than talent, it’s their hearts that moved me when I heard this
record. Need I say more? Avalon
– A Maze of Grace (1997)
*TIE It was hard to narrow this list down to five albums. Avalon’s A Maze of Grace released four Number One singles to AC/CCM radio in 1997 and 1998. The slick pop production is ear candy to the listener, but I love the vocal work on this record. The former Avalon vocalist Nikki Hassman is one of the best female vocalists of the 90’s. Her tender heartfelt interpretation of “Adonai” is still one of my favorites. Janna Potter’s soulful vocal on “Reason Enough” is so believable. She is one of my favs as well. “Testify to Love” is still being played all over AC and CCM radio. Great voices, great songs, great album…..period. #2.
Russ Taff - Medals (1985) This
guy was THE male voice of the 80’s. I
love Walls of Glass, and it is
definitely a great album, but Medals
forged on into new musical territory for Russ.
“Not Gonna Bow” was the anthem for Christian young people in the mid
80’s declaring, “…. we don’t have to give in to it, we can choose to go
against the crowd.” This song encouraged us to stand up to peer pressure and
make a declaration of faith. “Medals”
is my favorite song on this album. Musically,
it was so fresh. Lyrically, it was
simple yet profound. “Heroes
come, heroes go, ain’t it funny, he had no medals?
A hand that never made a fist, a story line without a twist, a man of
love and peace, he will fight for your release…” This album was on the
cutting edge of CCM, and I loved it. Russ
Taff’s soulful delivery reeled me in back in the late 70’s when he sang with
the Imperials. His music has
influenced me greatly, and he is an icon of Contemporary Christian Music. #1.
Amy Grant – Age to Age (1982) Numero
uno! This album made an enormous
impact on my life. I loved every
song on the record. I knew every
word. I received this record as a
gift and I still treasure it after all of these years.
“Sing Your Praise to the Lord” was a musical masterpiece penned by
the late Rich Mullins. Some of
Nashville’s finest musicians and singers were featured on this record,
including background vocals by a young Kathy Troccoli and piano extraordinaire
Michael W. Smith. “Raining on the
Inside,” “In a Little While,” and “I Love a Lonely Day” are so
conversational musically and lyrically that it felt like an old friend was
honestly sharing her heart with me. Amy
may not be a gospel diva, but she’s a great storyteller. The mega hit from the
album was the classic praise song, “El-Shaddai,” her signature song of the
80’s. The production, choice of
songs, musicians and Amy’s smooth vocals all blended together to make it what
I believe is the number one record in Christian Music history.
If you are an Amy Grant fan, you will love this album.
If you aren’t a fan, then I recommend that you find someone over 30 and
borrow their dusty LP and give it a listen.
Amy’s records probably influenced most of the groups you like and
listen to today. That’s the way I see it, but how close am I to your list of all-time greats? You don’t have to be an old-timer like me to have an opinion! Who knows¾you may agree with my choices or think I’m completely crazy, but that’s the beauty of a list, we all love different songs for different reasons. Most of us love Christian Music, so in a future column I’d like to share reader lists and let them discuss why their choices are better than mine! So pull out your best CDs, ancient LPs, overused cassettes or even (gasp!) moldy 8-tracks, and narrow it down to your own Top Five CCM Albums of All Time. From
the 70’s to the present day, there have been many great Christian albums made,
but your list doesn’t have to cover the ages to be ageless. Share your choices
and defend your list with passion! After all, there’s only one Number One.
Convince me yours is the one that belongs in the top spot! (Submit
your “Top Five List” to editor@ninetyandnine.com
today!) ninetyandnine.com
©
2000, Twila McBride -------- Twila
McBride resides in Nashville where she is a
staff writer at Spring Hill Music Group. She
enjoys music, traveling and fishing in her spare time.
It is rumored that some of her best songs may have been inspired by large
mouth bass.
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