Sweet Salvation Song: The Top 10 Songs of The Seventies

Every decade can be defined by its music, and the world of CCM is no exception. It's just that nobody has bothered to. Part of the problem is that CCM is pretty much a niche market, and the charts reflect it, so when any list is made it is mostly based on subjective feelings and not sales or airplay figures. And that applies to the so called "respected" genres like pop, adult contemporary and the like, when dealing with fringe genres like heavy metal and rock, the numbers are microscopic. So perhaps we should call this the Top 20 most influential songs of the 70's, at least to this author.

1. Father's Eyes, Amy Grant (1979) The Song that Launched Contemporary Christian Music. She wasn't the first female Christian artist, not even among those who became known by a mononym. The 70's gave us EVIE (Tornquist-Karlsson), Honeytree (Nancy Henigbaum, Honeytree is the English Translation), REBA  (Rambo-McGuire), and even Stephanie (Boosahda), but none attained to AMY, the Georgia Born, Tennessee Raised Girl with a Guitar that the girls wanted to be like and all the guys wanted to marry. Father's eyes was a Number One Christian Hit, and the Album was the first by a Christian Solo Artist to go Gold. Whatever your musical preference, this song deserves the number one spot.
   
   
2. I Wish we'd All Been Ready, Larry Norman (1969) aka The Song From Thief In The Night or the Rapture Song. To a lot of Christians back then this was probably our introduction to Larry Norman. It was pretty much an Acoustic Guitar Only ballad, though they added some orchestration in the studio. While Just As I Am may have been the standby altar call song in adult Church, this was the standard in Youth Group for many years. 
   
   
3. Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music, Larry Norman (1972) aka The Other Song That Norman Wrote. From the start, Christian Rock has come under fire from ministers of the Gospel who decried it as "The Devil's Music", while espousing their own, usually Southern Gospel, or in a least one case, a brand of Campmeeting music best described as Honky-Tonk, which to this blogger is somewhat hypocritical. The first and best known of the Rock Defense Songs, which were Christian Rock's answer to these ministers. It would be covered by just about every CCM artist afterward in concert, though to the best of my research the only recorded Cover was done by Geoff Moore and The Distance in 1993.
   
   
4. Love Broke Thru, Phil Keaggy (1976) The "Testimony Song" which became the unofficial anthem of the Jesus Music Era, with Keaggy, Randy Stonehill and Keith Green all having recorded it. Again it was the simplicity of the song, which made it easy for Church Youth Groups to sing, which helped propel the song forward.
   
   
5. Afrikaans, Resurrection Band (1979) Christianity has always been about missions. "Jesus Commands Us To Go" is an actual Bible verse ("Go Ye Into All The Earth and Preach The Gospel') and not just the title of a Keith Green song. And when the Church goes into the World, it sees things in the World which are wrong, and call it out. The Abolitionist Movement in the United States was a Christian Driven movement, although not all abolitionists were Christians. The same with the war against Apartheid in South Africa. First on the scene by at least a year before any mainstream artist noticed things was Chicago's REZ, who would never be timid in taking on social issues. Lyrics such as "God Made The Colors, but the Color doesn't make you God." would be impetus Young Christians would use to tear down racism.
   
   
6. Easter Song, 2nd Chapter of Acts (1974) The debut album by siblings Annie, Matthew and Nellie Ward would have us "Hear the Bells Ringing, they're singing, that we can be born again". Every Easter Season this song would be heard in just about every Church, at least in America, but possibly around the world. The Hallmark of the Jesus Music Era was simplicity, and the lyrics were framed around the words of the Angel at the empty tomb "He is Risen, just as He Said" with very few other embellishments, something the modern era has lost.
   
   
7. Time, Phil Keaggy (1976) CCM's initial entry into the Progressive Rock Era. Before this all that could be said was that some songs went on for a long time, but there was no real reason for it except that they didn't know how to end the song. As to have a purpose behind the length to showcase the artistry of the artist, it is fitting that when Christian Music planted its first banner, it chose the artist who would be known as the Master of the Guitar, Phil Keaggy. A nearly seven minute song which concludes with a four minute instrumental virtuoso performance. A task which would terrify the modern musician so greatly they would not attempt it.
   
   
8. Love You With My Life, Sweet Comfort Band (1978) Coming of age in the 1970's and 80's my musical heart was taken with the stylings of the Chicago Transit Authority, which was soon shortened to simply Chicago. The combinations of Rock Music with Horns was captivating to my ears, and as I began my transition from Mainstream to Christian Music I began my search for a Christian Alternative to Chicago, or more appropriately a Christian Music Twin to Chicago, because I never gave them up. I found it in the Southern California Jazz fusion-Rock band Sweet Comfort Band, which at the first traveled with their own horn section, and throughout their history Keyboardist/Vocalist Bryan Duncan could rock a ballad toe to toe with Peter Cetera.
   
   
9. Why Should The Father Bother, Petra (1979) For their third album Petra decided they needed to stop playing around and get a full time lead vocalist. They turned to Greg Xavier Volz who had toured with Chicago, Janis Joplin and others. The result gave the band its first signature sound and the hits began. This song reached number 3 on the Christian Charts, and maintained its position for 25 weeks.
   
   
10. Awaiting Your Reply, Resurrection Band (1978) "Too Loud, Too Loud" says the Preacher. This is what happens when you turn the Amp to 11 and the needle stays in the red. Arguably the fathers of Heavy Metal, REZ, as they would affectionately become known, let the Christian Youth let down their hair quite literally and enter the fellowship of the headbanger. For those stodgy Christians who had heart palpitations at Larry Norman, they were in full cardiac arrest with REZ. Alas for them, Christian Music had evolved for good, and in a few short years would suffer a full Yellow and Black Attack.
    
    

I probably could have added a few songs, and had initially thought my list would have been twice as long. Christian Rock was infancy however, and once you started only picking the jewels, you found some slim pickings. I anticipate a much longer list once we enter the Golden Age of the 1980's. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Walking on a Timeline: CCM By the Decade - The 70's (Jesus Music Era)

 Christian Music, like all music, has evolved over the years as musical tastes have changed, much to the consternation of Church leadership. If the "Orthodox" Church leadership had their way, we would all be forced to sing Southern Gospel (even though the great Classical Composers had God as inspiration in a lot of cases I think they would be to "Rocking" for them). Considering that Christianity itself began as an offshoot of Judaism one could plant the beginning of the "Christian Music Timeline" with King David, for when the Bible says that Jesus and his disciples "Sang a Hymn and then went out unto the Mount of Olives" that the Hymn in question was one of the Psalms (Most likely Psalm 118) and not "When The Roll is Called Up Yonder". Things pretty much went unchanged from the Times of David until that abomination called Southern Gospel began in 1910, and while "Worldly" music evolved basically with every decade especially from 1940 onward (1940: Big Band/Swing; 1950: Rockabilly; 1960: Rock and Roll; 1970's: Disco; 1980: Metal and Synthpop), the history of Christian Music basically flatlines from 1910 until 1969. Almost 60 years. 

1969: Upon This Rock by Larry Norman is widely regarded as the first Christian Rock album ever, though by todays standards it may be somewhere between folk music and folk rock, but in the hippie era, there really wasn't much else. Sweet Song of Salvation is probably the hardest rocking song on the album but the most popular would have to be "I wish we'd all been ready" which was made popular by being sung in the End Times Prophecy Movie "A Thief in The Night" (1973).

Decade One - The 1970's - aka The Jesus Music Era

The first decade of the modern Christian Music era, unlike the month of March, came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. While it is true that the era ushered in music heretofore unknown in proper Christian circles and elicited a swift condemnation buy evangelists whose musical leanings would be best described as Honky-Tonk, but on the whole the beginning of the decade consisted mainly of folk artists (the ubiquitous Girl or Guy with Guitar, mostly acoustic) and by 1978 folk had given way to pop and Adult Contemporary, Rock had gotten a strong foothold and a group with the harmless name of the Resurrection Band introduced the Saints to Heavy Metal. In short it was the Decade when the Legends were Born.  

• 1970: A bit of a cheat here, because while Upon This Rock has consistently been given a date of 1969 because that is when Larry Norman went into the studio, it really didn't hit the shelves of any music store until 1970
• 1971: While Upon This Rock Was becoming a Christian Classic, Larry had a bit of free time to scout out the emerging talent in the New Jesus Music Era. One of the first of many connections Larry Norman would forge in the music industry was with a teenage boy by the name of Randall Evan Stonehill aka Randy Stonehill. Born Twice (1971) consisted of a Live A Side and a Studio B-Side and cost $800 to make, and according to Randy "Sounds Like Every Penny of It".
• 1972: Larry Norman releases his sophomore album Only Visiting This Planet, sibling pop/rock trio The 2nd Chapter of Acts is formed, as well as Rock legends Petra and soon to be Metal legends Resurrection Band. 
• 1973: Nancy Honeytree releases her debut album, as does Philip Tyler Keaggy (known simply as Phil Keaggy). Larry Norman releases So Long Ago, The Garden.
• 1974: Petra releases their self titled debut. The 2nd Chapter of Acts debut album With Footnotes drops, which contains the hit "Easter Song". The Band Daniel Amos is formed in Southern California.
• 1975: Jerusalem, a heavy metal band, is formed in Gothenburg, Sweden. An English version of their music would not be available, however, until 1980.
• 1976: 15 year old Amy Grant, the "Queen of Christian Pop" is signed to Word Records. Larry Norman completes his Trilogy with the release of In Another Land. Randy Stonehill releases his first full length album Welcome to Paradise. Phil Keaggy releases his sophomore album
  
  
  Love Broke Thru. The titular track (entitled Your Love Broke Through) is a collaboration  between Keith Green, Todd Fishkind and Randy Stonehill. Green insisted that Keaggy be given the first opportunity to record it. The first song on side two of the album is the progressive rock classic Time, which clocks in at just short of seven minutes. The two songs are possibly the two most loved Keaggy songs. Daniel Amos released their eponymous debut. It is pretty much a country album.
• 1977: Amy Grant releases her self titled debut and "Uncle Randy" Stonehill goes to the studio to record The Sky Is Falling, which, due to a falling out between Stonehill and Larry Norman (due to Norman having an affair with Stonehill's wife) will delay the release until 1980. The Sweet Comfort Band, a Southern California Jazz Fusion, Funk and Rock band releases its Self Titled Debut.  Petra's sophomore release Come And Join Us. Designed as an evangelistic tool the album is straight up 70"s Rock and Roll with a touch of funk. Daniel Amos releases Shotgun Angel, moving from Country to Southern Rock, and Fireworks releases their self titled debut. In the late 1970's and early 1980's Servant, Petra and Fireworks would be the Big 3. Only the order kept shuffling.
• 1978: Time to Crank things up as the Heavy Metal Era begins. In Sweden Jerusalem releases their self titled debut, in Swedish. An English version of the album will be released two years later with the title Volume 1. Meanwhile, back in the States, the windy city gets a rude awakening as Jesus People USA band Resurrection band unleash Awaiting Your Reply. Unlike Randy Stonehill's low budget debut, due to a gift from a friend, they are able to spend ten times that on their album. Daniel Amos records Horrendous Disc as it transitions from Southern Rock to Alternative/New Wave. Unfortunately during recording they are dropped by their label Maranatha! Music as the label decides to concentrate on worship music. They are finally picked up by Larry Norman's Solid Rock Records but the delays push the release of the album to 1981, one week before the release of their Fourth Album Alarma! DeGarmo and Key, two Childhood friends who grew up in the shadow of Graceland, release their debut album This Time Thru. Finally Sweet Comfort Band continues their confusion with an alcoholic beverage (Southern Comfort) with their second release Breakin The Ice 
• 1979: Fireworks decides to Shatter The Darkness, and possibly a few eardrums as they move from Pop to Rock in their second album. Servant, the Second of the Jesus Music bands to be formed from Christian Communes, debuts with Shallow Water, and the first, Resurrection
  
  
  Band, releases Rainbow's End, and though the album was successful, Star Song Records remained skittish about continuing to venture into Heavy Metal and dropped the band. Amy Grant releases My Father's Eyes. She becomes the first Christian Solo artist to go Gold, the song is a number one hit, and the Christian Music World is changed forever. In a somewhat prophetic move Sweet Comfort Band's third release in three years is entitled Hold On Tight.

As the year 1979 comes to an end, the Christian Music World hears a sound, faint at first but getting louder each time. It is the Roar of Rock. The Lion Awakens and the 1980's begin, a decade seen by many as the Golden Age of Christian Music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.