The WENC Night Beat: Bucket List

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Six

We are on the downside of the list now

The Greatest Christian Albums Ever, 2001

50 - Chase The Kangaroo, The Choir, Myrrh, 1988
49 - So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt, Keith Green, Pretty Good Records, 1980
48 - Tomorrow, The Winans, Light, 1984
47 - Out of the Grey, Out of the Grey, Sparrow, 1991
46 - Immigrant's Daughter, Margaret Becker, Sparrow, 1989
45 - Change Your World, Michael W. Smith, Reunion, 1992
44 - Behind The Eyes, Amy Grant, A&M/Myrrh, 1997
43 - Life, Love and other Mysteries, Point of Grace, Word, 1996
42 - Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws, Bruce Cockburn, True North/Millennium, 1979
41 - October, U2, Island, 1981

There are some truisms in the Music world. There are Record Companies that seem to have the Midas Touch (Tooth and Nail, for ex), and there are also Producers. I am glad to see some people recognized for all of their talents, both in front of and behind the microphone.

Case in point Charlie Peacock. Both Immigrant's Daughter and Out of the Grey are Peacock produced, as well as some more recent faves of the Night Beat Does Barton Hollow by the Civil Wars ring a bell? or how about Contact, by The Benjamin Gate, or Fireflies and Songs by Sara Groves. I think you get my point. The man is a genius.

As to the two Peacock produced albums on this list, let's just say that as to Becker, I was more a fan of her music, when she had, according to CCM Magazine, "her stint in the late-'80's as a pioneering rock chick", then I was of her "multifaceted pop reincarnations in the '90's". Hey, I'm a rocker. I have gotten into the harder stuff as I have aged. I am all in favor of FFR, which is the more politically correct term these days. Servant, Fireflight, Iona, Sixpence NTR, Evolett, Evanescescence. You get the drift.

As to the second album, I didn't pick up Out Of The Grey at the Start. I picked up a cassette of Diamond Days back in the day at a local Christian Bookstore. It was a heavenly pop album, especially with Christine Dente's vocals. And you gotta love that cover. While this was a short lived band, the light burned bright and fast. Any of OOG's releases are worth your effort.

As to the rest of the list. Keith Green was a CCM Pioneer who had a sharp wit as well as great musical skills. So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt was on heavy rotation back at WENC. ("Eating Leeks and Garlic by the Nile, Ooh the Breath but Dining out in style"). I am sure that CCM's Clown Prince Steve Taylor grew up on Keith Green's Music. U2 Was the Crossover Band of the 80's. I had a friend by the name of Lenny Rideout who brought in a bunch of the bands music into the station. It was great spiritual music and sparked a debate as to what was "Christian" enough for Christian Music. Brings to mind some recent debates as to Creed, Evanescence, or The Civil Wars.

Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws (Deluxe Edition)

This brings up my final point, Bruce Cockburn (pronounced Co-Burn). He has two albums on the list even though as they say "Stark imagery, profanity, leftist political values and a more obscure expression of faith would challenge Christian fans". As they say, "When you open a door, don't complain if I decide to dive a Semi straight through it." For more than that, you'll have to stay tuned when I put out my own list, which will include some releases after 2001. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?

I had a dream. No, Not that kind of dream. It was just that I remembered this book that I bought back in 2001. CCM Magazine set about to make a list of the 100 Best Christian Albums Ever. Now I disagreed with them back in `01, and I think that now the list may have to be amended a bit, because some pretty awesome releases have occurred in the past 10 years.

Introduction

What I am going to do is put out a series of posts. I want to start by going back, in reverse order, over the original list, and then I intend to submit a few contenders for a new list, which I think, considering it's been another 10 years, is warranted. As always, I would hope that you would use the comments below to offer your own suggestions as to what should, or should not be on the list of the new 100 Best. The Night Beat has an international readership, so I know we can do it (The U.S., Canada, and Australia have the most CCM Bands, but I can remember a few from the U.K. (Iona, Delirious?) and Sweden (Jerusalem, Leviticus) as well.

The 100 Best Christian Albums Ever, 2001

100 - Mirror, Evie, Word Records, 1977
99 - The Champion, Carman, Myrrh Records, 1986
98 - More Power To YA, Petra, Star Song, 1982
97 - The Bride, Crystal Lewis, Metro One, 1993
96 - Fire and Ice, Steve Camp, Sparrow, 1983
95 - Straight On, DeGarmo & Key, Lamb & Lion, 1979
94 - Michael English, Michael English, Warner Alliance, 1991
93 - How The West Was One, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Phil Keaggy and "A Band Called David", Myrrh, 1977
92 - Age to Age, Amy Grant, Myrrh, 1982
91 - Awaiting Your Reply, Resurrection Band, Star Song, 1978

Good thing I am starting at the back of the pack. It is easier to argue that a lower ranked album should be higher on the list than to say, "that shouldn't be number one". A little on my history. I was saved in 1975, at the age of 9 and got my introduction to Christian Music shortly afterward. While I didn't get to hear some of these albums as soon as they came out, I did come across them fairly soon.

From Rock to Metal

In getting the conversation started, Let me say that Awaiting Your Reply should definitely be higher on that list. If you knew the State of Christian Music in the late 70's you would definitely agree that CCM, as it existed, was in its infancy. Most of the music was, in the words of Mike Warnke "Jesus, Jesus, Wo, Wo, Wo. Jesus, Jesus, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." So when you put that against what would be a radical new sound, very polished at that, in a band such as REZ. The audio assault of Heavy Metal was beginning while most Christians were still afraid of the Acoustic Guitar, much less the Electric Guitar. I would have put it up in the top half. Keep in mind that this is the seventies. Some of the music is acoustic Jesus Music, but the Hard Stuff (Awaiting Your Reply, Waves, Lightshine) is where you know something special is happening.

Petra Means Rock

I came up in CCM with the Big Three, which are Petra, Servant, and Fireworks. I would challenge anyone out there to try to deny it. Remember, my trump card is that to be in the Three, you have to have started "Back Then" so, as much as a Skillet may be big now, that spot is long filled. You can argue for Rez or D&K or some other, but I think this will stand on its own. That said, while I came in on Never Say Die, I think this might be an accurate rating for More Power To Ya. My biggest Gripe is that the most seminal Petra album Not of this World is not on the list at all.

A Champion doesn't Break Mirrors

I wasn't able to track down Evie Mirror at the moment. I was always a Nancy Honeytree fan myself. Boy was her hair long. I only have one disagreement on this list, and I am sure it will get me a few comments. I don't think Carman belongs. I have The Champion on cassette, but, listening to it again, while it still is a good album, I don't think that it makes the 100 Greatest Christian Albums Ever.

I think that is a good beginning. I wish to ask in closing that all my loyal readers help me in the reconstruction of this project. A new list for a new millennium. Until the next time.

As a footnote, I have linked the list to Amazon, I hope you will click and buy the Albums on the list through my site, to help keep the Night Beat Going. This time things are a little different. I usually link to the mp3 Album, but here sometimes I do that, sometimes Vinyl, and sometimes CD. I am going for bargains in this post, because these are some great must have albums, call it your CCM Bucket List. Awaiting Your Reply.

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