The Top 10 Christian Albums, 2001
- 10 - Different Lifestyles
, BeBe & Cece Winans, Sparrow, 1991
- 9 - Free at Last
, DC Talk, ForeFront, 1992
- 8 - The Turning
- 7 - The World as Best as I Remember It, Volume 1
, Rich Mullins, Reunion, 1991.
- 6 - The Joshua Tree
- 5 - For Him Who Has Ears To Hear
- 4 - Second Hand
- 3 - A Liturgy, A Legacy, and A Ragamuffin Band
- 2 - Only Visiting This Planet
- 1 - Lead Me On
If I were a cynic, I would say that one of the requirements for entry on this list is to have a premature death. Of course, even using flawed biblical interpretation one should consider any death short of 80 premature, but especially if illness or an accident is involved. A full 10 of 100 entries fit that Category. (Larry Norman, Gene Eugene(as Adam Again), DeGarmo & Key (Dana Key), Keith Green, Mark Heard, and Rich Mullins). Actually, BOTH Larry Norman and DeGarmo and Key don't fit the list perfectly, since they died after the list was published. Dana Key died unexpectedly Last June, and Norman in 2008. Of course on talent and influence alone there should have been more than one D&K entry on the list. As to Larry Norman, his influence in CCM is immense. I started playing around with a Six Degrees of Larry Norman a few days ago, and believe me he can be connected with virtually everyone in Christian Music today in 6 links or less. He belongs.
A cynic would also point out that a seeming requirement for entry to a list of Christian Albums is to not technically be a Christian Artist. Bruce Cockburn and U2 both contribute a pair of albums to the list. (Now in full disclosure, I think U2 belongs, but based on CCM Mags own description, I am not sure about Cockburn.) When those two items are combined with the usual Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith Bias (another 9 off the list), that means the Top 100 is really the top 76. There could be a lot of room in that list for some really deserving albums, and that is our wiggle room.
 |
| Number Nine? |
Most of my complaints on the 10 Greatest deal mostly with position, we'll start with DC Talk. Straight upfront, I love the album. There's no doubt that it belongs on the list. Actually I think they should swap positions with Jesus Freak at Number 14 and I would be fine with that. Personally I never did get the mini skits (Greer, WDCT, Willpower, and the cringeworthy 2 Honks). This may be one of those Chicken and Egg questions though. While Jesus Freak may be superior to Free at Last, would DC Talk have been able to make Jesus Freak if it had not first made Free at Last. For Your Consideration.
On to the one of the greatest crossover acts among CCM fans, U2. The Joshua Tree was an awesome album, at least to me. Personally, if it was up to me, they may be a number one or two. Sorry Amy. I have always detected a little too much of "Amy Bias" in CCM. All she has to do is put out any album to be guaranteed it proclaimed the "Best Album Ever". On the other Hand, U2 consistently put out deep spiritual music all under the radar of the Christian Music Industry. Now even late recognition is better than no recognition at all, but I'm just saying. Would be number one on this list if I made it. (Now, would it still be number one? That remains to be seen. Stay Tuned).That concludes my look back at the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, as determined by CCM Magazine in 2001. Now the fun begins. A lot of music came out since 1999, the last release year for an album on the list. I think we could, at a minimum, sweep off about 20 of these. While that is not my intention, facts are facts. I hope you will help me in the undertaking. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
P.S.- A personal Night Beat Shoutout to Alexandra from Sweden, Thanks for following. Don't know if you have heard of them, but I would encourage you to check out Blindside, a rock band from Sweden signed to CCM's Midas, Tooth and Nail Records, I think that With Shivering Hearts We Wait, which has a listening party at Jesus Freak Hideout, is a Solid 4.25 Emeralds, and should make next years Platinum Vinyl Awards. As to Alexandra herself, check out her blog.
Related Posts:
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Two
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Three
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Four
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Five
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Six
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Seven
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Eight
- The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Nine
, Phil Keaggy, Word, 1993
, Sixpence None The Richer, Squint, 1997
, Charlie Peacock, Sparrow, 1991
, Randy Stonehill, Solid Rock, 1976
, Tonio K, What?, 1986
, Russ Taff, Myrrh, 1989
and
The Album that launched a phenomenon. A simple chorus. "What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak. What will people do when they find that it's true. I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak. There ain't no disguising the truth."
, Amy Grant, A&M/Myrrh, 1991
, Mark Heard, Fingerprint, 1990
, Bruce Cockburn, True North/Columbia, 1980
, Charlie Peacock, Sparrow, 1990
, Various Artists, Fingerprint, 1996
, Andrae Crouch & The Disciples, Light, 1976
Jars of Clay, Essential, 1995
, Michael W. Smith, Reunion, 1986
Jars of Clay. Maybe they are not the most successful Christian Band out there, but they certainly are the most well known. When their debut came out on Essential Records back in 1995, it created quite the Buzz in Christian Circles, for all the right reasons. To put it quite simply, "these guys were good." It was a kind of Folk-Rock that had not been heard before, and presaged great things for the band. Though the Band got more polished as time went on and they hit a few road bumps along the way (personally, I feel that If I Left The Zoo is an album that should have been left unmade. Whenever a producer throws out all your songs and substitutes his own, you should fire the producer. But that's just me. They righted themselves with The Eleventh Hour and really hit their stride with The Long Fall Back to Earth. Their latest release Jars of Clay Presents: The Shelter (aka Shelter Project) is a Folk-Rock masterpiece that should remind listeners of everything that caused them to fall in love with Jars in the first place. This is where you belong.
, Amy Grant, Myrrh, 1983
, Kirk Franklin, GospoCentric, 1998
, Larry Norman, Solid Rock, 1976
, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Sparrow/Capitol, 1988
, Russ Taff, Myrrh, 1985
, Various Artists, Word, 1995
, Michael W. Smith, Reunion, 1983
, Mark Heard, Home Sweet Home, 1982
I guess I should start at the top. I like Christmas Music, at Christmas Time. I'm not really one of those people who could listen to Christmas Music all year long...with a couple of major exceptions. Two actually. Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Of course, for the most part, they are also instrumental. Now this album was on the shelves to be pulled out during the appropriate time of year when I was a DJ, and it is an excellent "Holiday" album (That should provoke a few comments).
We'll move on down the list. Larry Norman. His position as the father of Christian Rock is enough to put him on the list multiple times. Without Larry, there would be no CCM, or at least none anyone would like to listen to. Randy Stonehill was discovered by Norman. I can only imagine how many people could be connected in a Six Degrees of Larry Norman Game. Anybody want to try? Then the album is referenced in the famed 
I'll make one more album highlight. The Michael W. Smith Project, which came out in 1983, was groundbreaking. Just like Larry Norman could best be called the father of Christian Rock (or Grandfather, if we want to give fatherhood to Petra). I think it is fairly safe to call Smitty the father of Christian Techno. The album was not simply synthesizer based pop, it was almost totally synthesized music. Later he did put together a band for touring, but like Leon Patillo, he could have done everything as a one man band. While gaining mainstream fame, I think he also lost his way with some of the albums. Though with