The Home of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Reviews of New CD releases, mostly CCM but also mainstream releases that may interest the Christian Music listener. Music News and Commentary, especially when there's a CCM connection.
We continue our journey into CCM history using Servant's Jungle Music skit as our guide. When we began our Journey with Stanley and Livingston we discussed their opening band, The Heavy Metal and Female Fronted Rock Band Resurrection Band (which is commonly known as REZ or REZ Band)
If you didn't read the Tribute to REZ, please, click on the link and check it out. This small 90 second or so is a name dropping treasure trove of CCM History. I will briefly mention that the reference is to Awaiting Your Reply (1978) the band's Major Label Debut on Star Song Records.
S: Dr. Livingston I presume! L: Why Stanley Ole chap, did you bring those rock and roll tapes that I requested? S: Yes I did Doctor, I brought some Resurrection Band L: Capitol! I was Awaiting Your Reply.
We now join the conversation in progress.
S: However, I lost the Daniel Amos in the river. It was a pity. L: How Alarming.
The band and album referenced this time is Daniel Amos, and more specifically, the album Alarma! (1981) the band's fourth album. Losing Daniel Amos in the river is more than alarming, it is quite the tragedy.
Christian music has always been a tale of two Taylors (and I don't mean Swift). In this case the two are Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos (aka DA) and Clone (or is it Clown?) Prince and Political Skewerer (is that a word?) Steve Taylor. We shall eventually come round to Steve, but we shall stay with Terry Today.
Daniel Amos started out as a Country-Rock group at the Prime of the Jesus Music Era, though they were called Jubal's Last Band at the time. They Changed their name to Daniel Amos and released their eponymous debut in 1976. Yes, that's early but even Petra was earlier. By the time their third album Horrendous Disc (1978) they had seen the light and ditched country, becoming the Father of Alternative Rock (though some would attribute that to The Choir, which came along several years later. By the time Vox Humana came out in 1984, the band had a slight complaint.
I thought by now I'd walk the moon And ride a car without no tires And have a robot run the vacuum And date a girl made out of wires No thing's don't change that much, do they? We are still out of touch, by now we should discover Just how to love each other, like Klattus' robot man Your looks have killed again
The Song was titled "It's the eighties, where's our rocket packs". Well we didn't get rocket packs yet, at least not commercially available ones, but in the midst of break-ups and reunions, Daniel Amos is amazingly, still together and working on new material. A 2011 planned new album didn't pan out, but there is 2012 to hope for.
UPDATE July 27, 2018: That 2011 Album was delayed for 2 years. In 2013 the band released Dig Here Said The Angel. I am considering a review. So we only have a 5 year hiatus. Good to hear that some of the "fathers" are still plugging away.
I finish this edition of Flashback Friday with Sanctuary from the Cornerstone Jesus Rally. Watch and enjoy. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
(We continue our Friday Replays of Classic Flashback Friday. It gives me a chance to update new readers on the origins of Modern Christian Music. And a chance to update some broken links.)
Welcome to the latest edition of Flashback Friday. By way of introduction to my new readers, Flashback Friday is where I introduce my readers to the pioneers of Contemporary Christian Music, beginning with the Jesus Music Era of the Late 1960's and the 1970's. As we progress each week we shall move into the Seventies, and Eighties and perhaps beyond. Not exactly sure where I should end a flashback. Maybe with the year 1999/2000.
If any one person could be labeled the "First Father" or "Adam" of Christian Rock, that person would be, by almost unanimous choice (dare I say consensus), Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 -February 24, 2008). He certainly was recognized by Servant.
S: No, No, Doctor, you've got it all wrong. Oh Well. Now then, I've also brought you some Servant.
L: Oh, what a stroke of luck, why two of my servants ran away last week, Larry and Normany. They ran into the shallow water and the crocks got them. I suppose they're in another land now.
That was the closing line of the Jungle Music Skit, and two artists were referenced here, Larry Norman and Servant. We shall get to Servant next week, and we will get to still more bands as we move into the eighties, which is known as Christian Music's Golden Age. If you didn't get the reference, Livingstone had two servants Larry and Normany (Larry Norman). Referenced also was In Another Land (1976), which was Normans sixth release as a Christian artist. He had actually been in the music industry since 1965 with the bands Back Country Seven (1964-65) and People (1965-68). He had a hit single "I Love You", with People, which reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. After a brief musical hiatus he returned to lead the nascent Christian Rock scene with Upon This Rock (1969).
With the rise of Christian Rock as a major force, a reactionary movement arose among the mainstream Christian community. A reaction in itself wasn't surprising, in fact Newton's Third Law of Motion required it (For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). What was always surprising was where the reaction came from. It would be easy to slough off an attack from "the world". It really hurt when the bullets were fired by your fellow brothers and sisters. Christianity has always been plagued with friendly fire casualties.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22 lays out the principle of "All things to all men" or "every available method" to getting out the Gospel. Paul would have been on TV, Radio, the Internet, etc. (He would have also booked passage on The Titanic, but that's another story). Organized Christianity (aka Christen-dumb) has opposed just about every major technological innovation of the 20th Century as being of "the devil", with the result that, with a few rare exceptions, the Christian Church has always been seen as a bunch of Luddites.
Norman struck back with one of the most well known "defense songs" ever released entitled Why should the devil have all the good music. Even though a live video of this exists, the quality is poor. Here is an audio only version for your enjoyment.
One of the best things about this song is it's biting sarcasm, with the parts like "I grew it out long to make room for my brain". Boldness like this was a rarity, and paved the way for CCM's Caustic Clone Prince Steve Taylor, but we shall deal with him at another time.
Six Degrees of Larry Norman
Larry Norman isn't only one of the most influential and respected people in CCM History, his is also one of the most "well-connected" people in CCM history. His Street Level Artists Agency represented legends such as Randy Stonehill, Daniel Amos and Mark Heard, but the connections go much further, and include artists as diverse as DC Talk, Switchfoot and Rebecca St. James. Even more surprising, he is also one of the founders of a Protestant Denomination of sorts. Not surprising, they don't have a problem with Rock and Roll. For more information on these connections, check out my Six Degrees Page.
That concludes this edition of Flashback Friday. We shall return next Friday with Servant, the last band listed in the Jungle Music Skit. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
p.s. - Check out the Larry Norman page to purchase music on Amazon and support The Night Beat at the same time. Thanks.
The following is a Classic Replay of a Flashback Friday Post. I have decided to repost these every Friday in order to give new listeners a primer on the early days of Christian Music. To read the original post, click on the link above.
We continue our journey into CCM history using Servant's Jungle Music skit as our guide. When we began our Journey with Stanley and Livingston we discussed their opening band, The Heavy Metal and Female Fronted Rock Band Resurrection Band (which is commonly known as REZ or REZ Band)
If you didn't read the Tribute to REZ, please, click on the link and check it out. This small 90 second or so is a name dropping treasure trove of CCM History. I will briefly mention that the reference is to Awaiting Your Reply (1978) the band's Major Label Debut on Star Song Records.
S: Dr. Livingston I presume! L: Why Stanley Ole chap, did you bring those rock and roll tapes that I requested? S: Yes I did Doctor, I brought some Resurrection Band L: Capitol! I was Awaiting Your Reply.
We now join the conversation in progress.
S: However, I lost the Daniel Amos in the river. It was a pity. L: How Alarming.
The band and album referenced this time is Daniel Amos, and more specifically, the album Alarma! (1981) the band's fourth album. Losing Daniel Amos in the river is more than alarming, it is quite the tragedy.
Christian music has always been a tale of two Taylors (and I don't mean Swift). In this case the two are Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos (aka DA) and Clone (or is it Clown?) Prince and Political Skewerer (is that a word?) Steve Taylor. We shall eventually come round to Steve, but we shall stay with Terry Today.
Daniel Amos started out as a Country-Rock group at the Prime of the Jesus Music Era, though they were called Jubal's Last Band at the time. They Changed their name to Daniel Amos and released their eponymous debut in 1976. Yes, that's early but even Petra was earlier. By the time their third album Horrendous Disc (1978) they had seen the light and ditched country, becoming the Father of Alternative Rock (though some would attribute that to The Choir, which came along several years later. By the time Vox Humana came out in 1984, the band had a slight complaint.
I thought by now I'd walk the moon And ride a car without no tires And have a robot run the vacuum And date a girl made out of wires No thing's don't change that much, do they? We are still out of touch, by now we should discover Just how to love each other, like Klattus' robot man Your looks have killed again
The Song was titled "It's the eighties, where's our rocket packs". Well we didn't get rocket packs yet, at least not commercially available ones, but in the midst of break-ups and reunions, Daniel Amos is amazingly, still together and working on new material. A 2011 planned new album didn't pan out, but there is 2012 to hope for.
I finish this edition of Flashback Friday with Sanctuary from the Cornerstone Jesus Rally. Watch and enjoy. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to the latest edition of Flashback Friday. By way of introduction to my new readers, Flashback Friday is where I introduce my readers to the pioneers of Contemporary Christian Music, beginning with the Jesus Music Era of the Late 1960's and the 1970's. As we progress each week we shall move into the Seventies, and Eighties and perhaps beyond. Not exactly sure where I should end a flashback. Maybe with the year 1999/2000.
If any one person could be labeled the "First Father" or "Adam" of Christian Rock, that person would be, by almost unanimous choice (dare I say consensus), Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 -February 24, 2008). He certainly was recognized by Servant.
S: No, No, Doctor, you've got it all wrong. Oh Well. Now then, I've also brought you some Servant.
L: Oh, what a stroke of luck, why two of my servants ran away last week, Larry and Normany. They ran into the shallow water and the crocks got them. I suppose they're in another land now.
That was the closing line of the Jungle Music Skit, and two artists were referenced here, Larry Norman and Servant. We shall get to Servant next week, and we will get to still more bands as we move into the eighties, which is known as Christian Music's Golden Age. If you didn't get the reference, Livingstone had two servants Larry and Normany (Larry Norman). Referenced also was In Another Land (1976), which was Normans sixth release as a Christian artist. He had actually been in the music industry since 1965 with the bands Back Country Seven (1964-65) and People (1965-68). He had a hit single "I Love You", with People, which reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. After a brief musical hiatus he returned to lead the nascent Christian Rock scene with Upon This Rock (1969).
With the rise of Christian Rock as a major force, a reactionary movement arose among the mainstream Christian community. A reaction in itself wasn't surprising, in fact Newton's Third Law of Motion required it (For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). What was always surprising was where the reaction came from. It would be easy to slough off an attack from "the world". It really hurt when the bullets were fired by your fellow brothers and sisters. Christianity has always been plagued with friendly fire casualties.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22 lays out the principle of "All things to all men" or "every available method" to getting out the Gospel. Paul would have been on TV, Radio, the Internet, etc. (He would have also booked passage on The Titanic, but that's another story). Organized Christianity (aka Christen-dumb) has opposed just about every major technological innovation of the 20th Century as being of "the devil", with the result that, with a few rare exceptions, the Christian Church has always been seen as a bunch of Luddites.
Norman struck back with one of the most well known "defense songs" ever released entitled Why should the devil have all the good music. Even though a live video of this exists, the quality is poor. Here is an audio only version for your enjoyment.
One of the best things about this song is it's biting sarcasm, with the parts like "I grew it out long to make room for my brain". Boldness like this was a rarity, and paved the way for CCM's Caustic Clone Prince Steve Taylor, but we shall deal with him at another time.
Six Degrees of Larry Norman
Larry Norman isn't only one of the most influential and respected people in CCM History, his is also one of the most "well-connected" people in CCM history. His Street Level Artists Agency represented legends such as Randy Stonehill, Daniel Amos and Mark Heard, but the connections go much further, and include artists as diverse as DC Talk, Switchfoot and Rebecca St. James. Even more surprising, he is also one of the founders of a Protestant Denomination of sorts. Not surprising, they don't have a problem with Rock and Roll. For more information on these connections, check out my Six Degrees Page.
That concludes this edition of Flashback Friday. We shall return next Friday with Servant, the last band listed in the Jungle Music Skit. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
p.s. - Check out the Larry Norman page to purchase music on Amazon and support The Night Beat at the same time. Thanks.
We continue our journey into CCM history using Servant's Jungle Music skit as our guide. When we began our Journey with Stanley and Livingston we discussed their opening band, The Heavy Metal and Female Fronted Rock Band Resurrection Band (which is commonly known as REZ or REZ Band)
If you didn't read the Tribute to REZ, please, click on the link and check it out. This small 90 second or so is a name dropping treasure trove of CCM History. I will briefly mention that the reference is to Awaiting Your Reply (1978) the band's Major Label Debut on Star Song Records.
S: Dr. Livingston I presume! L: Why Stanley Ole chap, did you bring those rock and roll tapes that I requested? S: Yes I did Doctor, I brought some Resurrection Band L: Capitol! I was Awaiting Your Reply.
We now join the conversation in progress.
S: However, I lost the Daniel Amos in the river. It was a pity. L: How Alarming.
The band and album referenced this time is Daniel Amos, and more specifically, the album Alarma! (1981) the band's fourth album. Losing Daniel Amos in the river is more than alarming, it is quite the tragedy.
Christian music has always been a tale of two Taylors (and I don't mean Swift). In this case the two are Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos (aka DA) and Clone (or is it Clown?) Prince and Political Skewerer (is that a word?) Steve Taylor. We shall eventually come round to Steve, but we shall stay with Terry Today.
Daniel Amos started out as a Country-Rock group at the Prime of the Jesus Music Era, though they were called Jubal's Last Band at the time. They Changed their name to Daniel Amos and released their eponymous debut in 1976. Yes, that's early but even Petra was earlier. By the time their third album Horrendous Disc (1978) they had seen the light and ditched country, becoming the Father of Alternative Rock (though some would attribute that to The Choir, which came along several years later. By the time Vox Humana came out in 1984, the band had a slight complaint.
I thought by now I'd walk the moon And ride a car without no tires And have a robot run the vacuum And date a girl made out of wires No thing's don't change that much, do they? We are still out of touch, by now we should discover Just how to love each other, like Klattus' robot man Your looks have killed again
The Song was titled "It's the eighties, where's our rocket packs". Well we didn't get rocket packs yet, at least not commercially available ones, but in the midst of break-ups and reunions, Daniel Amos is amazingly, still together and working on new material. A 2011 planned new album didn't pan out, but there is 2012 to hope for.
I finish this edition of Flashback Friday with Sanctuary from the Cornerstone Jesus Rally. Watch and enjoy. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We'll start off right at the top this time. I can't really argue with any of the ones here (Well I can always gripe about stuff like 4HIM, and I don't know Bob Bennett), but you can always argue rank.
We'll start with the Newsboys. I must admit to be somewhat ignorant regarding the bands early works. I have heard a lot of the songs, but not as to complete albums. I came in to their orbit with Take Me To Your Leader and Step Up to the Microphone. Suffice it to say that a band of their talent deserves to be on this list, but there could probably be more selections on it. I am more partial toThrive. Needless to say, the band has talent, both natural and passed down. I don't think all former frontman Peter Furler got from Mylon LeFevre was his daughter Summer. I think the former Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart frontman passed on a treasure trove of advice, which the band used to great advantage. That reminds me, where is Broken Heart in the Top 100?
Same rationale for IONA. This band is one of the great British Invasions (the other was The Beatles). Like the Newsboys my biggest problem isn't that TBOK isn't on this list but it's that it is the Only IONA selection. This group has put out consistently awesome material. I really love Beyond These Shoresbut that can hardly be a favorite. This is one of those groups that really can't put out a stinker album. They are like the Brandon Ebel of bands. Open Skyis also a winner. Enough Said.
There is no true student of CCM who does not recognize the contributions of both Charlie Peacock and Phil Keaggy to the industry. Both are accomplished guitarists, though Keaggy much more so and for much longer, while Peacock, though a great musician, has become much more famous as a Producer. Peacock (his real name Charles Ashworth) recently hosted the release party of his latest protege, Nathan Tasker with a webcast from his studios courtesy of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Finally, a word regarding Daniel Amos, they have two selections alone in this list, and they are worthy. Again, Pioneers should be recognized. Though because of my DJ day's I am more a fan of Vox Humana. They started in the Jesus Music days and were mentioned in the Stanley-Livingston skit from Servant's Jungle Music. (Stanley "I lost the Daniel Amos in the River. It was a pity." Livingston "How Alarming"). I think when most people get name dropped in another album, it's fair to say they have arrived. Until Tomorrow. Awaiting Your Reply.
page to purchase music on Amazon and support The Night Beat at the same time. Thanks.
, Newsboys, Star Song, 1994
, Allies, Dayspring, 1989
, Iona, Forefront, 1992
, Charlie Peacock, Exit, 1984
, 4HIM, Benson, 1992
, Bob Bennett, Priority, 1982
, Phil Keaggy, NewSong, 1976
, Daniel Amos, Solid Rock, 1980
, The Winans, Quest, 1990
We'll start with the Newsboys. I must admit to be somewhat ignorant regarding the bands early works. I have heard a lot of the songs, but not as to complete albums. I came in to their orbit with 
and 
. Suffice it to say that a band of their talent deserves to be on this list, but there could probably be more selections on it. I am more partial to
Same rationale for IONA. This band is one of the great British Invasions (the other was The Beatles). Like the Newsboys my biggest problem isn't that TBOK isn't on this list but it's that it is the Only IONA selection. This group has put out consistently awesome material. I really love 
but that can hardly be a favorite. This is one of those groups that really can't put out a stinker album. They are like the Brandon Ebel of bands. 
is also a winner. Enough Said.
guitarists, though Keaggy much more so and for much longer, while Peacock, though a great musician, has become much more famous as a Producer. Peacock (his real name Charles Ashworth) recently hosted the release party of his latest protege, Nathan Tasker with a webcast from his studios courtesy of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Finally, a word regarding Daniel Amos, they have two selections alone in this list, and they are worthy. Again, Pioneers should be recognized. Though because of my DJ day's I am more a fan of Vox Humana. They started in the Jesus Music days and were mentioned in the Stanley-Livingston skit from Servant's Jungle Music. (Stanley "I lost the Daniel Amos in the River. It was a pity." Livingston "How Alarming"). I think when most people get name dropped in another album, it's fair to say they have arrived. Until Tomorrow. Awaiting Your Reply.