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.

The Night Beat HOF: The Founders Class

The Founders Class of The Night Beat Hall of Fame technically would consist of any artist prior to 2021. Considering that our starting point is Larry Norman's Upon This Rock in 1969 that's 52 years. That's unworkable. So the founders class will be the First decade 1969-1979. It also coincides with the Jesus Music Era and would encompass, according to HOF rules, the Classes of 1994-2004.

While not a Comprehensive list, this would include:

Larry Norman, Daniel Amos, Servant, Petra, The Archer's, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, The Second Chapter of Acts, Keith Green, Resurrection Band, Sweet Comfort Band, DeGarmo and Key, Denny Correll, Love Song, Chuck Girard, Evie, Barry McGuire, Reba Rambo, Dallas Holm, Kansas, Don Francisco, Darrell Mansfield, Andrus Blackwood and Company, Glad, Truth, Andrea Crouch, Phil Driscoll, Amy Grant, Michael Omartian.

I invite you to make your own suggestions, as I think this is far from complete, but I think this is a good start. Next up is the CCM era 1980-1989, when things started to become a coherent industry, which in my opinion was a very good thing. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Classic Rewind: Flashback Friday: Barnabas Jones and The Temple of Rock

This weeks edition of Flashback Friday is a 2 for 1 bonus. For those of you who have been with me from the start, you know that I am using the brief skit at the end of Servant's Jungle Music as my jumping off point. Stanley and Livingston continue.

L: I say, How is your old colleague Barnabas?
S: Oh you know Barnabas, Never Say Die type, I left him in Egypt studying Petraglyphs.
L: Jolly Good. Jolly Good.

Now we'll get to the blatantly obvious reference shortly, but most listeners miss one. Barnabas.

Barnabas was a pioneer in Christian Rock and Heavy Metal from 1977-1986. The final lineup consisted of Nancy Jo Mann as lead vocal, Brian Belew on Guitar, Gary Mann doing double duty on Keyboard and Bass, and Kris Klingensmith on Drums. In their short life they released five albums. Along with Rez they were pioneers in Metal amd Female Fronted Rock. Despite having one of their albums titled Feel The Fire (1984), they fizzled under the withering anti-rock attack of Jimmy Swaggart and the like. I guess if you can't take the heat... Now I have never been a Rockstar (unless you count my dreams), but If you can't handle a televangelist who likes Southern Gospel, your strength is small. Other bands had no problem dishing it right back at them.

Staying Power counts for a lot in terms of public perception. It's sort of like the arguments over inventions. In the end it doesn't matter who invented an item, all that matters is who obtained the patent. It's the same thing in Music. Since REZ stayed around, they are credited with being the "Fathers of Christian Metal". However, based on their sound alone, Barnabas was the true Heavy Metal band. I was able to find a few audio clips on youtube, and these guys were not afraid of instrumental jam sessions. This is Breathless Wonderment from Feel The Fire. It's almost 7 minutes long, but about half of that is instrumental.
Now, on to the main act. Get out your biblical Greek to English dictionaries kids. The night beat is all about Rock, and in biblical Greek Rock is spelled PETRA.

Petra is one of those special bands, the ones that prove that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let's go into detail on some of those parts. Over 35 years active (plus a 5 year retirement), a career spanning 5 decades, and over 23 albums. No other band can even claim to be "Father of Christian Rock" with any credibility. Ask anybody in or out of the industry and they will have had some experience with Petra, sometimes as the first Christian Rock album they bought "as a kid". 

During that 35 year career the band experienced 11 Official Lineup Changes that included 3 Lead Vocal Changes, 4 Drummers, 5 Bass Players, 6 Keyboardists, and 4 Changes of Lead Guitar. It would be enough to make a lesser band wonder if they were cut out for the big time, but Petra just played on. Most critics only concentrate on "The Frontman" (lead vocals). This divides Petra into three "eras".

The Hartman Era (1972-1979)

Founder and Lead Guitarist Bob Hartman also handled the frontman duties in the early years, during which they had their self-titled debut in 1974 and their sophomore release Come and Join Us (1977). During this period the band had a pop/rockabilly sound which by today's standards is quite dated and some would say amateur. You can't help but smile hearing a song like Lucas McGraw or admire the "rebellious" spunk of a comeback song like God Gave Rock and Roll to You. After seven years of doing double duty the band acquired a Lead Singer and Hartman settled into lead guitar duties until retiring in 1995. He would again return to lead guitar from 2003 and 2005 and again as Classic Petra returned in 2010 until the present. That decision in 1979 ushered in.

The Volz Era (1979-1986, 2010+)

Greg Xavier Volz (Greg X. Volz to fans) is a self taught musician with an eight octave voice. Prior to his time with Petra he toured with Janis Joplin and was one of the founders of the Jesus Music group e Band. He led Petra for the next six albums, beginning with Washes Whiter Than in 1979. Beginning with Never Say Die (1981), but definitely in the three album set of More Power To Ya (1982), Not of This World (1983) and Beat The System (1985), the band moved from pop/rock to arena rock and super stardom. During the early years of this period the band was the opening act for Servant. Most notable of the lineup changes during this time was the addition of Louie Weaver on the Drums (1981-2003 and 2010 on) who came over to the band as Fireworks was breaking up (they will be covered in the next Flashback Friday). Some Petra fans, this blogger included, see him as "The Voice" of Petra.

I have included the Official Music Video for Beat the System. Enjoy the music and remember, this was three decades ago, so a concept video then may not be much of a concept today.

The Schlitt Era (1986-2005)

John Schlitt came to the band after their Live Album Captured in Time and Space (1986). Formerly the lead singer of Head East, he is the longest serving, if not the most loved lead singer of Petra. He took Petra into Industry domination during a period that included fourteen albums. His first album with the band was Back to the Street (1986) and the last was entitled Farewell (2005).

I am going to try to give you a video of each modern era. This is Armed and Dangerous from Beyond Belief (1990)


Classic Petra (2010+)

After a hiatus of five years boredom set in, even among rockers in their late 50's. Petra reinvented itself once again, as they had done many times in the past, and re branded themselves Classic Petra. Their lineup this time is the one that existed from 1984 to 1986: Greg X. Volz (Vocals), Bob Hartman (Guitars), Mark Kelly (Bass Guitar), John Lawry (Keyboard), and Louie Weaver (Drums).

This is a live video from their concert in the UK. One of their most Iconic Songs. All Over Me.

That does it for this edition of Flashback Friday. Tune In Next Week. There Will be Fireworks. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Legends of CCM: Petra

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize a legend. Such is the case with our next Legend of CCM. Not everybody gets to wow right out of the gate. Sometimes there are some missteps along the way.

Such was the case with Petra. Formed in the early 70's their pop sound was pretty rough. The first albums bordered on Country and had pretty bad production. I have the cassettes for both Petra and Come and Join Us. The progression is obvious. The debut is very hard on the ears if you are a rocker. The Petra Sound did not develop until album three, Washes Whiter Than and was solidified into Rock with Never Say Die. Of course it is also at that time that they finally found a lead vocalist in Greg Xavier Volz.

The Volz Era was short but extremely sweet. Washes Whiter Than, Never Say Die, More Power To Ya, Not of This world and Beat The System. And the Live album Captured In Time And Space. The one album a year pace took its toll on Volz and he departed to be replaced by John Schlitt. Despite that fact many fans regard Volz as "The Voice" of Petra.
How about our test for legend status? 

• Longevity - Petra has this category all to itself. Run #1: 1972-2006. That's 34 years. Not many bands will come close these days. Even counting the four year hiatus we are now at 40 years. I've seen bands burn out after being in the public eye for 5 years.
• Popularity - Locked up here as well. In their heyday they were THE BAND. Everyone loved Petra. And now it seems that all those people have children and their children discovered the band. It is one of the few bands that parents grew up with that their kids think are cool.
• Influence - Three for Three. Because so many people grew up listening to Petra, the odds were favorable that the ones who followed in Christian Music would be inspired by the band in some way. CCM testimonies usually begin "I was x years old and somebody gave me or played for me a Petra Cassette or vinyl or CD. They have literally influenced the entire industry.

They are the Ultimate Legend. If not for the fact that we are attempting to go Chronologically they would be first. Next up is  a little bit of a backtrack, with Phil Keaggy. Until the next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

King of The Lowborn

"The King is Dead, Long Live The King." It seems appropriate with this post. Tuesday marked the end of an era in Christian Alternative. There are a few bands out there that define the genre they are in. Petra defined Rock for a Generation, and to a certain level still does, and not in name alone (their name in Greek is Rock) but on inheritance. Many of today's Christian Rock bands grew up listening to Petra and their music shaped their sound. That tends to happen in a 30+ year career. Alternative Music hasn't been around that long, but still it has its royalty. The Emperor or Deity of Alternative would have to be The Choir. Reaching the 30 year mark, and still making top class music, they will not easily cede the throne to an upstart.

The band we say goodbye today isn't that old, but 12 years seems like an eternity in Christian Music with bands hanging it up after five years. Crossing a 10 year mark should be a minimum for respect. Especially if that is your only claim to fame. Fortunately for +Anberlin it isn't. +Brandon Ebel and +Tooth & Nail Records didn't merely strike gold this time, they mined platinum. I have their debut album in my possession Blueprints For The Black Market (2003), but no other complete albums in my collection. I intend to change that. I have been a big fan of the band since Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Version) [+video] [+digital booklet] (2010), and the band has been a fixture at the Platinum Vinyl Awards since its inception. Many things can be said of Anberlin, but Pretender to the Throne is not one of them.

Lowborn is a tough album to peg, on first listen I said, "This isn't as good as Devotion or Vital [+digital booklet] ". But then, a funny thing happened on the way to 4.5 Emerald obscurity. I listened a few more times, and started thinking about not how the album sounded, but how it felt. The album feels complete, like they are tying up loose ends. It also is more melancholy and less rocking, which at first made me disappointed, but I was drawn in by the variety of styles. It is also to me the most "Christian" of the recent albums. Bands such as Anberlin, Creed, Evanescence and others have been greatly successful at sharing the Christian Faith in a way that slips seamlessly into the mainstream consciousness. While there is a rock number in We are Destroyer and Dissenter, the rest of the album is slow to medium tempo ballads by Stephen Christian with an ethereal alternative sound. The rockers will be disappointed, but lovers of music will be in Heaven, where "everybody wants to go, but nobody wants to die".

After much listening. I have decided to confer on Lowborn a Perfect 5 Emerald Rating. It is a fitting farewell. Anberlin, the King of The Lowborn. Your subjects will have to be content with Anchor and Braille for now. Like the Arthurian Legend, I have no doubt you will return when the time is right (you bet there will be a reunion). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Classic Replay: Flashback Friday - Sightseeing at Night

Welcome back to Flashback Friday, the time when we reach back into CCM's storied archive and bring the recent arrivals up on the history. We have been using the Jungle Music skit as our jumping off point, and this week we get into a bit of a spat with Stanley and Livingstone.

S: I Say, Do You Fancy Fireworks
L: Why they're strictly forbidden. It Shatters the Darkness. One Shot and the animals go quite crackers. The rocket's red glare and all that.

And with that we move on. The Band of the week is Fireworks, also known as Marty McCall and Fireworks. Originally a Trio consisting of Marty McCall, Garry Pigg and Cindy Lipford, their eponymous debut in 1977 was mostly adult contemporary in nature. They soon ditched that sound, (and Lipford and Pigg) and went rock with McCall, Lanny Avery on Drums, Jerry Gaston on Guitars and Chris Harris and Bob Sincovic on Bass. During this time they released three more albums Shatter The Darkness (1979), Live Fireworks (1980), Up (1981), and Sightseeing at Night (1982). Then they disbanded, and McCall went on to form the AC/Country First Call, and I lost interest. In their heyday they were backup to groups like Servant and Petra, but never reached the rarefied air that those two bands would attain.

Since they fizzled out before the advent of the Music Video, there are none. However, that doesn't mean that YouTube couldn't help out with audio. I've got a few to share.

Here's the extremely acoustic Like Children (just McCall on Keys) from Shatter The Darkness.

And Shatter the Darkness itself.

One of my favorites, Incognito, from Sightseeing at Night (though Marty tries too hard to rhyme Incognito. A presidential Veto?)

And let's finish by rocking out. This is I Got News for You, one of their hardest tunes.


Good thing this isn't music video Monday. This band never got the following it deserved, and that is a shame. Until next Flashback Friday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Classic Replay: Flashback Friday - Barnabas Jones and The Temple of Rock

We are continuing our Flashback Friday Replays every week from now on. Besides reintroducing new readers and old to some truly Classic Rock, it is easy posting as I encounter some staffing problems this Summer. To continue without my banter and complaining, you can click here. Of course, if you know CCM history, you know that Rock in Greek is Spelled PETRA, which just so happens to be the name of one of the Greatest Bands of All Time.

This weeks edition of Flashback Friday is a 2 for 1 bonus. For those of you who have been with me from the start, you know that I am using the brief skit at the end of Servant's Jungle Music as my jumping off point. Stanley and Livingston continue.

L: I say, How is your old colleague Barnabas?
S: Oh you know Barnabas, Never Say Die type, I left him in Egypt studying Petraglyphs.
L: Jolly Good. Jolly Good.

Now we'll get to the blatantly obvious reference shortly, but most listeners miss one. Barnabas.

Barnabas was a pioneer in Christian Rock and Heavy Metal from 1977-1986. The final lineup consisted of Nancy Jo Mann as lead vocal, Brian Belew on Guitar, Gary Mann doing double duty on Keyboard and Bass, and Kris Klingensmith on Drums. In their short life they released five albums. Along with Rez they were pioneers in Metal amd Female Fronted Rock. Despite having one of their albums titled Feel The Fire (1984), they fizzled under the withering anti-rock attack of Jimmy Swaggart and the like. I guess if you can't take the heat... Now I have never been a Rockstar (unless you count my dreams), but If you can't handle a televangelist who likes Southern Gospel, your strength is small. Other bands had no problem dishing it right back at them.

Staying Power counts for a lot in terms of public perception. It's sort of like the arguments over inventions. In the end it doesn't matter who invented an item, all that matters is who obtained the patent. It's the same thing in Music. Since REZ stayed around, they are credited with being the "Fathers of Christian Metal". However, based on their sound alone, Barnabas was the true Heavy Metal band. I was able to find a few audio clips on youtube, and these guys were not afraid of instrumental jam sessions. This is Breathless Wonderment from Feel The Fire. It's almost 7 minutes long, but about half of that is instrumental.

Now, on to the main act. Get out your biblical Greek to English dictionaries kids. The night beat is all about Rock, and in biblical Greek Rock is spelled PETRA.

Petra is one of those special bands, the ones that prove that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let's go into detail on some of those parts. Over 35 years active (plus a 5 year retirement), a career spanning 5 decades, and over 23 albums. No other band can even claim to be "Father of Christian Rock" with any credibility. Ask anybody in or out of the industry and they will have had some experience with Petra, sometimes as the first Christian Rock album they bought "as a kid". 

During that 35 year career the band experienced 11 Official Lineup Changes that included 3 Lead Vocal Changes, 4 Drummers, 5 Bass Players, 6 Keyboardists, and 4 Changes of Lead Guitar. It would be enough to make a lesser band wonder if they were cut out for the big time, but Petra just played on. Most critics only concentrate on "The Frontman" (lead vocals). This divides Petra into three "eras".

The Hartman Era (1972-1979)

Founder and Lead Guitarist Bob Hartman also handled the frontman duties in the early years, during which they had their self-titled debut in 1974 and their sophomore release Come and Join Us (1977). During this period the band had a pop/rockabilly sound which by today's standards is quite dated and some would say amateur. You can't help but smile hearing a song like Lucas McGraw or admire the "rebellious" spunk of a comeback song like God Gave Rock and Roll to You. After seven years of doing double duty the band acquired a Lead Singer and Hartman settled into lead guitar duties until retiring in 1995. He would again return to lead guitar from 2003 and 2005 and again as Classic Petra returned in 2010 until the present. That decision in 1979 ushered in.

The Volz Era (1979-1986, 2010+)

Greg Xavier Volz (Greg X. Volz to fans) is a self taught musician with an eight octave voice. Prior to his time with Petra he toured with Janis Joplin and was one of the founders of the Jesus Music group e Band. He led Petra for the next six albums, beginning with Washes Whiter Than in 1979. Beginning with Never Say Die (1981), but definitely in the three album set of More Power To Ya (1982), Not of This World (1983) and Beat The System (1985), the band moved from pop/rock to arena rock and super stardom. During the early years of this period the band was the opening act for Servant. Most notable of the lineup changes during this time was the addition of Louie Weaver on the Drums (1981-2003 and 2010 on) who came over to the band as Fireworks was breaking up (they will be covered in the next Flashback Friday). Some Petra fans, this blogger included, see him as "The Voice" of Petra.

I have included the Official Music Video for Beat the System. Enjoy the music and remember, this was three decades ago, so a concept video then may not be much of a concept today.



The Schlitt Era (1986-2005)

John Schlitt came to the band after their Live Album Captured in Time and Space (1986). Formerly the lead singer of Head East, he is the longest serving, if not the most loved lead singer of Petra. He took Petra into Industry domination during a period that included fourteen albums. His first album with the band was Back to the Street (1986) and the last was entitled Farewell (2005).

I am going to try to give you a video of each modern era. This is Whole World from Back to The Street.

Classic Petra (2010+)

After a hiatus of five years boredom set in, even among rockers in their late 50's. Petra reinvented itself once again, as they had done many times in the past, and re branded themselves Classic Petra. Their lineup this time is the one that existed from 1984 to 1986: Greg X. Volz (Vocals), Bob Hartman (Guitars), Mark Kelly (Bass Guitar), John Lawry (Keyboard), and Louie Weaver (Drums).

This is a live video from their concert in the UK. One of their most Iconic Songs. All Over Me.



That does it for this edition of Flashback Friday. Tune In Next Week. There Will be Fireworks. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heat Advisory: The 2013 Fourth Quarter - Rock

We have come to the end. The Final Category in the 4th Quarter Platinum Vinyl Award Pool is that of Rock, by far the glory genre. It was kind of a quiet quarter for rock, with only six entries. This category has a lot of work to it, so 6 is pretty atypical. Still, there was plenty of heat this time around.

Rock Music

• Decyfer Down - Scarecrow
• Everfound - Everfound
• These Hearts - Yours to Take
• Petra - 40th Anniversary
• 7eventh Time Down - Just Say Jesus
• Stellar Kart - ALL IN

It's kind of fitting that we wrap things up in October. Decyfer Down rocked down the house with Scarecrow (kind of fitting for the Halloween season) and even took on one of the scariest things out there the Westboro Baptist Church. Everfound is a new band which expands the Commonwealth of CCM to Russia. And though it left you wanting more, how many groups around today will ever be able to boast 40 years of success.

That finishes the 4th Quarter of 2013. The pool is now closed. The 5th Platinum Vinyl Awards Year begins. Until next time I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: July 2013

The end is near. The end of the 4th Platinum Vinyl Awards eligibility year, that is. This is the time when a lot of upsets come in. Just when you think you have it all wrapped up along comes an entry in September that steals the show.

Missed The Mark

• Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - Love Lead The Way 3.75 Emeralds
• Flyleaf - Who We Are 3.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan and Emily Martin - Set Your Eyes 3.75 Emeralds
• Mouth of the South - Transparency 3.75 Emeralds
• Owl City - The Midsummer Station Acoustic 3.75 Emeralds
• Relient K - Collapsible Lung 3.25 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Amazing Grace (My Chains are gone) 3.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Holy Hip Hop, Volume 16 3.75 Emeralds

A few surprises here. I never ever expected to confuse a BTC album with one from Hillsong. The Power is gone from this release. Flyleaf's new EP with a new lead singer. Underwhelmed on that one too. The biggest disappointment was Relient K. A totally new sound, one that no one really expects. Too poppy. We go to the other end of the spectrum

Pure Platinum

• Wayne Haun - Old Soul 5 Emeralds
• Andy Hunter - Glowing Collision, Volume 2 5 Emeralds

Hunter almost goes without saying. A word on Wayne Haun. This one was promoted on Christian sites, yet the album is very cool Jazz, secular covers.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Billy Buchanan - Fact, Fiction and other Contradictions 4.75 Emeralds
• The Burial - In The Taking of Flesh 4.50 Emeralds
• Everfound - Everfound 4.50 Emeralds
• Falling Up - Hours 4.75 Emeralds
• Falling Up - Midnight on Earthship 4.75 Emeralds
• My Heart to Fear - Algorithm 4.75 Emeralds
• These Hearts - Yours To Take 4.50 Emeralds
• Hillsong Live - Glorious Ruins 4.50 Emeralds
• Dre Murray - Gold Rush: Maybe One Day 4.75 Emeralds
• Petra - 40th Anniversary 4.00 Emeralds
• Phinehas - The Last Word is Yours to Speak 4.50 Emeralds
• Seabird - Troubled Days 4.50 Emeralds
• Shine Bright Baby - Dreamers 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Shusht - Morning Rises 4.75 Emeralds
• Oh Sleeper - The Titan 4.50 Emeralds
• Skyler and Kim Walker-Smith - Home 4.50 Emeralds
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Metamorphosiz: The End Remixes, Volume 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Trin-I-Tee 5:7 - Trin-I-Tee 5:7 Hits 4.50 Emeralds
• Kathy Troccoli - Worship Songs: Tis So Sweet 4.75 Emeralds
• We Came As Romans - Tracing Back Roots 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for July. Caught Up. If you come back you will see the Amazon links appear for purchasing and helping the WENC Night Beat at the same time. I want to get it out immediately. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Solid Rock

1973 was a good year. I was 7. Musically I don't recall much. Probably "C is for Cookie" or "Won't you be my neighbor" was on my hit parade. Christian Music was unknown to me at the time. I wasn't a Christian at the time. That wouldn't happen for another two years. What my older brother brought home was the music I listened to as well. The LP's and 45's that we listened to on our record player (ask your parents or grandparents what those were) were mostly The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings, The Eagles, Chicago, and others.

1973 was an Epoch Making year in Christian Music, though, as these things go, the industry didn't know it. Petra was Born. Bob Hartman, John DeGroff, Greg Hough and Bill Glover were the original quartet, and the eponymous debut came about in the next year. Though we were in the beginnings of the Jesus Music Era, in some cases Petra belonged to an era all its own. By the time I found out about the band they were already on their fourth album, Never Say Die (1981). The Greg Volz era of Petra was beginning, and the band was on their way to claim their place as Supreme Rulers of The Christian Music World. I was in High School and I was hooked. This was my music. I have covered the band in the past, especially with not just one, but two editions of Flashback Friday.

When you've been around as long as Petra has, you create an inter-generational link. Teens who loved Petra in the 80's are parents of Teens today. That's why it is so important for something like this weeks 40th Anniversary Set to be released. Yes, those of us who grew up with the band have all the albums. It contains only two new songs. That's not the point. That's why reviews like this one are naive and shortsighted. Who cares if you have everything already? It's about the next generation. Two Discs. 37 Songs 40th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition) , and you still haven't even scratched the surface of the genius that is Petra.

This is one of those times that I must give two ratings. For nostalgia purposes, this set has everything I love. All the songs that are burned into memory. For the next generation, this is a must have album. 5 Emeralds. I once passed by a car that had a bumper sticker that said "honk if you love The Beatles". I thought, "Boy, that must be one noisy ride". Not as noisy as the one that said "Honk if You Love Petra". But yes, there are only two new songs, and some of the best in my opinion are not on this release. In that case, my brain says 4 Emeralds. Anyone who gives it under 4 is crazy. Rock on Guys. PETRA MEANS ROCK. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

We Need Now to be faster than a bullet

Bands, as well as musical styles, tend to go through phases. No better example exists in the Christian Music world is Petra. You can build a musical biography by studying their albums. At 40 years they have experienced it all.

The subject of today's post has gone through a few phases. The name of the artist is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, but she is popularly known by her stage name, Plumb.

Need You Now (How Many Times) marks the beginning of Plumb's Third Act, so to speak. The First Act began in 1997 With the eponymous release. Plumb was a band at the time, and Tiffany was the vocalist. It was sort of an alt-rock band, with Tiffany going into talk box sound from time to time. It was followed up with Candycoatedwaterdrops (1999). From the opening notes of Late Great Planet Earth, you knew we were in different territory. It was a career maker. 

But then there was a falling out, and Plumb disappeared from the CCM scene, but re-emerged in 2003 as the queen of the dance floor. Now married, and recording on Curb Records, she came out with two synthpop dance classics Beautiful Lumps Of Coal (2003) and Chaotic Resolve (2006), along with Blink (2007), most likely the only Children's Music Album that received significant radio play thanks to hits like "In My Arms". Children's Dance Music in a lot of cases.

Now comes Need You Now. Originally the album was to be entitled Faster Than a Bullet, but the Sandy Hook Massacre changed all that, and Mama Tiffany thought it best to remove the bullet reference, even though it refers back to Superman, and he was a good guy. Need You Now sounds so bland.

Thankfully it is only a title, and the album is anything but bland. Plum has left the dance floor. The new album is a mix of Adult Contemporary, Pop, and alternative, with only two of the 13 cuts dance. Even so, it marks the stretching of Plumb's talents, because you get to see everything she is capable of.

In the final analyses, I am going to give Need You Now a near perfect 4.75 Emeralds. The album grew on me, and I liked it more with each listen. It would be perfect if it was Faster Than a Bullet, but that's just my opinion. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

P.S. - I would like to Welcome back all my +Triberr peeps back to the Night Beat Fold. I thought I had been abandoned, but the fault was mine. I just discovered a 1 blog per tribe rule. Since I now have two blogs, things can't go auto. I am back in business.

Warm Tones: The 2012 4th Quarter - Rock

The end is here. At least the announcement of  the 4th Quarter eligible releases for the 3rd Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards. The final genre is Rock, and there were six eligible entries in this quarter. Once again, that is almost an entire genre list in the finals.

One change, I have decided to make this post on a Sunday, and I usually take Sunday off. However I made an executive decision to run a Sunday post in order to start things off fresh with Music Video Monday. Without ado, Rock the 4th.

• Flatfoot 56 - Toil
• The Insyderz - The Sinner's Songbook (International Version)
• Petra - More Power to Ya: 30th Anniversary Edition
• Petra - This Means War: 25th Anniversary Edition
• Mac Powell - Mac Powell
• Rhett Walker Band - Come to the River

That completes the 4th Quarter 2012 Rollout. Some may be surprised to see Mac Powell in my list of Rock entries, considering his solo debut was marketed as Country. When I listened to the album, I didn't think it strayed but a few centimeters from the Third Day Southern Rock Tree. Of course that's a very fine line with Powell, but he walks it fine. Of the above entries The Insyderz and Rhett Walker Band have the best chance to move on to the finals. Until Music Video Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Bema Seat

Hope everybody is enjoying their Labor Day Holiday. There is no rest here at The Night Beat (actually, there is, due to the miracle of automatic scheduling). So even though there is nobody here in the offices of the WENC Night Beat, our regularly scheduled Music Video Monday will go out. Something like the Pony Express (you know, neither rain, nor snow...).

If you have been with the last few weeks, you know that an abundance of entries in the Hard Rock and Rock Genre have forced us to have two posts for each of those genres. This marks the second week of Rock, and the end, finally of the 3rd Quarter. We can now begin the 4th Quarter on September 10 and get some in before the 4th Quarter ends on September 30). Last week we had videos by Big Daddy Weave, Children 18:3, Deluge, MxPx and Mercy Me. This week we crank things up just a bit.

We begin, somewhat ironically, on the Holiday celebrating the End of Summer, with The Rocket Summer. From their new release Life Will Write The Words, this is Revival.

We crank it up with Thousand Foot Krutch. This is a lyric video of Be Somebody off of their independent release The End is Where We Begin.

Continuing with the audio assault. Write This Down sings of their Lost Weekend. This is Crash and Burn.

Toning it down just a notch, here is Willet, a band that was privileged to play during the Olympic Games. This is the lyric video for Love on the Outside.

We conclude by going old school. This is Petra, which just released a Best of the '80's album. This is a video from one of my favorites (I don't have too many non favorites when it comes to Petra). This is Bema Seat.

Next week we begin the 4th Quarter with an all new Music Video Monday. Summer may be officially over, but we are just Heating Up. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: July 2012

To all my new readers and fans coming from various places including online sweepstakes, I welcome you to the latest edition of Night Beat Rewind.A little later than I would like, but at least it's within the first ten days. As readership continues to grow, this introductory note becomes more and more important.

Night Beat Rewind is my monthly quick hits rating column for the releases of the Previous Month (the August column is for the July releases, how could it be otherwise since August is in Progress). I split the releases into three categories:

1. Those Releases which failed to make the initial bar for consideration in the annual Platinum Vinyl Awards.
2. Those Releases GUARANTEED to make the final 7 nominees vying for PVA consideration by virtue of being awarded a PERFECT 5 EMERALD RATING
3. The rest of the releases which met the minimum threshold of 4 Emeralds to be included in the PVA Judging Pool.

Now a word regarding category one. As I say every time, this is award worthy releases I am talking about. However, as regarding enjoyable listening is considered, unless those that missed the mark were under 3 Emeralds, you shouldn't be concerned about wasting your money on a bad album. With that being said, we begin with those albums which

Missed The Mark

• Clint Brown - Release 3.75 Emeralds
• Kari Jobe - The Acoustic Sessions [+video] 3.75 Emeralds
• Capital Lights - Rhythm 'N' Moves 3.75 Emeralds
• Your Memorial - Redirect 3.75 Emeralds

As you can tell by the rating of 3.75 Emeralds these releases just missed the mark. You can be secure knowing that these four are all solid albums, just not award worthy.

This month none of the releases blew me away, so NONE of the releases fell into the second category. There were no PURE PLATINUM releases.

Semi-Precious Metal

• A Bullet For Pretty Boy - Symbiosis 4.75 Emeralds
• Anchor & Braille - The Quiet Life 4.75 Emeralds
• Myesha Chaney - Take Him to the World 4.25 Emeralds
• Flatfoot 56 - Toil 4.50 Emeralds
• Future of Forestry - Young Man Follow 4.50 Emeralds
• Gideon - Milestone 4.25 Emeralds
• Hillsong Live - Cornerstone (Live) 4.25 Emeralds
• House of Heroes - Cold Hard Want [+digital booklet] 4.50 Emeralds
• Andy Hunter - Glow 4.50 Emeralds
• KB - Weight & Glory 4.50 Emeralds
• Cheri Keaggy - So I Can Tell 4.50 Emeralds
• P.O.D. - Murdered Love 4.50 Emeralds
• Petra - More Power to Ya: 30th Anniversary Edition 4.50 Emeralds
• Petra - This Means War: 25th Anniversary Edition 4.50 Emeralds
• Rhett Walker Band - Come to the River 4.75 Emeralds
• Je'kob Washington - Faith 4.50 Emeralds
• Wolves at the Gate - Captors 4.75 Emeralds

That concludes this edition of Rewind. You can click on the links and purchase from Amazon. When you do, you will support The Night Beat at the same time. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

 

Sonic Awakening: 3rd Qtr Nominees - Rock

We end our rollout of the third quarter 2012 releases that are eligible for Platinum Vinyl Award consideration with Rock. Ten entries made the cut this quarter, and that would be more than enough on its own. As always, this one will have a lot of whittling down to do

Rock Music

• Big Daddy Weave - Love Come to Life
• Children 18:3 - On the Run
• Deluge - Swell
• MxPx - Plans Within Plans
• Mercy Me - Hurt & The Healer
• Petra - Best of the 80's
• The Rocket Summer - Life Will Write the Words
• Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin
• Willet - Love On the Outside
• Write This Down - Lost Weekend

That's a lot of entries, and if you would like to help The Night Beat, click the titles to go to Amazon and purchase. We are an Amazon Associate, and your purchase will help support this blog. If you want to read my original full reviews, click on the band names.

That concludes the 3rd Quarter Rollout. We now continue with the final quarter of eligibility. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.