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 are way behind schedule at Night Beat HQ, but we are finally ready to go. So without further ado, we have the penultimate Rewind of the #PlatVnyl9 Eligibility Year.
The Singles Scene
A-Tonix and Sven E ft Zara Taylor - Forgiven 5 Emeralds
The Afters - Well Done 5 Emeralds
Anchor Worship - Emmanuel 4.75 Emeralds
Anthem Lights - You Say (Cover) 4.75 Emeralds
Canon - Trolls 4.75 Emeralds
CASS - White Noise ft Chris Howland 4.75 Emeralds
Casting Crowns - Only Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
Aaron Cole - Exclusive 4.50 Emeralds
Aaron Cole - Yo Handz ft Caleb Crouse 4.50 Emeralds
Lauren Daigle - Still Rolling Stones 5 Emeralds
DJ em-D - Turn Those Lights On ft Spencer Kane 4.75 Emeralds
DJ 4:12 - French Water ft Parris Chanz 4.50 Emeralds
DJ Kirk - Just Jesus (DJ Kirk Bootleg Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Elevation Worship - Echo ft Tauren Wells 4.75 Emeralds
Elevation Worship - Here Again 5 Emeralds
Elevation Worship - Won't Stop Now 5 Emeralds
Fireflight - Die Free ft Kevin Young 5 Emeralds
FreeG - Feet In The Sand (X-Stylez Two-M Edit) 4.75 Emeralds
Gateway Worship - Deliverance 5 Emeralds
Gateway Worship - Stand In Your Love 5 Emeralds
I Am The Storm - I Am The Storm 4.75 Emeralds
I Am The Storm - These Lines 4.75 Emeralds
Informants Worship - Show Me 5 Emeralds
Carmen Justice - Poco A Poco 4.75 Emeralds
Tori Kelly - Never Alone ft Kirk Franklin 5 Emeralds
For King and Country - Amen 4.75 Emeralds
MAE - Let It Die 4.75 Emeralds
Matt Maher - Hold Us Together (Live From Steinway) 4.75 Emeralds
Mission - Thank You Lord ft V.Rose 5 Emeralds
Mosaic MSC - Maker of The Heavens 4.75 Emeralds
North Point Inside Out - By My Side ft Emily Harrison 4.75 Emeralds
Planetboom - Lemme Tell Ya 5 Emeralds
Sarah Reeves - Always Been You 4.75 Emeralds
Scandroid - Shout (Josh Money Remix) 5 Emeralds
7Eventh Time Down - I Have Decided 5 Emeralds
Silent Planet - Share The Body 5 Emeralds
Holly Starr - Human (Matthew Parker Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Switchfoot - You Found Me 5 Emeralds
Vineyard UK - Endless Praises (Live from DTI) 4.75 Emeralds
Vive Worship - Heavens Hand 4.75 Emeralds
Zakery - Too Many Knives ft Color Theory 4.75 Emeralds
41 Entrants this month. That's going to make for tough judging. On to the albums, and we begin with those releases which don't make the cut.
Missing The Mark
James Gardin - Until It All Makes Sense EP 4.25 Emeralds
Eric Heron - Duos EP 3.75 Emeralds
KJ-52 and Goldinchild - Sons of Intellect 4.25 Emeralds
Mark Schultz - Follow 3.75 Emeralds
Weathered - Stranger Here 3.75 Emeralds
Now on to the albums which set their own standard. The cream de la Cream.
Pure Platinum Perfection
James Fortune - James Fortune: The Collection 5 Emeralds
Jesus Culture - Living With A Fire (Live) 5 Emeralds
Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone 5 Emeralds
Rend Collective - Good News (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds
The New Respects - Before The Sun Goes Down 5 Emeralds
Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes - Wind Up Bird 5 Emeralds
Phil Wickham - Living Hope 5 Emeralds
Zahna - Red For War 5 Emeralds
Semi-Precious Metals
Austin Mark Adams - The Return EP 4.50 Emeralds
David and Nicole Binion - Dwell 4.75 Emeralds
Caleb and Kelsey - Timeless Worship 4.50 Emeralds
King Chav - The Golden Lining EP 4.75 Emeralds
Riley Clemmons - Riley Clemmons 4.75 Emeralds
Collington - In Between 4.75 Emeralds
Color Theory - The Majesty of Our Broken Past 4.75 Emeralds
Earth Groans - Rahab 4.50 Emeralds
Vocal Few - Grand Pre EP 4.75 Emeralds
James Gardin - Until It All Makes Sense Instrumentals EP 4.75 Emeralds
HRC Worship - HRC Worship EP 4.75 Emeralds
Catie Hurst - How Could I Be Silent EP 4.75 Emeralds
Inspiration Worship - Powerful 4.75 Emeralds
Czar Josh - For Your Heart EP 4.50 Emeralds
Lifelight Worship - Bold EP 4.50 Emeralds
Derek Minor - THe Trap 4.50 Emeralds
Narrow Skies - Seasons: Remixed 4.75 Emeralds
Bishop Leonard Scott - Jesus Loves Legacy 4.75 Emeralds
Chris Tomlin - Nobody Loves Me Like You EP 4.75 Emeralds
Vertical Worship - Planetarium EP 4.75 Emeralds
Rhett Walker Band - Rhett Walker Band EP 4.75 Emeralds
Bryan Andrew Wilson - This Time EP 4.75 Emeralds
That does it for August. And I managed to get it in before September ends. There is hope. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, on this next to the last Monday of Summer, at least unofficially. We begin with our monthly release by For King and Country. Can we get an Amen. Next up we have a new entrant into the EDM Scene. DJ em-D is up with Spencer Kane. It's time to Turn The Light On. Finally we have a video by Ledger (as in Jen Ledger, drummer for Skillet). This is Not Dead Yet. I think the girl has some definite anger management issues. That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
"Come on baby, let's do the twist". Hey I'm milking this for all its worth, just like the media and the politicians. Never has so much energy been spent on so little. July is in the bag and its time for our review of the releases. It was definitely "The Big One". We begin with the individual songs released in the month.
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.
Welcome Back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. The Night Beat is wherever I am. I am quite blessed to have a mobile office and I almost needed it. This weekend HQ town got hit with an EF1 Tornado on Saturday Morning. God was good, however, and except for 20 people or so displaced nothing but abandoned buildings. Of course the media has deemed it Horrific. Slow news days here in the Northeast. On to the videos. First up we go with Modern Worship. Elevation Worship to be precise. This is Won't Stop Now. Next up, we go hard with Earth Groans. From their new release Rahab, this is the music video for Avarice. Finally we move onto new artist James Collington, recording simply as Collington. From the new EP In Between this is Here We Go.
That does it for this Twister Delayed edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Flashback Friday is upon us once again.
In Our Journey into CCM's past, we now come to one of the bands that I have more than a passing knowledge of. While I knew of Daniel Amos and had listened to plenty of REZ, D&K is one of the bands that I got to experience live on multiple occasions.
Of Course to the newbie a quick translation may be in order. D&K stands for DeGarmo and Key. Eddie DeGarmo & Dana Key were childhood friends with a love of music. The band started in 1972, but it was another six years before they would come out with an album. Though they made their success in the 80's, they were popular enough at the beginning of the decade to make the Jungle Music List.
S: But I did manage to get some DeGarmo & Key This Time Thru. L: Splendid! This Ain't Hollywood you know. You can't get any decent rock and roll out here. It's a beastly jungle.
In this short exchange two of Degarmo and Key's albums were referenced. Their Debut This Time Thru (1978) and their third release This Ain't Hollywood (1980). The Classic lineup, which existed for most of their existence was Eddie DeGarmo (Keys, Vocals), Dana Key (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Greg Morrow (Drums) and Tommy Cathey (Bass). 1978 Was a good year in Christian Music, with REZ, Servant, D&K all crafting their debuts and Petra in the midst of recording their third album, though Stardom would be three years away for them.
D&K's rise to the top would begin via the most unexpected of sources, at least from a Rock and Roll perspective. Pat Boone. (Kids, ask your grandparents). It was Boone's Lamb and Lion Records which gave the two Memphis kids their big break, and their first four albums were recorded on the label.
Stardom came with Power (actually Power Discs, a label of Benson Music), which released D&K's next seven albums. During this time the band shed their blues/folk/rock style for Arena Synth-Rock. Their second album on Power Discs, Communication (1984) included their most controversial song, Six, Six, Six. Released during one of the Congressional Investigations of Violence and Sex in Popular Music, the music video has the privilege of being, I think, the only Christian Video banned by MTV because, in the original, the Antichrist is engulfed in fire. MTV said they didn't know it was Christian. Anyway the video was edited and allowed to air. As a treat I am giving you both Six,Six,Six concept videos. The unedited is first, followed by the redo. Judge for yourself. The edit on the second begins at the two minute mark
DeGarmo and Key would record eleven more albums before hanging it up in 1994 with the release of To Extremes. In their free time they even managed to start their own Record Label. You may have heard of it. It's Called ForeFront. While Toby Mac and Abandon are about the only ones currently left on the label, most of the big guns such as Skillet are on the associated Arden Records label.
June 6, 2018 Will mark the 8 Year anniversary of the Heavengoing of Frontman Dana Key at the young age of 56. A reunion will have to wait until the beyond. I close this post with D&K live on their eponymous album tour in 1987. Eddie, Dana, Greg, and the impeccably dressed Tommy Cathey will always be Rock Solid. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are finally at the end of our 3rd Quarter Wrap, and we do it with Rap. No, we don't do it with a rap. I'm not going to scare you like that. Let's get to the list.
Rap/Hip-Hop
Marqus Anthony - Walking By Faith: Through The Storm
Cory Ard - The Blackout
Bizzle - Light Work EP
Timothy Brindle - The Unfolding
Aaron Cole - Virginia Boy
Lecrae - Let The Trap Say Amen
Steven Malcolm - The Second City, Part 2
Andy Mineo - I: The Arrow
Sareem Poems - Mind over Matter
Prafitz - Nazarene Movements, Volume 2
Shope - XXY
Joey Vantes - The Vantes Project III
Some Veterans, Some I Never Heard of. I said that Modern Worship did not win the quarter, and I was right, sort of. I also said Rap won, and I was right and wrong, sort of. Rap did not have thirteen entries, it had twelve. So did Modern Worship. So we have another tie for first place. Both genres can gloat. The third quarter is now in the bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
