DOES LIFE BEGIN AT 40 FOR MY FAVORITE ALBUMS?

Something hit me. In one of the Facebook Groups I'm in - The Daniel Band, for those who are curious - I saw a T-shirt pointing out this year is the 40th anniversary of the release of their debut album "On Rock."

I haven't paid as much attention as I should, I guess, to anniversaries of favorite albums - particularly, the Christian albums. In fact, some Larry Norman albums have hit the half-century mark (since I'm not a Larry fan, I missed it); Some of my other favorites (e.g. "With Footnotes" by 2nd Chapter of Acts and "What A Day" by Phil Keaggy) are closing in on that mark.

However, one thing about 1982 is that it stands out as having plenty of great albums. For example, an '82 LP not on my list of favorites happens to be the first gold record in CCM: "Age to Age" by Amy Grant. Some will say there are other albums that deserve to be on my list, and I won't argue except to say, "They're not my favorites." 

I also heard several great groups in concert, and I'm including them as well, mainly because most had not released an album. So allow me to give them in alphabetic order.

1. Anthem the Rock Band "Cuttin'Thru'". Great hard rock album (what would you expect from a group that identifies itself as "the Rock Band?") Many great songs on the project: "Cheap Thrill", "Free You," "Winners," "Don't Be Deceived" (a great song based on Galatians 6:1-8), and "Morning Star."
    
2. Daniel Band, "On Rock" (cover above). Another metal project. I heard them on the radio in '81, when Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa aired their live concerts on KYMS. At that time, I thought they were too hard for me. My mind changed hearing them a year later with songs like "He's The Creator," "I'm Sorry," "Free From Sin," "Undercover Christian" (with a killer keyboard intro), "Never Again," and "Spiritual Game" (a song that desperately needs someone to cover it and get it heard again!).
   
   
    
3. Joe English, "Held Accountable". Before becoming a Christian, Joe English played drums for a group you might have heard of - does "Paul McCartney and Wings" sound familiar? Joe released some great Christian music, and this is an example, starting with "Best Thing", ending with "The Best Is Yet To Come", and great songs in between such as "We Live When We Die," "First Love," "Voice Of Triumph," "Wake Up," and the awesome jam "Thief in the Night." Note - part of Joe's band was a keyboardist who also did some singing who later joined some obscure band called "Petra" - have you ever heard of John Lawry?
   
   
4. Farrell & Farrell, "Let The Whole World Know." A year previously, I went on a date (before I met Becky) to a music night at Knott's Berry Farm. One group she wanted to hear was Farrell & Farrell. I didn't have much of an impression before the concert; after the concert, I was a definite fan. And I enjoyed their live album (even though it was, unlike a lot of live albums, only one page). It included great songs like "All You Need" (look that song up on You Tube if you never heard it; definitely an unforgettable, though dated, song), "Boundless Love", "Make Me Ready," "Homesick Soldier," and the title track. In addition, two songs - "No Need" and "You Keep Me Holding On" were both superior to the studio version.
   
   
   
   
5. Richie Furay, "Seasons of Change." Some of you may recognize the name of the former member of the bands Poco and Buffalo Springfield. Now, he's a pastor. The pastor's heart is reflected in this project on songs like the title track, "Hallelujah," "Endless Flight," "My Lord and My God," "Rise Up, "For The Prize," and "Through It All."
    
6. Gabriel Band. This band formed, performed several times (including at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa), and disbanded in one year, but they are still one of my favorite bands. A reason for their disbanding was the music was so good it distracted from the lyrics. It included vocalist Ken Riley and guitarist Doug Doyle (who formed Common Bond), as well as keyboardist Pete Lomakin who later joined Idle Cure. You'll probably never get to hear songs like "He Is Lord," "The Step," "Shine The Light," "The Crusade Song", "Undercover Christian," "Spare Time," "Stand and Deliver" (where yours truly made a small contribution to the lyrics), "Share His Love," and "Stand on His Promise."
   
   
   
7. Jeff Johnson and Sandy Simpson, "Through the Door." Definitely one of the most unique albums in Christian music history, let alone 1982 (in case the cover isn't a clue). The artists take turns singing on this concept album with songs like "The Golden Key," "Stuck On Mars" (with a clever ending fitting for vinyl days about getting stuck), "The Jupiter Effect," "Someday, Sunday," and "Winding Road."
   
   
   
   
   
8. Malcolm & the Mirrors, "Red Alert." Some of you may ask if this refers to Malcolm Wild of Malcolm Alwyn, and you're right. The music has nothing in common. Good alternative project with songs like the title track, "Gotta Give," "Paint Your Windows Right," "Where Did All The Love Go," "Can't Live Without Him" (previously released on the compilation project "Back To The Rock"), "She's Gonna Go Through Changes," "Love Your Love," "Look Up! (His Coming Is Near)," and "Alright By Me."
   
   
   
   
9. Michael and Stormie Omartian, "Mainstream." Michael is a well known producer (including the Imperials, Debbie Boone, Benny Hester, Steve Camp, Rod Stewart, and Donna Summer among others) and loaned his keyboard skills to artists like 2nd Chapter of Acts. I had the honor of hearing them at a Knotts music festival, where they shared the stage with Sheila Walsh, Phil Keaggy, and Isaac Air Freight. The great songs include the title track, "The Calling," "Man Out Of Time," "Praise His Name and See It Happen," "Give It Up" (one song that always brings a smile to my face), "Believing In The Best For You," and "It Is Done."
    
10. Omega Band. I heard them over the air twice that year on KYMS, the first time opening for Sweet Comfort Band, and later for Undercover. I only know five songs by them, but four of them were great: "Heroes Always Die," "Gambling Man," "Right On Time," and "Jesus Is Lord."
     
11. Sonsong. Becky and I went to hear Benny Hester at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and Sonsong opened for him. After the concert, it was "Benny who?" Again, a list of songs you'll never hear (unless they're performing in the Kingdom), but they had songs like "Without Faith," "You Got To Trust Him With Your Life," "Ostensible Christian," "Jonah," "Rich Christians" and "Two Eyes."
    
    
    
12. Tamarack. Unique entry here. They had released an album the previous year, two of the songs also appearing on the above mentioned "Back To The Rock" compilation, including the awesome "Here I Am." On the album, the six piece band included three vocalists: keyboardist Rob Watson, Cathy Spurr (her husband Dave also played drums) and Debbie McNeil. When I heard them a year after the album's release, Rob was gone, and the new keyboardist didn't do vocals. When they performed, they only did one song from their LP, "High Horse" (written by awesome guitarist Wayne Brasel). Later, I guess the group broke up and the Spurrs and McNeil reformed as "Spurr McNeil" and released a song called "Wounded Healer" - they performed that song.
     
13. Tobias. I also heard them at Hart Park in California (Undercover, Tamarack, and Gabriel Band also played there that summer). Again no album, so you won't get to here great songs like "Who Do You Think Made The World," "Split," and "The Lord's Reign."
    
    
    
    
14. Undercover (self-titled). What can you say about an album where the first song has a chorus saying, "You'll have to excuse us, we're in love with Jesus?" This is actually my favorite project by them, which follow "Excuse Us" with great alternative tunes like "Heal Me," "Francine," "Turn Your Head," "It's Official," "Look It Up," "Daddy-O," "Stop," "He's In Love With You," and "He Gives We Have."
    
    
    
    
15. Sheila Walsh, "Future Eyes." Another album that blew me away. On it was songs like the title track, "Here With Me," "Burn On" (the only song from this project that was on her greatest hits, far from the only song that deserved it), "Love In My Life," "You're So Important To Me," "Fear Of Silence", and "Mona Lisa." (I heard her in concert five times, and the last two songs were never performed; still awesome songs).

Did you enjoy that? Maybe you can look forward to next year's 40th birthday crowd!

BEING READY

 

One theme that was prominent in the '70's and early '80's in Christian music was the soon return of Christ. One case in point is looking at four albums that came out probably in an 18 month window: "Get Ready" by the Darrell Mansfield Band, "Are You Ready?" by David Meece (pictured above), "Get Yourself Ready" by Nancy Grandquist, and "Make Me Ready" by Farrell & Farrell.

 

All four of these have a title track; Mansfield and the Farrells start off with it, Meece's is the first song on the 2nd side, and Nancy's is the next to last song. (Yes, this is in the day of LPs and Cassettes, when CD's only existed at banks.)

Forty years after listening to these albums I used to have (we got rid of our record player and records before vinyl came back in style), something hit me about these four title tracks - they each have a different emphasis.

 

Mansfield's song issues a wake up call; the rocking lead guitar on the intro helps establish the fact. The singer points out that we need to be aware of the times we live in and ... Ooo-ooo-ooo, GET READY!

Meece takes a different approach with his pop song. While Mansfield's tune has the gentleness of a hell-fire and brimstone street preacher, Meece sounds more like a friend, taking you aside and asking you, "ARE YOU READY?"

But how does one get ready? Or how do you know how you'd answer the question "Are you ready?" This is where the 1981 pair of songs focus.

Nancy Grandquist has been one of my favorite singers since I discovered her "Somebody Special" project in '79. It was years later that I learned she's Apostolic. There are several distinctives in that group, but one that is relevant: they hold that you can lose your salvation. Thus, they'll state as a Christian you need to endure, be vigilant, be sure your heart's right, and GET YOURSELF READY.

 

My memory could be wrong, but I remember Bob Farrell stating he was Baptist; maybe on their live album "Let The Whole World Know?" Or perhaps an interview I heard on the radio? In any event, Farrell & Farrell don't focus as much on our responsibility in our Christian life as on God's working in our life and transforming us. Or to put it in different words, it is Christ dwelling in me and conforming me to His image Who will keep me steady and MAKE ME READY.

As I mentioned, those albums came out two score years ago. Is it my imagination, or is there less focus on the imminent return of Jesus Christ for His church in Christian teaching in general and in Christian music in particular? 

Sunday, October 9th, Dr. Jeremy Couture at Northside Baptist Church preached on Daniel 5 (Belshazzar's feast, the writing on the wall), and warned against the sin of presumption. We presume that when things take a downward turn, there will be a future upward correction. Politically, when the bad guys gain power, we look forward to the next election to set things right. But are we guaranteed smooth sailing? Is there a point of no return? Will there be a point where the doors protecting the American Church from persecution will collapse?

ARE YOU READY? If not, I suggest you GET READY! GET YOURSELF READY by repenting of sins (including passivity, presumption, and laziness), and seek God's help to MAKE YOU READY.

NOTE: I originally had the photos arranged in a nice 2x2 square on the top, but the pictures disappeared. So I reposted them, but couldn't get them back into the cube. Oh well.