Description
WOW Worship (later known as WOW Worship Blue), sub-titled Today’s 30 Most Powerful Worship Songs, is a multi-artist double disc compilation released on Integrity Music in 1999, in co-operation with Maranatha! Music and Vineyard Music. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic, a division of Sony Music. In 2007, the ‘WoW Worship Blue‘ album was claimed to so far be the best-selling disc of the entire WoW Series of Christian music compilations, with 1.5 million units sold.
We are pleased to present the most powerful worship songs in the world today. This project is the result of an unprecedented partnership between the world’s three leaders in worship music; Integrity Music, Maranatha! Music, and Vineyard Music. For the first time, they have made the original master recordings that have blessed millions available to you. Songs that will take your spirit to new heights and lead you into intimate worship. These are the songs that have made the largest impact on the world around them, and now you can find them all in one collection. WoW Worship / Today’s 30 Most Powerful Worship Songs! Look for a new Wow Worship every May. [A note printed on the back of the CD]
This latest double-CD installment from WoW – the multi-platinum compilation juggernaut series – sports 30 praise & worship songs from Integrity, Maranatha! and Vineyard, most of which will prove as familiar and soothing as your favorite easy chair.
But despite the velvety feel of the fabric, easy chairs can get a tad stale over time, too. Twenty-one of the 30 tunes were written before 1994 – not exactly WoW’s ultra-current modus operandi. A few are from the ’70s: «I Love You Lord», «In His Time», «Give Thanks» are Class of ’78 alums; «Open Our Eyes» and «Jesus, Name Above All Names» are from ’76 and ’74, respectively. The granddaddy of ’em all, «Father I Adore You», is circa 1972.
The all-important reason for their inclusion – along with ’80s standards such as «I Will Celebrate», «More Love, More Power» and John Wimber’s «Isn’t He» is that they’re among the Top-100 most-tracked songs in 112,000 North American churches, according to Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.
While the older tunes are indeed produced and performed well – and are proven favorites across the nation – they simply lack the freshness of some of the newer faves. Among the more inspiring selections? The plaintive title track to Matt Redman’s 1997 album The Heart of Worship and 1994’s «I Could Sing of Your Love Forever» by Martin Smith of Delirious – fast becoming a standard in many churches. Other standouts include «Open the Eyes of My Heart» by Paul Baloche (1997), «Come, Now Is the Time to Worship» by Brian Doerksen (1998) and Darrell Evans’ 1997 tune, «We Will Embrace Your Move».
If you love the tried and true songs of the contemporary church, WoW Worship is for you. If you’re looking for cutting-edge stuff, look elsewhere. [Dave Urbanski, CCM, August 1999]
Having become the most successful praise and worship compilation in the history of the Christian music industry, it may seem a little churlish to criticise an album which presumably has encouraged tens of thousands to look beyond the material of their hymnbooks. But it is a shame there wasn’t just one or two recordings to show that worship has indeed moved into the ’90s rather than the soft pop/easy listening sounds dominating here. But be that as it may there are indeed plenty of classic songs and recordings here («Shout To The Lord» by Darlene Zschech; «Refiner’s Fire» by Brian Doerkson; «Change My Heart Oh God» written by Eddie Espinosa, sung by Roby Duke). If you’re new to “contemporary” worship or want a compilation to replace all those Vineyard/Hosanna/Maranatha! albums, this will do nicely. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, February 2000]
2CD tracklist:
Disc One – Yellow Disc
1-01. The River Is Here
1-02. Ancient Of Days
1-03. Let It Rise
1-04. Let The River Flow
1-05. Change My Heart, Oh God
1-06. The Heart Of Worship
1-07. Shout To The Lord
1-08. Open The Eyes Of My Heart
1-09. Refiner’s Fire
1-10. Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord
1-11. I Love You, Lord
1-12. Father, I Adore You
1-13. In His Time
1-14. Give Thanks
1-15. Come Into His Presence
Disc Two – Blue Disc
2-01. Lord I Lift Your Name On High
2-02. My Life Is In You, Lord
2-03. Mighty Is Our God
2-04. We Will Embrace Your Move
2-05. I Will Celebrate
2-06. Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty
2-07. Come Let Us Worship And Bow Down
2-08. Jesus Name Above All Names
2-09. Come, Now Is The Time To Worship
2-10. Take My Life
2-11. More Love, More Power
2-12. Isn’t He
2-13. More Precious Than Silver
2-14. Open Our Eyes
2-15. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
Note: Simultaneously released as a double cassette and a double disc CD. In 2007, Integrity Music re-released ‘WoW Worship Blue‘ featuring a special bonus third disc with 11 songs from emerging worship leaders like Generation Unleashed and Matt Papa.
A full-page advertisement for the multi-artist double disc compilation WOW Worship was featured in the July 1999 issue of CCM Magazine.
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