Ultimate Collection

Description

Ultimate Collection is a compilation album by the British pop-rock band Delirious?, released on Integrity Music in July 2016.

Delirious? were formerly known as The Cutting Edge Band. The Cutting Edge Band had various members from 1992 to 1996 before the decision was made to take the band full-time as Delirious? with an established lineup. For the majority of their career, featuring Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu Garrard on guitar and backing vocals, Tim Jupp on keyboards and piano, Jon Thatcher on bass, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion. During their final two years, drumming duties were assumed by Paul Evans.

Between 1997 and 2001, the band targeted the majority of its work towards a mainstream audience, with several singles reaching the top 20 on the UK music charts. However, between 2003 and 2009 the focus was mainly placed on the Contemporary Christian Music market, although occasional singles were still released. The band are perhaps best known for their modern worship songs “Rain Down,” “Majesty (Here I Am),” “Lord You Have My Heart,” “Thank You for Saving Me,” “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?,” “What a Friend I’ve Found” and their 1994 song “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” which has been called a “modern worship classic.”

Has it really been seven years since Martin Smith, Stu Garrard, Jon Thatcher, Tim Jupp and Paul Evans finally pulled the Delirious? juggernaut to a halt? The fact is modern worship – the development of which the d:boys played a major part – has continued to grow and cross fertilise without them and there are now swathes of young worshippers who are only distantly aware of the carefully selected recordings presented here. If such churchgoers have any cash left after buying the latest Hillsong United and Soul Survivor albums, I’d suggest they check out these tracks. Not only are songs like «I Could Sing of Your Love Forever», «Rain Down» and «Majesty» (all, of course, present here) still being sung in our churches the recordings of the songs have never been bettered. There are stirling arrangements, that skilled blend of Britpop and stadium rock is masterly and Garrard’s occasional bursts of electrifying guitar and Martin’s passionate and instantly recognisable voice mean that in every case melody and lyric stay with the listener long after a track has finished. I’m delighted that the compilers found room for the brooding non-worship song «Obsession». But classics abound here. From the uplifting opener «History Maker» to the closing fragment of «Our God Reigns» one is confronted with exceptional music. I’m sure it will not just be nostalgists who will be shelling out for this 16-song snapshot of one of the most significant music ministries of the past few decades. The music of Delirious? is for the whole Church and for those with ears to hear outside it. [Tony Cummings, July 2016]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/ultimate-collection/1129329916)

CD tracklist:

01. History Maker – 5:18
02. Rain Down – 4:36
03. Deeper – 4:13
04. I Could Sing of Your Love Forever – 4:30
05. Majesty – 5:25
06. Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble? – 5:29
07. Find Me in the River – 5:08
08. Obsession – 7:08
09. Lord You Have My Heart – 2:54
10. Shout to the North – 3:56
11. Thank You for Saving Me – 4:00
12. Oh Lead Me – 5:26
13. What a Friend I’ve Found – 4:52
14. Jesus’ Blood – 4:41
15. My Glorious – 3:46
16. Our God Reigns (Live) – 1:12

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