Description
History Makers: The Best of Christian Pop, Volume One (1970-1985) is a multi-artist compilation released on Sparrow Records in April 2003, distributed in the US by Chordant Music Group Distributor. “History Makers” is a trademark of EMI CMG (EMI Christian Music Group).
It is a part of Sparrow Records’ History Makers series also featuring compilations like History Makers: The Best of Christian Rock, Volume One (1970-1986), History Makers: The Best of Gospel, Volume One (1965-1990), and History Makers: The Best of Praise & Worship, Volume One (1973-1985).
Landmark recordings, ground-breaking artists, life-changing songs. From its beginnings in the Jesus Movement of the ’70s to its transitional years in the early ’80s, this CD includes some of the foundational recordings of contemporary Christian music, by the artists that helped to establish it.
Don’t judge this album by its garish cover and bland title. Herein lies a veritable feast from the cream of Christian music pioneers from the ’70s and early ’80s. It kicks off with Larry Norman, the godfather of Jesus Music singing his end time classic «I Wish We’d All Been Ready» and the quality rarely slips throughout the rest of the collection. For the first time ever the 2nd Chapter Of Acts debut early ’70s mainstream single «I’m So Happy» makes it onto CD and shows what a one-off family group they were. Brother Matthew Ward is featured with a Keith Green song whilst the late great pianist and songwriter steams through «You Put This Love In My Heart». You have to remember these innovative and principled guys were the antithesis of much of what was wrong with the CCM genre that followed them. Green upset the apple cart by giving his albums away for free whilst the Acts turned down festival work for fear of compromising their ministry. Long haired and leather clad Larry incurred the wrath of church leaders and the mainstream world in equal measure as he ploughed where absolutely no Christian had gone before. Another pioneer of the era was Andrae Crouch, who fused traditional gospel to pop, R&B and funk. One of the later tracks here is Scotland’s own Sheila Walsh with her stab at the charts with the Cliff Richard produced «Mystery». Buy this fascinating album if you want to know how CCM all began. [Chris Tozer, Cross Rhythms, March 2004]
Yes, the title says “pop,” but these songs hail from the days when rock was pop and vice versa. How innocent and fresh some of these songs sound. Larry Norman’s «I Wish We’d All Been Ready», (from which the “Left Behind” books were named) hails from his first album, ‘Upon This Rock’. It’s disarming and simple, confident and sincere. Along with Elton John and Billy Joel, add another artist who preferred the piano, Keith Green, from his ground-breaking first album, ‘For Him Who Has Ears to Hear’. Scott Wesley Brown claims, «I’m not religious, I just love the Lord», on his first album, and then goes on to explain the difference. Chuck Girard from Love Song has a great rocker, «Rock and Roll Preacher». Second Chapter of Acts deliver stunning rock vocals on well-crafted pop songs, and Matthew Ward, the male voice in the trio, delivers his own solo outing. «Stranger to Danger» is among Mylon’s best songs, and had a great video along with it. The artist choices, selected by Thom Granger of CCM magazine, are all top notch, but some of the songs are not representative of the artists. This Andrae Crouch number from the disco era could not escape the shadow of the Brothers Gibb, but don’t think this is Crouch’s “sound.” (There’s a History Maker CD that’s all Andrae Crouch). The Barry McGuire song is, in my view, a terrible choice (it was also on the ‘Best of Barry McGuire’ CD). Find the out of print albums ‘Seeds‘ and ‘Lighten Up‘, and hear what Barry (known for singing «Eve of Destruction» can really do. Sheila Walsh changed styles midstream (I prefer her earlier new wave style). Abba-sound-alikes Silverwind and contemporary singer, Twila Paris probably really are “pop” in the later sense, without the rock edge of the other songs. The title says “Volume One.” Let’s hope lots more History Makers are on the way. These tantalizing songs may inspire listeners to delve back to the roots of rock, finding kindred souls and a joyful noise. [Gord Wilson, April 2004]
CD tracklist:
01. Larry Norman – I Wish We’d All Been Ready [Capitol Records version]
02. 2nd Chapter of Acts – I’m So Happy
03. Scott Wesley Brown – I’m Not Religious, I Just Love The Lord
04. Chuck Girard – Rock N Roll Preacher
05. Andrae Crouch – Perfect Peace
06. Keith Green – You Put This Love In My Heart
07. Matthew Ward – Summer Snow
08. Barry McGuire – Cosmic Cowboy
09. Mylon LeFevre – Stranger To Danger
10. Sheila Walsh – Mystery
11. Silverwind – A Song In The Night
12. Twila Paris – Runner
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