Description
Start Right Here: Remembering the Life of Keith Green is a multi-artist project featuring cover versions of songs written by the late Keith Green (October 21, 1953 – July 28, 1982), released on BEC Recordings in 2001.
The late Keith Green pioneered a new phase of contemporary Christian music, as he’s often credited with inventing praise and worship music. That’s fine with me, since there was a very good compilation from Sparrow in 1992 entitled No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green. BEC has updated some of Keith’s finest songs, and this venture is perfect for both the newcomer to his music ministry and the established fan of contemporary praise and worship music.
If you’re a fan of any BEC compilation, e.g. Happy Christmas and Moms Like Us Too, go get this one. The more I listen to ‘Start Right Here: Remembering the Life of Keith Green,’ the more I like it. It’s about time Keith’s music is treated to today’s music standards. Here’s why.
Hangnail uses its own style to kick it off with a solid version of «Run to the End of the Highway». This song sets the pace for the rest of the project. From there, a new band, Cadet, picks up the pace with its version of «You Are the One», which is straight-ahead rock and roll, very true to BEC’s artists’ sound.
This project flows very smoothly, with Bleach’s «Asleep in the Light», moving to the perfectly delightful «Make My Life a Prayer», from Joy Electric’s Christiansongs and a rockin’ version of MxPx’s «You Put This Love in My Heart». Be warned: if you’re a long-time fan of Keith’s music and don’t listen to new recordings, MxPx’s treatment will take you by surprise, as I was with the Insyderz’s version of «Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful» from ‘Skalleuia!‘.
The highlight from this project is Ace Troubleshooter’s «Your Love Broke Through», which I hope gets lots of airplay on Christian rock radio.
Notable: Flight 180 does a credible job with «He’ll Take Care of the Rest», but it’s not up to snuff with what they turned in on ‘Girls and Boys.’ MG!Visionary’s «My Eyes Are Dry», reggae, borders on lackluster. Element 101’s version of «You» is very sweet and enjoyable. Ill Harmonics’ «40 Years» is okay but is a weak link for the flow for this project. The Dingees end this one with a dandy version of «Dear John Letter (to the Devil)», but I miss the explosion sound effect.
If you have heard of Keith’s music and enjoy BEC’s style of music, this one’s for you. I enjoy it immensely. BEC scratched the surface of Keith’s offerings that there could be a second volume, perhaps even better than this one. [Olin Jenkins, The Phantom Tollbooth, 4/8/2001]
The legend of ’70s CCM pioneer Keith Green continues. Having had his own work repackaged on numerous occasions and already had at least one tribute album recorded in his memory. I am wondering how long it’ll be before someone takes his vocal tracks and puts out a dance re-mix album. Now there’s a concept. In the meantime, the American BEC label with its hardcore roster of bands have gathered together some stonking interpretations of some of Keith’s best loved songs. Having been so familiar with the almost easy listening sound of the originals, there is a little bit of a shock when MXPX give us a 500 mph version of «You Put This Love In My Heart» and The Dingees deliver a punkabilly «Dear John Letter (To The Devil)». Certainly no compromise happening’on the musical front here, that’s for sure! As for my faves, I love the retro ’80s sound of Joy Electric’s «Make My Life A Prayer To You» and Bleach’s dense psychedelic version of the classic «Asleep At The Light». New band Cadet adopt a power pop style for «You Are The One» and there’s even a roots reggae version of «My Eyes Are Dry» which you’ve got to hear. Would Keith be spinning in his grave to hear all this stuff? I guess that would depend on the hearts of the band members involved because beneath all those songs was a life that longed for artists and industry to be totally sold out for God. Perhaps what we really need is for God to raise up a new generation of Christian musicians with that uncompromising heart rather than simply resurrecting his songs. It’s just a thought! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, July 2001]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/start-right-here-a-tribute-to-keith-green/715713913)
CD tracklist:
01. Hangnail – Run To The End Of The Highway – 3:02
02. Cadet – You Are The One – 3:53
03. Bleach – Asleep In The Night – 3:52
04. Joy Electric – Make My Life A Prayer To You – 3:08
05. MxPx – You Put This Love In My Heart – 1:48
06. Starflyer 59 – Lord I’m Gonna Love You – 2:51
07. Ace Troubleshooter – Your Love Broke Through – 4:24
08. Flight 180 – He’ll Take Care Of The Rest – 3:25
09. MG! The Visionary – My Eyes Are Dry – 4:08
10. Element 101 – You! – 3:31
11. Ill Harmonics – 40 Years (Inspired by “So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt?”) – 3:28
12. The Dingees – Dear John Letter (To The Devil) – 2:43
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