Description
Third Wave: The Reality Rock Collection is a multi-artist compilation released on ERG in 1993, a division of Essential Records, distributed by Brentwood Music. The album was produced by John Smeby.
A retrospective double vinyl album entitled Fourth Wave: The Reality Rock Collection (featuring songs from 19 bands from the early ‘90s) was released in May 2022, commemorating the 30 Year Anniversary of Third Wave.
Some of the best modern rockers in Christian music have convened to call attention to and benefit John Smeby’s So. California-based “Reality Rock” ministry, which, through its radio, print, concert and church presentations, played a key role in helping many of these artists get started, as well as championing Christian rock itself. By Smeby’s reckoning, the “first wave” of Christian rock was a product of the ’70s Jesus Movement in Southern California, launching artists such as Larry Norman and Love Song (unfortunately not represented here); those artists would mentor the “second wave” of ’80s punk/New Wave/alternative bands like Undercover, The Altar Boys and The Choir (all heard here) who in turn influenced the “third wave” of acts on this collection, among them the Prayer Chain, the violet burning, D.A.S., Raspberry Jam and Mortal. All the songs are quite good, but the best cuts among these dozen tracks are unreleased gems by the violets and the Prayer Chain, an acoustic version of D.A.S.’s «Beautiful Word» (featuring Derri Daugherty, Steve Hindalong and Mike Roe) and a scorching song from newcomers Killing Tree. For the sake of objectivity, it might have been better if someone other than Smeby produced the album and wrote the liner notes, but the collection still stands as a fine representation of the past decade of modern rock. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, February 1994]
CD tracklist:
01. The Violet Burning – Low (new song) – 6:09
02. ASight Unseen – Plastic Flowers (unreleased remix) – 4:02
03. Uthanda – My Addiction (from the album Believe) – 3:549
04. D.A.S. – Beautiful World (live / unplugged unreleased) – 4:26
05. Raspberry Jam – Break My Heart (from the album Chi-Rho) – 3:10
06. The Prayer Chain – Chatterbox (new song from the Shawl sessions) – 2:23
07. Killing Tree – Feed (new song) – 4:13
08. Black & White World – Too Young To Be Sad (from the album Life Explodes) – 2:40
09. Mortal – Above And Beyond (from the album Fathom) – 4:35
10. The Choir – Kissers And Killers (from the album Kissers and Killers) – 2:56
11. Altar Boys – World Burning (live track, previously unreleased) – 4:18
12. Undercover – One To One (new studio recording, a song previously featured on a single by the same title, released on Broken Records in 1988) – 4:50
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by ERG. Back sleeve adds extra info about each track:
1: New song. Recorded at Kerr/Macy Studios. ©1993 Gigantic Lion Music (ASCAP).
2: Unreleased remix. Original version from the album Hollywood Proverbs. Recorded at VMI Studios and Asaph Studios. ©1993 Metro One (ASCAP).
3: From the album Believe. Recorded at Front Page Studios. ©1992 Essential Record Group, A-Man Music (ASCAP).
4: Live / unplugged unreleased. Original version from the album Devils, Angels & Saints. Recorded live at Echos of Faith in Ontario (November, 1992). ©1992 Eden Records, Blatant Christian Music (ASCAP).
5: From the album Chi-Rho. Mixed at Mixing Lab B and Asaph Studios. Recorded at BW Studios & Neverland. ©1993 Metro One (ASCAP).
6: New song from the Shawl sessions. Recorded at Pakaderm Studios. ©1993 Reunion/Rode Dog/BMG, Burning Bus Society (BMI).
7: New song. Mixed at The Mixing Lab. Recorded at The Mixing Lab. ©1993 Big Music Publishing.
8: From the album Life Explodes. Recorded at Neverland. ©1992 Blonde Vinyl, Pink Marker & TTonk Publishing
9: From the album Fathom. Mixed at Mixing Labs A & B. Recorded at Mixing Labs A & B. ©1993 Frontline Records, Carlotta Publishing (BMI).
10: From the album Kissers And Killers. Recorded & mixed at Neverland. ©1993 Never Say Never Songs (ASCAP).
11: Live unreleased. Original version from the album Forever Mercy. Mixed at The Green Room. Recorded live at The Packinghouse (Calvary Chapel) in Redlands. ©1989 Frontline Records, Broken Publishing (ASCAP).
12: New studio recording. Original (live) version from the album 3-28-87. Mixed at The Green Room. Recorded at The Green Room. ©1988 BAI, B-1 Music (ASCAP).
Promo ad for the ERG sampler Third Wave: The Reality Rock Collection.
An advertisement for the multi-artist compilation Third Wave: The Reality Rock Collection was featured in the November 1993 issue of CCM Magazine.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.