Classic CCM

[WannaWitness]

Reminisce about your favorite classic CCM artists and their music, preferably from the early "Jesus Music" era through the '80s and early '90s. Like Silverwind, The Archers, The Cruse Family, Barry McGuire, Leslie Phillips, Sweet Comfort Band (in which Bryan Duncan was a member), Farrell & Farrell, Steve Taylor, the late Keith Green and Rich Mullins, and the early works of current artists like Michael W. Smith, Crystal Lewis, Carman, Petra, Amy Grant.... the list goes on.

 

[JesusWasn'tWhite]

Stryper

 

[WannaWitness]

I thought it was time to bring this thread back to life again, and give some of y'all ANOTHER CHANCE to discuss and reminisce CLASSIC CCM!

Like, does anyone remember Denny Correll, Street Called Straight (or any of the above mentioned artists)?

 

[MoreInSorrow]

I liked very few of those.

Here's my favorites from what I'd consider the 'early days'

Keith Green
Barnabas
Rez
Whiteheart
D&K
Petra (anything up to On Fire)
Steve Taylor
77s
EARLY Sheila Walsh
Daniel Amos
Scaterd Few
The Crucified
Vengeance Rising
Mike Knott/LSU/Lifesavers
The Choir
and yes....Stryper.


That would about cover everything I remember being classic up until the late 80's. That would also include everything that was cool (at that time) about Christian Music. I know I'm forgetting some, though.

 

[JesusWasn'tWhite]

Jeff,
Your avatar rocks.
But now mine does too.

 

[holyrokker]

I became a Christian in 1976. I went to work at a Bible camp the following summer, and was introduced to "CCM" at that time. My first exposure was:

Barry McGuire - Seeds -- his best album

2nd Chapter of Acts - In The Volume Of The Book -- WOW! I was impressed. It featured Phil Keaggy on guitar. Of course, I had no idea who he was at that time, but the quality of the 8-track impressed me.

Most importantly - I heard Larry Norman's In Another Land that summer. PURE GENIUS!

Now, I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Kansas, Queen, etc. While this music wasn't the same style, Larry Norman and 2nd Chapter played the same quality.

I also heard John Michael Talbot's self-titled 8-track.

When I got back home at the end of the summer, I went straight to the Christian bookstore in town and bought
In Another Land
2nd Chapter of Acts - With Footnotes
John Michael Talbot
and a cool looking 8-track by Petra. I had no idea who they were. The 8-track was called "Come and Join Us". The guy in the store recommended it.

At that time, 8-tracks were $5.99, and Christian music labels had a deal, where each album you bought came with a sticker, and when you collected 4 stickers, you got a free album (or 8-track)

So, with my 4 stickers, I got a free 8-track. Again, I went by the recommendation of the clerk, and got Phil Keaggy's "Love Broke Thru"

So, for $25 I got 5 of the all-time best "albums" (in 8-track form, of course) in Christian music.

 

[MoreInSorrow]

I remember those stickers. I hated it when they stopped doing that (after years of getting free tapes). MAN, those were the days.....

 

[MoreInSorrow]

Jeff,
Your avatar rocks.
But now mine does too.

It does indeed.

I was actually thinking it has passed mine as the coolest avatar of CF.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

I remember those stickers. I hated it when they stopped doing that (after years of getting free tapes). MAN, those were the days.....

I do too...it was a great concept !!

My earliest recollection of early CCM or "Jesus Music" was Ron Salsbury and the JC Power Outlet. My first Christian concert was a band called Hope of Glory - anyone remember either of them ???


Ray

 

[Nanee5]

I loved (and still do.. but shhhhh don't tell anyone.. LOL) The Imperials, EARLY Amy Grant(before she defected), Keith Green, Silverwind, Daniel Amos (I still love to listen to the 1 album I have of theirs), Petra, Leslie Phillips, Randy Stonehill, Sweet Comfort Band (I want my greatest hits cd back.. ) Mylon and Brokenheart, Whiteheart, .. list goes on and on.. wish I still had all my ticket stubs..

 

[Athanasian Creed]

I loved (and still do.. but shhhhh don't tell anyone.. LOL) The Imperials, EARLY Amy Grant(before she defected), Keith Green, Silverwind, Daniel Amos (I still love to listen to the 1 album I have of theirs), Petra, Leslie Phillips, Randy Stonehill, Sweet Comfort Band (I want my greatest hits cd back.. ) Mylon and Brokenheart, Whiteheart, .. list goes on and on.. wish I still had all my ticket stubs..

ONLY 1 album of Daniel Amos ??? You don't know what you are missing. No 2 albums of DA's ever sounded the same ! They are classic (and innovative) CCM !!


Ray

 

[Nanee5]

The only one I have and have ever heard of theirs is "Shotgun Angel". And oh... love the song "Posse in the Sky" (love to hear those horses at the end.. )

 

[holyrokker]

Shotgun Angel is great!

But, like Ray said, no 2 of their albums are the same. Each one is very good in its own way.

My favorite Daniel Amos albums are:

Alarma!
Doppleganger
Horrendous Disk

 

[Buckeye]

How about Don Francisco? I still love his country/folk flavered stuff.


I have a couple of LPs from a group called The Wall Brothers Band that I got at a youth convention. I never heard of them before or since (1979). Is anyone else familiar with them?

Used to like 2nd Chapter of Acts--saw a couple concerts. Not too long ago I found their How the West Was Won live album on CD at a used place here in town and snatched it up. Trivia--the album cover for Matthew Ward's first solo album was taken at the Ohio Theater here in my hometown, Columbus, OH.

I also like Gary Paxton and the comedy of Isaac Airfreight and Mike Warnke.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

(snip)

I also like Gary Paxton and the comedy of Isaac Airfreight and Mike Warnke.

Isaac Air Freight was a gas !!! 777 Pearly Gates


Ray

 

[Nanee5]

Love Isaac Air Freight and Mike Warnke.. seen him in concert quite a few times.


"The name's Buck... Buck Wheezer!"

 

[Athanasian Creed]

The only one I have and have ever heard of theirs is "Shotgun Angel". And oh... love the song "Posse in the Sky" (love to hear those horses at the end.. )

Holy Moses !! That album was put out almost 30 years ago and that's the only one you've heard ??!! My, my, my !

Git yerself out girl and get a hold of some of their more recent stuff - they put out at least 10 albums (i don't think they're still putting out CD's) You won't be disappointed ! Last time i seen them was in 2K @ Cornerstone - it was a blast from the past (previous to that was around '85 when they opened for Jerusalem (my fav all-time band)).


Ray

 

[Nanee5]

Holy Moses !! That album was put out almost 30 years ago and that's the only one you've heard ??!!

LOL.. you don't have to rub it in! LOL,, and that was my brother's album... I was like 14 when I first heard it...!!! EEEEEEEKKKKK ! Im getting old!

 

[Buckeye]

A couple more:


Dallas Holmes, Evie Tornquist

 

[steveund]

This is cool, I'm new here to this website, but I love Classic CCM. The Imperials, Sweet Comfort, Love Song, Petra, The Archers, The Winans, Russ Taff and so on.

Just to let you know that TheArchers.org is up and running, we re-launched it a few days ago with the new look.

Also check out SteveArcher.com