Various Artists
CCM Top 100/Greatest Songs in Christian Music, Volume 1
(2004)
Reviewed by Brian A. Smith
OK, a committee got together to pick the 100 greatest CCM songs of all time. Since lists are purely subjective, these decisions will do exactly what they are supposed to do: cause people to take interest in the project, and debate the merits of the choices made. I could be a contrarian and refuse to do that, but what fun would that be?
Disc One opens with "Awesome God" by Rich Mullins, a song he would be appalled to see here. Still, it is undeniably his best known song, so we'll give the committee a pass. The next two songs, "Testify to Love" (Avalon), and "People Get Ready" (Crystal Lewis), do not make any top 25 list in my world. Next case.
"Praise the Lord" (Imperials)? Yes. "Consuming Fire" Third Day? Not even their best song, let alone top 25 ever. Amy Grant is next, with "Lead Me On". Her best song on her best album, so it can stay. "Where There is Faith" by 4Him? No. No. No. Now we get on a good run of songs...
Twila Paris "The Warrior is a Child". "In the Light" Charlie Peacock. "We Are His Hands" by the vastly underrated White Heart. Steven Curtis Chapman "The Great Adventure". Petra "More Power to Ya". No problems here, although it could be argued that Chapman has at least five songs more appropriate than this one. And thank the Lord the committee had the sense to include a Petra song that features Greg X. Volz on vocals. On to disc two...
"God of Wonders" from City on a Hill leads off, and belongs in just that spot. Sandi Patty follows with "Love in Any Language". Hmmm. No "We Shall Behold Him"? No "Via Dolorosa"? Michael W. Smith's crossover hit "Place in This World" is next. Excuse me? While I never, ever need to hear it again, "Friends" is the only selection by Smith that should be here. "Stand" by Susan Ashton? Sorry, if I don't immediately recall a song, it doesn't belong in the top 25. "Rise Again" (Dallas Holm) ensues. Keep it.
Jennifer Knapp comes in with "Undo Me". Honestly, is Knapp on anyone's top 25 artists of all time? A big miss on this one. dc Talk's "What If I Stumble?" is slotted next. Um, committee? Ever hear a song called "Colored People"? "Jesus Freak?" Wrong choice.
I promise, I'm almost done. "Say the Name" by Margaret Becker is followed by BeBe and CeCe Winans' "Heaven". Yes to the former, no to the latter. Leslie Phillips makes a rare appearance on a CCM disc with "Be the Strength of My Life". OK. Point of Grace's "The Great Divide"? Not something I'd prefer, but it probably belongs.
Now to the remakes. Across the Sky covers "When God Ran", originally done by Benny Hester. Warren Barfield adds "Oh Lord You're Beautiful" by Keith Green. Both tunes absolutely should be here, but why cover versions? The originals stand up to this day, and should have been used.
This is why lists are fun. Music and sports, for those of us who like debate, are the two most enjoyable subjects about which to argue. I look at this list, and wonder about the next 75 songs. I certainly hope that Steve Taylor, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Mylon LeFevre, and a plethora of others will be represented in volumes two through four. If not, a similar rant may be forthcoming. Until then...
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Bert GanglAny CD with the word "greatest" in its title is bound to draw its share of both controversy and ire. From greatest hits collections -- which, as often as not, leave off one or more tracks that fans of the group or individual represented consider key -- to efforts like the first volume of CCM Magazine's Top 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music -- which up the ante by including the work of…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Barry NothstineCCM's Top 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music tackles the unenviable and impossible task of assembling a compilation of the best of Contemporary Christian Music. Some more critical folks might boldly proclaim that there ARE NOT 100 "Greatest" songs in CCM that can be brought together. Conversely, Christian Adult Contemporary (AC) and Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) fans will enjoy this package…
