Infuze magazine has been running a fun Christian music retrospective over on their website called “The Top Twenty Underappreciated Christian Albums.” As I looked over their choices, I began to reminisce about some of my favorite, more eclectic, Christian music choices from years past. Here are my own top 10 albums that I think you should definitely try to find in a used record store–or, if you’re lucky–over at iTunes. (Infuze and I are in agreement on a couple of artists, as you’ll see.)
What are your favorite, but perhaps not famous, Christian albums of all time? Use the comments box below to let me know.
10. Chris Eaton: “Vision”
Better known as a songwriter for people like Amy Grant and Cliff Richards, “Vision” is a disco-y guilty pleasure of mine.
9. Sarah Masen: “Sarah Masen”
She was one of several female artists who had a brief run of success in the 90s. I revisited this CD recently and was joyfully reminded how good the song “Fly, Baby” is.
8. Bryan Duncan: “Mercy Me”
Underrated as a live performer as well as a musician , it was tough for me to decide which recording of his was most underappreciated. This is one of his more reflective efforts, but his powerhouse vocals made all of his work worth a listen.
7. Sarah Jahn: “Sparkle”
In the category of “whatever happened to…?”, Sarah Jahn had a brilliant debut CD on Warner Alliance and I never heard her on the airwaves after that.
6: Tonio K : “Romeo Unchained”
I honestly know of only two other people who own this recording, so it definitely qualifies as a cult classic. Some of the lyrics may seem a little outdated, but I love his twisted sense of humor on songs like “Living Doll” and “I Handle Snakes.”
5. The 77s: “All Fall Down”
Funky and edgy, I haven’t stayed with their career over the years, but I remember being deeply affected by the disturbing images in songs like “You Don’t Scare Me” and ” Your Pretty Baby.”
4. Gary Chapman : “Shelter”
Regardless of what did or didn’t happen in his marriage to Amy Grant, Chapman was once a talented songwriter with an amazing voice who never found his own niche. These songs are some of his best.
3. David Edwards: “David Edwards” / “Get The Picture”
To some, he might have been just a version of “Elvis Costello-lite,” but I was definitely a fan who always wished he had a bigger, longer career. I love Edwards’s version of the Paul Revere song “Kicks,” off his first album, but he is also a talented songwriter which shows on “Get The Picture.” (His album based on the fantasy tales of of C.S. Lewis and others, “Dreams, Tales and Lullabies,” is completely different but impressive, as well.)
2.Kendall Payne: “Jordan’s Sister”
Sure, songs off this recording made it into movies like “Never Been Kissed” and TV shows like “Popular,” but she never got much respect in Christian circles. “Closer to Myself” is a staple on my iPod.
1: Ashley Cleveland: “Bus Named Desire”
Everything about Ashley Cleveland’s smoky, passionate vocals and soul-searching lyrics have been underappreciated for years by the traditional Christian marketplace. Officially, she’s really only released two recordings on a Christian label, and “Bus” was definitely the better of the two, with its rich tapestry of stories and spiritually powerful ballads.
posted September 26, 2007 at 7:55 pm
“Downtown” is also really good from Sarah Masen’s self-titled CD.
Personally I like Bryan Duncan’s ‘Slow Revival’ more than his other CDs… a lot of soul and interesting lyrics there.
The Waiting/Blue Belly Sky and Carolyn Arends/Feel Free are two of my faves from years past. And many more too…
-joshMshep
http://www.myspace.com/joshmshep
posted September 27, 2007 at 12:04 pm
How about the Old Rugged Cross or Pass Me Not
posted September 27, 2007 at 7:32 pm
One album I enjoy, even thought it is 31 years old (and now I’m really feeling like an antique LOL) is Phil Keaggy’s “Love Broke Through.” My favorite track is a poem by C.S. Lewis set to music, “As the Ruins Fall”.
posted September 30, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I have always loved Carman and Bryan Duncan…they rock out in a real sense…you can FEEL the music and the lyrics hit home on more than one occasion…
posted September 30, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Bryan Duncan has had my heart for a long while…I like his renditions of classics “Come,Holy Spirit” and “Take My Life” as well as “A Heart Like Mine”. He never fails to soothe my soul. I guess everyone resonates to the different vibrations of a particular voice; I wish he would keep recording.
posted October 1, 2007 at 12:10 am
Here are more Christian singers who were underrated and sang the Gospel Truth- Judee Sill from the 1970′s, Candi Staton–who can forget her song Mama and Mama’s Testimony, Della Reese, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin from the 50′s and 60′s, Sister Rosetta Sharpe, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Ethel Waters and a list of others
posted October 1, 2007 at 11:52 am
I have to admit, I definitely underappreciated Sarah Jahn when I first purchased her CD through Sound & Spirit years ago. I still have the CD; perhaps I will appreciate now that I’m older…. Other underappreciated Christian bands/albums: 1) Seven Day Jesus: “Seven Day Jesus”; 2) Burlap to Cashmere: “Anybody Out There?”; 3) Speck: “Speck”; 4) PFR: “Pray for Rain”
posted October 1, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I would argue that Michael Omartian’s ‘White Horse’ album was not only one of the best Christian rock, but one of the great rock albums ever done–his production values were second to none. And anything done by John Michael Talbot (and with his brother Terry) in their early years was also excellent.
posted February 26, 2008 at 3:30 am
I loved David Edwards’ album “Get The Picture”
I listened to it constantly when I was a teen,
and kept it for many years, only getting
rid of it long after I no longer owned a record player.
I never had 77′s “All fall Down”, but I did have their “Ping Pong Over tThe Abyss” I remember it was bright pink!
posted April 13, 2008 at 9:45 pm
ok, this is kind of unrelated to the topic, but i don’t know how else to find out this kind of information… do you know the song that has the chorus, “I’ve got my hands tied behind my back, the crime scene is still in tact, those are my fingerprints, my calling card, those are my tracks, and i’ve got my hands tied behind my back…” do you happen to know who sings that song or how i can find out who sings it?
thank you so much for any help you can provide!
~becky
posted May 12, 2008 at 11:36 pm
hangnail.
they’re a christian rock band
posted June 4, 2008 at 1:46 am
I am lookin for the same information. If you have the song name or Artist, I would so appreciate if if you would please forward it to me.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that seems to find this info so elusive. Good Luck! Thanks
posted June 7, 2008 at 3:10 am
I have observed that 90% of the music on the airwaves is trite, uninspired, and hackneyed, and Christian music is no exception. People like what they know, and this makes it extremely difficult for anything original to break through. I have stumbled across very talented artists who get very little if any airplay, and when they do it’s the same overplayed song or two. Hey, fellow Christians – put your Stevens and your Michaels and your Amies and your Chrises for a spell and check out the musical and lyrical genius of Nichole Nordeman, Sixpence None the Richer, and Jars of Clay. They are really gifted songwriters and mesmerizingly talented performers as well. Don’t pass up the chance to see them in concert. Memo to Christian songwriters: it takes a lot more than three chords and a few forced rhymes from Psalms or Ecclesiastes to make a good Christian song. So don’t be simple and repetitive and cute because the last ones to pull that off were The Beatles and we all know how often that kind of talent comes around.
SNTR, Nicole Nordeman, and Jars of Clay: Please don’t stop writing and touring – Christians like me (and my heathen friends) with the gift of musical discernment need you more than you could ever know!
Mike
posted July 2, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I thought it was Susan Ashton, no?
Kudos, Mike. Nichole Nordeman is my favorite. But you forgot Rich Mullins.
posted July 2, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Nope. It was Becca Jackson! Great song.
posted July 12, 2008 at 3:15 am
ok unrelated kindof… i have been searching for a song and cant figure out the name or who sings it it is similer to hangnail, says
“places i’ve already been i’ve failed god, how many times is too much god does your faith have a limit cuz i’m tired god tired of pretending that i’m strong god…. with my hands tied behind my back the crime scene is still intact oh when i think….” please help me i really love this song and cant find it!
posted August 4, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Mandi…
The singer is BECCA JACKSON….
I can’t remember the name of the song but that should help your search.
XO
Jo
posted August 26, 2008 at 2:23 pm
“hands tied behind my back, the crime scene is still intact, those are my fingerprints, my calling card those are my tracks…”
Song is “Hands Tied” by Becca Jackson
I got lucky and finally heard the title and artist on the radio this morning!
posted September 19, 2008 at 12:30 pm
hELLO I,M BEEN LISTERING YOU YOUR MUSIC I LIKE IT ITS FEELS GOOD TO SERVE JESUS
posted September 25, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Mike, you’ve got some of my favorites listed. Everything I’ve heard by Nichole has blessed me. I also like that Becca Jackson album, have Hangnail, and love Sarah Masen. You know she actually made several albums, not just the self-titled debut that got some play with the “All Fall Down” track? Like Burlap to Cashmere and PFR. Susan Ashton. Rich Mullins.
What about Jill Phillips? The Benjamin Gate? And if anybody likes electronic/dance/trance music, I highly recommend the Echoing Green. They have a MySpace, and you can hear some of their stuff at echocentral.com on their old site. Check them out! http://www.echocentral.com/_launch/site.html
posted May 20, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I wrote HAND’S TIED with David Mullen in the 90′s and produced an artist for Word that we cut it on BECCA JACKSON.