Special Podcast Series
Christian Beat Episode 1
Your Host: BRUCE BROWN
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Today we attempt to answer the rhetorical question I know you’re all waiting to ask – “What if The Beatles were a Christian rock band?”
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If you’ve followed pop music for any length of time, you’re probably at least slightly aware of a parallel world of religious pop that the music trades generally refer to as “ccm” or “contemporary Christian music.” Without going too deeply into a history lesson, what’s now called contemporary Christian music in the United States is generally agreed to have begun in the late 1960s, as an outgrowth of the post-1967 Summer of Love search for deeper meaning in life by disaffected teens and twenty-somethings. But in the past few years, largely due to the exponential growth of the Internet and the increasing sophistication of search engines, rabid music collectors have discovered that, while The Beatles were spearheading the 1964 “British Invasion” of the American music charts, back in the UK, there were hundreds, of church-going kids trying to adapt the Fab Four’s sound for evangelical purposes.
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Here’s what was spinned ‘n spunned in Episode #1:
Song 1: The Strangers – “Split the Trumpet” (A Man Dies LP, 1964)
Song 2: The Cobblers – “Not a Chance” (Warm Are the Sounds LP, 1970)
Song 3: The Overcomers – “If You’re Saved” (The Overcomers EP, 1966)
Song 4: The Crossbeats – “Change” (Crazy Mixed-Up Generation LP, 1967)
Song 5: The Envoys – “Nobody Like Jesus” (Door 7”, 1965)
Song 6: The Peacemakers – “Satisfied” (The Peacemakers EP, 1965)
Song 7: The Witnesses – “Another Day” (The Witnesses EP, 1966)
Song 8: The Pilgrims – “Think It Over (version 1)” (Telling Youth The Truth compilation CD)
Song 9: The Pebbles – “He Knows The Way” (The Pebbles LP, 1968)
Song 10: The Messengers of the Cross – “Not Pie In the Sky” (The Messengers of the Cross LP, 1969)
Song 11: Whispers of Truth – “Ode to Arnold” (Alive! LP, 1969)
Song 12: The Chordials – “Dreams” (Topsy Turvy LP, 1969)
Song 13: The Amen – “No Time” (Demo, 1970)
Song 14: The Gospelfolk – “Thank You Lord” (Prodigal LP, 1969)
Song 15: The Joy Strings – “Keep Me In Your Love” (Well Seasoned LP, 1966
Is there any modern christian power pop bands out there too? I know Switchfoot started power poppy but they later on evolve into much heavier.
One of my absolute favorites are THE ELMS – ‘The Big SUrprise” is their most power poppy release, filled with some of my favorite Christian powerpoppin’ anthems(sic). The last two albums have them in a more straight rocking vein but are highly recommended. “Truth, Soul and Rock ‘n Roll”(2002) and “The Chess Hotel”(2006).
The Elms is a christian band? Gotta check this out. I heard The Chess Hotel. Yes it’s more straight forward rock ‘n roll but i didn’t know they’re christian rock. Gonna check out The Big Surprise.
Yeah, the members have a strong heart for sharing the Gospel – and rocking it up alongside their work.
I think they are defunct now – lost touch w/ the band years ago, sadly…but there was a lot of talent in the group.
“Big Surpise” is easily found…glossy production, but not overly so but half the songs on the album are classics, for me – I listen to those particular songs a few times a year without fail.
I can recommend some Christian power pop –
The Elms – Big Surprise – pretty decent http://www.allmusic.com/album/big-surprise-mw0000587930
The Elms – Truth, Soul 7 Rock N Roll – this is a must http://www.allmusic.com/album/truth-soul-rock-amp-roll-mw0000230740
anything after that for the Elms – isn’t ‘Christian’. They became what christians call ‘secular’ or at the very least – swayed by the devil. 😉
Also you’ll want to pick up:
The Swift (self titled) – this is a MUST http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-swift-mw0000230113
The Swift – Today – really good – but still like their first just by a hair on Moses’ beard. http://www.allmusic.com/album/today-mw0000207466
Lastly – you’ll want to find John Davis’ solo album on Rambler records – ’tis a good one – a MUST if you will – or if you won’t. But I would and did! http://www.allmusic.com/album/john-davis-mw0000245556
typo on Truth, Soul, & Rock n Roll – no ‘7’ in the title.
Thanks. yup I did check out The Swift’s Today. The front cover alone screams “POP!” I also discovered some related bands like Until June, The Afters, Rhett Walker Band, and All Star United
Rick Altizer “Pop symphonies” is straight out of the bible Good poppin tunes!
ALL the work of Rick Altizer is highly recommended but yr right, Ron…”Pop Symphonies” is one that rises to the top. Best introduction to Altizer’s music from the 90s is the Not Lame release, “All-tie-zer”, which compiles some of his strongest work from 3 earlier released albums.