1. I Wish We'd All Been Ready - Larry Norman 2. I'm So Happy - 2nd Chapter Of Acts 3. Rock 'n' Roll Preacher - Chuck Girard 4. Perfect Peace - Andraé Crouch 5. I'm Not Religious, I Just Love The Lord - Scott Wesley Brown 6. You Put This Love In My Heart - Keith Green 7. Summer Snow - Matthew Ward 8. Cosmic Cowboy - Barry McGuire 9. Mylon LeFevre - Stranger To Danger 10. A Song In The Night - Silverwind 11. Mystery - Sheila Walsh 12. Runner - Twila Paris

History Makers: The Best Of Christian Pop, Vol. 1 (1970-1985) From its beginnings in the Jesus Movement of the ‘70s to its transitional years in the early ‘80s, this CD includes some of the foundational recordings of contemporary Christian music, by the artists that helped to establish it. Executive Producer: Thom Granger for Kangaroo Productions Though the notion of hearing religious sentiments in pop music certainly began before 1970, they consisted primarily of traditional songs and spirituals, updated with more contemporary sounds… though a few songs released in 1965 did seem to lay the foundation. Elvis Presley’s “Crying in the Chapel,” The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” and The Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn” were all indicative of the possibilities available in the form; and all were hugely popular and influential. By 1969, songs like Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” The Youngbloods’ “Get Together” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” helped to prime the pump for the revival that would be known as the Jesus Movement, though none of these songs mentioned Jesus by name or made any reference to Christianity in particular. In that same year, Larry Norman was in the studio crafting a manifesto—knowingly or unknowingly—for what would become known as “Jesus Music,” or later, “Contemporary Christian Music.” As part of the Bay Area band People, Norman experienced a top 20 hit nationally with a cover of The Zombies’ tune, “I Love You,” but had left the band due to differences with its members and the record company. The label (Capitol) did give him a chance to cut a solo album though, and Upon This Rock became the tablets of stone for many young believers. “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” is a chilling tale, based on Norman’s belief in the removal of the saints prior to the return of Christ (the rapture), which was proliferated by a number of preachers in the Jesus Movement of that era. Still, the primary emotion expressed by the Jesus People was joy, and the sound of that joy was perfectly expressed by songwriter Annie Herring and her siblings Matthew and Nelly Ward—better known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts—on a single for MGM Records in 1972 called “I’m So Happy.” The trio’s infectious, letter-perfect harmonies and charismatic presence would soon catapult them into the national spotlight… but it all started here. Chuck Girard was one of those artists that had experienced some success in the music business (with the Castells and the Hondells), but had found it ultimately unsatisfying. A convert of the Jesus Movement, Girard and his band Love Song set the standards for a generation of young Christian musicians in the early ‘70s. By 1975, Girard had embarked on a solo career, and his self-titled debut album is one of the era’s true masterpieces, including its lead-off single, “Rock and Roll Preacher.” Andraé Crouch & the Disciples were (along with Love Song) the other pre-eminent band of the times, and whatever doors weren’t being opened by the music of the artists already mentioned here were probably unlocked by Crouch. By the mid-‘70s, AC&D were making albums that raised the bar for contemporary Christian and gospel music, and 1975’s This is Another Day was no exception. It opened with “Perfect Peace,” featuring a pre-disco intro influenced by Issac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft,” and an infectious groove that dared you to stand still. Originally from Washington, D.C., Scott Wesley Brown had recorded two albums in the mid-‘70s, but it was his debut for the fledgling Sparrow Records in 1977 that became the artist’s—and one of the label’s—first radio hits. “I’m Not Religious, I Just Love the Lord,” sporting a bright California pop sound not indicative of his later musical direction, captured the sentiment of the Jesus People perfectly. Nothing could have prepared us for the force of nature that was Keith Green. The youngest songwriter ever signed to ASCAP at the age of 11, Green was originally on the road to be a teen idol, but was eclipsed by Donny Osmond and Shaun Cassidy. Experiments with psychedelic drugs and mysticism were unfulfilling, but his restless search for inner peace led him to a decision for Christianity that would bring his prodigious gifts (singer, songwriter, pianist) to bear on the world of Christian pop. In his brief (he died in a light plane crash in 1982) but successful career, Green composed some of the most memorable statements of faith ever put to music, such as “You Put This Love in My Heart” (1977). An artist close to Green’s heart, Matthew Ward (from 2nd Chapter of Acts) recorded no less than four of Keith’s till-then-unrecorded songs on his first solo album, Toward Eternity (1979). One of them, “Summer Snow” is a perfect marriage of both artists’ talents, wedding Green’s haunting, plaintive melody sung by one of the most distinctive and moving voices in popular music. Barry McGuire had plenty of music business experience by the time he turned his life over to Christ and started singing a new song. Lead singer for folk vocal group The New Christy Minstrels in the early ‘60s (“Green, Green”), McGuire had a hit with a 1965 protest song called “Eve of Destruction,” then proceeded on a path of his own self-destruction, until finding peace with Christ in 1971. “Cosmic Cowboy” was the biggest hit on Christian radio in 1978 (#35 weeks at #1), and captured the loveable teddy bear personality of this man for all to hear. Mylon LeFevre grew up in gospel music, and would return to it after years trying to be a Christian kid in the rock and roll world… and failing personally and professionally. After rededicating his life to Christ at a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert in 1980, LeFevre recorded Brand New Start for MCA’s Christian pop label Songbird, and his heartfelt ballad, “Stranger to Danger” (1982) marked the beginnings of his new life and ministry. A more international sound was heard in the early ‘80s, when Georgian Banov (of Candle and Agape Force ministries) formed the trio Silverwind with two other members of the worship group Candle. Though compared to 2nd Chapter of Acts (primarily because of its two female, one male lineup), their sound more closely resembled Swedish group Abba, both in its arrangements and production/recording techniques. “A Song in the Night” wasn’t the group’s first single, but it did make other history—as the first music video developed by a Christian record label. Scottish-born Sheila Walsh brought a Euro-pop sound of her own in the ‘80s, influenced by English superstar Cliff Richard and the then-emerging sounds of the New Wave. Walsh’s classically-trained vocals soared over the synth-driven arrangement on “Mystery,” one of the hit singles of 1983. Twila Paris has come to be most closely associated with music intended for worship. Some of her best songs (“Lamb of God,” “We Will Glorify,” “He is Exalted”) are even included in modern hymnals today. In 1985, Twila released an ambitious album called Kingdom Seekers that sported a new classically-oriented sound, but kicked off with a killer single called “Runner.” Make no mistake about it: Twila Paris is a world class songwriter, capable of crafting as good a pop song as Diane Warren or anyone else.