Various Artists
CCM Top 100/Greatest Songs in Christian Music, Volume 1
(2004)
Reviewed by Barry Nothstine
CCM'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 immensely (although disagreement over what constitutes a "Top 100" list will abound).
As for me, I was pleasantly surprised by the compilation. Being a rocker at heart, I was amazed at how many songs I enjoyed. Of course, there are a few songs that send me scrambling for the fast forward button (Sandi Patty's "Love in Any Language" comes to mind), but for the most part this seems to be a pretty solid anthology. Emphasis seems to be placed on more recent material (a plus from a production/sonic standpoint, but a minus if this is truly meant to represent a top 100 of CCM). Nobody is going to agree on a Top 100 anyway. It is nice to hear some of the older tunes (like Dallas Holm's "Rise Again" along with newer classics like "God of Wonders" from City on a Hill.
Big, major points are deducted for the inclusion of two covers of classic songs: Across the Sky's (a vocal duo I like!) tepid version of Benny Hester's "When God Ran" and a nice-but-out-of-place version of Keith Green's "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful" by Warren Barfield. An anthology truly representing the best of CCM needs to include original versions.
It should be noted that this double-disc compilation is Volume 1, and only contains the top 25 songs. I'll look forward to checking out Volume 2, 3 and 4.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Brian A. SmithOK, 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…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…
