3 October 2015 A.D. Contemporary Christian Music: Where It Came From, What It Is, Where It’s Going
3 October 2015 A.D. Contemporary Christian Music: Where It Came From,
What It Is, Where It’s Going
© 1985 Paul Baker
Crossway Books, Westchester, Illinois — All Rights Reserved
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is expanding at a faster rate than any other type of music. Already it outsells classical and jazz. Yet twenty years ago, it didn't even exist. What accounts for such amazing success?
Here is the full story behind the rise and rapid growth of CCM. Paul Baker takes us back to its beginnings in traditional Christian music; through its struggle for acceptance as it began to sound more and more like pop and rock; through its ''Jesus Music'' phase; and right up to the present as Christian punk, heavy metal, new wave, and techno-pop bands arrive on the scene, and as its biggest star, Amy Grant, becomes the first CCM solo artist to have an album certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Along the way, Baker examines some key issues facing CCM:
— Is the music becoming ''too commercial''?
— Can Christian artists stay in the secular industry and retain an authentic witness?
— Will the distinctive Christian character of the music be diluted as it gains wider acceptance?
— Can aggressive secular styles such as punk and heavy metal be successfully adapted by Christian artists?
Paul Baker has authored over four hundred articles on music for Saturday Evening Post, Billboard, Cashbox, Bookstore Journal, Group and other magazines. He was awarded Billboard Magazine's Air Personality Award for 1971 in Top 40 medium market radio. He has been a DJ on radio stations in Tampa, West Palm Beach, Denver, Wichita, Dallas, and Birmingham, Alabama. His one hour radio show, A Joyful Noise, was the longest continuously broadcast show of its kind in radio, airing for eleven years from 1970 to 1981.
Editors.
“Contemporary Christian Music: Where It Came From, What it Is, Where It’s
Going.” The Evangelical Christian
Library. N.d. http://www.ccel.us/CCM.toc.html. Accessed 3 Oct 2015.
Contemporary Christian Music
Where It Came From, What It Is, Where It's Going
Where It Came From, What It Is, Where It's Going
Crossway Books, Westchester, Illinois — All Rights Reserved
1. Contemporary Christian music —
History and criticism
ML3187.5 .B25 ~~ 783.6/09 19 ~~ LCCN: 8472002 ~~ OCLC: 12075389 ~~ 279p.
ML3187.5 .B25 ~~ 783.6/09 19 ~~ LCCN: 8472002 ~~ OCLC: 12075389 ~~ 279p.
Contemporary Christian Music is presently
held by 223 libraries including the Yale University Music Library and The
Library of Congress.
Table of Contents
Part I: 1955-1978
1/ Eve of Destruction
3
2/ He's Everything to Me
10
5/ Little Country Church
31
6/ Turn Your Radio On
42
7/ Day by Day
49
8/ Pass It On
53
9/ Fat City
60
10/ It's Only Right
65
11/ The Rock That Doesn't
Roll 74
12/ All Day Dinner
82
13/ Let Us Be One
89
14/ Superstar
96
16/ Gospel Light
109
17/ Time We Returned
114
Part II: 1979-1984
18/ Hits and Singles
123
20/ Reaching the Young
137
22/ Penetrating the Secular
Market 151
23/ Aerobimania and Fallen
Warriors 157
24/ Coping with Burnout
161
25/ Praise and Worship
168
26/ Common Ground, New
Controversy 174
27/ New Frontiers
182
28/ International Ripples
190
29/ Muscle Shoals
203
30/ Gospel Music: Christian
Witness 211
Appendix B: The Contemporary
Christian Music
Family Tree—1963-1978 225
Family Tree—1963-1978 225
Appendix C: Music Comparison Chart
239
Notes
258
Bibliography
262
Index
266
This book is dedicated to the girl at
the New Year's Eve concert in Denver whom I didn't hug, and to Charles
McPheeters, who would have.
What People Are Saying
Anyone remotely interested in music will
have to read this book
Larry Black, Radio Personality
* * *
* * * *
This book excels as a history of
Contemporary Christian Music. . . A thoughtful, well-written account.
Moody Monthly
* * *
* * * *
Paul Baker's firsthand experience has
given him a unique insight into the strengths and foibles of the Christian
music scene. A well-balanced and comprehensive overview. The definitive work. .
.
Cornerstone Magazine
* * *
* * * *
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is expanding at a faster rate than any other type of music. Already it outsells classical and jazz. Yet twenty years ago, it didn't even exist. What accounts for such amazing success?
Here is the full story behind the rise and rapid growth of CCM. Paul Baker takes us back to its beginnings in traditional Christian music; through its struggle for acceptance as it began to sound more and more like pop and rock; through its ''Jesus Music'' phase; and right up to the present as Christian punk, heavy metal, new wave, and techno-pop bands arrive on the scene, and as its biggest star, Amy Grant, becomes the first CCM solo artist to have an album certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Along the way, Baker examines some key issues facing CCM:
— Is the music becoming ''too commercial''?
— Can Christian artists stay in the secular industry and retain an authentic witness?
— Will the distinctive Christian character of the music be diluted as it gains wider acceptance?
— Can aggressive secular styles such as punk and heavy metal be successfully adapted by Christian artists?
Paul Baker has authored over four hundred articles on music for Saturday Evening Post, Billboard, Cashbox, Bookstore Journal, Group and other magazines. He was awarded Billboard Magazine's Air Personality Award for 1971 in Top 40 medium market radio. He has been a DJ on radio stations in Tampa, West Palm Beach, Denver, Wichita, Dallas, and Birmingham, Alabama. His one hour radio show, A Joyful Noise, was the longest continuously broadcast show of its kind in radio, airing for eleven years from 1970 to 1981.
* * *
* * * *
All rights reserved. Used by permission
of the author. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of
the author, except as provided by USA copyright law.
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