Best Christmas CDs of All Time

10. Elvis Presley - It's Christmas Time
9. Russ Taff - A Christmas Song
8. Michael W. Smith - Christmas
7. Various - Christmas (1988 Sparrow compilation)
6. Steven Curtis Chapman - The Music of Christmas
5. Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas
4. Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
3. Jaci Valesquez - Christmas
2. Michael W. Smith - Christmastime
1. Bryan Duncan - Christmas is Jesus

Other fantastic CDs include Rivertribe's Christmas, Bryan Duncan's NehoSoul Christmas, Amy Grant's A Christmas Album, MercyMe's The Christmas Sessions, Point of Grace, Avalon's Joy, Phil Keaggy's Majesty & Wonder and the WOW Christmas compilations

Some that you think would be fantastic and do have flashes of brilliance, but were a bit disappointing include (too high expectations?): Natalie Grant's Believe, Kathy Troccoli's A Sentimental Christmas, Jars of Clay's Christmas Songs, Third Day's Christmas Offerings

MercyMe's latest comes in at #15

MercyMe's latest, All That Is Within Me, debuts at #15

This is their third top 20 debut (Coming Up to Breath #13, Undone #12)

Most unappreciated CCM cds

What do you think are the most unappreciated CCM cds of all time? My list is in the next post, but here are two interesting perspectives from Beliefnet and Infuze. Infuze parts 2, 3 and 4 are here (their navigation leaves something to be desired.)

Leigh Nash divorce

In an emotional MySpace blog entry, former Sixpence None the Richer frontwoman Leigh Nash announced her divorce from Mark Nash, her husband of 11 years and drummer with Christian rock band PFR.

Casting Crowns Debuts at #2

Casting Crowns' new CD, The Altar And The Door, debuts at an impressive #2 on the Billboard 200. This is their second Top 10 debut following Lifesong's debut at #9.

In, not of this music world

A short list of Christians who have been successful in the music industry:
Brian Littrell
Carrie Underwood
Charlie Daniels
Clay Aiken
Collective Soul
Daughtry
Eisley
The Fray
Johnny Cash
John Elefante - Kansas
Judson Spence
King's X
Lifehouse
MC Hammer
Mandisa
Michael McDonald
Mindy Smith
Philip Bailey - Earth, Wind & Fire
Rick Wakeman - Yes
Ruben Studdard
Sawyer Brown
Scott Stapp
Sufjan Stevens
Vigilantes of Love/Bill Mallonee

Crossovers deux

P.O.D. - e.g., "Youth of a Nation" (#1 Rock), "Alive" (#2 Rock), "Boom" (#13 Rock), "Will You" (#12 Rock), "Goodbye for Now" (#17 Rock), "Rock the Party" (#25 Rock)
Relient K - e.g., "Be My Escape" (#48 Pop 100),"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" (#22 Top 40), "Must Have Done Something Right" (#45 Top 40), "The Best Thing" (#47 Top 40)
Sanctus Real - e.g., "I'm Not Alright"
Sixpence None the Richer - "Kiss Me" (#2) and "There She Goes"(#7 Top 40) "Breathe Your Name"(#18 Top 40) & "Don't Dream It's Over" (#9 Top 40)
Stacie Orrico - "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life" (Top 20), "Stuck" (Top 5) and hits overseas: "I Promise" (top 30 UK), "I Could Be The One" (top 40 UK)
Stryper - "Honestly" (#32 Top40), "Calling On You", "Free", "Always There for You"
Superchick - "It's On" (movies "Zoom" & "Nancy Drew"),"Anthem", "It's On", "Get Up" ("Ice Princess"), "One Girl Revolution"(Disney's "Holiday in the Sun")
Switchfoot - e.g., "Meant to Live" (#5 Pop), "I Dare You to Move"(#6 Pop), "This Is Your Life" (#30 Rock), & "Stars"(#16 Rock), "Oh! Gravity" (#36 Rock)
TobyMac - lots of commercials, e.g., with "The Slam" and "Boomin"
Wilshire "Special" (#)

Crossovers

Amy Grant - e.g., "Find a Way"(#7AC), "The Next Time I Fall" (#1), "Saved by Love" (#96), "Baby Baby" (#1), "That's What Love Is For" (#1), "Every Heartbeat" (#2), "Good For Me" (#8), and "I Will Remember You" (#20) "Lucky One" (#2 AC), "House of Love" (#37), "Takes A Little Time"
The Afters - "Beautiful Love" (#23 HotDigital, #43 Pop100, #55 Hot100)
Andy Hunter - DJ
BeBe & CeCe Winans - e.g., "Addictive Love" (#1R&B), "I'll Take You There" (#1 R&B) "It's O.K."
Bob Carlisle - "Butterfly Kisses"
Chevelle - e.g., "The Clincher"
dc Talk - e.g., "Just Between You And Me" (#11 Top 40)
Delirious? - charted in the UK and Germany, e.g., "Inside Outside" and "Deeper"
Fleming and John
Flyleaf
Grits - "Ooh Ahh" "Tennessee Boys"
Jars of Clay - "Flood" (#12 Rock)", "Crazy Times" (#38 Rock), "Five Candles (You Were There)" "Show You Love" & "Unforgetful You"
Jon McLaughlin - "Beautiful Disaster" (28 AC)
Jump5 - they owned Radio Disney
Kirk Franklin - "Lean on Me" (#26 R&B), "Revolution"(#26 R&B), "Looking for You" (#5 R&B), "Imagine Me" (#52 R&B)
Julie Miller
Mary Mary - "Shackles" (#22 R&B)
Mat Kearney - "Nothing Left to Lose" (#7 Top 40) "Undeniable" (#20 Top 40) & "All I Need" (#94 Hot 100)
MercyMe - "I Can Only Imagine" (#5 AC), "Here with Me" (#12 AC), "Homesick (#9 AC) & "So Long Self" (#16 AC)
Michael W. Smith - e.g., "I Will Be Here For You" (#1 AC), "Place In This World"(#5 AC), "Somebody Love Me" (#10 AC), "For You"(#20 AC), "This is Your Time" (#25 AC)
MxPx
Natalie Grant - "Held" (#11 AC), "No Sign of It" (#25 AC), "The Real Me" (#30 AC)

Great New-ish Bands

The Afters
DecembeRadio
Future of Forestry
Needtobreathe
Red
Starfield
Turn off the Stars

10 Best CCM Bands of All Time

There are many other worthy bands, but I gave the nod to those with longevity and greatest impact to the industry. Talent is clearly implied.

10. Stryper - Definitive work: To Hell With the Devil
9. Audio Adrenaline - Definitive works: bloom/Lift
8. The Choir - Definitive work: Circle Slide
7. Third Day - Definitive work: Come Together
6. Jars of Clay - Definitive works: Jars of Clay/Much Afraid
5. Delirious? - Definitive work: King of Fools
4. Whiteheart - Definitive work: Freedom
3. Guardian - Definitive work: Bottle Rocket
2. DC Talk - Definitive work: Jesus Freak
1. Newsboys - Definitive works: Not Ashamed/Adoration

Pioneer Award: Petra

On the cusp: David Crowder Band, Switchfoot, Casting Crowns, MercyMe and Avalon.

Notable musicians make the leap

Brief list of notable musicians who have converted:
Lou Gramm - of Foreigner & several great solo works
David Pack - of Ambrosia fame
Alice Cooper - School's out!
Gary Cherone - of Extreme and Van Halen fame
Dave Mustaine - of Metallica fame
Brian "Head" Welch - of Korn
Mike Farris - lead singer of Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
John Davis - Superdrag
Jonny Lang
Richie Furay - lead singer of Buffalo Springfield and founder of Poco
Sheila E. - of Prince fame
Mark Farner - Grand Funk Railroad
Sammy Hagar? - most notably of Van Halen
Mase

This list does not include known Christians,
Nor suspects such as:
Bob Dylan
U2

10 Best Female CCM Vocalists of all time

Criteria include song quality, vocal prowess, impact on industry, ability to play an instrument and/or craft a song, whim...

10. Nichole Nordeman
9. Crystal Lewis
8. Natalie Grant
7. Jennifer Knapp
6. Lisa Bevill
5. Rebecca St. James
4. Ginny Owens
3. Jaci Velasquez
2. Margaret Becker
1. Amy Grant

Updated list here.

10 Best CCM Male Artists Ever

Criteria include song quality, longevity, impact on industry, vocal ability, song craftsmanship, ability to play instrument, whim...

10. Chris Tomlin - Definitive work: Arriving
Phil Keaggy - Definitive works: Find Me In These Fields/Crimson & Blue
9. TobyMac - Definitive work: All 3 CDs
8. Mark Schultz - Definitive work: Mark Schultz
7. Russ Taff - Definitive works: Russ Taff/The Way Home
6. John Elefante - Definitive work: Corridors
5. Charlie Peacock - Definitive work: Love Life
4. Jeremy Camp - Definitive works: All but Carried Me
3. Bryan Duncan - Definitive work: Mercy/Slow Revival
2. Michael W. Smith - Definitive works: Go West Young Man/I'll Lead You Home
1. Steven Curtis Chapman - Definitive work: For the Sake of the Call/Speechless

Mandisa charts

Mandisa's “True Beauty” became Sparrow Records highest chart entry for a new artist in the company’s 31 year history.

SCC's new CD and touring mates

Steven Curtis Chapman's 16th CD, "This Moment," comes out in October and is being previewed on itickets.com.

Special guest touring band members include Chapman’s sons Will Franklin (Drums) and Caleb (Guitar) who also make a special appearance on "This Moment."

TobyMac in the movies

“Boomin’” will be featured in one of the trailers for the film “Underdog,” in theatres now, while “Feelin' so Fly” is featured in the new Disney film “Gameplan,” starring “The Rock.”

His first two CDs have gone Gold.

Two Members Departing Future of Forestry

Nick and Luke are leaving the group.

New Michael W. Smith Christmas Album

He's produced some of my favorite Christmas CDs. His third Christmas CD and 20th overall is coming out this month. The only cover tune is the timeless standard “What Child is This?”

News at CMCentral.

How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story

When asked what he wants people to take away from reading his book, Head replies:

The most important message is this: I got the opportunity to experience the dream that lots of kids have, which was being in a famous rock band, and (seemingly) having it all. However, in the end, I just felt empty without God's presence in my life. I would like to put a hunger in people to get to know God more.

more...

Amy Grant's Memoir to be Published in October

I'm sure Heather will be the first in line to buy, but I think it would be an interesting read. The book MOSAIC: PIECES OF MY LIFE SO FAR

features lyrical writing about everyday life--friendship, marriage, motherhood, loss, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

more...

Michael Sweet to Perform With Boston

Michael Sweet will be singing with the band Boston at the last Boston performance. Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship) will sing a few and Sammy Hagar will as well. more...

New Stryper CD

A new Stryper CD is on the way. I hope it's a collaborative effort and not just a painted version of Michael's solo album. Obviously, he's the creative force behind Stryper and all of his solo CDs were fabulous - with the exception of the last one and Stryper's Reborn (though both had some great songs on them.)

Guardian videos

Watch Guardian videos, courtesy of Jamie Rowe's message boards. His site is here.

Michael Sweet's wife has cancer

You can help.

McBrayer leaving Avalon

After nearly 12 years with Avalon, founding member Jody McBrayer is leaving due to a heart condition, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The group will continue to record albums and tour nationally.

Anberlin debuts in Top 20

Anberlin's "Cities" bowed at No. 19 on the Billboard 200

Portable Sounds Debuts in Top 10

TobyMac's Portable Sounds debuts at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200.

Earlier this year, TobyMac celebrated the RIAA Gold certification of his first two solo projects, Momentum (2001) and Welcome to Diverse City (2004)

Eric Clapton's "Change the World" Wins Grammy for Song of the Year

Eric Clapton's "Change the World"written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick has won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year (for the songwriters), as well as Best Male Pop Vocal performance. The song was chosen by the RIAA as one of the Songs of the Century, ranked at #270.

Gordon Kennedy and Tommy Simms were previously best known for being in the band White Heart.

Switchfoot rises to #18 on Album Charts

Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity has risen to #18 on the Billboard 200 charts. This is their highest chart position since Nothing Is Sound hit #3 and third highest overall (The Beautiful Letdown made it #16)

Alas, no new Guardian

It looks like there won't be a new Guardian CD after all. more...