The latest part of the ongoing series chronicling, in no particular order, the greatest 1001 recordings made by Christian artists

792. HILLSONG - DESERT SONG, 2008. From the album 'This Is Our God', Hillsong Music.
Just about everyone in the Western Church has an all time favourite song emanating from New South Wales' renowned mega church. This is mine. With a glorious lead vocal from one of Christendom's most expressive voices, Brooke Fraser, her words and music perfectly and poetically capture the bold declaration that we will follow God through every circumstance. "This is my prayer in the fire/In weakness or trial or pain/There is a faith proved of more worth than gold/So refine me Lord through the flame." An exquisite and haunting prayer in song.
Tony Cummings

Aubrey Ghent

793. AUBREY GHENT - PRAISE MUSIC, 1997. From the various artists album 'Sacred Steel Guitar', Arhoolie.
Despite the fact that for half a century churches in The House Of God denomination were using the pedal steel guitar as their central worship instrument, it wasn't 'til the '90s that Arhoolie Records discovered this most thrilling of church music and began recording it. International fame followed for Robert Randolph but several dazzling Arhoolie albums showed there were many other huge talents. Veteran Ghent recorded the scorching "Praise Music" at a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge and the congregational clapping at the intro should be used to show white churches how to make instant rhythm while once Ghent bursts in with his pedal steel it, in the words of an Entertainment Weekly review, "brings more racket than an arena full of Slayer fans."
Tony Cummings

794. SLEEPING GIANT - TITHEMI, 2011. From the album 'Kingdom Days In An Evil Age', Ain't No Grave.
I can't think of any other hardcore record which takes the listener to worship as powerfully as this one. Hardcore's brutal musical approach has often been used to denounce the Devil and all his works but to use the jagged, wall-of-noise as a platform for a screamed reminder that one day every knee will bow to Christ's glorious name is to daringly go to a place few bands have thought of venturing. Over what sounds like one nerve-jangling chord propelled along by Matt Weir's thunderous drumming Thom Green roars out his message, "All fear, all pain, all hurt, all grief, all lies, must bow to Jesus name/All kings, all thrones, everything that breathes life, must bow to Jesus name/The earth, the sea, the sun, the stars, the
sky must bow to Jesus' name." Magnificent in its own ferocious, God-glorifying way.
Tony Cummings

795. L A SYMPHONY - BROKEN TAPE DECKS, 2000. From the album 'Call It What You Want', Unreleased.
From the greatest unreleased hip-hop album ever, this was recorded back in 2000 when the group of rappers was at full nine piece strength. Sadly, Squint Entertainment's collapse and legal entanglements meant that the 'Call It What You Want' album never got released though "Broken Tape Decks" was put out there ahead of the album complete with an accompanying video which featured an infectious groove and a self-deprecating sense of humour which was refreshing in an era of the bragging rappers of the world. With a positive message to take risks and "just do it," this is an absolute gem.
Mike Rimmer

796. THE ROCKET SUMMER - REVIVAL, 2012. From the album 'Life Will Write The Words', Aviate.
"Uh oh, uh uh, oh, oh" goes one of those irritatingly catchy backing vocal parts and by the time the punchy rock guitars and Bryce Avary's jittery piano playing have underlined his abrasive vocals "Revival" has well and truly won the listener over. According to one reviewer the 'Life Will Write The Words' album didn't dwell on as many spiritual themes as its predecessor 'Of Men & Angels' but this song at least is pretty clear in its depiction of a life illuminated with Christ's presence. "Sounding like a hymn that cuts in your soul and like a lifetime flashing by your brand new eyes/It's the first time in so long that you see, that you see in the mirror/We're gonna make it out/I won't forget this place/Let the revival rattle me and open my eyes, open my eyes/It's so good/It's been a bombs and guns and fire kind of season and oh I need a reason for all of my bleeding tonight."
Tony Cummings

797. ROBERTA MARTIN SINGERS - GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, 1959. From the album 'The Best Of The Roberta Martin Singers', Savoy.
Roberta's righteous aggregation sing the dead slow first verse and chorus over piano, organ and drums accompaniment before the majestic voice of Gloria Griffin takes over the lead. "When your best friends misuse you/Whenever things accuse you/And when you're in doubt you can find the way out/Because God is still on the throne," Gloria sings in a poised, soulful performance. It turned out to be one of gospel matriarch, composer and music publisher Martin's biggest songs and decades on this gospel hit still packs soul power. Gloria Griffin went on to record solo albums for Savoy and Atlantic/Cotillion but this was her finest musical moment.
Tony Cummings

Mutemath

798. MUTEMATH - THE NERVE, 2009. From the album 'Armistice', Teleprompt.
The alternative rockers from New Orleans have come a long way since their formation in 2003 and like Paul Meaney's previous band Earthsuit have made some eminently inventive pop rock. The 'Armistice' album, thanks to constant touring and Warner Bros marketing muscle, debuted in the mainstream album charts at 18 though believers were bemused by their "we're not a Christian band" media statements. "The Nerve" is the killer cut on 'Armistice'. A jagged guitar line, a kinetic rhythm track aimed at the dance floor and a vocal from Meaney that sounds a bit like Phil Collins, this is crammed with electric boogaloo immediacy. The lyric occasionally bites through too, "Can you believe the world's like a tyrant/Taking over anything that it wants."
Tony Cummings

799. ANTHONY SKINNER - FOREVER AND A DAY, 2003. From the album 'Forever And A Day', Orphansake.
Considering his enormous talent this singer, songwriter, producer and author has yet to find a mass audience save for his songs which have been sung by the likes of the Newsboys, CeCe Winans, Bethel Music, Robert Randolph and Jesus Culture. The 'Forever And A Day' album was missed by most people, including Cross Rhythms, when released in 2003, but it's a rich and tender-hearted set of worship songs with this lilting gem with its uplifting chorus "I will sing to the King/I am the ransomed one/How I love your holy name/Holy to the lamb who was slain" clearly coming from a heart of worship. Anthony's voice is husky and surprisingly soulful and the accompaniment warmly organic.
Tony Cummings

800. THE BAILES BROTHERS - DUST ON THE BIBLE, 1945. From the album 'Oh So Many Years', Bear Family.
Johnnie and Walter Bailes wrote and recorded some of the most memorable music of the '40s and this song is often eulogised along with their other classics "The Drunkard's Grave" and "Broken Marriage Vows". Their eerie close harmony duets brought their dramatic songs of faith and loss to audiences at The Grand Ole Opry for many years. In recent times the Bailes Brothers' seminal sides for Columbia have been lovingly re-issued for an audience exploring the roots of country. Hank Williams once recorded "Dust On The Bible" but it is the song's rendition by its composers which hits home hardest. "I went into a home one day just to see some friends of mine/Of all their books and magazines, not a Bible could I find/I asked them for the Bible, when they brought it, what a shame/For the dust was covered o'er it, not a fingerprint was plain." A homespun critique of our modern world which still hits home 69 years later.
Tony Cummings

801. MY BROTHERS MOTHER - BE STILL MY LOVE, 1995. From the album 'Deeper Than Skies', 5 Minute Walk.
Jaime Eichler has a truly haunting voice that should have brought her Christian music fame but her infrequent trips to the recording studio have resulted only in a few worship CDs, singing backups for the Violet Burning. . . and this wonderful album. My Brothers Mother were a short-lived band from southern California who featured in its ranks Jaime on vocals, Andrew Prickett (one-time guitarist with The Prayer Chain), Chris Lizotte (another highly underrated talent) and Jaime's husband, drummer Brian Eichler. One critic suggested the vocals on 'Deeper Than Skies' resembled The Innocence Mission and Over The Rhine though on songs like this there is a worshipful atmosphere which pervades. "Be Still My Love" is a shimmeringly beautiful creation with lyrics which echo the devotional abandon of Song Of Solomon - "Like a lover, your presence fills my room/As a fire that burns me through and through."
Tony Cummings

802. MORTAL - ENFLESHED, 1992. From the album 'Lusis', Intense.
Unquestionably, Mortal's 'Lusis' album was a groundbreaking project. Respected critic Brian Quincy Newcomb wrote that it "achieves the kind of innovation, integrity and cutting edge timeliness that will make it relevant to all fans of the genre whether they are Christians or not." The "genre" referred to was the emerging industrial sound which mixed the discordant abandon of metal with the rhythmic pulse of dance music. Certainly Mortal's Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan teaming up with innovative producer Terry Taylor created an impossible to ignore sound. "Enfleshed" explored the redemptive implications of the incarnation and its full on industrial noise was a dazzling tour-de-force. Unfortunately Mortal subsequently lost their way musically abandoning dance music influences for an underwhelming grunge approach. But "Enfleshed" and the whole 'Lusis' album still retain their power to grip the listener.
Tony Cummings

Hallelujah Joy Band

803. HALLELUJAH JOY BAND - JESUS BROKE THE WILD HORSE OF MY HEART, 1974. From the album 'Hallelujah Joy Band', Creative Sound.
The fact that the Byrds' spin-off the Flying Burrito Brothers - with Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman and Al Perkins - should choose to cover "Jesus Broke The Wild Horse. . ." gives a clue that this is a quality song. As usual, the original is best. The Hallelujah Joy Band from the House Of Agape community in Kansas only managed one album but it's something of a Jesus music gem with a sound pitched half way between the country pop rock of the Eagles and the denser sounds of Grateful Dead.
Tony Cummings

804. M.C. HAMMER -PRAY, 1990. From the album 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em', Capital.
The fact that the huge pop success of Stanley Kirk Burrell (aka Hammer) went to the rap star's head can easily make one forget his major contribution to music history. His "Pray" (number two in the US pop charts) was, in the words of Mark Allan Powell's Encyclopedia Of Contemporary Christian Music, "the biggest intrusion of gospel on the mainstream pop charts since the Edwin Hawkins Singers did 'Oh Happy Day' in 1969." And in truth "Pray" was an old school rap gem, built on the rhythm track of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and featuring that memorable exhortation to get on our knees and pray. If you can forget those risible images of the pantalooned buffoon, "Pray" remains remarkably fresh a decade and a half on.
Tony Cummings