Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

If you want an introduction into the best of CCM, there's no better place to start than right here. A calling card for Nashville CCM featuring established artists like Jars Of Clay, SCC, Newsboys, Petra (described incidentally in Rolling Stone magazine's review of 'WOW '97' as "a hell of a pop metal band"! Not quite the kind of endorsement the band will be putting on future tour posters!), Gary Chapman, Twila Paris as well as a smattering of newer artists, Caedmon's Call, Third Day, Out Of Eden and Jaci Velasquez. In the USA, the 'WOW series are amongst the biggest selling albums in the industry, each a million seller and with quality like this it is not hard to see why. What happens is that America's three largest Christian record labels join forces and put their best acts on the disc and then watch the cash roll in! Having said that, this is a great way to check out artists and it's hard to nail down the standout tracks because the album is chocker with classics! However, I can say I especially like the new Amy tune "Carry You" because it's unreleased and proves that contrary to yet more rumours, she hasn't backslidden! I like BeBe & CeCe's sanctified version of "Up Where We Belong" but then I'm just a schmuck for an inspiring tune! "WOW '98' also gives you a welcome preview of the new Michael W Smith album with "Missing Person" but mysteriously there's some stuff that's way past its sell by date. DC Talk's "Coloured People" could have been on *WOW '96' and the choice of Audio Adrenaline's old '"Man Of God" defies all logic when they could have chosen a hot cut off their brilliant new album. The sound you can hear is the distant ker-ching of cash registers as EMI el al executives rub their hands in glee. A veritable hit and if you want to discover a pile of great CCM artists, you'd be off your head not to buy it!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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