February 8, 1999 / Circulation:  107!


Welcome to the
CCM Discussion List - Vol. III, No. 5 
"You are my strength, my voice, my eyes, I lift up needful hands."

-Jars of Clay  (from Exodus)

In this issue:
 
• Notes of All Sorts
• Top This!
• Kim Hill's ARMS OF MERCY
• New Releases
• Responses to TELL ME
• TELL ME
• This is Wrong

Thanks to Ginger for the Jars of Clay quote!

Clay Crosse, Cheri Keaggy, and Jamie Slocum are all releasing new albums soon! Check it out under NE W RELEASES in this issue of CCM DL.

Cindy de la Fe won the GMA regional Spotlight '99 competition in Los Angeles this week.

Pray for Chris Rodriguez (prayer artist of February), that as a new artist he will please God and continue to do his best, writing songs.

Cornerstone canceled having their dance tent up this year. If you are going to Cornerstone and like dance music, e-mail them at feedback@cornerstonefestival.com and they might change their mind.

I have an auction going on at: https://members.tripod.com/~allisoncm/index/auction.html if anyone's interested.

#1 Adult Contemporary Single-- Michelle Tumes' "Christ of Hope" / Week #1
#1 CHR Single -- Newsboys' "Believe"
#1 Inspirational Single -- Point of Grace's "When the Wind Blows"

#1 Christian Retail Top-Selling Album -- (Sparrow's) WOW 1999: THE YEAR'S 30 TOP CHRISTIAN ARTISTS AND SONGS (Various)
#1 Mainstream Retail Top-Selling Album -- THE NU NATION PROJECT, Kirk Franklin

(info from www.ccmcom.com)

The ads said that America's favorite worship leader was releasing a great new praise & worship album. The reviewer in CCM said that she doesn't have that folky thing going anymore. So as a Kim Hill fan, what are you to think? The first single off of ARMS OF MERCY: "Committed to the Call" is a great example of what you can find on the album. Yes, a lot of songs are on the quiet side, but she has a few more rockers, including "Rain of Your Mercy." She gives us a studio version of "In You Alone," including a few more verses. Yes, Kim Hill's style has changed, but not substantially. If you've always liked Kim Hill, you shouldn't stop now.

Jeff Allen: Happy Wife Happy Life [Myrrh, February 17] comedic album
Selena Bloom: Falling In Love [Audience, February 14]
Chasing Furies: With Abandon [Sparrow, February 23]
Code Of Ethics: Blaze [Word, February 16]
Jim Cole: An Evening In Cincinnati [Impact, February 23]
Considering Lily: The Pieces Fit [ForeFront, February 23]
KIIS: Better Dayz [Metro One, February 17]
The O.C. Supertones: Chase The Sun [BEC, February 23]
Starflyer: 59 Fell In Love At 22 EP [Tooth & Nail, February 23]
John Tesh: One World [Word, February 2]
various artists: WoW Gospel 1999 [Verity, February 23]

4Him: Best Ones [Benson, March 23]
Adam Again: Worldwide Favourites: Selected Songs Of The Adam Again Era
Carolyn Arends: This Much I Understand [Reunion, March 23]
Avalon: In A Different Light [Sparrow, March 23]
Helen Baylor: Helen Baylor Live [Verity, March 23]
 Broomtree: Transparent [Rustproof, March 23]
Steve Camp: Abandoned To God [Ministry Music, March 17]
Allison Durham: The Finding [Impact, March 23]
Eden's Bridge: Celtic Prayers Worship Vol. 2 [StraightWay, March 23]
Guardian: Smashes (Best Of) [Myrrh, March 20]
Halo Friendlies: untitled [Jackson Rubio]
Lenny LeBlanc: Above All [Hosanna! Music, March 30]
Matt Redman: The Heart Of Worship [Worship Together, March 9]
Ruby Joe: Fast Lane Sinner [Sub-Lime, March 23]
Say-So: Still Waters [Organic, March 9]
Jamie Slocum: Grace Changes Everything [Freedom]
Switchfoot: A New Way To Be Human [Sparrow, March 9]
various artists: 5 Minute Walk's Greatest Hits [5 Minute Walk, March 23]

Anointed: Anointed [Myrrh, April 20]
Caedmon's Call: Forty Acres [Essential, April 13]
Carman: Passion For Praise [Sparrow, April 6]
Chevelle: Point #1 [Squint, April 30]
glisten: Starlight Wishlist [KMG, April 6]
Natalie Grant: Natalie Grant [Benson, April 27] featured on WOW 99
Mike Knott: Definitive Collection: The Best Of Mike Knott And LSU [April 6]
Susie Luchsinger* [New Haven]
Twila Paris: Twila Paris Collector's Series [Benson, April 27]
David Robertson* [Discovery House]
various artists: Sing Me To Sleep, Mommy [Brentwood Kids, April 13]

A Cross Between: A Cross Between [Benson, May 18]
Helen Baylor: Helen Baylor Live (video) [Verity, May 18]
Clay Crosse* [Reunion]
Gaither Vocal Band*  [Spring Hill, May 18]
Christine Glass* [Rustproof, May 18]
Cheri Keaggy* [Sparrow, May 4]
Bonnie Keen* [Spring Hill, May 18]
Satellite Soul* [ForeFront, May 18]

--What do you think will be the GMA's "Song of the Year"?

[Angie] "My Deliverer" (though I wish that "That Where I Am, There You..." was released last year as a single - I think it would have been on this list!!)

[Chris M.] "Testify to Love"

[Christina S.] - i don't know but i like "Entertaining Angels" a lot

A. Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me" (filmed in Paris) was nominated for GMA's best short form video. But GMA's new restrictions as to what defines a gospel song has made it ineligible for nomination, so it has been pulled from the category as of Jan 28. What do you all think of that?

B. If you owned a Christian music radio station, would you have any basic criteria for the singles you would like to promote?