My wife remembers artists like Petra, Michael W. Smith, Steve Taylor, and Amy Grant. I only remember Stryper but even then I didn't think they were any different than any other rock band (except for the Bibles they through out into the audience!!!)

I loved Stryper, Petra and Amy Grant.  Another great band was Bloodgood.

I guess Nazareth's one, right? I only know and like their one tune "Love Hurts".

Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, definitely.

I guess Nazareth's one, right? I only know and like their one tune "Love Hurts".
I'm not too familiar with christian groups doing songs like "hair of the dog"!!!! Love  Hurts is actually a remake of Boudleaux Bryant's song. Also recorded by the everly brothers and roy orbison. I know alot of the older christian songs sounded like they worked on a budget of about 100 dollars to do their recording!!!

The only Christian or inspirational** songs of the '80s that I know of are

Find a Way - Amy Grant
Better Days - Dianne Reeves
Let My Love Open the Door - Pete Townshend
Heaven - BeBe & CeCe Winans
Lost Without You -  BeBe & CeCe Winans
You Will Know - Stevie Wonder
No Pain,No Gain - Betty Wright
Love Pain, Sunshine Rain - Maze

** I guess any song that can make you happy when you're feeling down can be considered "inspirational"? :)

;D

I guess Nazareth's one, right? I only know and like their one tune "Love Hurts".


No.  Nazareth wasn't a Christian band. 

A lot of Christian music was about 10 years behind the times back then or very wimpy, with a few exceptions.  A lot of Christian artists basically grew up listening to rock n' roll, but thought they could offer something to the Christian kids.  Here are some Christian artists from back then that are worth listening to.

Bryan Duncan
Sweet Comfort Band
Rich Mullins
REZ Band
Petra
DeGarmo & Key
Rick Cua
Steve Taylor
Stryper
Steven Curtis Chapman
A.D. (featuring Kerry Livgren from Kansas)
Mylon LeFevere & Broken Heart
Russ Taff
Margaret Becker
Michael W. Smith
Amy Grant

Christian music has come a long way since back then, with the music and production that rivals a lot of what is currently going on musically in the mainstream market.  You're seeing a lot of Christian artists being picked up by major labels (Stacey Orrico, P.O.D., MxPx, DC Talk, Jars Of Clay, Sixpence None The Richer, Switchfoot, etc.).  The talent gap and the audience gap has narrowed...

I have heard a lot of Christian music due to having many Christian friends.  Seems like CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) was pretty much underground in the 80s, with anything popular being very light adult contemporary stuff.  The 90s seemed to really bridge the gap, and now there are many Christian artists who are totally mainstream.  I really like listening to a lot of it just for the sound, and most CCM artists are very talented unlike many fakes in the mainstream world today.  The Christian message is not even "in your face", you interpret the music how you want to, its very nice.  Unlike a lot of explicit mainstram music today.

My family grew up listening to most of the popular Christian singers/groups. Here are some that we listened to a lot, and some I still listen to on occasion....


Bryan Duncan
Rich Mullins
Petra
Steven Curtis Chapman
Mylon LeFevere & Broken Heart
Russ Taff
Margaret Becker
Michael W. Smith
Amy Grant
Gary Chapman
Al Denson
Jon Elefante

I have nothing against Christianity believe it or not cause it costs nothing to go to church & it makes some people feel better about being part of the human race  etc, but why is all Christian music all so corny. Isn't it easy to judge those who don't fit into neat little categories as everyone would like them to. So many people belieive they are Christains eg/ George W Bush yet they seem to contridict their beliefs, i don't really get it.  It's funny since Jesus was supposedly an uncoventional in his thinking & actions. 

What about Sandi Patti? We listened to her on occasion. We had a tape that she released that had this song called "Fabulous Feet" and we use to stick our feet up on the edge of the bed and wiggle them around to the song.

My mom also had these awful sounding hymnal tapes she got through Reader's Digest and sometimes she made us listen to them when we were bad. It really was torture  ;D

I have nothing against Christianity believe it or not cause it costs nothing to go to church & it makes some people feel better about being part of the human race  etc, but why is all Christian music all so corny. Isn't it easy to judge those who don't fit into neat little categories as everyone would like them to. So many people belieive they are Christains eg/ George W Bush yet they seem to contridict their beliefs, i don't really get it.  It's funny since Jesus was supposedly an uncoventional in his thinking & actions. 




I don't think all of it is corny....believe it or not, there are some really talented musicians that happen to be Christian musicians.

I grew up listening to CCM (contemporary Christian Music.) I've got quite great collection of 80's CCM...

Kathy Troccoli - Images from '86 was her best!!
Amy Grant - I've got everything of hers but two of my all time favorites come from the 80's -- Unguarded (where my avatar comes from) and Lead Me On
Michael W Smith - I to Eye was his best from the 80's
Renee Garcia - I have both of her CD's
Tim Miner
Gaither Vocal band
Newsong
Billy Crockett
Pam Mark Hall
Sandi Patty
BEBE and CECE Winans
Michael James Murphy
Farrell and Farrell
Kim Hill

I know I've got others but can't think of them right now.

You know when I think of 80's music it's CCM I think of. I didn't get into mainstream pop music until 1991 or so and discovered my love for mainstream 80's music. As for the cornyness I'll take corny over crap. The stuff put out in CCM and mainstream pop today (Except for a few rare artist) is crap.  ;)

All Christian music is garbage, pretty much.

All Christian music is garbage, pretty much.




well that of course, is your opinion. Let me ask you...just how much Christian music have YOU listened to in the short years that you have been alive?  I love how you are so quick to judge everything...and then you wonder why people can't stand you. ::)

I know many of these artists, but the only one I was really familiar with was Amy Grant.  She had quite a few songs I liked.  Her late 80's hit, ironically called '1974' was a minor chart success here. 

Was 'Hymn' by Ultravox Christian music? I know the lyrics were sort of religious sounding...

That song was pretty cheesy, lol, but good to listen to when no one's in earshot.

All Christian music is garbage, pretty much.
damn Donnie, now you're an authority on Christian music too. Why make such an insultive comment of these beautiful artists when your experience in this genre is probably very limited. Which 80's Christian music are you critique'ng? all of it, you've listened to all of it or you wouldn't be making that blanket statement. I guess you're stereotyping the whole genre.

Check out 80's Christian Rock group The Daniel Band, they have sort of a Montrose/AC/DC sound and
my personal favorite was and still is 2nd Chapter Of Acts.

well, if you believe it's garbage than to you it's garbage.  8)  and you're entitled to your opinion as i am to mine.  I've got my 2nd chapter of acts and daniel band cd's right there with my led zep and aerosmith, it fits in nicely.

well that of course, is your opinion. Let me ask you...just how much Christian music have YOU listened to in the short years that you have been alive?  I love how you are so quick to judge everything...and then you wonder why people can't stand you. ::)


I'm so sorry. I was kind of in a bad mood, after reading those attacks against me at the time. Hope you can forgive me  :-\\

I agree there are not that many good Christian artists compared to music on a whole, but I still don't mind opening up to what may be out there. Music is music, and I love it in any shape or form.

Don't forget there were  great bands in the '80s such as U2, The Call , The Alarm whose lyrics were informed by Christian convictions, but who were not evangelical in their approach.

I know many of these artists, but the only one I was really familiar with was Amy Grant.  She had quite a few songs I liked.  Her late 80's hit, ironically called '1974' was a minor chart success here. 



Same here. The one I like is Angels. (I think I have the album with that on it somewhere around here.)




Cat

I'm so sorry. I was kind of in a bad mood, after reading those attacks against me at the time. Hope you can forgive me  :-\\




Sure ;)  I guess I was just PMSing a bit too much!! Sorry for being a bit harsh! :)

Sure ;)  I guess I was just PMSing a bit too much!! Sorry for being a bit harsh! :)


Thanks :)

I know many of these artists, but the only one I was really familiar with was Amy Grant.  She had quite a few songs I liked.  Her late 80's hit, ironically called '1974' was a minor chart success here. 
you don't know Daniel Band??  they're Canadian

Don't forget there were  great bands in the '80s such as U2, The Call , The Alarm whose lyrics were informed by Christian convictions, but who were not evangelical in their approach.


And I STILL listen to side 1 of the Alarm's "Strength" album.

also, had "Beat the System" (Petra) on my Myspace profile until the band deleted it.

I went to a couple of Petra and Stryper concerts in the 80's and they rocked pretty darn good. 8)  Steven Taylor's hit 'I want To Be A Clone' was a pretty fun song.

Bryan Duncan
Sweet Comfort Band
Rich Mullins
REZ Band
Petra
DeGarmo & Key
Rick Cua
Steve Taylor
Stryper
Steven Curtis Chapman
A.D. (featuring Kerry Livgren from Kansas)
Mylon LeFevere & Broken Heart
Russ Taff
Margaret Becker
Michael W. Smith
Amy Grant


A lot of these guys and gals are still around, and still putting out great music. Mylon LeFevere. Petra and Stryper are the only ones that I know for sure are gone. Every once in a while one of these others puts out something new.

A lot of these guys and gals are still around, and still putting out great music. Mylon LeFevere. Petra and Stryper are the only ones that I know for sure are gone. Every once in a while one of these others puts out something new.



Actually regarding Stryper...I heard that they are back together, at least to perform at an upcoming Christian music fest this summer. I don't know if they are planning on staying together longer than that or what.

Although regular music during the early and mid 80's drifted in, Christian and Oldies music was pretty much the only music played in my house as a kid. After that I rarely listened to it since then but I agree that the scene has changed since then. My mother has a religious sattlight service piped into her house and every once in a while there will be PopChristain music on there on the various music channels. On the rock\pop side it seems that it's filled with artist who only call their music religious because they can't make it elsewhere. However another big element is what I like to call the "Family values" music which is the country-pop crossovers.

I agree. In my opinion it started going downhill (along with the regular pop genre) in 1995. I was working at a Christian radio station from 1995-1997 (Imagine having to listen to Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses 4-5 times in a 6 hour work day!!  :P I STILL hate that song to this day...lol) and could see a trend into more as you call it Family Values/Friendly songs and less about Jesus. While I don't mind those kind of songs to me the singles released should be blatant Christian songs (afterall it's Christian Radio right  ;) .)

I personally don't listen to any radio anymore whether it be Christian/Pop/Country...I just don't care for the style and the artist's that are out there today. I've found a handful of newer artists (probably could count them one both hands) that I like but even then I have to preview it to see if their next CD is worth getting. Thank God for old 80's/early 90's CD and Itunes so I can burn mixes for my car.  ;D 


Although regular music during the early and mid 80's drifted in, Christian and Oldies music was pretty much the only music played in my house as a kid. After that I rarely listened to it since then but I agree that the scene has changed since then. My mother has a religious sattlight service piped into her house and every once in a while there will be PopChristain music on there on the various music channels. On the rock\pop side it seems that it's filled with artist who only call their music religious because they can't make it elsewhere. However another big element is what I like to call the "Family values" music which is the country-pop crossovers.

I agree. In my opinion it started going downhill (along with the regular pop genre) in 1995. I was working at a Christian radio station from 1995-1997 (Imagine having to listen to Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses 4-5 times in a 6 hour work day!!  :P I STILL hate that song to this day...lol)

Yes, me too!  ;D Back then if you didn't agree with someone that it was the best song ever, suddenly you'd find yourself surrounded by a pack of fingerwaving middle aged women claiming that there must be something wrong with you!  ::) :D

LOL the funny thing is I LOVED Bob Carlisle Debut CD (and his Allies days...another great 80's group) it's still one of my favorites from the early 90's but I wanted to pull my hair out when Butterfly Kisses came out (Butterfly Kisses came from his 2rd or 3rd CD Shades of Grace...later renamed Butterfly Kisses) . That's so true about people looking at you funny for not liking it. But I told them "You would hate it too if you had to listen to it 4-5 times in a six hour period." Thank God I didn't work more than six hours a day!!!

Oh if you ever want to hear something funny from him listen to his rendition of Amy Grant's Baby Baby (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=16195026&s=143441&i=16194716 ) <--This is a link to Itunes BTW. I laughed soo hard the first time I heard this.



Yes, me too!  ;D Back then if you didn't agree with someone that it was the best song ever, suddenly you'd find yourself surrounded by a pack of fingerwaving middle aged women claiming that there must be something wrong with you!  ::) :D

LOL the funny thing is I LOVED Bob Carlisle Debut CD (and his Allies days...another great 80's group) it's still one of my favorites from the early 90's but I wanted to pull my hair out when Butterfly Kisses came out (Butterfly Kisses came from his 2rd or 3rd CD Shades of Grace...later renamed Butterfly Kisses) . That's so true about people looking at you funny for not liking it. But I told them "You would hate it too if you had to listen to it 4-5 times in a six hour period." Thank God I didn't work more than six hours a day!!!





I know what you mean. I used to work in a Christian book/music store....and when that song came out...EVERYBODY wanted it. If I had a nickel for everytime someone came in and wanted that song to use during their wedding....I could be rich by now!! ;)

I guess Nazareth's one, right? I only know and like their one tune "Love Hurts".
NO!!!!

NO!!!!


So true. She was probably thinking of Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" ?
It's not an '80s song but make a great Christian song anyway.
::)

I remember a rather radical Christian band called "The Crimson Alliance".

They were along the lines of Christian metal, biut they seemed ahead of their time.

I know what you mean. I used to work in a Christian book/music store....and when that song came out...EVERYBODY wanted it. If I had a nickel for everytime someone came in and wanted that song to use during their wedding....I could be rich by now!! ;)


That song became popular around 1996 or 1997 I believe, and I had heard it was suppose to be this awesome song, but when I listened to it, I was like - "Huh?"  ;D

There were lots of great christain bands in the 80's

whitecross
barren cross

I don't think anyone has mentioned Steve Taylor yet. Probably because his music was (is?) rather controversial.

I remember a lot of the other artists already mentioned being played at the local YfC joint in my town. In the 1980's and into 1990's I used to frequent that place. Even was chairman for a couple of years - until its closing down.

Here's a few Steve Taylor songs...

Jim Morrison's Grave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLW-Pr-y8qA


I Blew Up The Clinic Real Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76E7MJsYx1g


On The Fritz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4tAHsiJI8U