I've gotten a few requests from people to recommend any new or favorite worship CDs. I'll start out with some of my all-time favorites, and I'll cover some new worship CDs (some of which are becoming my all-time favorites) later.


1000 Generations (2002)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes
This was recorded live in 2002 at VSN in Atlanta. It includes all original songs led by Martin Reardon and Billy Somerville, with additional vocals by Jen Reardon and Meghan Coffee (an old friend). My favorites off of this album are "All of My Love" and "Hallelujah (Shout to the Earth)," though there are several more I've always wanted to incorporate if I had the right environment to do so, like "Isn't This the Way You Are" and "Your Blood Says Everything." Right now at Christianbook.com it's only $2. So you have no reason to not check it out. It's unfortunate that this album did not get more distribution than it did - it really is phenomenal.


7|22 - Freedom (2004)
Buy from: 7|22 Resources
7|22 worship recordings are always fantastic. This project features Todd Fields and Steve Fee, and includes great renditions of "Let the Praises Ring" and "Look What You've Done," as well as Todd Fields' original "All For You" and Steve Fee's "What Else Can I Do."


City on a Hill (2000-2003)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes (2 and 3) - Amazon
Produced by Steve Hindalong (of The Choir), the first CD in the series is by far the best, including "God of Wonders," "This Road," "With Every Breath," and one of my favorite Mac Powell vocals of all time, "I Remember You." Notable cuts off of the 2nd CD include "Sing Alleluia," "Holy Is Your Name," "You Are Holy," "Marvelous Light," and "Communion." The 3rd CD doesn't grab me quite as much, but it does have a great rendition of The Choir's "Beautiful Scandalous Night" with Leigh Nash on lead vocal.


David Crowder Band - Illuminate (2003)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes - Amazon
I like just about all of David Crowder's stuff, but for worship material this album truly stands out. "O Praise Him," "No One Like You," and "All Creatures, No. 2" are the highlights.


Enter the Worship Circle (1999-2003)
Buy from: iTunes - Amazon
Second Circle: iTunes - Amazon
Third Circle: iTunes - Amazon
When this album came out in 1999, there was simply nothing else like it. And really, there hasn't been anything else like it since, except perhaps the second and third CDs in the series. (They are currently working on the fourth!) Featuring 100 Portraits and Waterdeep, this is the album that brought us "I Will Not Forget You" (made famous by Praise Band) and "You Are So Good to Me" (made famous by Third Day). But the original renditions stand out all on their own for their spirit and intensity. But the entire album is awesome - there are many, many more songs on this first circle that are worth your consideration, and several more on the two sequels.


North Point Community Church - Where You Lead (2001)
Apparently not available anywhere.
This is one of North Point's studio recordings using members of their worship team. The songs that stand out to me the most are from Todd Fields, including "You Will Be God," "Where You Lead," and "Apart From You" (featuring Candi Pearson). But perhaps the best part of this album is North Point's version of "Agnus Dei." Far better than either the Michael W. Smith or the Third Day versions. North Point's latest live album is up on iTunes - they should get some of their older stuff up there as well.


Passion - Our Love is Loud (2002)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes - Amazon
This live Passion recording was kind of a new starting point for Passion in many ways. Prior to this album, the individual worship leaders didn't shine through so much, and the live recordings still had a bit of a "praise team" feel to them. Not so with this album. For me, these are still the definitive renditions of "Here I Am to Worship," "Enough," "Famous One," "Madly," "Our Love is Loud," and "Come Thou Fount."


Passion - Sacred Revolution (2003)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes - Amazon
Passion's best album. It was the first recording of "O Praise Him" and "Holy is the Lord." But it includes great songs like "Sing to the King," "Blessed Be Your Name," "Take My Life," "Revolution Cry," and "Not to Us."


Passion - Hymns Ancient and Modern (2004)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes - Amazon
This album is unique in that they recorded only hymns that were at least 100 years old, many of them quite older. The sound quality is not quite as good as other Passion releases, but the arrangements of the older hymns (many of them with additional choruses, etc.) are awesome. "Doxology," "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," "Father Let Me Dedicate," "Creatures of Our God and King," "Solid Rock," "Joyous Light," and one of my favorite hymns of all time, "Here is Love."


Passion - How Great is Our God (2005)
Buy from: ChristianBook.com - iTunes - Amazon
This one comes very close to Sacred Revolution. "No One Like You," "All Over the World," "Indescribable," "How Great Is Our God," "Here Is Our King," "Majesty," "Marvelous Light," and "It Is Well."


There are plenty of other worship CDs that deserve honorable mentions. Passion's Everything Glorious has some songs on it that are some of my favorites, but the overall quality of the CD doesn't live up to previous Passion projects. There are a lot of pure compilations that have been major influences, including WorshipTogether.Com compilations I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (and Vol. 2) and Here I Am to Worship (and Vol. 2). Just about any of David Crowder's albums.

Next time I'll discuss some of my more recent worship CD purchases and how they stack up.

Labels: church, music, reviews