A friend wrote 8th September 2003) in response to this::

As a Christian and a musician what would you recommend instead?

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Firstly, fix up some of the misconceptions of what constututes Christian music. It ISN’T just praise and worship material. A Christian who writes music on what ever subject matter in whatever musical style writes Christian music.

The greatest Christian musicians alive today are Bob Dylan and U2 (excluding Adam who is not a Christian). Their music has influenced several generations and deserves close attention. Anyone who misses their work has not got the pulse of contemporary Christian music (rather than the trade marked CCM)

Read:

1. Scott M Marshall with Marcia Ford – “Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan” (Relevant Media: 2002)

2. Steve Stockman – “Walk On – The Spiritual Journey of U2” (Relevant Media: 2001)

Listen for QUALITY music rather than just message.

The contemporary Christian artists I value most are Bob Dylan, U2, Bruce Cockburn, Midnight Oil, Larry Norman (Larry is stuill quite ill), Noel Paul Stookey

While we’re at it; what do you make of 70s/80s stalwarts like Keith Green and Randy Stonehill?

Randy Stonehill would be nowhere without Larry Norman. I liked his early albums and was instrumental in Larry issuing the “Cottage Tapes”. I was at the first larry Norman concert in Sydney with a few people back in the early 70s. Randy has a great voice and I love the harmonies between him and Larry Norman.

Keith Green was a great talent but I disagreed with his stance on what he thought constituted Christian music. Melody Green’s book “No Compromise” is an eye-opener. I liked Keith’s first album best. Come to think of it I think most of the first albums by people like Michael Omartian, Ritchie Furay, Malcolm and Alwyn (perhaps the first 2 albums from them). They seem to have went downhill afterwards.