One of the Foundational Albums of Contemporary Christian Music
5
By Sir Articulate
I feel a little background is essential to understanding this album.
B.J. Thomas was THE voice of the 70's. His voice can carry a melody unlike anyone else that has ever recorded music. He is a vocalist with chops to compare to anyone--POWER, sensitivity, the ability to slide perfectly 3 different ways through any note, a rock edge, soulful gospel style.
I'm explaining this like a textbook for deaf people. (Like you've never heard "Hooked On a Feeling" or "I Just Can't Help Believing.") In the 70's his voice was paired with both infectious toe-tapping grooves and country arrangements. Few people can score hits on the Country, R&B, and Rock charts. Okay...nobody else...ever.
But B.J. was hooked on more than a feeling. A downward spiral of drugs, alcohol, and the rock-and-roll lifestyle played see-saw with his rocketing career. And somewhere at the bottom of all that money, success, and sin, somebody loved him enough to tell him about Jesus.
Can you imagine today's pop-stars switching tracks?!
So long-story-short, B.J. finished out the 70's with a new musical direction. There was no real, established Christian music genre at the time, but he and Sandy Patti, Don Francisco, Dallas Holm, Amy Grant, Evie, and a few others had begun setting the groundwork for the success of the Christian music industry. Back in those days, the church wasn't as forgiving as Jesus was, so I imagine B.J. (the rocker who met Jesus) was met with a lot of skepticism. And when his Christian music fell off the radar 5 or 6 years later in the mid 80's lots of people said it was just a phase he went through. Maybe with a little more encouragement he would've stuck around.
But the 80's had moved beyond B.J. Thomas, and all we heard from him was the "Growing Pains" jingle, "Show me that smile again..."
About the Album:
What themes does a professional Christian singer sing about? The canvas was completely white in 1978 when this album was made. B.J. Thomas came out of the gate with original material (much of it written/co-written by Archie P. Jordan.) Some of the best lyrics in Christian music are on this album:
"I don't know why I didn't love You from the start."
"So there's no need for me to worry when things aren't going quite so smooth..."
"I want to be more like Jesus: that's why I put my life in his hands."
"Love to me was just a word in a song that had been way overused, but now I've joined in the singing because you've shown me love's true meaning..."
"He's got it all in control. He's put that reassurance way down in my soul."
"Loved and feeling worth it because you say I deserve it--I want to share this happiness I've found."
Thematically B.J. Thomas' music here is very personal, confessional, evangelistic, and humble. It pairs beautifully with his world-weary voice. This music is from a heart that has carried a great weight and knows it has been forgiven. Simple, reassured, beginning to trust and grow in faith.
My Dad needed that in 1978.
I was born the year this was recorded, and my Dad was saved right about that time from a life that mirrored B.J.'s in many ways. Unlike the Christian singers of our day, that don't have to think about sin and that grew up in church leading worship, B.J. Thomas understood about forgiveness, about redemption, about little faith and a big saviour. These themes resonated deeply with my father, and shaped his early walk with God. Consequently, 30+ years later, I'm honored to write this review. Some people grew up with their parents playing Sinatra or Lynyrd Skynyrd. I grew up with B.J. Thomas.
Early in the Christian music scene, when an artist was being put out to pasture, they would start recording "safe" albums full of public domain hymns, and sadly that is all many people know of B.J. Thomas spiritual songs. But in the late 70's he had something really special with this album and 1979's "You Gave Me Love." The only 2 songs here that vary from this autobiographical fare are "Bridge of Love," sort of a reach the whole world concept, and the title song, which is B.J. taking on a character (to wonderful effect.)
My favorites are: 2, 7 (yes it's the same song Amy Grant recorded; THIS is the version to get) 8 & 9. I highly recommend this entire album--prep yourself for the gospel BGV's and the steel guitar! But the words and the voice are timeless.
So glad WORD finally remastered these!
