This is for those of you who are familiar with CCM at least back to the late '70s. Most of the time we talk about the artists and justifiyably so. But about 1979 when Michael Omartian produced the Imperials album with Russ Taff as lead singer and songs like "I'm Forgiven" & "Trumpet Of Jesus", CCM really started to take off. Michael had been producing secular music for sometime but the Lord called him and wow did he bring incredible talent to CCM. Producers like Omartian, Brown Bannister and Keith Thomas, the guy who produced BB & CC Winans are outstanding.
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Michael Omartian
- Thread starter MightyFrenchman
- Start date
D
Don62
Guest
Man, that era had some great music.
I love that Imperials LP, The Trumpet of Jesus as well as their trend-setter, One More Song For You.
I think every single song on the latter was a winner, and set the bar for many CCM-pop songs to follow.
Omaritan also had a recording career, along with his wife, Stormye (spell?)
Classic CCM is one area where today's corporate ("please send us your money or this piddly translator will go off the air- the "love" station!) control and forumulaic playlists and broadcasting has really missed out.
Ask current listeners if they know anything about CCM pioneers Denny Correll and Larry Norman, who both recently died. Likely, most of them know nothing about those two greats.
Ask most modern secular rock and roll listeners about similar icons and the response would be much higher.
Oh, that's right. CCM doesn't have pioneers. They're rarely played let alone mentioned on CCM these days, even when they die.
I love that Imperials LP, The Trumpet of Jesus as well as their trend-setter, One More Song For You.
I think every single song on the latter was a winner, and set the bar for many CCM-pop songs to follow.
Omaritan also had a recording career, along with his wife, Stormye (spell?)
Classic CCM is one area where today's corporate ("please send us your money or this piddly translator will go off the air- the "love" station!) control and forumulaic playlists and broadcasting has really missed out.
Ask current listeners if they know anything about CCM pioneers Denny Correll and Larry Norman, who both recently died. Likely, most of them know nothing about those two greats.
Ask most modern secular rock and roll listeners about similar icons and the response would be much higher.
Oh, that's right. CCM doesn't have pioneers. They're rarely played let alone mentioned on CCM these days, even when they die.
Don62 said:
I didn't know that Denny Correll recently died. I really liked his music. I like CCM that has an R & B flavor to it and Denny Correll's did. I was told a long time ago that before Denny became a Christian that he played with Blues Image, their one-and-only hit being "Ride Captain Ride" back in 1972.
I'll have to do a little research on Omartian's own recordings. Often I'll ruffle some feathers on these posts by saying that a CCM station should say Jesus' name so many times an hour. On one of Michael Omartian albums he's the producer breaking in on a guy who's recording a "Christian" song that doesn't mention Jesus. So Michael asks, "So, do they see Jesus in the way you play the strings on your guitar?" It's not a new issue. That album came out in the early '80s...Michael Omartian artist & producer.
D
Don62
Guest
I have his first two-three LPs.
Here's more on Denny's death.
http://www.dennycorrell.com/
http://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist.php?id=861
I did a quick search on CCMmagazine.com's site, but found only a reference to Denny performing on a Chuck Girard, another CCM pioneer, LP.
Looks like even CCM's "bible" may have ignored Denny's death. Good goin' the so-called "Billboard" of CCM. That just proves today's CCM is only about business. The past doesn't matter. Besides, stores and radio stations don't play that "old stuff" anymore. No one likes to buy "oldies."
BTW, did you hear that Roby Duke is gone as well?
Here's more on Denny's death.
http://www.dennycorrell.com/
http://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist.php?id=861
I did a quick search on CCMmagazine.com's site, but found only a reference to Denny performing on a Chuck Girard, another CCM pioneer, LP.
Looks like even CCM's "bible" may have ignored Denny's death. Good goin' the so-called "Billboard" of CCM. That just proves today's CCM is only about business. The past doesn't matter. Besides, stores and radio stations don't play that "old stuff" anymore. No one likes to buy "oldies."
BTW, did you hear that Roby Duke is gone as well?
B
BehindTheLines
Guest
Wow. Some real memories going here. I'll never forget cracking the mic on CCM overnights almost 20 years ago at the beginning of my career and backselling the latest fom "MY-lawn Lay-Feever." Got some calls on that one.
In a related note: Legendary comedian Steve Martin recently wrote in his career autobiography that his "first time" was in the 1960's on the front seat of a car with a beautiful young lady he was in a variety music and comedy troup with. The young lady would go on to recieve Christ years later and marry Michael Omartian. Her name was Stormie.
In a related note: Legendary comedian Steve Martin recently wrote in his career autobiography that his "first time" was in the 1960's on the front seat of a car with a beautiful young lady he was in a variety music and comedy troup with. The young lady would go on to recieve Christ years later and marry Michael Omartian. Her name was Stormie.
Before entering CCM, Michael Omartian was in a group called "Rhythm Heritage", and had a hit song with the theme from the TV show "S.W.A.T."
My favorite album of his was the "Seasons of the Soul" release with his wife, Stormie. Love the song "Ms. Past". Ahhh...those were the days, my friend.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
My favorite album of his was the "Seasons of the Soul" release with his wife, Stormie. Love the song "Ms. Past". Ahhh...those were the days, my friend.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
It's sad that the pioneers are being forgotten about. So much great music, came from these people.
I know that the sound quality wasn't perfect and didn't match up with its secular counterparts but the message was right on the mark.
When I think of the pioneers, I think of these people:
Larry Norman (Have a few songs from him but don't have any of his CD's)
Keith Greene (Have his Ministry Years V.1 CD)
The Imperials (Have their Big God CD)
Can't forget about Mr. Russ Taff (Have his Under their Influence V.1 CD)
Degarmo and Key (Have Several of their CD's)
Petra (Have some of their Classic CD's)
Steve Green (Have Several of His CD's)
An All Time Favorite Mr. Steve Camp (Have Several of His CD's)
Michael Card (Have Several of His CD's)
Second Chapter of Acts (Have a Hymns CD from them)
Kim Boyce (Have One CD from Her)
Bob Bennett (Have One CD from Him called Lord of Past a Compliation) (This CD has been in my collection since 1992) (It was the first CD I ever did purchase and it's still in mint condition) (This one is now out of Print)
At the Food of the Cross (Featuring Deri Daughtery and Steve Hindalong)
Charlie Peacock (I have Several of His CD's)
Mylon and Broken Heart (Have Several CD's from them) (First music Concert I've ever attended) (It was back in 1989, when they performed in Meridian Mississippi, during their Big World Tour)
Phill Keaggy (Have three CD's from Him)
Amy Grant (Have a few of her CD's)
4 Him (Have a few of their CD's)
Susan Ashton (Have a CD from her)
Have the first two CD's from Mr. Steven Curtis Chapman
Even have Coram Deo (Featuring Various Artists like Mr. Card and Peacock)
David Meece (Have three CD's from him)
Can't forget about the best one Mr. Rich Mullins (Have a few of his CD's)
Before it slips my mind, I even have DC Talk's Self Titled First CD and few from Ms. Twila Paris.
Last but not least WhiteHeart (Have their Freedom CD)
Talking about these Classic performers is bringing back memories for me.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. This post is great. Glad that it was started. I'm among that crowd that wants to see us return to our roots. Get the mush away from me. I'm very disgusted with it. (This includes most of the modern Worship songs, that are so dull and boring) Bring back the real meat and potatoes. Let's get back to the real Preaching of God's Word again, so that we can help bring real Spiritual Awakening to this nation again.
I know that the sound quality wasn't perfect and didn't match up with its secular counterparts but the message was right on the mark.
When I think of the pioneers, I think of these people:
Larry Norman (Have a few songs from him but don't have any of his CD's)
Keith Greene (Have his Ministry Years V.1 CD)
The Imperials (Have their Big God CD)
Can't forget about Mr. Russ Taff (Have his Under their Influence V.1 CD)
Degarmo and Key (Have Several of their CD's)
Petra (Have some of their Classic CD's)
Steve Green (Have Several of His CD's)
An All Time Favorite Mr. Steve Camp (Have Several of His CD's)
Michael Card (Have Several of His CD's)
Second Chapter of Acts (Have a Hymns CD from them)
Kim Boyce (Have One CD from Her)
Bob Bennett (Have One CD from Him called Lord of Past a Compliation) (This CD has been in my collection since 1992) (It was the first CD I ever did purchase and it's still in mint condition) (This one is now out of Print)
At the Food of the Cross (Featuring Deri Daughtery and Steve Hindalong)
Charlie Peacock (I have Several of His CD's)
Mylon and Broken Heart (Have Several CD's from them) (First music Concert I've ever attended) (It was back in 1989, when they performed in Meridian Mississippi, during their Big World Tour)
Phill Keaggy (Have three CD's from Him)
Amy Grant (Have a few of her CD's)
4 Him (Have a few of their CD's)
Susan Ashton (Have a CD from her)
Have the first two CD's from Mr. Steven Curtis Chapman
Even have Coram Deo (Featuring Various Artists like Mr. Card and Peacock)
David Meece (Have three CD's from him)
Can't forget about the best one Mr. Rich Mullins (Have a few of his CD's)
Before it slips my mind, I even have DC Talk's Self Titled First CD and few from Ms. Twila Paris.
Last but not least WhiteHeart (Have their Freedom CD)
Talking about these Classic performers is bringing back memories for me.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. This post is great. Glad that it was started. I'm among that crowd that wants to see us return to our roots. Get the mush away from me. I'm very disgusted with it. (This includes most of the modern Worship songs, that are so dull and boring) Bring back the real meat and potatoes. Let's get back to the real Preaching of God's Word again, so that we can help bring real Spiritual Awakening to this nation again.
These old Michael Omartian albums are really cool. They're a bit dated, but show a suberb producer and keyboard player expressing himself an an artist to the glory of God. Omartian used top-notch session muscisians like Larry Carlton and Abraham Laboriel (among others) on his solo LPs from the early 1970s.
I think " Adam Again," "Seasons of the Soul," etc. came out at about 1974-75 era.
Since Omartian was an A-list producer for secular works, I assume he must have had a deal where he could do some "vanity" projects for the then-almost-unheard-of CCM market.
I have some of these on vinyl, but I would LOVE to get them either on i-tunes or CD. They must be out of print. The only stuff I've found on i-tunes is "Mainstream" from 1983, which is actually a Michael and Stormie Omartian release.
There needs to be more ART and expression in CCM!
I think " Adam Again," "Seasons of the Soul," etc. came out at about 1974-75 era.
Since Omartian was an A-list producer for secular works, I assume he must have had a deal where he could do some "vanity" projects for the then-almost-unheard-of CCM market.
I have some of these on vinyl, but I would LOVE to get them either on i-tunes or CD. They must be out of print. The only stuff I've found on i-tunes is "Mainstream" from 1983, which is actually a Michael and Stormie Omartian release.
There needs to be more ART and expression in CCM!
R.D.P. said:
What made so much of that music so great back then were the studio musicians who themselves were born-again Christians. I still remember when Debby Boone came to Indianapolis to do a concert in March 1985. Her back-up band was Koinonia, guys like Abraham Laboriel, and others whose names I can't recall now but they were pros. At one point Debby stopped to let the band take over for awhile and the crowd went crazy with enthousiasm! When the singer and/or musicians establish their talent, the audience is then open to listen to their testimony about Jesus.
I said it about Larry Norman, but it applies for other classic CCM as well. Some of it is being reissued on CD by smaller labels, but they don't have makor distribution, and the only stations that play them are ones that specifically go looking for them for classic CCM shows, mostly on local stations.
I've thought that K-LOVE would be a great place to at least have a classic CCM show on weekends with Jon Rivers or Larry Wayne, who both have long time histories in CCM radio, as the host.
I've thought that K-LOVE would be a great place to at least have a classic CCM show on weekends with Jon Rivers or Larry Wayne, who both have long time histories in CCM radio, as the host.
M
MorningLight
Guest
Wow! Reading through that list of "TIMELESS TREASURES" was almost like looking through my own library! 
I have MANY, MANY LP's that I got from WFIF some years back, when the station upgraded to digital systems. I treasure them! I have digitized hundreds of songs into the computer, and I would use them on the air with strong positive response from listeners!
With a little digital audio processing (Cool Edit / Adobe Audition) you can "clean-up" the pops and scratches, and end up with a nearly perfect digital version of these old vinyl songs!
If only... if only...
If only some company would take the original masters and digitize THOSE... they would MOST DEFINITELY sell the songs via an iTunes or similar online music seller! Lacking original masters, use pristine LP's. Lacking THOSE, then use digital processing to "clean-up" the best quality recording they can find, and sell that.
People used to thank me for playing those "TIMELESS TREASURES" on the air for them to record... from an AM STATION, no less! With 20 years of Christian Radio experience under my belt, I can tell you that "High Fidelity" really means a whole lot less to the general public than we Professionals think it does! As long as it "sounds decent", they are more than happy to have a copy of a song that holds special meaning to them!
I have MANY, MANY LP's that I got from WFIF some years back, when the station upgraded to digital systems. I treasure them! I have digitized hundreds of songs into the computer, and I would use them on the air with strong positive response from listeners!
With a little digital audio processing (Cool Edit / Adobe Audition) you can "clean-up" the pops and scratches, and end up with a nearly perfect digital version of these old vinyl songs!
If only... if only...
If only some company would take the original masters and digitize THOSE... they would MOST DEFINITELY sell the songs via an iTunes or similar online music seller! Lacking original masters, use pristine LP's. Lacking THOSE, then use digital processing to "clean-up" the best quality recording they can find, and sell that.
People used to thank me for playing those "TIMELESS TREASURES" on the air for them to record... from an AM STATION, no less! With 20 years of Christian Radio experience under my belt, I can tell you that "High Fidelity" really means a whole lot less to the general public than we Professionals think it does! As long as it "sounds decent", they are more than happy to have a copy of a song that holds special meaning to them!
D
Don62
Guest
I always thought that was just some line people would use, when they would say, "Well, the older CCM wasn't up to today's technical standards. Thank you for confirming that.Willie said:
After all, could not the same have been said of Elvis and Beatles records (before digital remastering)?
Unfortunately, many of the CCM labels have mimicked their secular counterparts in going for the greed... I mean gold.Willie said:
Didn't I read how one label refused to give David Meece his master tapes?
And get this: that said record co. wouldn't not only give them to the artist, but just sat on them, refusing to re-release them or anything.
Talk about stupidity. They could give Clear Ch. a run in that dept.
M
MorningLight
Guest
Re: Michael Omartian/"Timeless Treasures"
You are absolutely correct! I always shake my head at the absurdity of that statement! At least 80% of the "Timeless Treasures" that I have digitized from vinyl, sound JUST AS GOOD as a new song I just got on CD! Of the 20% that don't quite measure up, it's not the fault of the music, but of the AGE of the media from whence it came! Cool Edit is VERY effective at removing pops and clicks, but it's not perfect. Yet, even so, listeners often commented VERY POSITIVELY about those very songs!
Hmmmm... that hideous story sounds painfully familiar! GREED is the right word.
Well, think about it, now... haven't ALL of the "big" Christian Labels been bought-out by SECULAR conglomerates? That would certainly explain this avaricious mindset, wouldn't it? For many of the Christians still working there, I'm sure it bothers them, too, but what can they do! If they quit, someone who couldn't care one iota will end up filling their desk. At least as long as Christians remain working there, there is SOMEONE who cares... even if they can't do much, they CAN PRAY!
This kind of mistreatment of the creators of these wonderful songs sure as the dickens burns me up!
It is beyond STUPID, because they COULD make a whole lot MORE money by making these songs available via iTunes (or equivalent sites) where people WOULD buy them! No inventory to stock... for crying out loud, they could even get WILLING VOLUNTEERS to submit high-quality digitized copies of these songs, if they were too lazy to bother re-dubbing from the master tapes! PEOPLE WILL BUY THEM!
Like I said, I heard from our listeners for 20 years. There is a market for this music. It may not be an overwhelming geyser of cash, but it WOULD be generating revenue for artists/writers and the Record Co's for "product" that was doing absolutely NOTHING, before!
I save the MOST IMPORTANT element for last - the SPIRITUAL impact of these "Timeless treasures"! These are songs that God has used to change people's lives! (I have Testimonies of THAT, too, from my 20 years of Christian radio experience!) They are POWERFUL songs with DEEP meaning, and they definitely TOUCHED the lives of people 20 years ago... and they touched lives AGAIN, last year!
Don62 said:
You are absolutely correct! I always shake my head at the absurdity of that statement! At least 80% of the "Timeless Treasures" that I have digitized from vinyl, sound JUST AS GOOD as a new song I just got on CD! Of the 20% that don't quite measure up, it's not the fault of the music, but of the AGE of the media from whence it came! Cool Edit is VERY effective at removing pops and clicks, but it's not perfect. Yet, even so, listeners often commented VERY POSITIVELY about those very songs!
Don62 said:
Hmmmm... that hideous story sounds painfully familiar! GREED is the right word.
Well, think about it, now... haven't ALL of the "big" Christian Labels been bought-out by SECULAR conglomerates? That would certainly explain this avaricious mindset, wouldn't it? For many of the Christians still working there, I'm sure it bothers them, too, but what can they do! If they quit, someone who couldn't care one iota will end up filling their desk. At least as long as Christians remain working there, there is SOMEONE who cares... even if they can't do much, they CAN PRAY!
This kind of mistreatment of the creators of these wonderful songs sure as the dickens burns me up!
It is beyond STUPID, because they COULD make a whole lot MORE money by making these songs available via iTunes (or equivalent sites) where people WOULD buy them! No inventory to stock... for crying out loud, they could even get WILLING VOLUNTEERS to submit high-quality digitized copies of these songs, if they were too lazy to bother re-dubbing from the master tapes! PEOPLE WILL BUY THEM!
Like I said, I heard from our listeners for 20 years. There is a market for this music. It may not be an overwhelming geyser of cash, but it WOULD be generating revenue for artists/writers and the Record Co's for "product" that was doing absolutely NOTHING, before!
I save the MOST IMPORTANT element for last - the SPIRITUAL impact of these "Timeless treasures"! These are songs that God has used to change people's lives! (I have Testimonies of THAT, too, from my 20 years of Christian radio experience!) They are POWERFUL songs with DEEP meaning, and they definitely TOUCHED the lives of people 20 years ago... and they touched lives AGAIN, last year!
I find it funny that a Conservative leaning Christian station (Rejoice, BBN and/or Family Radio) will play the older songs and no one objects to it.
When a CCMer does it, objects are often raised and that station is forced to cave into the pressure and not play them at all.
When I was able to get WYFK from Columbus Georgia and/or WPCS from Pensacola Florida, I heard the Oldies mixed in with the Newer stuff. Those two stations don't mind playing the pioneers of traditional Gospel music.
Now when I want to hear a CCM oldie I have to dig in my collection and play what I own, listen to AFR Christian Classics and/or wait till Friday and hope that I can get WDJC from Birmingham Alabama, so I can hear Flashback Friday with Ronnie Bruce.
If the Hymns/Conservative music only stations can cater to the oldies and have success with it, why can't more of the CCMers do it?
Just a thought I had.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. The sound in the classics may be dated but the message is still revelant. I know that the classics may offend the mass public but I still enjoy them, because of the timeless life changing message contain within them.
When a CCMer does it, objects are often raised and that station is forced to cave into the pressure and not play them at all.
When I was able to get WYFK from Columbus Georgia and/or WPCS from Pensacola Florida, I heard the Oldies mixed in with the Newer stuff. Those two stations don't mind playing the pioneers of traditional Gospel music.
Now when I want to hear a CCM oldie I have to dig in my collection and play what I own, listen to AFR Christian Classics and/or wait till Friday and hope that I can get WDJC from Birmingham Alabama, so I can hear Flashback Friday with Ronnie Bruce.
If the Hymns/Conservative music only stations can cater to the oldies and have success with it, why can't more of the CCMers do it?
Just a thought I had.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. The sound in the classics may be dated but the message is still revelant. I know that the classics may offend the mass public but I still enjoy them, because of the timeless life changing message contain within them.
If the Hymns/Conservative music only stations can cater to the oldies and have success with it, why can't more of the CCMers do it?
My guess is the CCM programmers are younger folks who don't know or appreciate CCM oldies. With a Hymn station, my guess is the programmers are older who appreciate the hymns.
I'd agree completely that today's CCM stations have forgotten their roots making for a shallow format that sounds bland and boring, as a result, I rarely listen to CCM on the radio. I don't have a problem with a station that plays today's CCM music, but in some markets like #6 Philly and #75 Wilmington there is only one CCM station in each of those markets (actually the Philly station is a translator of the Wilmington station so there is literally only one CCM the same station serving both markets) so you'd think they'd play a broader selection of CCM to bring something to all CCM listeners.
That list of those great CCM artists sure did bring back many pleasant memories. It would be great to have a CCM Gold station as an alternative to the Top 40 CCM station in town.
So there is an opportunity for some enterprising person in Christ, who wants to start a new trend in CCM radio, a CCM gold station. The station could even throw in an occasional "future gold" song to help balance the format with something for everyone.
My guess is the CCM programmers are younger folks who don't know or appreciate CCM oldies. With a Hymn station, my guess is the programmers are older who appreciate the hymns.
I'd agree completely that today's CCM stations have forgotten their roots making for a shallow format that sounds bland and boring, as a result, I rarely listen to CCM on the radio. I don't have a problem with a station that plays today's CCM music, but in some markets like #6 Philly and #75 Wilmington there is only one CCM station in each of those markets (actually the Philly station is a translator of the Wilmington station so there is literally only one CCM the same station serving both markets) so you'd think they'd play a broader selection of CCM to bring something to all CCM listeners.
That list of those great CCM artists sure did bring back many pleasant memories. It would be great to have a CCM Gold station as an alternative to the Top 40 CCM station in town.
So there is an opportunity for some enterprising person in Christ, who wants to start a new trend in CCM radio, a CCM gold station. The station could even throw in an occasional "future gold" song to help balance the format with something for everyone.
Great observations. Glad you brought that up. It would be nice to have a CCM gold station on the air. That type of station would get my support. Man I would be tuned in and would love every minute of it.
Sadly most of the CCMers we have, are too busy trying to keep up with the latest fad and/or trend.
That can't be said about the average WGIB from Birmingham, BBN, Rejoice and/or Family Radio. They'll play the legends of Traditional Gospel (George Beverly Shea, Billy Graham Crusade Singers, Chuck Wagon Gang and even the late Tennessee Ernie Ford) and mix them in with the newer singers as well.
I do remember listening to WGIB from Birmingham Alabama, a few years back. (Last time I was in that area) While WDJC was playing the newer songs, thought I would drop by and see what they were playing. Heard some old songs that not too many would play. These two oldies had some pops and cracks in their recordings. One of those songs was by the legendary Chuck Wagon Gang and the other was by the late Jake Hess. Man you talk about something awesome. Those two songs did minister to me and I'm not that big into Traditional Southern Gospel.
Wish more Christian Radio Stations would play the classic songs of the faith. There are times when I want to hear a classic and let it minister to me. Although the classics may sound dated, the message is still very relavant and continues to minister to people like me.
R.D.P. <><
Sadly most of the CCMers we have, are too busy trying to keep up with the latest fad and/or trend.
That can't be said about the average WGIB from Birmingham, BBN, Rejoice and/or Family Radio. They'll play the legends of Traditional Gospel (George Beverly Shea, Billy Graham Crusade Singers, Chuck Wagon Gang and even the late Tennessee Ernie Ford) and mix them in with the newer singers as well.
I do remember listening to WGIB from Birmingham Alabama, a few years back. (Last time I was in that area) While WDJC was playing the newer songs, thought I would drop by and see what they were playing. Heard some old songs that not too many would play. These two oldies had some pops and cracks in their recordings. One of those songs was by the legendary Chuck Wagon Gang and the other was by the late Jake Hess. Man you talk about something awesome. Those two songs did minister to me and I'm not that big into Traditional Southern Gospel.
Wish more Christian Radio Stations would play the classic songs of the faith. There are times when I want to hear a classic and let it minister to me. Although the classics may sound dated, the message is still very relavant and continues to minister to people like me.
R.D.P. <><
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