Classic Albums
Nothing quite compares to a well crafted song, and for me, I’ve always been about the individual song. The melody, the harmony, the lyrics, the musical accompaniement! A perfect song combines all of these elements into a unique and memorable presentation. To compile multiple songs into one unified and unique album is rare and truly a treasure worth sharing.
 "with Footnotes"the 2nd Chapter of Acts
| I cannot begin any discussion of favorite albums without first mentioning "with Footnotes" by the 2nd Chapter of Acts. I vividly remember first hearing the incredible vocal harmonies of "Which Way the Wind Blows" in my local Christian bookstore, and that day I walked out of the store with both 2nd Chapter studio albums available at the time - "with Footnotes" and "In the Volume of the Book." I enjoyed "In the Volume of the Book," but "with Footnotes" offered more than a typical album. Songs like "Which Way the Wind Blows," "He Loves Me," "I Fall in Love/ Change," "Goin' Home," "I Don't Wanna Go Home," not to mention 2nd Chapter classics like "Love, Peace, Joy" and the celebratory and perennial favorite "Easter Song." Seriously, is there a mediocre song on this LP? As a music lover, and a relatively new believer (3 years), this album quite literally changed my whole perspective on music. Prior to this album for me, Christian music consisted of hymns, simple choruses, and perhaps a little Southern Gospel (Oak Ridge Boys and the Speers). Evie's "Gentle Moments" hinted at something better, but "with Footnotes" completely revolutionized my Kasey Kasem American Top 40 view of popular music. Sadly, this album also exposed the extreme bigotry and bias within the greater music industry. No one will ever convince me that songs like "Which Way the Wind Blows" did not deserve a shot at the American Top 40. Sure, "Oh Happy Day" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand" dominated the radio charts previously, but after Top 40's foray into a bit of Jesus Music, the door slammed shut. I can certainly mention other Jesus Music and CCM songs, but "Which Way the Wind Blows" especially seemed made for radio - great melody, powerful dynamics, and vocals, quite literally, unparalleled on the radio at the time of its release. I lived for the radio and Top 40, but for the first time in my life, I felt as if I had been ripped off by the radio. Even more tragic is the absolute black-out by Christian radio (not that I even knew it existed when I first picked up this LP). I had no idea that over the next several years I would be fighting my Christian friends and church leaders over the validity and power of pop and rock music expressing faith in Jesus Christ. It made no sense to me at the time, or even today. Needless to say, "with Footnotes" impacted my life in more ways than I could even imagine - emotionally ("He Loves Me"), intellectually ("Which Way the Wind Blows"), and spiritually ("Easter Song"). By today's standards, this song may seem a bit traditional, but if I could recommend one Jesus Music album above all others, "with Footnotes" by the 2nd Chapter of Acts would be my stand-out first choice. VIDEO: Which Way the Wind Blows | ||||||||||||||||||||||