CCM in 3D

As a rule, the 3D's focus on the so-called "golden age" of Christian hit radio CCM: 1985-1995. However, our own private enjoyment of CCM regularly stretches beyond those years. This week we acknowledge those years outside of 1985-95 with a new series are calling "out of bounds." This recurring, occasional series will explore our favorite artists, albums, and songs that fall just outside of the 1985-95 time frame. If your favorite CCM came along prior to Amy's Unguarded or after DC Talk's Jesus Freak, then this new series is for you.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

As a genre, contemporary Christian music has never much focused on live albums. However, there have been a few notable live recordings along the way and the 3Ds are excited to explore them on this week's episode.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

When an artist self-titles their debut album, the message is usually along the lines of, "Hello there. This is who we are. Nice to meet you." When an artist self-titles their third, fourth, fifth, or later album, the message is much different: "Hello again. This album will contain big changes from who we were previously." So it was in 1987 when CCM vocalist Russ Taff released his self-titled third solo album. Whereas the previous album (Medals, 1985) had been full of anthems about not bowing to idols and the artist being "rock solid," the viewpoint had shifted radically on the third album. Taff had clearly plummeted "down in the lowlands" and a "dark night of the soul" album was the result.

The 3D's were excited to revisit an album that meant so much to each of them back in 1987. Would the songs still hold up today? Would the message carry the same gravitas as before? Would the production undermine the seriousness of the lyrics? Push play and find out for yourself.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

This past Saturday (September 19, 2020) marked the 23rd anniversary of the passing of singer/songwriter Rich Mullins.  The release of this Rich Mullins themed episode on September 21, 2020 is purposely meant to coincide with and commemorate that sad anniversary. Rich, may you rest in peace and rise in glory.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev. 14:13)

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Prior to 1986, Rich Mullins was known primarily as a songwriter who had penned songs covered by a handful of CCM artists, most notably two songs recorded by Amy Grant ("Sing Your Praise to the Lord" and "Doubly Good to You"). With the release of his self-titled 1986 album, Mullins became a recording artist in his own right.

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Kathy Sprinkle is a counselor at Charis Counseling and Training in Mason, Ohio. Charis Counseling and Training offers individual and couples counseling, specializing in the areas of trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and communication difficulties. Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Charis-Counseling-and-Training-MasonOhio-1501689143468335/.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

With this episode we begin a short, recurring series called "The Charlie Sound." Similar to a series we began earlier entitled "The Brown Sound," episodes of "The Charlie Sound" will focus on musician-turned-producer Charlie Peacock and the unique sonic perspective he brings to the producer's chair. On this first episode, the 3D's take a look back at 3 1/2 albums by Margaret Becker (Immigrant's Daughter, Simple House, Soul, and half of the album Grace).

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

The year 1985 was a watershed one for contemporary Christian music. Classic albums like Beat the System and Unguarded made huge marks on the CCM landscape. That year was also a banner year for lesser-known CCM gems. Among the finest "hidden gems" of 1985 was Art of the State by the band AD. AD was formed when former Kansas guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Kerry Livgren surrounded himself with a stable band consisting of former Kansas bassist Dave Hope, drummer Dennis Holt, vocalist/keyboardist Michael Gleason, and Warren Ham on vocals and woodwinds. Art of the State was the second album under the AD name and it remains the band's finest hour in their brief career. Sit back and relax as the 3D's explore this unsung CCM album track-by-track.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

With this episode we introduce a recurring series called "The Brown Sound." These episodes will focus on super-producer Brown Bannister and how he manages to get the best of out the artists he produces and why so many CCM artists produce the finest albums of their careers with Brown at the helm. On this first episode, the 3D's take a look back at the first three albums by Kim Hill, all of which were produced by Brown Bannister.

Show notes: During the episode, Derek mentions a video where White Heart's Mark Gersmehl speaks about Brown. Apparently that video no longer exists on YouTube. Also, there is a bit of noise that creeps onto the end of this podcast, for which we apologize.

As mentioned on this episode, Pastor Derek has created a playlist on Spotify focusing on all of the session bass work done by Tommy Sims. You can access that playlist by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/y4f2rh78

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

---

Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

Michael W. Smith's first two albums--Project (1983) and Michael W. Smith 2 (1984), respectively--were fine works, if a bit tentative. With the release of his 1986 album The Big Picture, Smitty tore down the sonic walls and released an album aimed directly at young people and their concerns. Hop aboard the nostalgia train as the 3D's embark on a track-by-track excursion through a classic album that introduced a generation of youth group kids to Lamu, Rocketown, and a girl named Rebecca who was old enough to know.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita, KS (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

---

Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

The peak of Amy Grant's pop success came in 1991 with the release of her album Heart in Motion. Her initial moves toward that later pop success began in 1985 with the release of her album Unguarded (an album that is celebrating its 35 year anniversary this year). On this episode of CCM in 3D, the 3D's continue their "deep dive" series by going track-by-track into one of the definitive albums of early contemporary Christian music. An album that was left out of the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. In fact, Unguarded didn't even make any of the various "honorable mention" lists at the end of the book. Really, CCM Magazine?!? Y'all need to wise up.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

Derek Hale is pastor of Trinity Covenant Church (CREC) in Wichita (https://trinitycovenantchurch.wordpress.com/)

Dave Wilson is an on-air personality working for Entercom Communications.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.

Dan, Derek, and Dave opine on their favorite CCM debut albums released during the period 1985-95.

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The 3D's are Dan, Derek, and Dave. Three friends who used to work together in early 1990s in Christian radio who love to reminisce about music from the golden era of CCM, 1985-1995. If you love classic Amy, Michael, Petra, Russ, and White Heart, you have found your new favorite podcast. New episodes drop every Monday. Make sure to subscribe.

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Dan Day is a small business owner in the Wichita area.

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Make sure you are subscribed to CCM in 3D. Type CCM in 3D in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find CCM in 3D.

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Intro and outro music: "New Spoon," composed by Sam Luttrell. Used by permission. Please visit his Bandcamp site at https://cannonfire.bandcamp.com/releases.