Month: November 2014

Categories
General Life

Don’t Wanna

Today’s featured song: I Don’t Want To Go Back by Alan Robertson from the 1983 album of the same name.

The last track on Tape JM-31 from 1984 is a fun one. In the realm of Jesus music, there were a handful of big names, with multiple hit songs that got a lot of airplay, did lots of touring, and became well known. And there were many thousands of less well-known performers who have ministered through their music for many years, to much less public acclaim. Despite not having the careers or notoriety of an Amy Grant, Love Song, Keith Green, or The Imperials, these people have had a dedicated life of serving the Lord through their music.

The artist I am focusing on today is Alan Robertson. I heard this song of his on KCRO and taped it on this cassette, and must have had a friend who bought the album, as one of my other tapes has a short song also from this 1983 album. He has been singing and ministering to people for over 30 years, and on his web site (where he goes by his full name, Alan Root Roberson), he identifies himself with the great name, a “musicianary”, and has done many things in his years. Until I tried to find something about this obscure album on the Internet, I had not known of work he’s done over the years. Enjoy this song that looks at what life was without Jesus, how it is with Him, and why you don’t want to go back to the way things were!

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
I had all the sin that I can hack
And I don’t want to go back

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
I had all that I’m going to have, Jack
And I don’t want to go back (back back back)

Speeding down the road of life, out of control
Satan was the driver, and he wanted my soul
God knows how I bailed out and I hitched another ride
And when I say I don’t want to go back, that’s no lie

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
Had all the sin that I can hack
And I don’t want to go back

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
Had all that I’m going to have, Jack
And I don’t want to go back

Living in a garbage can with the top on tight
Eating lots of trash and I just couldn’t see the light
The noose around my neck was close to running out of slack
Then God sent me some liberty, and I don’t want to go back

I don’t want to go back (don’t want to go)
I don’t want to go back (don’t want to go)
Had all the sin that I can hack
And I don’t want to go back (don’t want to go back)

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
I had all that I’m going to have, Jack
And I don’t want to go back

When your host is wicked, and treats you like dirt
When the food he feeds you tastes just like an old shirt
When someone comes along and shows He loves you for a fact
It kind of tends to make you never go back

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
I had all the sin that I can hack
And I don’t want to go back

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back
I had all that I’m going to have, Jack
And I don’t want to go back

I don’t want to go back
I don’t want to go back …

I Don't Want To Go Back
Categories
General Life

Shine

Today’s featured song: Shine Down by Sandi Patti from the 1984 album Songs From The Heart.

Today’s excerpts from Tape JM-31 involve more than just one song. The offering today covers tracks 34 through 38 on the tape. I’ll explain why there are so many included here.

First up is station ID from KCRO, still from the same “jingle” collection as we’ve previously heard here from WHME, WEMI, as well as from KCRO. Interestingly, it includes a cut from Sandi Patti, the artist for today, from her 1982 album, Lift Up The Lord, and the Bible verse is from Psalms 145:1-3. I do not know the song excerpt that follows the verse, however.

After this is a brief bit of Let The Whole World Sing by DeGarmo & Key, which was mentioned on this blog back in 2009 on this post, and so I will not repeat it again here.

Next is yet another song that I’ve previously discussed on this blog, Single Minded Love by Kenny Marks, back in 2010 on this post.

After those two song excerpts, it is still not time for today’s song. Instead is a fun advertisement for the Oxford NIV Scofield Reference Bible, which had, back in 1984, just been released. The ad uses a Howard Cosell imitator to comment on the bout between David and the Philistine giant Goliath (see 1 Samuel 17 for the full story). I like the part at the end where David mentions, “And don’t worry – they don’t call me ‘Rocky’ for nothing!” just as he goes off to fight Goliath.

Finally, we are at the song for today. Sandi Patti was at this time a rising star in the Christian music industry, having already won two Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in 1982, and had the advantage of a style that would play both on more traditional Christian radio stations, as well as on the newer outlets that played the contemporary style that had been pioneered by the “Jesus music” artists of the previous ten years.

Shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me

Shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me
Father of light
Shine down on me

There’s a land full of glory
In a place where there is no night
And in that holy city
Burns the beacon of everlasting light
A light that keeps reaching
To the people of every land
A love that is longing
To fill the heart of every man

Shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me

Oh, shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me
Father of light
Shine down on me

There’s no sun in that city
The Father’s throne is its only light
The lamp of salvation
The hope that is always glowing bright
It scatters the darkness
Swept away by His mighty hand
Now all the nations can worship
Sing the song of that glorious lamb

Shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me

Shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
That in Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me

Oh, shine down Your light on me
Let the people see
In Your presence darkness flees
Father of light
Shine down on me

(repeated)

Father of light
Shine down on
Father of light
Shine down on me

Songs From The Heart Purchase MP3 on Amazon
Categories
Life

Change

Today’s featured song: Change by The Archers from the 1977 album Fresh Surrender.

This cut has a radio jingle from KCRO, 660 AM in Omaha, and then the song from The Archers. The jingle is another example of the style of Christian radio station announcements that I’ve already featured earlier on this JM-31 tape, first with WHME in South Bend, and then on WEMI in Wisconsin. I’d be interested to know what company produced these bits. It’s also historically interesting to look back on what these stations called themselves. WHME was “Your positive alternative”; WEMI just said “Neenah Menasha” (for the towns from which it broadcast); and for KCRO it’s “Your regional gospel station”.

After the KCRO announcement comes another Archers song from that great 1977 album. Likely this was also recorded off of the vinyl LP where the Fresh Surrender song came on an earlier post.

Change
Don’t come easy sometimes
I’m a stubborn girl
I just want to be alone
Sometimes

Maybe You’ve been showin’ me
Just how nowhere
My own will has been
As far as You’re concerned
And You really love me

Lord I need Your love, I need Your care

And I welcome Your change
Like I welcome the rain
After nothing’s grown in a long, long time

Sometimes
Any change is better
Than staying where you are
When you’ve been there too long
Already

All the changes you’ve been bringin’
Only seem to heal me deep inside
And I don’t wanna be alone
Without You

Lord I need Your love, I need Your care
I find my rest in knowing that You’re there

And I welcome Your change
Like I welcome the rain
After nothing’s grown in a long, long time

Ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah

And I welcome Your change
Like I welcome the rain after a long, long time
Been a long, long time

La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la

Fresh Surrender Purchase MP3 on Amazon
Categories
General

Graffiti

Today’s featured song: Christian Graffiti by Intrusion from the 1982 album Life Messages.

This is the third and last track featured from the Intrusion album on this 1984 cassette. It is a fifties-styled song, with a doo-wop style. Not theologically deep, but not intended to be.

When I read your word
I feel content
It’s relief to know
It’s heaven sent
Whoah, whoah, ohhh
Study to show
(study to show, study to show)
Thyself approved
(thyself approved)

I know
That you know
My every step I take
I feel
That it’s real
No lie, it’s no mistake

Dear Lord, I met you as a teen
On that hot summer camp night
When I read John 3:16
But then, Lord, I feared
That You’d make me cut my hair
But I found, Lord, instead
That You gave me love to share!

I know
That you know
My every step I take
I feel
That it’s real
No lie, it’s no mistake

From this day on the mark
Close by Your side
Holding on to Your hand
As You take me for a ride
Whoah, whoah, ohhh
Loving You more
(loving You more, loving You more)
And loving me less
(loving me less, loving me less)
And loving You more
(loving You more
loving You more!)

Life Messages