CCM Magazine's "The 25 Best Contemporary Christian Albums of All Time"

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Compiled by CCM’s contributing editors and "a few people we know" (in the words of the site) who have extensive knowledge of contemporary Christian music to list their 15 favorite Christian albums of all time. We then compiled all the lists on the computer much in the same way we do the music charts.

In preparing their lists, contributors were asked to consider several key questions. Did the album make an impact? Was it a trendsetter musically? Spiritually? Does it make a clear Christian statement? Has it held up over time? No restraints were given regarding Christian vs. secular labels or whether the album is still available.

Glaring omissions from the final list include Andrae Crouch, Petra, Stryper, and Sandi Patti, whose contributions are vast but not focused on a single album. Also missing: Malcolm & Alwyn, whose Fool’s Wisdom album usually makes such lists, and Richie Furay, whose landmark album I’ve Got A Reason set new production standards.

GREG’S EDITORIAL NOTE: Because as they mention Christian CDs go in and out of print frequently, many of these are hard to find and some available only on 2-for-1 CDs. For #4 it was "White Horse" specifically being honored. In the case of #6 it is "With Footnotes" being singled out. Also, in case you’re wondering, this list predates the other list of the "Top 100 Christian Albums of All-Time" that’s elsewhere on the site. (http://www.listsofbests.com/list/2614)

  1. 1.
    Only Visiting This Planet

    Drag me to re-order


  2. 2.
    Slow Train Coming
    by Bob Dylan

    Drag me to re-order


  3. 3.
    Welcome to Paradise

    Drag me to re-order


  4. 4.
    White Horse / Adam Again

    Drag me to re-order


  5. 5.
    Age to Age
    by Amy Grant

    Drag me to re-order


  6. 7.
    Love Song

    Drag me to re-order


  7. 8.
    For Him Who Has Ears to Hear

    Drag me to re-order


  8. 9.
    Unguarded
    by Amy Grant

    Drag me to re-order


  9. 10.
    Medals

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  10. 11.
    Love Broke Thru

    Drag me to re-order


  11. 12.
    Victims Of the Age
    by Mark Heard

    Drag me to re-order


  12. 13.
    ?
    The Turning

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  13. 14.
    Romeo Unchained

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  14. 15.
    October
    by U2

    Drag me to re-order


  15. 16.
    Truth Decay
    by T-Bone Burnett

    Drag me to re-order


  16. 17.
    The Joshua Tree
    by U2

    Drag me to re-order


  17. 18.
    Humans
    by Bruce Cockburn

    Drag me to re-order


  18. 19.
    Shotgun Angel

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  19. 20.
    Horrendous Disc

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  20. 21.
    Straight On

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  21. 22.
    Meltdown
    by Steve Taylor

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  22. 23.
    I Want to Be a Clone
    by Steve Taylor

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  23. 24.
    Awaiting Your Reply
    by Resurrection Band

    Drag me to re-order


  24. 25.
    ?
    Matters of the Heart
    by Bob Bennett

    Drag me to re-order


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Created by Robot Co-op on Nov 30, 2005.
 

Comments

Yay — 2 years ago

Sam Phillips.


Greg
Columbus

As complete as I'll get my listening for awhile — 3 years ago

I still need to hear 4,6,8,12,16,20,24, and 25..all of which are out of print and none of them owned by our library.

I think a friend of mine has HORRENDOUS DISC so I might be able to hear that one at least…