Music is a major part of worship in the Bible. Just 6 verses long, Psalm 150 in the Old Testament gives a complete guide for musical praise.   

Psalm 150: New International Version: 

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. 

Music is an important part of my life.  It permeates throughout my daily existence as a Christian believer: with my personal worship time with God, having corporate fellowship at various church functions and ministering with a gospel choir by singing uplifting songs. 

With this month’s blog, the focus will be on the topic of Jesus Music from the 1970s.  I will be counting down my favorite albums in this genre that I bought after becoming a Christian at age 18 during November 1973. 

The idea for this article came to me after I bought the book, “The Jesus Music: A Visual Story of Redemption as Told by Those Who Lived It” by Marshall Terrill.  The American author and journalist has published various biographies over the years, including books on Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Billy Graham, Steve McQueen and Pete Maravich. 

 I highly recommend Terrill’s book that documents the beginnings of what became known as Jesus Music.  His outstanding historical publication can be purchased via Amazon, various other online sites and/or at a favorite local bookstore.  

 I will be using some early chapters of Marshall Terrill’s book to give an overview on how Christian rock evolved during the formative years of this type of music. According to Terrill, the genesis of Jesus Music can be traced back to the late 60s and early 70s in Southern California.   

In the first chapter of Terrill’s book, he describes one of the first artists to use rock music with a gospel message: Larry Norman.  This singer-songwriter started out as lead singer for the secular band People, which had a top 20 hit in 1968 called, “I Love You.” 

Norman left his secular band in mid 1968 and recorded a solo album for Capitol Records in 1969: “Upon This Rock.”  While the LP wasn’t a commercial success, it’s widely considered one of the first Jesus Music albums and Norman is seen as a founding pioneer of Christian Rock. One of the best-known tracks from Norman’s album is “I’d Wish We’d All Been Ready.” 

The second chapter in “The Jesus Music” book by Terrill is focused on how thousands of young folks, hippies and countercultural individuals converged upon Southern California and attended church services conducted by Pastor Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel.  

Revival broke out among these young people with many becoming Christians and then getting baptized in the Pacific Ocean. One of those youngsters who came to Calvary Chapel heard the Good News of the Bible and started following Jesus in the early 70s was Greg Laurie. 

Laurie, who wrote the forward on Terrill’s “The Jesus Music” book, is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. He also authored an autobiographical book, “Jesus Revolution”, which was also made into a film during 2023. 

On a blog from Harvest ministry in 2021, Laurie gave an overview on the Importance and genesis of Jesus Music at Calvary Chapel in the early 70s. 

Laurie states, “I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but part of the Jesus Revolution—the great spiritual revival of the ’70s—included a revolution in music style. We were witnessing the birth of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). It was the Holy Spirit infusing new life into our worship and spiritual songs.” 

“The use of modern instruments, the simple lyrics, the ear-pleasing melodies, and the unabashed passion that we saw in the culture around us was being applied inside the church—and it was catching the attention of young people in big ways. New Christian rock bands like Love Song and Sweet Comfort brought a new sound to the age-old message of the gospel.” 

Another accounting of the Jesus Music scene at Calvary Chapel and other Southern California locations comes from my friend of 43 years, David Hollandsworth. His fond memories are found in the paragraphs below. 

 Hollandsworth wrote, “I had the unique opportunity to spend my teenage years in Southern California during the height of the what the media called the “Jesus movement.” And one of the main draws for me at that age was the music that was born then, music that young people could relate to and that had a spiritual message.”  

Photo above is Melodyland Christian Center in in Anaheim, California. Jimmy Hollandsworth was pastor of this church in the early 70s. His son David submitted this photo and continues sharing his memories of Jesus Music concerts below.

“I was blessed to attend places like Melodyland and Calvary Chapel many times where Jesus Music and its artists were birthed. Groups and artists such as Love Song, The Way, Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, Daniel Amos, Children of the Day, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Paul Clark, Barry McGuire, Malcolm & Alwyn, Larry Norman, Phil Keaggy, Mustard Seed Faith and countless others.”  

“It was a very special time born out of the disillusioned, rebellious hippie movement. I even once attended the ocean baptism down at Corona Del Mar beach. I cut my musical teeth on this music, and it shaped the person who I am today. I still love those old albums and miss the freshness it brought to a hopeless world. It was a special time to be alive.” 

From my own personal memories growing up in Virginia, it wasn’t unusual in the late 60s and early 70s to hear songs about Jesus or Christian theme being played on secular Top 40 radio. 

Below are some of the biggest hits that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 during the golden age of Top 40 radio: 

• Oh Happy Day—Edwin Hawkins Singers 
• Jesus is a Soul Man—Lawrence Reynolds 
• Spirit in the Sky—Norman Greenbaum 
• Are You Ready—Pacific Gas and Electric 
• Superstar—Murray Head 

• Mighty Clouds of Joy—B.J. Thomas 
• I’ll Take You There–The Staple Singers  
• God, Love & Rock N’ Roll—Teegarden & Van Winkle 
• Why Me Lord—Kris Kristofferson 
• I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Superstar)—Glen Campbell 

• Morning Has Broken—Cat Stevens 
• That’s the Way God Planned It—Billy Preston 
• Amazing Grace—Judy Collins 
• Speak To the Sky–Rick Springfield  
• I Don’t Know How to Love Him—Helen Reddy

• Put Your Hand in the Hand—Ocean 
• Day By Day—Godspell 
• Jesus is Just Alright—Doobie Brothers 
• The Lord’s Prayer—Sister Janet Mead 
• The Wedding Song—Noel Paul Stookey 
• One Day at a Time–Marilyn Sellars 

According to Terrill, while secular radio played Christian themed songs in the early 70s, Jesus Music wasn’t widely available or known by most folks outside of Southern California. Most Christian radio stations that had music formats aired songs of hymns, traditional easy listening tunes or Southern Gospel music. 

Another milestone for Jesus Music happened in 1971 when Pastor Chuck Smith from Calvary Chapel founded Maranatha! Music: a non-profit Christian Record label. 

The first album released was “Vol. 1: The Everlastin’ Living Jesus Music Concert.”  It wasn’t a true live recording, but a compilation of various bands and artists that performed at Smith’s Calvary Chapel services.  Terrill says the album “became the vanguard of Jesus Music” at that time. 

In the third chapter of Terrill’s “Jesus Music” book, he describes an event that totally changed the course of Jesus Music. During June 1972, a conference sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ named “Explo ‘72” was held in Dallas, Texas. 

Explo ‘72 was set up to train high school and college students in personal evangelism. Legendary evangelist Billy Graham was the main speaker at the event. Country artists Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and pop singer Rita Coolidge performed at what was later referred to as “Christian Woodstock.” 

This event also had some of the biggest Jesus Music artists of 1972:  Larry Norman, Love Song featuring Chuck Girard, Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, Children of the Day, Randy Matthews, Phil Keaggy and the Archers. Christian music that rocked increased in popularity that summer. 

While Jesus Music was growing nationwide in the United States after Explo ‘72, most folks living in rural areas during 1972 and 1973 didn’t have opportunities to hear and/or learn about Jesus Rock except by word of mouth. 

Even though I was extremely knowledgeable about secular rock music, I virtually had no understanding about Jesus Rock when I became a Christian in November 1973.  Over the course of the next year, I began learning that Christian artists were singing songs about Jesus with rock music! 

My first exposure to Jesus Music came when hearing the Scott Ross show which aired on my hometown Top 40 station WROV 1240 AM Roanoke. Ross mixed in Jesus Music songs with secular hits and had dialogue that would appeal to both Christians and to non-believers. 

Below is a mid 70s video of Scott Ross where he talks about his radio program, and he mentions on the clip that a radio station in Roanoke, Virginia (WROV) was the first to broadcast his show in the U.S. 

My next experience discovering Jesus Music was in 1974. I got to know a Roanoke College student, Jeffrey Pugh, who started attending the same Sunday School class as myself at Calvary United Methodist Church in Salem.  He was a Christian and he let me borrow 4 Jesus Music albums for listening: 

• The Second Chapter of Acts: With Footnotes 
• Songs for the Saviour Vol 1—Paul Clark 
• Maranatha! Vol. 1: The Everlastin’ Living Jesus Music Concert 
• Petra: self-titled debut album

After I listened multiple times to those albums, my spiritual eyes were opened.  I was also excited that Christian music could actually rock!  

I started buying Jesus Music albums during the mid 70s. By the end of 1979 I owned around 30 vinyl CCM albums.   

The next few years of the 70s (1975-1979) saw a proliferation of new music artists recording Christian rock albums. The Jesus Music label gave way to the term Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).  

Below are a few highlights that took place that aided CCM’s explosive growth during the 70s according to Marshall Terrill’s “The Jesus Music” book: 

• KBHL Lincoln, Nebraska and KYMS in Southern California became the first two radio stations in the U.S. to run a CCM format full-time. 

• The first publication of “CCM Magazine” which focused on contemporary Christian music was published in July 1978. 

•  Myrrh Records and Sparrow Records labels were devoted to only CCM artists  

•  Outdoor Christian festivals during summer months came into existence across the U.S. 

For the rest of this article, I will be counting down my favorite Jesus Music albums of the 70s. All of my selections are vinyl records that I bought during the mid to late 70s and still own in 2026. 

Please note: this article is not a definitive listing or a complete overview of CCM albums from the 70s. The ten LPs on my countdown are my favorites, written from my point of view and completely subjective. 

Before I start the countdown, I want to highlight two albums that I bought in the 70s by secular artists that contain Christian lyrics. Although these two fellows are not considered Jesus Music artists, their albums are a strong part of Christian rock music history during the 70s. 

Home Where I Belong—B.J. Thomas 

Myrrh Records: 1976:  Notable Tracks:  

• Common Ground
• I Wanna Be Ready 
• Hallelujah 
• Home Where I Belong

Singer B.J. Thomas became a Christian believer in 1975. He blended soft-rock, pop and country sounds, and it became the biggest selling album during Thomas’ career, achieving platinum status. 

My favorite track: “Home Where I Belong.”    

Written by Jesus Music artist Pat Terry, the song was popular with both secular and Christian audiences.  I played this track on country formatted WJLM Roanoke during the summer of 1977. 

Slow Train Coming—Bob Dylan:  

Columbia Records: 1979: Notable tracks:  

• Gonna Change My Way of Thinking  
• Precious Angel 
• I Believe in You  
• Slow Train  
• Gotta Serve Somebody

This was Bob Dylan’s first album following his conversion to Christianity. “Slow Train Coming ranks at #16 on CCM’s, “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” listing. 

My favorite track: “Gotta Serve Somebody.”   

I regularly played this song on WMRA Harrisonburg’s “After Hours” album rock radio program during 1979. Dylan won a Grammy Award for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” for his track in 1980. 

Without further ado, my top ten favorite 70s Jesus Music albums begins: 

10. Chuck Girard—Chuck Girard  

Good News Records: 1975: Notable tracks: 

• Galilee 
• Lay Your Burden Down
• You Ask Me Why  
• Sometimes Alleluia  
• Rock ‘N’ Roll Preacher  

Chuck Girard was a founding member of the pioneering Jesus Music band Love Song before he became a solo artist. He was instrumental in sharing the good news of Jesus via rock & roll to Christian churches throughout the U.S. 

My favorite Track: Rock ‘N’ Roll Preacher.”  

With Girard being lead vocalist and pianist with his band Love Song, he was a pioneer of Jesus Music.  His autobiographical ode states his role in bringing Biblical good news via rock music to the global North American church. 

9.   Love Broke Through—Phil Keaggy 1976  

New Song–Myrrh Records: 1976: Notable tracks:  

• Abraham  
• Take Me Closer 
• As the Ruin Falls  
• Things I Will Do  
• Your Love Broke Through

Phil Keaggy is considered one of the best guitarists in Christian music during the 20^th century. His album is a groundbreaking masterpiece featuring progressive acoustic and electric pop, folk, and rock sounds. Ranked #64 on the “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” by CCM. 

My favorite track: “Your Love Broke Through”  

 Co-written by Keith Green, Todd Fishkind, and Randy Stonehill.  This rendition is rated among the best CCM recordings from the 70s and is considered one of Keaggy’s signature songs. 

8.   Songs For the Savior Vol. 1—Paul Clark  

Creative Sound – CSS Records: 1972: Notable Tracks: 

• Song for Salvation 
• We’ll Soon Be Going Home 
• It Was True 
• Looking Glass Incident     

Paul Clark is a founding father of Jesus Music and his debut album contains a combination of pop, rock, folk, and country musical influences. Later in the 70s, he recorded 3 LPs that blended progressive rock and jazz. 

My favorite track: “Looking Glass Incident” 

This melodic tune features excellent acoustic guitar playing by Clark and is said to be biographical by the artist. The first track on the album sets the tone for a superb listening pleasure. 

7.   Love Song—Love Song  

Good News Records: 1972: Notable tracks: 

• Since I Opened Up the Door  
• A Love Song  
• Front Seat, Back Seat  
• Little Country Church  

The self-titled Love Song debut LP is widely known as the first Jesus Music album released by a Christian rock band. The pioneering blend of folk, rock and country sounds helped make this recording chart at #23 on CCM’s “!00 Greatest Christian Albums” countdown.  

My favorite track: “Little Country Church”

One of the quintessential songs from the early days of Jesus Music is “Little Country Church.” I also love the track “Since I Opened Up the Door.” Both capture the spirit of revival among young folks in Southern California during the early 70s.

6.   In Another Land—Larry Norman  

Solid Rock Records: 1976: Notable tracks: 

• UFO 
• I Am a Servant  
• Righteous Rocker #3 
• I Searched the World Over  
• The Rock That Doesn’t Roll

Larry Norman’s 1976 release contains some of the singer-songwriter and musician’s best-known tracks.  CCM places the album at #38 on their “100 Greatest Christian Albums” list.  

My favorite track: “The Rock That Doesn’t Roll” 

It was hard to pick a top selection as I also love “UFO” and “I Am a Servant.”  However, the clever blues-rock tune with lyrics about Jesus is catchy: “He’s good for the body and great for the soul, he’s the rock that doesn’t roll.” 

5.   Welcome to Paradise—Randy Stonehill  

Solid Rock Records: 1976: Notable tracks: 

• Good News  
• King of Hearts
• Christmas Song for All Year Round  
• I’ve Got News for You  
• Keep Me Running  

During the 80s, “Welcome to Paradise” was ranked as the third most important album by music historians. The album was also listed at #13 on the “100 Greatest Christian Albums” in 1999 by CCM. 

My favorite track: “Keep Me Running”  

While most of the songs on 1976 album are acoustic based, “Keep Me Running” is a flat-out rocker. The singer-songwriter provides outstanding guitar solos throughout the tune. 

4.   Only Visiting This Planet—Larry Norman  

Verve Records: 1972: Notable tracks:   

• Why Don’t You Looking into Jesus  
• The Outlaw  
• Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? 
• I Am Six O’Clock News  
• The Great American Novel  
• I Wish We’d All Been Ready   

The landmark recording is ranked as the second-best LP of all-time on CCM’s “100 Greatest Christian Albums” survey.  It was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2013. 

My favorite Song: “I’d Wish We’d All Been Ready” 

Originally recorded on Norman’s 1969 album “Upon this Rock”, this song became a defining foundational anthem for the Jesus Movement in the 70s. Two other tracks I love are “The Outlaw” and “Why Don’t You Look into Jesus?” 

3.   With Footnotes–2nd Chapter of Acts:  

Myrrh Records: 1974: Notable tracks: 

• Which Way the Wind Blows  
• Good News  
• Goin’ Home  
• Easter Song 

Siblings Annie Herring, Nelly Greisen and Matthew Ward form the 2^nd Chapter of Acts formed in 1972. The pop-rock group was known for their vocal harmonies and melodic tunes. “With Footnotes” is ranked at #72 on CCM’s “100 Greatest Christian Album” countdown. 

My favorite track: “Easter Song”  

 Annie Herrings uplifting lyrics about the resurrection of Jesus is the best-known track by the 2^nd Chapter of Acts. CCM listed “Easter Song” as the “4^th best Christian song” of all time in 1998. 

2.    No Compromise—Keith Green    

Sparrow Records: 1978:  Notable tracks: 

• Asleep in the Light 
• My Eyes are Dry  
• The Victor  
• To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice 
• Make My Life a Prayer to You  

Keith Green’s second studio album had two distinct messages: First: the singer-songwriter challenged Christian believers to have uncompromising devotion to Jesus. Second, there were multiple evangelistic songs directed to those searching for spiritual truth. 

My favorite Track:  “Make My Life a Prayer to You” 

Written by the artist’s wife, Melody Green, her humble and earnest appeal in the lyrics of “Make My Life a Prayer to You” brings encouragement to my soul.  “The Victor” and “Asleep in the Light” are my second and third favorites from the Green album. 

1. To Him Who Has Ears to Hear—Keith Green:   

Sparrow Records: 1977: Notable tracks:  

• He’ll Take Care of the Rest  
• When I Hear the Praises Start  
• You’re Love Broke Through  
• Easter Song  
• You Put This Love in My Heart

My #1 favorite Jesus Music album is the recording that launched Keith Green’s ministry. Ranked as the 5^th best LP on CCM’s “100 Greatest Christian Albums” listing.  I am a fan of every song of Green’s landmark composition.  

My favorite track: “You Put This Love in My Heart”  

It was extremely hard for me to choose just one song as my favorite. After much thought, I selected the opening track on side 1 as my top pick. Green proclaimed that Jesus was the reason for the newfound love inside his soul. 

I also want to mention other all-time favorite songs on this superb album:   

•  “You’re Love Broken Through.”  Green co-wrote this song with Randy Stonehill and Todd Fishkind and his rendition of the tune followed Phil Keaggy’s version that was popular during 1976.  

•  “Easter Song.”  Green wrote an added verse to Annie Hearring’s penned song that the 2^nd Chapter of Acts recorded in 1974.  

• “He’ll Take Care of the Rest”  Features Green’s signature fast-paced, upbeat piano playing. Lyrics encourage believers to do their best on a daily basis and trust God with the outcome. 

• “When I Hear the Praises Start”  Song has an encouraging message.: That God promises that when His people offer true praise, He wants to rain down blessings to fill up their hearts. 

Without a doubt, “To Him Who Has Ears to Hear” by Keith Green is my #1 favorite Jesus Music album from the 70s. 

That wraps things up for my countdown and message on 70s Jesus Rock albums. Obviously, my article is not a definitive listing with the hundreds of Christians artists and albums that were released by the end of 1979. 

I want to invite anyone who is a fan of Jesus Music or Contemporary Christian Music from the 70s, to comment on this topic.  I welcome your response. 

For those commenting on this topic, what are your favorite CCM artists and/or albums from the 70s that recorded Christian rock songs?  

I leave you with lyrics written by Larry Norman in 1972 below: “Why should the devil have all the good music? There’s nothing wrong with what we play. Jesus is the rock and He rolled my blues away.” 

As always, Rock on!  

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