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Christian Music in the 1980s

While much of the world danced and juked their heads to popular rock, pop, hip-hop, country, and other music styles in the 1980s, another music form surfaced to tickle those who were looking for a unique and heavenly nucleus.  Rock and roll or pop Christian music had its earliest start when the band Petra pioneered the Christian rock and Contemporary Christian Music genres in the early 1970s.  The thrust for both genres into being readily heard did not surface until the early 1980s, however.

Combining the instruments, synthesizers, beats, and various similar styles of those in the secular competition, this music style allowed the listener another option to rock out while equally praising God.  Amy Grant, who is known as the “Queen of Christian pop music” along with a multitude of other artists, have written and delivered an assortment of enjoyable and foot thumping music countering the secular genres.

As the music style became plentiful, other Christian music genres arose to include hip-hop (or rap), heavy metal, country, and even parodies arrived to enable the believer an alternative to the secular music library.  Equally, dedicated radio stations that once were primarily sermons and chorally sung hymnals saw their programming integrated with or exclusively move over to the popular music.  Music videos arrived with moving portrayals or simply the band performing their song from various angles, however the bulk of these videos were either found on religious programming channels or purchased by fans via television commercials or mail order.

As with any “new” music came the “nay-sayers” and “heathen” extremists who denied use of the songs within certain congregations.  In equal disparage, select hymnal publishing companies found themselves split and reluctant to add the new contemporary Christian music into the hymnal.  One of the main reluctances to adopting the songs as hymn or playing/singing the newer songs is rooted in the addition of drums.  Nonetheless, a separately published chorus or praise and worship book was available and accompanied the hymnals within the book pockets along the church pews.

Accompanying the recorded music came the concerts from the various artists.  A fan or a group of friends, the church’s youth group, and so on could purchase tickets to attend a live concert to both see and hear their favorite Christian artist, much like their secular counterparts.  The various concerts ranged from the smaller venues within churches, to the typical concert sized filling arenas, and on to the enormous multi-artist/group venues such as Jesus Fest, Creation festival (CreationFest), and Alive Festival which are just a few of the many that were either founded in or flourished in the 1980s.

Finally, we include the top Christian hits compiled by http://www.topchristianhits.org/christian_music_1980s_songs.html:

1980 Top Christian AC Songs	1981 Top Christian AC Songs
1)  Got To Tell Somebody - Don Francisco	1)  Soldier Of The Light - Andrus, Blackwood & Company
2)  I'm Forgiven - Imperials	2)  Happy Family - Gary Dunham
3)  Jesus You're So Wonderful - Andrus, Blackwood & Company	3)  The Trumpet Of Jesus - Imperials
4)  All You Need - Farrell & Farrell	4)  I'm Yours  - Jamie Owens-Collins
5)  I'll Be Thinking Of You - Andrae Crouch	5)  Shine On - Joe English
6)  A Broken Heart - Dallas Holm & Praise	6)  No Other One - Dallas Holm w/ Debbie Amstutz
7)  We Are Persuaded - Bill Gaither Trio	7)  Rejoice - 2nd Chapter Of Acts
8)  Do Right - Paul Davis	8)  I'm Born Again - Glenn Garrett
9)  One Step Closer - Scott Wesley Brown	9)  Star Of The Morning - Leon Patillo
10)  Jesus On My Mind - B.J. Thomas	10)  I'd Rather Believe In You - Imperials
1982 Top Christian AC Songs	1983 Top Christian AC Songs
1)  Sing Your Praise To The Lord - Amy Grant	1)  We Will Stand - Russ Taff
2)  I Saw The Lord - Dallas Holm & Praise	2)  Cornerstone - Leon Patillo
3)  The Coloring Song - Petra	3)  He Will Carry You - Scott Wesley Brown
4)  Talk To One Another - Brown Bannister	4)  More Power To Ya - Petra
5)  Nobody Knows Me Like You - Benny Hester	5)  Great Is The Lord - Michael W. Smith
6)  El Shaddai - Amy Grant	6)  More Than Wonderful - Sandi Patti
7)  Love Song For #2 - Mickey & Becki Moore	7)  Come Celebrate Jesus - Cynthia Clawson
8)  The Best - Dion	8)  Step Out Of The Night - Andrus, Blackwood & Company
9)  Drawin' From The Well - Holm, Sheppard, & Johnson	9)  Stubborn Love - Kathy Troccoli
10)  But You Didn't - Steve Archer	10)  And You Know It's Right - David Meece
1984 Top Christian AC Songs	1985 Top Christian AC Songs
1)  The Warrior Is A Child - Twila Paris	1)  Let The Wind Blow - Imperials
2)  Angels - Amy Grant	2)  Strength Of My Life - Leslie Phillips
3)  Army Of The Lord - Harvest	3)  Look Who Loves You Now - Michele Pillar
4)  Let The Whole World Sing - DeGarmo & Key	4)  Silent Love - Russ Taff
5)  Through His Eyes Of Love - Steve Archer	5)  Do Something Now - CAUSE
6)  We Are His Hands - White Heart	6)  Sing To The Lord - Sandi Patti
7)  Hosanna - Michael W. Smith	7)  Jerusalem - White Heart
8)  Wait Upon The Lord - Paul Smith w/ Imperials	8)  We Will See Him As He Is - Sandi Patti
9)  Our Love - Roby Duke & Kelly Willard	9)  Find A Way - Amy Grant
10)  Doer Of The Word - Dan Peek	10)  In The Promised Land - Imperials
1986 Top Christian AC Songs	1987 Top Christian AC Songs
1)  When God Ran - Benny Hester	1)  He Covers Me - Steve Camp
2)  Runner - Twila Paris	2)  Friend Of A Wounded Heart - Wayne Watson
3)  Was It A Morning Like This - Sandi Patti	3)  Prince Of Peace - Twila Paris
4)  You're The Same - Leslie Phillips	4)  Whatever You Ask - Steve Camp
5)  One Thing Leads To Another - Leon Patillo	5)  Wings Of Love - Imperials
6)  Your Kindness - Leslie Phillips	6)  Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened - Petra
7)  Safe - Marilyn McCoo & Steve Archer	7)  Fly, Eagle, Fly - White Heart
8)  Rocketown - Michael W. Smith	8)  Here - Kim Boyce
9)  Thankful Heart - Petra	9)  Verge Of A Miracle - Rich Mullins
10)  Lonely People - Dan Peek	10)  Can't Stop Talking About Him - Gaither Vocal Band
1988 Top Christian AC Songs	1989 Top Christian AC Songs
1)  Saved By Love - Amy Grant	1)  The Throne - Michael W. Smith
2)  Humble Yourself - 2nd Chapter Of Acts	2)  Sweet Love - First Call
3)  The Reason We Sing - First Call	3)  Heaven - BeBe & CeCe Winans
4)  Thank You - Ray Boltz	4)  More To This Life - Steven Curtis Chapman
5)  Make His Praise Glorious - Sandi Patti	5)  My Turn Now - Steven Curtis Chapman
6)  His Eyes - Steven Curtis Chapman	6)  Forever Friends - Sandi Patti
7)  Every Heart That Is Breaking- Twila Paris	7)  Healing - Deniece Williams
8)  Again And Again - Mylon & Broken Heart	8)  Sweet Victory - Twila Paris
9)  Awesome God )      - Rich Mullins	9)  Testimony - Kim Hill
10)  First Love - Petra	10)  Farther On - Russ Taff

Additional Resources:

https://joshbalogh.wordpress.com/2024/07/17/100-greatest-christian-albums-of-the-80s-in-process/