MY MUSICAL PREFERENCES

"Christians should NEVER listen to secular music." Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that argument, I'd be wealthy enough to split my time between a beachhouse in Waikiki, a condo in Panama City, and a cottage on the coast of New England.

No, I don't believe secular music has any place in a church worship service-lyrically or melodically (even if the lyrics have been re-written with "Christian lyrics" to appear or to seem suddenly God-glorifying). But I don't believe we are required to completely omit secular music from our lives. When I listen to secular music, it is purely for the enjoyment I get out of listening to good music--much like the enjoyment I would get from a good novel, a good theatrical production, or a good movie. (Emphasis on "good" music, and what I mean by "good" is the sound, the songwriting technique, the mix, etc.) However, I don't listen to it expecting (or desiring) any kind of spiritual edification. For example, if I'm listening to U-2, I'm not expecting some great spiritual insight from Bono, but rather, some great technical quality in the music, vocals, or production of the recording. As I stated in my preceeding post, music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Fellow blogger and brother in Christ, Nathan White, (whom I agree with on many topics), presents a different slant with his take on the topic, and has posted an interesting article on Christians listening to secular music over on his blog, "Preach the Word; Be Ready in Season and Out of Season." The title of his article is: "Secular Music: Harmless Entertainment, or Dangerous for the Redeemed?"
Now, I don't necessarily listen to secular music on a daily basis--and admittedly, that's not by choice--but rather, simply by virtue of the fact that frankly, there just isn't enough time in the day. For my daily prayer time, devotional time, and worship time, I always have GENUINE Christian worship music playing in the background. It's conducive to getting the most out of that time.

On the rare occasion that I get the opportunity to listen to secular "ear candy," there are some choice artists that wind up in the CD changer or on the Ipod. A lot of the music that earns playing time are boxed sets. Artist anthologies are my first choice; greatest hits compilations are a close second.

You'll notice that my list of Christian music is about half the size of my list of secular music. You may take that as an indication that I listen to more secular music than Christian music, but nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, I'm just very particular about the "Christian" music I listen to, and/or trust to be scripturally sound (which is a topic for another day in my little "buttoned-down" corner of blogland).

You also may notice that there are only six female vocalists on my lists. I simply prefer male vocals. And noticably missing are albums in the country music genre.......don't get me started.......as mentioned in my profile, I consider it the musical equivalent to bamboo under my fingernails (or fingernails on a chalkboard). And in a city famous for its country music artists, it becomes rather comical when you see the irony of my residing here. (Alright, the country music rant is tongue-in-cheek........I don't completely despise all country music; I can force myself to tolerate a few country music artists. At times).

By the way, my children are still at an impressionable age. They have never heard of most of the secular artists, with the exception of Bach, Beethoven, The Dillards, Taylor Hicks, and Bob Dylan, and music is one of many areas I strive to shade them in until they are old enough to discern what types of music can be listened to in order to fulfill different purposes in a believer's life. And who knows, by the time they reach that point, perhaps some of the secular artists may have come to the knowledge of Christ and professed Him as Lord.

And so, without further adieu,.......my personal musical playlist, not necessarily in order of preference.......the secular is a rather eclectic assortment, no less.

CHRISTIAN/WORSHIP

Keith Green-The Ministry Years 1977-1979, Volume 1
Keith Green-The Ministry Years 1977-1979, Volume 2
Keith Green-The Ministry Years 1980-1982, Volume 1
Keith Green-The Ministry Years 1980-1982, Volume 2
(It's Keith Green....what else needs to be said?)
(Discovery House Music) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross: Great Hymns of Isaac Watts
Steve Camp-Desiring God
Steve Camp-Mercy in the Wilderness
Steve Camp-Abandoned to God
Steve Camp-Consider the Cost
Steve Camp-Taking Heaven By Storm
Steve Camp-Justice
Steve Camp-After God's Own Heart
Steve Camp-Shake Me to Wake Me
Steve Camp-One on One
Steve Camp-It's A Dying World
Steve Camp-Fire and Ice
(It's Steve Camp....what else needs to be said?)
2nd Chapter of Acts-Hymns
2nd Chapter of Acts-Hymns 2
2nd Chapter of Acts-Hymns Collection (Instrumental)
Indelible Grace-Indelible Grace
Indelible Grace-Pilgrim Days
Indelible Grace-For All the Saints
Indelible Grace-Beams of Heaven
(All the above music dominates my listening time, for the most part)

SECULAR
Norah Jones-Come Away with Me
Billy Joel-Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2
Billy Joel-Greatest Hits Volume 3
Elton John-Greatest Hits 1970-2002
James P. Johnson-The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945
(1940's Harlem stride)
Stevie Wonder-The Definitive Collection
Dianne Reeves-A Little Moonlight
Ray Charles-Anthology
(Has Ray's version of "America the Beautiful")
Bob Dylan-Slow Train Comin'
Benny Goodman-The Very Best of Benny Goodman
Sam Cooke-The Man Who Invented Soul
The Beatles-With the Beatles
The Beatles-1962-1966
The Beatles-1967-1970
The Beatles-Let it Be
The Beatles-Live at the Hollywood Bowl
(cassette version-not yet released on CD)
Otis Redding-The Very Best of Otis Redding, Volume 1
Joe Cocker-The Anthology
Nat King Cole-The Greatest Hits
CCR-Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits"
Little River Band-Definitive Collection
Billie Holiday-Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday
REO Speedwagon-The Essential REO Speedwagon
Frank Sinatra-The Very Best of Frank Sinatra
Aretha Franklin-Aretha'a Best
Bob Seger-Greatest Hits
Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski- Walt Disney's Fantasia: Original Soundtrack
(Selections from Bach, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, and Schubert)
Ella Fitzgerald-Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald
Bruce Springsteen-The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Jill Scott-Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2
Jackson Browne-The Very Best of Jackson Brown
Jools Holland-Jools Holland's Big Band Rythym & Blues
(features remakes of R&B classics in duet form-duets with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, and others....interesting results)
Supertramp-The Very Best of Supertramp
Doobie Brothers-Greatest Hits
(Multiple orchestras)-Masters of Classical Music
(This is a "greatest hits" of sorts, a comprehensive 10-disc set featuring the works of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Chopin, Schubert, and Verdi)
Steely Dan-Greatest Hits
Stanley Clark-The Bass-ic Collection
The Four Tops-50th Anniversary Anthology
Rod Stewart-The Very Best of Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart-Encore: The Very Best Of, Vol. 2
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles-Greatest Hits
Gino Vanelli-Ultimate Collection
Pablo Cruise-The Milennium Collection: The Best of Pablo Cruise
The Dillards-There is a Time (1963-1970) (the bluegrass group who portrayed "The Darlings" on The Andy Griffith Show. Nice acapella harmony on their "Yesterday" cover).
The Police-Every Breath You Take: The Classics
Phil Collins-Hits
Kansas-Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004
Etta James-The Essential Etta James

Player-Baby Come Back: the Best of Player
The Temptations-Anthology: Best of
John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band-Eddie & the Cruisers Soundtrack
Kenny Wayne-Let It Loose (awesome contemporary blues pianist)
Jamie Cullum-Twentysomething
Stanley Jordan-The Best of Stanley Jordan
Taylor Hicks-Under the Radar (this is the rising star of the current season of American Idol, and the 7-song album is a local release in Birmingham, Alabama) .

So, there you have it; there are a few more I'll be adding, but for now that's pretty much the spectrum.

In the words of Denver Pyle's character, "Briscoe Darling," (from "The Andy Griffith Show,") "If you got time for breathin,' you got time for music."