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1981 seemed to be a light year in terms of "number of Christian Rock albums", but there were some historic gems, including
Alarma (Benson) from Daniel Amos, which was the innovative band's full launch into the New Wave sound. Alarma
became a four-part chronicle over the next six years, and a whole new fan-base developed across the country.
Christian bookstores started stocking more Christian Rock music during this time, even though there was a scare of backwards-masking
going on in the church that attracted nation attention. The witch-hunt dissipated after a few years, and the Third Wave
of the Pentecostal movement exploded on the seen, as the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard churches multiplied outward from California
to the world. Bands like Daniel Amos rode the wave.
Petra took technology to the highest levels with their Never Say Die album that year under the StarSong label.
Constant touring in faraway places took Petra to the top of the heap, in terms of universal popularity. Their professional
sound and stage presence took them to the biggest festivals and headlining events over the next decade. They epitomized the
Christian ministry band...one of the first 80s arena bands, along with Broken Heart and DeGarmo and Key.
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Rick Cua, former bass player for The Outlaws, put out his first Christian Rock project in 1981. He soon became
a festival favorite, participating in Compassion Band charity events with Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, and other rockers
of the era. Stonehill's Glory and the Flame came out that year as well, produced by Daniel Amos' Terry Taylor.
DeGarmo and Key also came out with their This Ain't Hollywood album, which explored more of their Memphis roots
and helped guide them through an expanding national ministry. Sweet Comfort Band was another big group of that
era, and their Heart of Fire songs revealed more of their rock elements, fused with pop vocals and jazz-tinged.
One of the most hard-rocking and popular albums once again came from the Resurrection Band's Mommy Don't Love Daddy
Anymore. Teenagers and collegiates ate it up across the country, and Rez continued to make their JPUSA into an
epicenter for the Christian Rock sub-culture.
Historically, the biggest "spiritual" album of the year came out of Ireland. October, by U2, took the
Dublin band to the next level in their rapid rise to "greatest band on the planet". With many references to their born-again
experiences, U2 mixed cutting-edge New Wave rock music with Christianity like no others...a foreshadowing of the days to come.
The music reached new heights at all of the festivals that year. More fans participated in these outdoor events
in 1981...Ichthus in Kentucky, Creation in Pennsylvania, Greenbelt in England, Flevo in The Netherlands, and several others.
The money was there for more artists to tour to places that their album distribution made via the growing industry.
Magazines continued to add to the whole scene, and CCM led the way with John Styll at the helm. JPUSA's
Cornerstone also had a national audience by this time, and the word about Christian Rock spread to more destinations
in America and beyond.
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