Issue #14
07-27-2003
by Michael Janke

Got a burning question? Trying to understand recent events? Need clarification on a rumor? Want to know how and why things happen the way they do? Ask CMCentral!

Welcome back to a belated edition of Ask CMCentral. I always hate missing a column week because the mail starts to pile up, and I know how much you love to read AskCMC. Right? Right? Currently on my hot list: Amy Grant's Simple Things, Stacie Orrico's self-titled, Kelly Clarkson's Thankful, Plumb's "Boys Don't Cry," and Rascal Flatts' "Mayberry."

I've received e-mail indicating that Jaci Velasquez is getting married in mid-August. So congratulations to the soon-to-be-happily-married couple.

Michael Bruneau was reading through the AskCMC archives and sent in some great information on an old question about Ron Goliner (Rock Power Praise II): "Ron Goliner was the singer/keyboardist for the early 80's rock band Northbound. They released one album on Myrrh records in 1983 (which I own). An interesting fact about this album is that it was produced by Bill Botterel...who would go on and produce Sheryl Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club CD about 10 years later."

Kate Burnett wrote to let us know that she actually did find a copy of the edited version of A Walk To Remember: Family Edition, back in January. She found it online at bestbuy.com but since that was the only place she ever saw it she assumes the quantity was limited. She writes: " I found the edits done very well, with some new dialogue in some places and bad over-dubs in others.. They did edit mostly all of the swears and obscenity. I was very pleased with it."

No one wrote with any info on last issue's Idle Cure stumper.

A big thanks to one of my swell readers (he knows who he is), who bought me a little something off of my Amazon.com wish list last week. I'm currently enjoying it, and learning a lot in the process.

Reality television update. So I tried watching that show, For Love or Money 2, and it was a painful experience. I'm not a big fan of The Bachelor, to show context for my remarks, but I just did not enjoy this one. It was bad - not Joe Millionaire-bad, but pretty bad. I'll not be watching again in the future. The Amazing Race, on the other hand, was incredible. Millie and Chuck should be ashamed, though. The fact that they were eliminated by a team that actually attempted to get the Fast Forward gives them an automatic slot in the Reality TV Hall of Shame. That's two times in a row that I've been disappointed by who was eliminated, since I was beginning to like the models in the show where they came in last. The final four are all solid racers, though, so it should be a fun race to the finish.

On with this week's questions.

Q: I was wondering what the word on Rita Springer is? A friend recently directed me to her stuff, and she appears to be on a division of Word Records. I was surprised to even find her stuff in a Christian bookstore; but CMCentral has no info on her, and the info the web offers seems pretty limited. Apparently she is a worship leader, and just released an album called Effortless. Do you have any other information about her? And how would I go about submitting her name for addition in the artist database for CMCentral?
    Mark

A: When our forum moderators write in with questions, they get answered first. :) Vineyard Music fans have long been familiar with Rita Springer. Rita was a worship leader associated with Vineyard long before her official solo debut on Floodgate Records (distributed by Word), back in 2000. She has since recorded three albums: All I Have, Created To Worship, and her latest, Effortless. You can visit her official website here. As for the artist database, contact the site's editor, Robin Parrish.

Q: I was wondering why you don't have as many features on hip-hop artists as you do rock/indie artists, if people who listen to secular music have hip-hop artists at the top of their charts, they would also like to listen to the same music if it were gospel. Why is CCM so biased? Dove Awards only have one or two hip hop-related awards. I asked you a similar question two weeks ago but it was snubbed. Could you please give me an answer this time?
    Tomi

A: No question is ever "snubbed." As it clearly states at the bottom of the page, I cannot answer all of the questions that I receive. Or even half of them. Sometimes a question sits in my archives for months before I am able to get to it, and some questions will never be answered. It's just how it is. That being said, the essence of your question is a loaded one, and one that I am planning on doing an opinion column on in the near future. The obvious fact is that hip-hop gets nowhere near the attention in Christian music circles as it does in the mainstream. The reasons for this are many, and they are complicated. There are no easy answers, but if Christian music wishes to continue to grow (sales-wise), and to be relevant to an entire generation of young people, it must adapt and it must adapt soon. Toby Mac has been a powerful voice for change on this issue and has led the way by signing some great acts to Gotee. Hopefully I can write more on this soon, because it's an important issue that deserves the attention. Until then, feel free to visit our forum and start a discussion of your own.

Q: I tried my best to get to Creation and see Steve Taylor, but my efforts were in vain. Please tell me I will have another chance to see him perform elsewhere soon. Thanks for keeping us informed!
    Jack

A: Well, I could tell you that, but I'm not sure if Steve would appreciate me making things up on his behalf. If you want all of the latest Steve Taylor news, including the story on the demise of Squint, straight from Steve's own mouth, click his interview here. If ever there was a must-read, you're looking at it.

Q: Okay, I understand many artists record different versions of the same song for different radio formats (AC,CHR, etc). I am anxious to find what I believe is the AC version of Avalon's "If My People Pray". It's less intense than the CD version and I've loved it for a while now but I have no idea where to look. Do they actually sell these different versions as singles and if so, where can I get it?
    Jen

A: No, you are generally out of luck. Though there are now a handful of CD singles available in the Christian market, historically the single has been non-existent there. The single has been dying for years now in the mainstream, though with the recent success of American Idol contestants and current industry conditions some are pushing for a renewed emphasis on singles (which would be super-smart, imo). Anyway, the song that you are specifically requesting is not available for sale except for the album version on In A Different Light.

Q: When I was younger (so much younger than today), I remember flipping on a Christian music video program called Z-TV. One day, they played a parody of Michael W Smith's "Place in This World", only it was called "Face in this World", and featured a Smitty look alike playing the piano, with his head bandaged. I'm just curious about who exactly did this parody, and were there other songs like this?
    Marion

A: That was Mark Lowry you are remembering, during the phase of his career where he was somewhat of the Christian Weird Al. He also did parodies of songs such as "The Great Adventure," "Another Time, Another Place," and "I Surrender All." Find his album or video Mouth In Motion (the cover is similar to Amy Grant's Heart In Motion) if you want to purchase the parody you requested.

Q: Where are the links to the charts you mention in your articles? I know radioandrecords.com but lost everything on my hard drive so now I can't remember the website for the PDAdvisor charts.
    Mark

A: Try http://www.thepdadvisor.com and http://www.radioandrecords.com.

Q:I am just wondering when Nikki Leonti she going to make a new CD? She seems to have disappeared from radio. I love her music and wish that others (the radio) would appreciate it that much too. Even though she didn't do things the way others think she should have she is still human with complete love for God. Her music is great and I wish she would come back!
    Denise

A: Denise, from what I understand Nikki has moved away from Nashville for personal reasons and is not currently pursuing a recording career in the Christian music industry.

Q: I am the Programming Manager for a community Christian station on the east coast of Australia. We have been on air for 14 months. We are serviced with current radio singles by a number of distributors over here, but these services have only been running for a maximum of 4 years. Can you tell me if there is a site, or sites where I can find out the details of released radio singles pre-1999?
    Scott

A: Unfortunately, Scott, I know of no such website. If anyone out there can correct me on that, please do.

Q: What has happened to Collective Soul? I know that Ross left the band, but I thought they were working on a new album? Any info would be great!
    Jeremy

A: From what I understand the band was let go from Atlantic in a roster purge. However, they are continuing on and are working on new material now. They were supposed to have a new album out this year, but it looks as if that has been pushed back to spring of 2004.

Q: Okay, Stacie Orrico is supposed to be light in the World. Why does she never talk about her Faith in God?
    Andrea

A: I'll be honest: I really don't understand questions like this. Never? How many of us are actually around these artists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Or even a fraction of that amount? That being said, from all I see Stacie is quite vocal about her faith. She is not ashamed of the name of Jesus, but even when she doesn't specifically talk about him I have always seen her be eloquent, graceful, and Christ-like in the way she carries herself and interacts with her fans and the media. As Michael W. Smith reminded all of us at the concert I recently saw, St. Francis once said to "preach always, and if necessary use words."

Q: Will Sandi Patty be inducted into the GMA Hall of Frame next year?
    Joyce

A: I don't know. But if not next year then in a future time. The woman has one of the most amazing voices that I have ever heard, and she dominated the Christian music scene in the 1980's, almost defining what "inspirational" music was to sound like. She is a sure bet to be inducted. Others who seem like a lock are Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris, Stryper, Rich Mullins, DeGarmo and Key, White Heart, Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Steve Taylor, etc. Because of the time requirements, they are only now getting around to inducting names that are more familiar to fans of CCM.

Q: Can you tell me if Crystal Lewis has any plans on releasing a new album anytime soon.
    Josh

A: Well, she just recently released another hymns album and they are still working that project so while I don't have any concrete information for you my guess would be that we won't see anything new from her until winter at the very earliest.

Q: Could you tell me how much the tickets will be for the Festival Con Dios concert at Des Moines will be? That would be a big help, thank you.
    Erica

A: Actually, I can't. But if you visit iTickets.com I bet that they could.

Q: I know your probably tired of the question "do you think so and so is a Christian"? But back when Jessica Simpson first came out, she claimed to be a Christian. I think that's great, however as I look at her pics on the website and listen to her new single "Sweetest Sin" on her up and coming album In This Skin I tend to wonder what kind of message she's getting across.
    George

A: To be honest, George, I wonder that myself. Being a big pop music fan, I was interested in Simpson from the start, especially when I heard her story about how she initially wanted to sign to a Christian label, her father was a youth pastor who would tour with her to help her make good choices, etc. But ever since the release of her second album it seemed that her signals started to change; slowly at first and then quite blatantly. So I'm just as puzzled as the next person. You ask what kind of message she's trying to send? It seems clear that it's a different message than when she first started recording. It cannot be easy, dealing with the success and the pressures of life in the public eye, and I'm sure that she has temptations that I'll never face. And while I will not judge her Christianity - that is between her and God - I am greatly saddened disappointed in the example she's set in public and the message she sends to girls (and guys) with her music and videos.

Q: I am dying to know what is going to happen to Cindy Morgan. On your website, you have her listed as not being with Word Records anymore. Do you have any new information as to when or if she plans to record again and if there is any kind of recording contract in her future? It's a shame that such a talent is left without a contract!
    Bill

A: Ahh, another Cindy Morgan fan. My heart is warmed. Group hug! Okay, nevermind. Bill, the last I heard from my inside source, Cindy is not focusing on recording right now. She has indeed parted way with Word Records - that company just did not know what to do with the type of music that she was recording, which is a shame. She had been working in LA, focusing on writing with a partner, but as of a few months ago I am not sure of her status or future plans. If I learn anything more about her I will post it here. Just so you all know, I love Cindy. She was one of my favorite artists in the 90's and I think she has more talent in her little finger than half of the people signed to contracts today have in their entire body - and I say that in the nicest possible way. She's also one of the sweetest and kindest women that I've ever met (albeit briefly) in my entire life. Hopefully for us we will indeed hear more from her in the future.

Stumper of the Week

Q: Whatever happened to rockers Tragedy Ann? I know their label (Organic Records) folded a few years back but I haven't heard of them resurfacing anywhere. Since they aren't included in the missing artists section, I think it's OK to write to Ask CMCentral. Thanks for any help.
    Tim

A: I don't know, Tim. Their website has a mysterious message on it and I have heard no other news. If anyone else has any information, please write in.

That wraps up this issue. Keep the questions coming, to ask@cmcentral.com. I'll be back next Monday with my opinion column, and AskCMC will return the week after.
          Michael Janke

There is a brand new section of CMCentral for Missing Artists. It's quite thorough and updated, so please visit there before you send me any new questions on missing bands. I will not answer any question that can be answered by clicking over to that portion of the site unless there is breaking news of some sort.

Please include your name with all submissions. No name, no answer. All questions are subject to editing. Not all questions can be answered due to editorial and other considerations, and personal replies are not possible.