Carman - The Champion
List Price:
Our Price: $6.85
You Save: $3.13 (31%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.72 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: CarmanEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1994-09-06
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Prepare to Die
- Abundance of Rain
- Revive Us, Oh Lord
- Little Bit More Conviction
- It Happened to Me
- Destination Is There
- Fear Not My Child
- Love Can
- Champion
Free Music Notes for The Champion
Free Music Review: A bit overated but still Carman's finest album
Hit: 4 Stars
This was the album chosen by CCM Magazine to include in its book "The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music" [#99] (ASIN 0736902813) and while I feel it's nowhere near one of the 100 best Christian albums ever, it's definitely the best album in Carman's catalogue. Here, he was teamed with then-hot producer Keith Thomas (who's worked with Amy Grant among others) and crafts a peppy pop sound that was of the moment. While some have complained that this sounds "dated", discounting this record because of the synth and digi-drums is akin to asserting that NOTHING of musical worth came out of the 80s (not to mention completely gutting the new wave genre..).
Carman was one of the most popular figures of the 1980s in CCM circles. He was also quite controversial for his theology which leaned heavily on charismatic expression, "word of faith" healing, and at least hints that he empathized with prosperity gospel teachers. He also drew frequent criticism for legalism and ties to questionable "Jesus is a conservative Republican" themes in his music. ("America Again" from his album THE STANDARD especially fits this critique)
HIGHLIGHTS:
"A Little Bit More Conviction" is a call to be more careful about our behavior in front of non-believers as Christians. It's got a passionate Carman vocal and a good track to buoy it up. "Revive Us, Oh Lord" (#10 Christian hit) is almost hymnlike and did find a home for "special singing" in many churches that had members sing with soundtracks. The title track is definitely the centerpiece of the album..the battle between sin and salvation played out as a boxing match. It lodged at #1 on Christian radio for 4 weeks and it's worth every second of the 8 1/2 minutes it takes for the recitation to play out.
LOWS:
"Love Can" is a pretty trite "God loves everybody" ballad. It's boring to the extreme and loses a star for the album all by itself.
BOTTOM LINE:
Carman comes closest here to assembling lyrics that opaquely present the Gospel message while marrying it to timely music. Those who don't consider themselves of a charismatic stripe or in agreement with "Word of faith" teaching may not agree with all Carman says here (predominantly in "Prepare to Die" and "Abundance of Rain", a #14 Christian hit). There are no misguided genre attempts here..he sounds comfortable. If you're curious about his appeal, this is the one to start with.
3 1/2 stars
Christian & Gospel Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Carman: Christian Music and more
Carman Mission 3:16 Songbookby Carman
Published: 2000; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.50
Carmen; the Very Best; a Treasury of 45 songs from the ministry of CarmanDavis Brothers Publishing Co; Published: 1990; Spiral-bound; Book
Carman - The ChampionRelease date: 2001-05-15; DVD
Best price: $0.59
Price in other shops:
Carman in Concert - One Night OnlyRelease date: 2002-05-07; DVD
Best price: $9.09
Price in other shops:
![Carman: Video Hits Collection [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Carman: Video Hits Collection [VHS]Sparrow; Release date: 2001-03-13; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $39.97
![Carman - Mission 3:16, The Video (Music Videos: "Jesus is the Lamb, "The Courtroom," "The Prayer Anthem," "Slam," "We Are Not Ashamed" & "Mission 3:16") [VHS] Image](/images/Carman-Mission-3-16-The-Video-Music-Videos-Jesus-is-the-Lamb-The-Courtroom-The-Prayer-Anthem-Slam-We-Are-Not-Ashamed-Mission-3-16-VHS-B00000EZR4-X.jpg){kind=small}
Carman - Mission 3:16, The Video (Music Videos: "Jesus is the Lamb, "The Courtroom," "The Prayer Anthem," "Slam," "We Are Not Ashamed" & "Mission 3:16") [VHS]Sparrow Records; Release date: 1998-10-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $39.99
CARMAN : I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY : OLD TIME HYMNS SPECIAL ---TRINITY MUSIC; Published: 1999; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.49
Carman: Yo Kidz! The Vidz.Word; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Carmen R.I.O.T.: The RIOT Movie Parts 1 and 2 [VHS]Sparrow Records; Published: 1997-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Carman Live: Raising the Standard [VHS] Image](/images/Carman-Live-Raising-the-Standard-VHS-6303368778-X.jpg){kind=small}
Carman Live: Raising the Standard [VHS]Capitol; Release date: 1995-01-24; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Carman - Heart of a ChampionRelease date: 2000-10-24; Music CD
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops:
Carman - The Early Ministry YearsRelease date: 2002-05-28; Music CD
Best price: $21.47
Carman - Live: Radically SavedRelease date: 1993-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $19.99
Carman - R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth)Release date: 1995-10-31; Music CD
Best price: $9.16
Price in other shops:
Carman - The StandardRelease date: 1993-10-05; Music CD
Best price: $34.93
Carman - Addicted to JesusRelease date: 1993-12-07; Music CD
Best price: $59.63
Carman - Mission 3:16Release date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
Carman - Comin' on StrongRelease date: 1992-04-28; Music CD
Best price: $49.99
Carman - Revival in the LandRelease date: 1990-04-25; Music CD
Best price: $53.37
Carman - The Absolute BestRelease date: 1993-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops: