Greg Long was a reliable presence in 1990s Contemporary Christian music. In the early 2000s, Greg joined Avalon (now Avalon Worship), that his wife Jenna belonged to. With that group still going strong, Greg Long hasn't released solo material in some time. But to mark 30 years since the release of his debut album, we take a look back at some of his hits through the years. How many do you remember?
Cross My Heart
Greg Long's debut was a duality between powerhouse emotional ballads and upbeat pop numbers. While the latter style produced cuts like "All Is Well" and "Talk About Jesus" that would become hits, and the duet with Margaret Becker "How Long" would be a strong introduction for Long to many listeners, I would say the most enduring hit from this collection is "What A Friend." You can feel the influence of John Elefante on this one, who helped produce the record, even though Long isn't the kind of vocalist Elefante typically produced.
The hook on "What A Friend" reminds me a lot of another one done by The Brave, also an Elefante production. (More on them in a future article.) It's a beautiful ballad declaring the immense love Christ has for us and the great comfort having Him as our friend brings to us. The song is both singable and moving, despite being a bit more complex of a chorus than many popular songs tend to be. A definite standout in Long's entire discography.
Days of Grace
My personal favorite from this album is the moving title track. It's a soft and tender ballad encouraging people to seek the face of Christ. But in terms of impact, I'd have to say the rousing "Love The Lord" had the biggest from this album. This song was all over Christian radio in 1996, and it's easy to see why. With a choral-backed chorus, this song was easy to sing and had a message so simple that it's essentially the message of the Gospel in a nutshell. Long's peppy poetic delivery of the verses helped elevate it above simple Sunday school level fare into one of the more memorable cuts of 1990s Christian radio. "Love All Around The World" is another hit similar in style to "Love The Lord" that will likely get your feet tapping.
Jesus Saves
Third albums are often very defining for artists. They are still new enough to not be industry veterans, but established enough that they need to balance both expectations and growth. This album found Long mastering this balance, with a string of popular hits such as the title track and "We Love You, Jesus." Arguably the album's signature hit is the emotional ballad "Mercy Said No" that is sure to both encourage you and maybe induce a few tears.
Now
As the sonic tastes of Christian music evolved in the nascent days of the new Millenium, so did Greg Long's sound. "Sufficiency of Grace" was a rock-infused guitar-driven single that got a lot of spins on radio. Its themes of God's grace being enough to get us through tough times made it a standout hit for the year. This might arguably be the last song of his initial run to make a strong impact at radio, but it's definitely among his best. "In The Waiting" was another notable cut from the record.
Born Again
The final (as of now) release from Greg Long as a solo artist. This album was a decidedly less commercial affair than his previous releases, but that simply let his sound come off as a bit less produced and more authentic. The title track was a popular song that I remember seeing the music video for a lot on Spirit TV back in the SkyAngel days. It's a signature anthemic hit of his, but with a bit more mysterious production in the verses that help make it a dynamic entry in his catalog of hits.
Do you remember Greg Long? What was your favorite song of his? Would you like him to release more solo projects in the future apart from his work with Avalon Worship?
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
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