Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Down the years California's Maranatha! played a seminal role in the development of both CCM and contemporary worship music. But Calvary Chapel sold the brand to Word Records some years back and since then Maranatha! has become more synonymous with rather bland worship music performed by faceless session musicians and singers. Since the mid-noughties CCLI have been publishing annual lists of the top praise songs used in worship in American churches. This CD is a selection of 25 of these songs given the Maranatha! treatment. Most emanate from the '70s and '80s and are sung in typical choral pop style. There are a few tracks that break the mould: "Wait On The Lord" features a soloist backed with an orchestra and "He Has Made Me Glad (I Will Enter His Gates)" is a good attempt at gospel style. But on the whole this is pretty dull stuff.

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