January  2002

Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College and author of more than 25 books on Christian apologetics, has asked one question to the many Catholics he has spoken to over the years. “If you were to die, and God asked you why he should let you into Heaven, what would you tell Him?” Most could not answer, or gave one that is about being a good person and doing good works. It is amazing how many people still do not know that Jesus died for our sins, so we may be able to enter His Heavenly Kingdom. All we have to do first and foremost is believe! Jesus Christ is our Savior.

The minute I heard Pope John Paul II say “Are you ready for it?” on Tom Booth’s CD Change Me, I understood why there has been so much fuss over this album. The sound bite is from the award winning song “Taste of Heaven”, which has other samples of the Holy Father on it as well. This is a love song for the Holy Eucharist. "Taste of Heaven “ was named Rock Song of the Year in 2000 by the United Catholic Music and Video Association. Just last month Tom was given the UNITY Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Tom's music is exciting and evangelical, combining rock/pop, jazz, reggae, gospel, praise and choral styles. With musical influences from both secular and Christian sources, Tom’s goal is to write music that reaches where "life is lived," music that is truly scriptural and liturgical—not watered down for a young audience. He has reached that goal with “Change Me”.  What “Subterranean Homesick Blues” was to Bob Dylan, “What You Gonna Do?” is to Tom Booth. It’s just one of those tunes that helps show his talents and brings forth truth. Striking lyrics like “You made TV your only friend, What you gonna do when you're all alone?” will hit home for many.  Rockin’ guitarist licks like those of Eric Clapton or The Band highlight this song.  The title track of the CD Change Me has a beautiful piano prelude then rocks into powerful lyrics from someone who knows he needs God and knows his life must be different. “I ask you Lord to change me…I need you more than yesterday...”   One of the gems of the CD is "My Lady," which closes the album the way the Church closes her night prayers, with petitions and veneration to Mary.  “Be Forgiven” is a very beautiful song that could answer Dr. Kreeft’s question: “Be forgiven...Jesus died and rose so we may know his love and…be forgiven.”

We are pleased to now be offering a back catalogue of Tom Booth CDs. Among them is his first self-titled CD, Tom Booth, which has songs from his early days at Lifeteen.  

Tom was commissioned to write and perform songs for Mother Teresa and the theme song—"Cry The Gospel"—for the youth event during Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1999. This and other great songs are available on Cry the Gospel. 
One of his most popular CDs is Find Us Ready. It is a liturgical collection featuring the hit song "I Will Choose Christ". This song captured the #1 spot on Christian radio stations across the country. “Find Us Ready” is a lively and practical collection that gathers together the best of Tom's music and songs that have proven themselves before tens of thousand of teens in parishes and youth ministries around the country.

Speaking of youth, give a listen to News At Eleven. Their CD is called Have You Not Heard?  This is a youth choir from California that ministers at the 11am Mass (thus the name) each Sunday. Don’t expect the kind of group singing that you may hear at Six Flags or King's Dominion. It is much, much better!  This is a tight chorale singing songs that you hear at Mass. Harmonies on songs like “Eat This Bread,” “Here I Am, O Lord,” and “Praise to You” make this CD different. “We tried to take songs you probably already know just from going to church on Sunday, and put an unusual spin on them," says NAE producer Matt MacPhail.  The spirit of this approach can be seen most clearly in Rich Fineza's soaring improvisations in "Peace Is Flowing Like a River" and the group's a cappella take on the universally known "I Am The Bread Of Life."  The title track, “Have You Not Heard,” is a line from the song, "I Will Never Forget You," which is drawn from chapters 40-50 of Isaiah. The song reminds us that God is always with us, even during the darkest times in our lives.

Also hailing from California comes Connie Salazar. Connie's most recent release, Journey of Faith, offers a broad variety of music, from Father Patrick's ever joyful "Magnificat" to the Spanish traditional tune "Pescador de hombres".  The folk side of Connie shines in “There’s An Angel.”  With Linda Ronstandt vocals, Connie belts out this song about not being afraid to meet her destiny because of her guardian angel's ever-vigilant protection.  Other classic hymns include “How Great Thou Art,”  “Amazing Grace,” and “The King Of Love My Shepherd Is.”  Connie developed her talent and music skills by singing in talent shows, variety shows, and high school musical productions at an early age. At seventeen, she had to deal with one of the toughest struggles of her life--her father's ill health and subsequent death. Since then, Connie has continued her music ministry as cantor for churches throughout southern California.   Connie Salazar released her first full-length album in 1997, called I Heard a Gentle Call. CMN also offers this beautiful sounding CD with songs like “Holy, O Lord Most High,”  “Bread for the World Broken,” and Twila Paris’ “How Beautiful”.

Superb! That is a word I have NEVER used on a review before. But it works with the next CD. I have been an admirer of Kitty Cleveland ever since seeing her on EWTN’s “Life On The Rock,”  when she was promoting her CD Surrender. I am happy we are able to sell her new CD, Sacred Arias.  And when I say new—I mean it!  It was just pressed the middle of last month.

The name of the CD, “Sacred Arias,” says it all.

Webster’s says: a·ri·a  n. A solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, as in an opera.

Kitty’s voice, which has a three-octave range, has frequently been likened to a cello: rich, emotive, passionate and lyrical. Take her unique vocals and  add classical sacred works by masters like Bach, Mozart, and Schubert, and the combination rings out with tremendous focus and power. I could go on and on about the magnificence of Kitty's angelic vocals.  Kitty adds life to Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Handel’s “He Shall Feed His Flock” (from the classic “Messiah”), and Cesar Franck’s “Panis Angelicus”.  Kitty also submits not one, but two versions of Ave Maria. The one by Schubert and the one by Bach/Gounod are here.  Suffice it to say that even if you own any of these songs in some form, you should make an effort to hear this far more inspired interpretation.  Kitty says she finds that her “opera training has the ability to both lift the audience and glorify God. I want to sing in a way that would very clearly lead people to Christ.” One of her favorite quotes is from J.S. Bach.  He said, “All true music should have no other purpose than the glory of God and the recreation of the human soul.” 

  I talked with Kitty recently and she  says one of her songs has taken on an even deeper poignancy since the Sept. 11 attacks. “’Surrender’ is the one that really speaks to me about where our country is right now.  It's kind of eerie when you think of it from the perspective of the affluent who worked in the WTC buildings.”  The lyrics of this song go: ”I had it all: fortune, power, acclaim, worldly success, a respectable name. But then they vanished, illusions of safety.  My spirit was crushed.  I never thought I really needed a Messiah.  Now I saw clearly, illuminating fire . Then came the peace, touched so deeply by your mercy…”  Surrender is also now available from Catholic Music Network. Other songs include St. Francis’ prayer “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace,”  “Refiner’s Fire,” and “You Are Mine”.