Disco de Amy Grant: “Unguarded”

Many casual listeners mistakenly believe "Heart In Motion" was Amy's first pop crossover album. Nope. It was this one.

Light years removed from her previous acoustic sounds and soft-pop feel, "Unguarded" was a masterfully produced turbo-charged bombshell that forever altered not only Amy's career but Contemporary Christian Music as well. From the first blasts of the first track, it shattered every pre-conceived notion about Amy to millimicrons.

With singles aggressively cross-marketed to pop radio and Amy's first Top 40 hit ("Find a Way"), it was a litmus test for many's idea of genuine faith. Conservatives considered her a sell-out who was using her God-given talent, her beautiful face, and inoffensive lyrics to lead young people into a false sense of spiritual security. Moderates were secretly anxious to see how well the album was received but mindful to observe her public integrity. Liberals were saying ... well, they didn't say much. They were listening to Huey Lewis.

Every pop success enjoyed by Amy or any other Christian crossover artist (from Michael W. Smith to Jars of Clay to Jessica Simpson) can be traced to this album - which still holds up well today.

Many casual listeners mistakenly believe "Heart In Motion" was Amy's first pop crossover album. Nope. It was this one.

Light years removed from her previous acoustic sounds and soft-pop feel, "Unguarded" was a masterfully produced turbo-charged bombshell that forever altered not only Amy's career but Contemporary Christian Music as well. From the first blasts of the first track, it shattered every pre-conceived notion about Amy to millimicrons.

With singles aggressively cross-marketed to pop radio and Amy's first Top 40 hit ("Find a Way"), it was a litmus test for many's idea of genuine faith. Conservative Christians considered her a sell-out who was using her God-given talent, her beautiful face, and inoffensive lyrics to lead young people into a false sense of spiritual security. Moderates were secretly anxious to see how well the album was received but mindful to observe her public integrity. Liberal Christians were saying ... well, they didn't say much. They were listening to Huey Lewis.

Every pop success enjoyed by Amy or any other Christian crossover artist (from Michael W. Smith to Jars of Clay) can be traced to this album - which still holds up well today.

This must be a listing for the short-lived secular release on Reunion/Uni. It was first released by Myrrh/Word Records for the Christian market, and A&M in the regular market. It was reissued in 1993 by RCA.

Amy had her first Billboard Top 40 hit with "Find a Way" after conquering the CCM scene. She was now touring overseas.

The love songs have cross-over appeal.

This was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, CO, frequented by Chicago (ex-lead singer Peter Cetera did a duet with Grant, "Next Time I Fall"), the Beach Boys, and Elton John to name a few. Amy said in a 1997 interview that the studio, used for three other LPs, was destroyed by fire.

Reissued 2007 by Sparrow/EMI CMG.

This was the album that brought Amy's name to to the mainstream music scene. She had her first top 40 hit with Love will find a way. This is by no means only a top 40 album though. It is very much a contemporary christian album. But the message of christianity is more subtle than some of her others albums. A must have in any Amy Grant collection. Some songs do have an '80's sound to new listeners but the message in the songs is still applicable today. Check out, Find a way, Wise up, and I personally like Sharayah.

By the noughties' standards, definitely dated and a little embarrassing in terms of instrumentation, but this is the album that sees Amy rocking out and perfecting her raspy growl.

While 'Baby Baby' became her solo No.1 to officially seal her status as a 90s Pop chanteuse, 'Unguarded' was Amy's landmark crossover album that spawned her first Billboard Top 40 Single 'Find A Way' and made her a bonafide video star on MTV.

It's a little funny to see on hindsight the controversy Amy Grant's music generated back in the 80s in CCM circles, when conservative listeners were scandalised that a Christian record should contain so few explicit references to God. But perhaps the appeal of Amy's songs is that they approach religion from a humanistic angle (it's dangerous to even go there so I won't harp on this).

Artistically, I see this album as a young artist's effort to push the envelope with her music and message to put Christian music on the forefront in the 80s.

This reissue is a must-have for old Amy fans hoping to revisit her older material (with a fresh, clear sound, thanks to the remastering. Blast 'Fight' on your sound system to hear the soundscape for yourself - you'll be blown away!). It's also a fine introduction to her back catalog alongside 'Lead Me On' and 'Age To Age' for those who only listened to her in the 90s.

If nothing else, Amy's music really 'colors my day'.