CD 1 'Cutting Edge 1 & 2':
01. Message Of The Cross
02. Singers Song
03. Lord You Have My Heart
04. What Is This Thing Called Love?
05. The Crucible For Silver
06. Thank You For Saving Me
07. The Happy Song
08. Prophet Song
09. King Of Love
10. Coming Back
11. Lead Me
12. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
CD 2 'Cutting Edge 3 & 4':
01. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?
02. I've Found Jesus
03. Oh Lead Me
04. Shaken Up
05. I'm Not Ashamed
06. Find Me In The River
07. Louder Than The Radio
08. You Split The Earth
09. When All Around Has Fallen
10. I've Searched For Gold
11. Shout To The North
12. All I Want Is
13. Obsession
CD 3 'Live & In The Can':
01. Spontaneous Section 1
02. I'm Not Ashamed
03. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble ?
04. Spontaneous Section 2
05. Oh Lead Me
06. Obsession.
07. Spontaneous Section 3
08. Spontaneous Section 4
09. Come Like You Promise
10. Spontaneous Section 5
11. Spontaneous Section 6
12. What A Friend I've Found
13. Spontaneous Section 7
14. I've Found Jesus
15. Spontaneous Section 8
16. Lord's Prayer
17. Spontaneous Section 9
DVD:
The Cutting Edge Show (Taken From the 'Farewell Show')
1. I'm not Ashamed
2. Happy Song
3. Shout To The North
4. Thank You For Saving Me/White Ribbon Day
5. I Could Sing of You Love Forever
6. Find Me in The River
7. Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble
8. Dance in The River
9. Live @ Studio One Abbey Road
10. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever Feat LCGC
11. The Delirious? Story
As one of the most successful Christian bands ever to come out of the UK, Delirious will be remembered as much for their worship songs that graced the church in the early 90s as for their contemporary rock tracks that made the breakthrough into secular radio stations and football stadiums in the early 2000s.
It's hard to believe that it's 20 years since a young man named Martin Smith penned a few songs to be used at a youth event called Cutting Edge in a small church on the south coast of England. Little did he know that the impact of... Read More As one of the most successful Christian bands ever to come out of the UK, Delirious will be remembered as much for their worship songs that graced the church in the early 90s as for their contemporary rock tracks that made the breakthrough into secular radio stations and football stadiums in the early 2000s.
It's hard to believe that it's 20 years since a young man named Martin Smith penned a few songs to be used at a youth event called Cutting Edge in a small church on the south coast of England. Little did he know that the impact of songs like 'Lord You Have My Heart' and 'I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever' would be so great, that churches all around the world would be singing them for two decades to come. As those small youth gatherings gained momentum, Martin and the band that joined him recorded four small EPs, Cutting Edge 1, 2, 3 and Fore, containing the songs they wrote and played at the events. Before long the group of five friends had become a full time band: Delirious?
Fast forward to 2012 and to celebrate that first Cutting Edge EP, a special bumper album titled 'The Cutting Edge Years 20th Anniversary Edition' has been released. This is the definitive collection of the early works of this internationally successful band. Not only do you get those 4 original Cutting Edge EPs on 2 discs, you also get a third disc comprising of the band's first ever live album, 'Live & In The Can', plus a DVD featuring eight Cutting Edge songs performed by the band at their final concert together at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2009.
Listening back to the Cutting Edge songs now, it's clear that the band changed, adapted and developed over their time together - what band doesn't. But those early songs were quite literally Cutting Edge at the time. It makes me feel old to remember going to youth events at the time that the first few EPs had been released, and having our own local band performing the songs to us. These songs are nothing short of classics, right from opening track 'Message Of The Cross'. Moving on to songs beloved by the church like 'Lord You Have My Heart', 'Thank You For Saving Me', 'The Crucible For Silver' and 'I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever', all four were sung endlessly at places like Spring Harvest, year after year, and all four feature on disc 1 of this collection.
The second disc boasts established tracks like 'Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?' and 'I've Found Jesus', again songs that were and still are often used in church worship times. Mid way through this second disc we get the first sign of things to come, a slightly edgier feel and more of a 'serious band' sound than just 'church musicians'. 'Louder Than The Radio' is subtle, radio-friendly and contemporary, 'You Split The Earth' oozes passion, 'I'm Not Ashamed' is frantic, raucous, loud and in your face. But then we come to the song that probably made the band the success that they were, 'Obsession'. Nobody had heard anything like it back then, with its steady bass rhythm and pounding drums, it worked its way up and up till it screamed out with so much emotion you felt it would explode in your ears. "And my heart burns for you" sings Martin, over and over, and on so many occasions at concerts around the world, a thousand voices sang it too. Arms outstretched, eyes closed, voices crying out. Few songs have ever touched the hearts of a crowd like 'Obsession' does.
Disc three gives you a taste of what those early Delirious concerts were like. Recorded live at various events and gigs around the UK, the rough and ready 'Live & In The Can' album was raw and honest. Sprinkled with 'spontaneous sections' of worship in amongst the songs, it has that unrehearsed, captured just as it happened feel. Hearing 'Mountains' live was always a highlight in any Delirious show, and this recording does it proud. Rare track 'Come Like You Promise', with its celebratory, frantic urgency, and the quiet and simple reading of The Lord's Prayer shows the contrasting styles of worship this band were able to achieve.
Having been lucky enough to attend the farewell Delirious show in London where the bonus DVD on this package was recorded, I remember the emotion of watching a humble band play those early trademark songs one final time to an adoring crowd of dedicated fans. The infamous 'Happy Song' was always a talking point, but who can deny it's clever lyrics "Everybody's dancing now, 'cos we're so happy. If only we could see Your face, and see You smiling over us. And unseen angels celebrate. For joy is in this place!" I always loved that line. Then there is 'Find Me in The River', nobody I know ever figured out what those words were all about, but what a great song it is. 'Shout To The North' has the feel of a modern hymn, and 'Thank You For Saving Me' has the wonderful anthemic chorus "Great is the Lord... For we know Your truth has set us free, You've set your hope in me."
This really is a great collection for any fan of worship music, and a superb collectors item for fans of the band wanting to take a trip down memory lane. The contribution these songs have made to church worship is incredible, and the fact that they are still relevant, enjoyable and many are still used today, is testament to their quality.
Review by Dave Wood
LTTM Rating 5 out of 5 Stars Standout Tracks
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
Obsession
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?
A special bumper collection of the early songs from British worship band Delirious has been released this week. 'The Cutting Edge Years - 20th Anniversary Edition' includes three CDs and one DVD, featuring the band's original…
Further information about British worship band Delirious' forthcoming 'The Cutting Edge Years - 20th Anniversary Edition' album has been announced. Released on 23rd April 2012 the special set include 42 songs on three CDs, plus a…
Details of the special 20th anniversary edition of British worship band Delirious' original 'Cutting Edge' album have been revealed. The special box set will include 3 CDs, 1 DVD, and a book, and will be released on 23rd April…
A special album celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original 'Cutting Edge' album by pioneering British worship band Delirious? will be released on 23rd April 2012. 'The Cutting Edge Years 20th Anniversary Edition' will be…
Voted in at Number 6 in the LTTM Best Delirious? album Poll is 'Cutting Edge'. Title:Cutting EdgeArtist:Delirious?Released:01 Jun 1993 Jono's Standout Tracks: Obsession Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble I'm Not Ashamed…