During the first decade of her career, Amy Grant, the “queen of Christian pop,” was experienced in touring and was excited about the possibility of doing it again with the 1988–1989 “Lead Me On World Tour.”
Many who were there “back then” miss the times when every moment wasn’t recorded with high-quality GoPros and iPhones — when the only way to remember an experience like an Amy Grant concert was to go and be fully present while there.
For those who feel the nostalgia of that time and want to remember it better, Grant released the album “Lead Me On Live 1989” on Oct. 6.
Recorded during the original “Lead Me On” tour, Grant can still remember the energy of the crowds during that tour.
“I feel like the energy was this circle eight, coming out from me and the musicians, sweeping through the crowd and their energy coming back to me. It just brought back so many amazing memories,” she said.
Changing times
The year of the original tour was a simpler time in the music world. In 1989, music was sold on vinyl records and cassettes, and it was an exciting bonus when they had liner notes with tiny lyrics. Newly released songs were first heard on the radio.
Concert announcements all came through radio announcements and fliers at the local Christian bookstore. If someone wanted a great seat, that fan would have to camp out all night on the sidewalk to be first in line to buy that coveted front row ticket — as this writer did.
The Jesus Revolution had made its mark. Gospel radio stations changed from playing contemporary Christian music one evening a week to playing it full time. With CCM making inroads into popular culture, many Christian bands had nationwide or even international tours that were beginning to compete against secular concerts.
Grant had started as a teenage singer-songwriter and through the years went from small concerts to major tours. After the release of her eighth album in 1988, “Lead Me On,” Amy Grant kicked off her biggest tour to date — one that would be replicated 20 years later.
“What I loved with the ‘Lead Me On’ tour was that I got thrown into so many environments where people didn’t freely communicate about spiritual things,” Grant said in 2008.
“Growing up somewhat of a maverick myself, I had always hated being preached to. I wasn’t about to do that to anybody else but rather make an experience available to somebody and kind of let them stumble into it or step into the water. And that was exhilarating.”
Present day
Fast forward to the present. Music is usually streamed and not bought in vinyl albums or cassette formats. Lyrics are found through Google searches. Concert information is sent through email notices, and tickets are bought through the included links with QR-coded tickets being emailed upon payment.
CCM is now a major industry, with Christian-music-only award shows and musical performances so grandiose they can only be considered concert experiences. These sometimes over-the-top productions can really show off the talent and ingenuity that has progressed from CCM’s early days.
Having played on so many stages and being part of multiple tours, Grant admitted she had forgotten a few things about this particular tour until she heard and saw the footage.
“When I first heard the recordings from 1989 from the ‘Lead Me On’ tour, the thing that bowled me over was just what a talented band I had on the road,” Grant said. “I have loved every band configuration I’ve ever had on the road and all are so special to me, but there was something unique about that group of players and singers during the ‘Lead Me On’ tour.
“First of all, there were so many of us on the stage and so many types of instrumentation like harmonica solos, flute solos, saxophone, mandolins, lots of keyboards and stacks of vocals. It just felt like one big family reunion every night. The size and scope of the production and the big experience we were trying to create also made this tour very special. I’m so grateful we captured that moment in time.”
Grant has performed in more than 800 concerts during her 45-plus years as a professional CCM singer-songwriter. Currently, she is gearing up for a Christmas tour with Michael W. Smith — who was also part of the “Lead Me On” tour — along with Michael Tait of the Newsboys. This tour kicks off Nov. 26.
Fans can access “Lead Me On Live 1989” through streaming services or a two CD collection wherever music is streamed or purchased. A total of 15 full-length music videos are to be released from the original film footage along with shorts, reels, behind-the-scenes shots and more. All new merchandise, fan packs and bundles for the project are also available to fans at amygrant.com.
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