Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind

Undercover helped push the boundaries of Christian rock in the 1980s. But what happened when the songwriter behind the music began questioning the beliefs that shaped it? In this episode of Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind , I’m joined by Joseph “Ojo” Taylor to revisit Undercover’s beginnings, the story behind “Boys and Girls Renounce the World” , and the long personal and musical journey that led to his new solo album, Behold . Ojo takes us back to Southern California’s punk and new wave scene, where Undercover brought an unexpected sound and attitude into churches. We discuss the pressures placed on Christian musicians, how divorce affected his songwriting, and his changing relationship with Christianity. We also explore the missing years: raising five children, returning to education, working in corporate finance and becoming a music industry professor. Then we dig into Behold , from forgotten guitar recordings and familiar collaborators to “The Altars”, “May It Be So” and finding the courage to sing his own songs. It’s an honest conversation about classic Christian music, changing beliefs, creative freedom and allowing an artist’s story to keep moving forward. In this episode Undercover’s origins and Ojo’s early musical influences. Bringing punk and new wave into the Christian music scene. “Boys and Girls Renounce the World” and a turning point in his life. Divorce, doubt and the expectation that Christian artists should have all the answers. Fatherhood, education and life beyond Undercover. The twenty-year journey behind Behold . Reconnecting with Gym Nicholson on “The Altars”. “May It Be So”, its choir and its message for children. Making music with the freedom to reflect who you are today. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction: Undercover, Ojo Taylor and Behold 03:37 Becoming Ojo: early influences, punk and new wave 10:51 Forming Undercover and bringing a new sound into churches 20:28 Boys and Girls Renounce the World, divorce and artistic honesty 34:26 Faith, doubt and Ojo’s changing spiritual path 39:19 The missing years: fatherhood, education and teaching 47:28 Creating Behold: forgotten recordings and musical collaborators 57:22 The Altars, Gym Nicholson and the crossed-out album title 1:02:42 May It Be So: a prayer for children 1:05:12 A new chapter: creative freedom and finding his voice Connect with Ojo Taylor Website: https://ojotaylor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ojotaylor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ojo_taylor Buy Behold: https://shop-thechoir.myshopify.com/collections/ojo-taylor Follow Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind Discover the artists, albums, missing years and new chapters behind classic Christian music with Shayne Brian . YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheChorusClassicCCMMusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheChorus Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeyondTheChorus Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share the show with someone who loves classic Christian music and the stories behind it. #BeyondTheChorus #OjoTaylor #UndercoverBand #ClassicCCM #ChristianRock #Behold

Glenn Kaiser has spent more than five decades making music that refuses to fit neatly into a box. In this episode of Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind , Shayne Brian sits down with the legendary Resurrection Band / REZ co-founder to revisit the beginnings of one of Christian rock’s most influential bands, the Jesus Movement, his lifelong love of the blues, and the faith and convictions that have shaped his music. Glenn takes us back to growing up in Milwaukee, discovering Elvis, rhythm and blues, soul, Hendrix, Cream, Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones, joining his first band at just 13, and moving through around 16 bands before the age of 18. He also speaks candidly about drug and alcohol addiction, the emptiness he experienced even as his musical ambitions began coming true, and the decision to surrender his life to Jesus. From there, we trace the beginnings of Charity , which became Resurrection Band , and Glenn explains why the band refused to accept the idea that rock music itself could somehow be inherently Christian or secular. We go Out of the Crate with the groundbreaking 1978 Resurrection Band album Awaiting Your Reply , including the story behind “Broken Promises” , before exploring how Rez continually reinvented its sound rather than making the same record twice. Glenn also reflects on Wendi Kaiser’s powerful contribution to the band, Resurrection Band’s brushes with MTV and mainstream rock, and why the group once turned down a more lucrative record deal rather than compromise its musical identity. The conversation goes far beyond Resurrection Band. Glenn explains why blues music remains so important to him, how cigar box guitars connect modern players to African and African American musical history, and how he has used simple handmade instruments in workshops, including work with inmates at Cook County Jail. He also discusses decades of writing about poverty, racism, addiction, justice and faith, and why music has always been a vehicle rather than the final destination. And in The Second Verse , Glenn talks about the completed prison-focused project Ain’t No Bars Around My Heart and previews another upcoming rock album exploring searching, struggle and redemption. For anyone interested in Resurrection Band, REZ, Jesus People USA, the Jesus Movement, classic Christian rock, CCM history, Glenn Kaiser, blues music or the roots of Christian alternative music , this is a journey right back to where much of it began. In This Episode Glenn Kaiser’s early musical influences and joining his first band at 13 Addiction, musical ambition and the conversion that changed his life Jesus People USA and the birth of Charity and Resurrection Band Why Glenn rejects the idea that musical genres can be inherently Christian or secular Making Awaiting Your Reply and the story behind “Broken Promises” Wendi Kaiser, MTV, artistic evolution and Resurrection Band’s refusal to conform Why Rez turned down money rather than compromise its musical identity Faith, politics, poverty, justice and decades of prison ministry Glenn’s fascination with blues and the history of cigar box guitars Ain’t No Bars Around My Heart , new music and what Glenn hopes survives after the records stop playing Timestamps 00:00 - Beyond the Chorus and the Glenn Kaiser story 02:18 - Early musical influences and joining his first band 06:27 - Addiction, success, surrender and finding Jesus 15:22 - Jesus People USA, Charity and the birth of Resurrection Band 22:18 - Christian rock, secular music and why genre doesn’t define faith 31:23 - Awaiting Your Reply and the story behind “Broken Promises” 36:18 - Wendi Kaiser, changing the Rez sound and refusing to repeat themselves 52:44 - Artistic integrity, justice, politics and prison ministry 66:25 - Blues, cigar box guitars and making music from almost nothing 77:33 - Ain’t No Bars Around My Heart , the upcoming album and the Resurrection Band legacy Follow Glenn Kaiser Grrr Records: https://grrrrecords.com/glenn-kaiser Glenn Kaiser Website: https://gkaisersoze.wixsite.com/kaiz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkaisersolo Follow Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheChorusClassicCCMMusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheChorus Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeyondTheChorus If you grew up with Resurrection Band, REZ, classic CCM or Christian rock from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, subscribe to Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind and join us as we revisit the artists, the albums, the missing years and what came next. And if you know someone else who still has those records, cassettes and CDs sitting on the shelf, share the episode with them too. Drop the needle. Press play. We’re going back to where the music began.

In the debut episode of Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind , Shayne Brian sits down with Sweet Comfort Band members Bryan Duncan, Rick Thomson and Randy Thomas for a deep dive into one of the pioneering bands of Christian rock and Contemporary Christian Music. From their beginnings in the 1970s Jesus Music movement to albums including Hold On Tight , Cutting Edge and Perfect Timing , Sweet Comfort Band helped prove that Christian music could embrace rock, R&B, jazz, funk and soul without losing its message. Bryan, Rick and Randy take us back to the earliest days of the band, including the influence of Love Song, Randy's garage audition, resistance from churches and promoters, and the challenge of developing a sound that didn't fit neatly into the Christian music of the time. For Out of the Crate , we take a deeper look at the Cutting Edge track "Valerie" . Randy reveals how the song came to him almost fully formed beside a swimming pool, why its storytelling approach was different, and how the song almost missed out on becoming part of the band's new live project. Then we enter The Missing Years . The band reflects on the financial pressure, exhaustion and changing lives that led Sweet Comfort Band to call it a day in 1984. Bryan talks about the unexpected transition from touring musician to construction work before launching his successful solo career. Randy looks back on Allies, songwriting with Bob Carlisle and the extraordinary success of "Butterfly Kisses" , while Rick discusses building a studio and developing his career as a producer and songwriter. And finally, The Second Verse brings the story back to the present. A proposed Sweet Comfort Band documentary helped bring Bryan, Rick and Randy back together, eventually leading to two concerts in 2025 and the new live album Iron Sharpens Iron . They talk about stepping back on stage together, rediscovering the musical chemistry of Sweet Comfort Band, revisiting songs decades after they were recorded, and why they believe the band's message still matters today. The conversation also remembers Kevin Thomson , his faith, personality and relentless determination to keep Sweet Comfort Band moving forward. More than fifty years after the story began, Sweet Comfort Band may just be discovering that there is still another chapter to write. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to Beyond the Chorus and Sweet Comfort Band 02:32 - The beginnings of Sweet Comfort Band and the Jesus Music era 09:36 - Randy Thomas joins the band and helps shape the SCB sound 17:53 - Out of the Crate: The story behind "Valerie" 22:31 - Cutting Edge , Perfect Timing and a changing Sweet Comfort Band 29:11 - Financial pressure, burnout and the end of the band in 1984 36:43 - The Missing Years: Bryan Duncan, Randy Thomas and Rick Thomson 40:43 - Allies, Bob Carlisle and the story of "Butterfly Kisses" 47:13 - Reuniting Sweet Comfort Band decades later 49:56 - How a documentary led to the 2025 reunion concerts 52:57 - Iron Sharpens Iron and rediscovering the Sweet Comfort Band sound 58:17 - Remembering Kevin Thomson 63:30 - What they would tell their younger selves and what comes next SWEET COMFORT BAND Website: https://www.thesweetcomfortband.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetcomfortband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetcomfortband_official/ FOLLOW BEYOND THE CHORUS If you grew up with classic Christian music, Jesus Music, Christian rock and the CCM artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s, subscribe to Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind and join us as we rediscover the artists, albums, missing years and stories behind the music. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheChorusClassicCCMMusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheChorus Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeyondTheChorus If you know someone who still has these albums in their collection, remembers buying them from a Christian bookstore, or simply loves classic Christian music, share the episode with them .

Welcome to Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind , a new podcast rediscovering the artists, albums and stories that helped shape Contemporary Christian Music from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Hosted by Shayne Brian , the series goes back to the records many of us grew up with and asks what happened next. In this launch trailer, Shayne shares the story of his very first artist interview with Kim Boyce in 1987, including one fairly major recording mistake that he has never forgotten. You’ll also hear about some of the first artists joining the series, including Sweet Comfort Band , Glenn Kaiser of Resurrection Band , and Joseph “Ojo” Taylor of Undercover . We’ll revisit classic albums including Awaiting Your Reply , Between Heaven ’n Hell and Cutting Edge , explore the early days of Christian rock and punk, and discover what these artists have been doing during the years many listeners lost track of them. Ojo Taylor also returns with his new album Behold , while Sweet Comfort Band and Glenn Kaiser prove that these stories are far from finished. Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind is about the music, the people who made it, the missing years, and what came next. Subscribe now so you’re notified when the first episodes drop. The artists. The albums. The missing years. And what came next. The intro music is Sweet Comfort Band's "Sing for the Music". Written and composed by John Elefante and Dino Elefante. Visit https://www.thesweetcomfortband.com/ Subscribe and Follow to be notified of new episodes and follow us on social media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheChorus Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthechorusclassicccmmusic