Real Life Conversations

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Nineteen eighty-eight's Real Life Conversations, Steven Curtis Chapman's second release, shows why he became one of Christian music's best. While other CCM artists were tinkling around with that late-1980s synthesizer sound and disposable pop music, Chapman was releasing thoughtful and well-written material. "Faithful Too" and "Tuesday's Child" open with a power-chord-driven rock appeal. But Chapman slows it down with the beautiful "For Who He Really Is," augmented by Nashville session superstar Mark O'Connor on mandolin. "His Eyes" and "His Strength Is Perfect" also show Chapman's quieter, softer balladry. One of this CD's gems is "My Turn Now," an upbeat, Gospel-infused rave that will have you humming along before you know it. --Michael Lyttle

Tracks:

Faithful Too
Tuesday's Child
For Who He Really Is
Consider One
His Eyes
The Human Race
Wait
Truth Or Consequence
My Turn Now
His Strength Is Perfect

Amazon.com essential recording

Nineteen eighty-eight's Real Life Conversations, Steven Curtis Chapman's second release, shows why he became one of Christian music's best. While other CCM artists were tinkling around with that late-1980s synthesizer sound and disposable pop music, Chapman was releasing thoughtful and well-written material. "Faithful Too" and "Tuesday's Child" open with a power-chord-driven rock appeal. But Chapman slows it down with the beautiful "For Who He Really Is," augmented by Nashville session superstar Mark O'Connor on mandolin. "His Eyes" and "His Strength Is Perfect" also show Chapman's quieter, softer balladry. One of this CD's gems is "My Turn Now," an upbeat, Gospel-infused rave that will have you humming along before you know it. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews:

Steven's First Great Project.......2007-06-10

When listing my favorite artists, Steven Curtis Chapman tops my list. While he occasionally slips into trite lyrics, his lyrics are often challenging. And his music is always fun to listen to.

This CD was his second release and came out in 1988. While I've never been a big fan of his first project, I love this one.

He really hits it out of the park on most of the songs. The reminder to look to God in both the good and bad really hits home with "Faithful Too." I love the themes of grace woven into "Tuesday's Child" and "His Strength is Perfect." And our response of submission is highlighted in "My Turn Now." I especially love the reminder of "His Eye" - God is truly always with us.

Even though this album is from the 80's, it doesn't wallow in the 80's production. The pop/rock music has a few light 80's elements, but many of these songs sound timeless.

Not all of Steven's early projects are that remarkable, but this is a great gem I still enjoy almost 20 years later.

Super Album!.......2007-01-26

This is the first Steven Curtis Chapman album that I ever heard. As such this album helped make me one of SCC's fans. I have purchased almost all of his albums (many of them a couple of times). Steven Curtis Chapman brings out a harder Christian Rock style that very few artists at the time (1987) had gotten into. In 1987 most Chistian artists were doing more gospel than rock (at least the ones I heard). The music style of this album is similar to that of his Decleration album. There are several songs that are a little bit harder rock. Then there are also about that same number of tracks that are a softer rock style. In my opinion this is one of his best albums right along with The Great Adventure and Decleration. If you have enjoyed either one of these other albums, you will very likely enjoy Real Life Conversations!

Still finding his way, but better than the debut.......2005-07-06

Steven Curtis' first outing (FIRST HAND) was plagued quite a bit by boring musical arrangements and trite lyrics coupled with uninspiring vocals. Chapman's still not a great singer here, but he's stretching himself more and that makes it a more listenable affair. On the lyric front, there's still quite a few shopworn phrases and ideas but occasionally Chapman lets the platitudes go and those moments are the bright spots of the disc. Even the music is starting to pick up some fire though not what it would be in forthcoming discs.

Grace seems to be a recurring theme here as Chapman addresses it in "Tuesday's Child", "Consider it Done", and "His Strength is Perfect". Perhaps he was troubled by too much emphasis on theologies of "victory" and "overcoming" within Christendom?

This disc is where Chapman began to be an omnipresent force on Christian radio. This CD was the first in a string of 5 albums that had AT LEAST 4 radio hits per disc. For many, "CCM" means "Contemporary CHAPMAN Music"....

HIGHLIGHTS:
"For Who He Really Is" (#6 hit) forces those of us who would bear Christ's name to take a hard look at what we're displaying as he takes on the faces of unbelievers disillusioned with hypocrisy and the "everything's OK" mentalities within much of the Church. ("Can they see God for who He really is?/In what they see in you and me..") It's especially telling when Chapman asks "But does he know that Jesus also has scars?" as he takes on the guise of a man suffering in the midst of a "religion that's all dressed up in white". The bouncy "Consider it Done" is the best of Chapman's musings on grace as he tells a Christian struggling in sin "He wants our best and He'll do the rest/It's by His grace we're saved/Not by the things we do...". "His Eyes" (#12 hit and Dove Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of 1989) is a delicate acoustic guitar ballad with a country tinge that reminds us of the simple truth that "His eyes are always upon you" in a tune gentle enough to be a lullaby. "My Turn Now" (#3 hit) is a call to Christian service that's basic and irresistable in its directness: "He gave His love and life away/And now he's asking me to do the same...it's my turn now..."

LOWS:
Despite some good bits lyrically ("Sounds too easy some might say/There's a bigger price to pay..") in his treatise on grace rather than "works-based" salvation, in the end "Tuesday's Child" just isn't that great a tune. "Faithful TOo" (#14 hit) is based on the old saw that we have to seek God in the good times, not just when things are tough. "Human Race" decries materialism but again the "we're all running in the human race" bit is pretty cliched.

BOTTOM LINE:
Steven Curtis fans will eat this up whole, but it's still not his finest work despite flashes of brilliance. If you like lighter pop fare, you may want to see if you can borrow it from a friend or your local library. It's definitely not a "must have" for your collection, though.

Fantastic sophomore effort from SCC.......2003-10-22

I actually vividly remember hearing an SCC song for the very first time, milling around in a suburban Atlanta Christian bookstore in 1988. I heard "His Eyes" and was just captivated. I went into a listening booth and listened to a sampler CD and between that song and "For Who He Really Is," I bought the album on the spot. This is a landmark album to me in Christian music, up there with Amy Grant's "Age to Age." There are so many great songs on this CD, you can't go wrong with it. It truly is one of my very favorite CCM albums.

Songs to soothe your soul and lift your spirits.......2002-08-31

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my most favourite modern contemperary songwriter , singer and musician. He is truly amazing and has a wonderful talent which appeals to the younger generation. I am almost sixty four and get great joy from listening to his albums. I own almost all the CD's he has ever brought out. The song "Fingerprints of God" on his album "Speechless" is so totally inspired for all young teenagers.

Average customer rating:

Real Life Conversations
Steven Curtis Chapman
Manufacturer: Sparrow Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Country Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E8AQ
Release Date: 1991-09-12

Tracks:

Faithful Too
Tuesday's Child
For Who He Really Is
Consider This Done
His Eyes
Human Race
Wait
Truth or Consequences
My Turn Now
His Strength Is Perfect

Average customer rating:

baby steps

Real Life Conversations
Steven Curtis Chapman
Manufacturer: EMI Special Products
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Country Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

First Hand
More to This Life

ASIN: B000060OKS
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

Faithful Too
Tuesday's Child
For Who He Really Is
Consider It Done
His Eyes
The Human Race
Wait
Truth Or Consequences
My Turn Now
His Strength Is Perfect

Customer Reviews:

baby steps.......2004-10-22

You have to start somewhere, and as far as debut albums go, this one isn't all that bad. However, knowing where Steven Curtis Chapman has gone from here, it is easy to see how short this falls of his potential.

One constant in Chapman's career has been his thoughtful lyrics, and this album showcases them well. At this early stage, his music has some catching up to do. While he does have a catchy contemporary sound, it is far from distinctive.

The first track, Faithful Too, is about two minutes too long. Consider It Done is a very obvious rip-off of Hall & Oates' You Make My Dreams. His Eyes and His Strength Is Perfect shine as examples of Chapman's true ability, both as a songwriter and a vocalist. The rest of the album plods along, much like a baby taking his first steps. We are given a taste of great things to come, but not much more.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Music:

Music

Music