Day 479 - Bob Bennett - Carpenter Gone Bad

479. Bob Bennett - Carpenter Gone Bad
From the album First Things First
(Maranatha! Records, 1979)

"[Bob Bennett is] One of CCM’s finest songwriters and unheralded guitar players. His warm and soothing James Taylor style vocals and music provide a stunning platform for some of the best lyrics in CCM.

Before the world of CCM became as dominated by looks and image as its secular counterpart an artist could make it simply by the impact and quality of his work. This is to say that we are fortunate that Bob Bennett’s artistry and amazing songwriting skills were not hampered by today’s ridiculous standards and superficial fan base.

The album starts with Bennett’s most successful song, Carpenter Gone Bad. The song, written from the point of view of the first century Jew, remained a Christian radio staple for many years...

The album also contains and wonderful rendition of the traditional hymn, My Redeemer Lives, with a beautiful contemporary arrangement. One other song of note is The Best, which is the other song that has remained a favorite for some three decades. Bennet’s songwriting mastery will even improve from here as the two other projects listed will show." (source: CCM's 500 Best Albums)

Here is the original album version of the song: