Day 496 - Charlie Peacock - Who Is Not Afraid?

496. Charlie Peacock - Who Is Not Afraid?
From the album Lie Down in the Grass
(Exit/A&M, 2000)

"Peacock’s road to where he resides today has been long and interesting. He is clearly recognized within CCM circles as a brilliant producer, songwriter, artist and thinker. He received a Master’s Degree from Covenant Theological Seminary and performs progressive jazz, worship and pop without missing a beat. He has a loyal audience and fan base for good reason.

But it all started quite simply with a very programmed-heavy debut that was filled with pop gems, world and African rhythms, poignant and obscure lyrics and a quirky, breathy high pitched voice that some do not find quite as pleasing as I do. Many initially pegged peacock as an 'alternative' artist because of the heavy programming, but in actuality, that came about solely as the result of a low production budget. Anyone who saw him live early on with former Vector bandmates, Vince Ebo and Aaron Smith know just what an authentic musician he was at the time.

Though the album in question features a programmed drum, there are plenty of acoustic percussion work, electric and acoustic guitars, real brass instruments and amazing acoustic and electronic keyboards in use.

There are two versions of the album released. The Exit/Word version contains two songs that were removed and replaced by two more 'commercial' sounding songs for the A&M release. ... I remember seeing Peacock on tour with other A&M artists in the early 80′s and was struck by just how good he was live and how he ended up competing quite well for the audience response of bands like Let’s Active.
...
The original Exit version closes with Who Is Not Afraid? Is this Peacock’s finest composition? I can’t really say, but I do not know of too many that surpass it. It is haunting and beautiful. The lyrics swirl and consume the listener. It is worshipful and exhorting. As mentioned previously, Peacock often writes like a psalmist, and does so again here, but in a very modern vernacular. I could click repeat over and over on this song! The sax solo deserved two more minutes." (source: CCM's 500 Best Albums)

Here is the original studio released music video for the song: