The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music — #95: DeGarmo & Key, Straight On (1979)

Intro

Coming in at #95 in The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, DeGarmo & Key’s Straight On (1979) stands as one of the earliest examples of Christian rock done with professional polish and passionate conviction. Blending virtuosic guitar work, melodic hooks, and clear gospel messaging, the album demonstrated that faith-based rock could compete sonically with anything on mainstream radio.

The Album in Context

When Straight On arrived, Christian music was still in its formative years as an industry. Dana Key and Eddie DeGarmo—two lifelong friends from Memphis—brought with them both southern rock roots and a missionary heart. Their vision wasn’t just to play great music; it was to take the message of Jesus to places few Christian bands had gone before. The album followed their 1978 debut, This Time Thru, and took a major leap forward in production quality, songwriting sophistication, and rock intensity.

Within the late ’70s CCM landscape—dominated by folk, pop, and early “Jesus Music”—DeGarmo & Key’s arrival was a shockwave. Their musicianship rivaled that of mainstream acts like Kansas and Boston, and their lyrical boldness drew comparisons to evangelists rather than entertainers. Straight On helped open doors for future rock-oriented artists, proving that guitar solos, high energy, and evangelism could coexist in a distinctly Christian context.

Standout Songs

• “Long Distance Runner” — A driving rock anthem about perseverance in faith, inspired by the Apostle Paul’s imagery of running the race to the end.
• “Go Tell Them” — A mission-minded rocker urging believers to share the Gospel boldly, reflecting the band’s evangelistic heartbeat.
• “Livin’ on the Edge of Dyin’” — A gritty southern rocker confronting the dangers of living without Christ, balancing conviction with compassion.

Why It Matters

Straight On was a defining moment for Christian rock—bridging the gap between ministry and artistry. DeGarmo & Key didn’t just want to entertain; they wanted to challenge. Their skillful musicianship gave credibility to Christian artists striving to be taken seriously in the broader music world. In many ways, this album laid the groundwork for the explosive growth of Christian rock throughout the 1980s, influencing bands such as Petra, White Heart, and others.

What’s Next

Tomorrow, in The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music countdown, we move ahead to #94 with Michael English’s self-titled 1991 debut—a landmark release that brought vocal mastery and emotional depth to early ’90s CCM. Be sure to subscribe and listen to the companion podcast episode of The CCM Professor with Greg Rice, where we’ll unpack the legacy of Straight On and explore how DeGarmo & Key helped redefine the sound and mission of Christian music.

Soli Deo Gloria!

This post is part of the daily series, "The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music," counting down from #100 to #1.

This post is part of the series The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, celebrating the artists and recordings that defined a generation of faith-filled creativity.

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