The Greatest CCM Hymns Albums — #5: Various Artists, Our Hymns (1989)
A late-’80s snapshot: leading CCM voices interpreting traditional hymns with sincerity and signature style.
Intro
At #5, Our Hymns (1989) captures something special: the hymn tradition interpreted by a wide cross-section of late-’80s CCM artists. Instead of presenting hymnody through one musical lens, the compilation lets listeners hear how different voices and production styles can still serve the same timeless texts.
The Album in Context
The late ’80s were a fascinating season for CCM—radio formats were solidifying, album production was becoming more polished, and many artists were reaching broader audiences. A compilation like Our Hymns brought the movement back to its roots, reminding listeners that contemporary Christian music grew from congregational worship and shared confession.
In practical terms, projects like this also helped families and churches. You could hand someone a single album and say, “Here are hymns you already know,” while also introducing them to the artists shaping Christian music at the time.
Standout Hymns
- “Holy, Holy, Holy” — A perfect opener for any hymn collection—majestic, doctrinally rich, and centered on the holiness of God.
- “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” — A profound Passion hymn that benefits from careful, reverent interpretation.
- “It Is Well with My Soul” — A familiar confession of trust that anchors a compilation like this with spiritual weight.
Why It Matters
Musically, the strength of Our Hymns is its breadth. Each track feels like a window into an artist’s world while still respecting hymn melodies and lyrics. That balance—personality without distortion—is what makes the compilation replayable decades later.
Spiritually, it functions like a shared hymn-sing across the CCM community. Different voices, same truths. The album reminds us that hymnody isn’t owned by one generation or style; it belongs to the whole church.
What’s Next
Use this compilation as a gateway: note which voices and arrangements resonate most, then explore those artists’ broader catalogs for more worshipful gems.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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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Album Details
| Artist: | Various Artists |
| Album: | Our Hymns |
| Year Released: | 1989 |
| Record Label(s): | Word |
| Producer(s): | Michael W. Smith, Brown Bannister, Chris Christian, Brian Tankersley, James Hollihan, Jr., Russ Taff, Phil Keaggy, Paul Mills, Wayne Watson, Mervyn Warren, Bob Hartman, John Lawry |
Previous Post in the series:
HYMN6 – Various Artists – Hymns & Voices(1985)
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Listen to “Our Hymns” on Spotify
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Various Artists: Our Hymns is available for purchase on Amazon.
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