Carman Domenic Licciardello was born on January 19th, 1956 in Trenton, New Jersey. He became a born again Christian at an Andrae Crouch concert. He released his debut album, GOD'S NOT FINISHED WITH ME YET, in 1980 and toured with The Bill Gaither Trio. As the years went on he became known for such cool novelty songs as 'Lazarus, Come Forth', 'Sunday's On the Way', and 'The Champion'. Fast forward to 1988 and he released the live album LIVE: RADICALLY SAVED (Benson). The first ten of the eleven tracks were recorded at the Brady Theatre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Producers were Keith Thomas with an assist by John Andrew Shreiner, while Carman served as executive producer. The album was Carman's 7th and in 1989 he won a Dove for the accompanying 'Long Form Music Video of the Year'.
1. The concert opens with applause and clapping and the words "Ladies and Gentlemen" being repeated a few times.
2. The first song is 'I've Been Delivered', one of eight tracks penned solely by Carman. Dann Huff plays guitars and Chris McDonald arranges horns on this energetic swing/rock 'n' roll song of testimony: "Jesus healed the blind man, made him see/Cast demons out the man from Gaderene/Cleansed the lepers too/He made the lame brand new/He put hope back in a hopeless life/I testify to you/I've been delivered (2X)/The hold the devil had on me/He ain't got no more/I've been delivered (3X)/By the hand of the Lord".
3. 'Lord of All' became a #2 hit for Carman and features backing vocals by: Kim Fleming, BeBe Winans, Chris Rodriguez, Mike English, and Keith Thomas. This one's a groovy sounding praise and worship song: "Lord, You are wonderful/Lord, You are glorious/You are Lord of all.../Jesus Christ is Lord of all/Every knee shall bow/Every tongue confess/That Jesus Christ is Lord of all/Lift up your eyes/Let the church arise/Jesus Christ is Lord of all".
4. 'Radically Saved' was a #1 hit. On it, Mark O'Connor plays the fiddle and Willie Davis the organ. It's a wonderful pop/rock song on which Carman gets his Pentecostal on: "Jesus Christ is Lord and God's still on the throne/There's power in the blood/And I'm saved to the bone/If the devil comes against me/He's gonna feel some pain/Cause I can bind him, bruise him, cast him out/By the power of Jesus' Name.../No longer on the outside/On the inside I now stand/Do you know what it's like to be sold out, the whole route?/How about born again?/I believe on the third day Jesus rose from the grave/The world thinks we're crazy/Our friends think we're crazy/Our family thinks we're crazy/But we are just what?/We're just radically saved".
5. 'No Way, We are Not Ashamed' was a #15 hit and includes background vocals by Chris Rodriguez, Lisa Bevill, and Donna McElroy. This song with a Caribbean feel to it is one of boldness: "No way, we are not ashamed of the Gospel or His Name/Holy hands are lifted high to the Name of Jesus Christ.../Do you know Christ is still the answer for the world today?/There is no other name so given/Unto a fallen man that he might be saved".
6. Next up is a true novelty song 'Soap Song', which is a ballad on which Carman plays guitar. The lyrics are fun including these ones: "If we want true contentment/Peace in our homes/With an end to marital strife/We must live for Jesus Christ, the only 'Guiding Light'/Not one but all the 'Days of Our Lives'".
7. 'Celebrating Jesus' has a fun, upbeat late 50's/early 60's rock 'n' roll feel to it, complete with Elvis style vocals. Christ is exalted: "We're celebrating Jesus/That's what Christmas means to me/It's the birthday of the One/Who makes the blind to see/He purchased my salvation/Way back on Calvary/I'm celebrating Jesus/That's what Christmas means to me.../There's presents round the tree/One for you and me/But the greatest gift of all/Is still a soul set free".
8. Carman and John Rosasco co-wrote 'Bless God'. Jimmie Lee Sloas plays bass and Guy Penrod is one of six background vocalists on this inspirational praise and worship ballad: "Bless God for all He's done/Bless God for Christ His Son/Let us magnify Him/For He's holy, holy/One voice in unity/One voice of praise to Thee/With hearts of love and worship/We will sing 'Bless God'".
9. Carman and Keith Thomas co-wrote 'Jericho: The Shout of Victory' which runs over 7.5 minutes. Robert Wynne provides narration at the beginning of this story song. A choir and orchestra are used on this track as well. Here are some of the words: "So with the confidence of warring angels Israel stood stone ready/To obey Joshua/Speak to their mountain and shout/For God was giving them the city/Six days they marched around Jericho/And the last day they marched seven/While the Caananites jeered from their evil walls/Israel's faith reached heaven".
10. John Andrew Schreiner plays keyboards on 'I Feel Jesus'. Carman speaks and says God can heal us of our sicknesses and backslidings. Here are the words to this reverent chorus: "I feel Jesus, I feel Jesus/I feel Jesus in this place/Yes, my soul does burn within me/I feel Jesus in this place".
11. Last up is 'God of All Nations Medley' which imagines seven songs from seven different geographical locations including Germany, Mexico, Italy, and the U.S.A. This final track which includes talking and singing and elements of humor runs 21.5 minutes long! Here are some of the words: "The Spirit of Jesus is living in me/Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!/The Holy Spirit the world cannot see/Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!.../God is with me, God is for me/But I tell you most of all/He's in my heart.../I need You more than ever now (2X)/Lord, I need You more today than when I first believed/I need You more than ever now.../We're not drunk as you suppose/We're just filled with the Holy Ghost".
LIVE: RADICALLY SAVED is a live record that clocks in at 64 minutes and 24 seconds. On it, you will hear a variety of genres of music: rock 'n' roll, pop/rock, easy listening, and praise and worship. There are songs of testimony. There is power in the blood of Jesus unto salvation. Jesus delivers us from sin, Satan's grip, and strongholds. God is loving and faithful towards us. Carman lifts up Jesus on this album. He is worthy, wonderful, glorious, and powerful. He gives peace and contentment and is the only Way to God. He is the Answer for the world and ultimately every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. After listening to this album you will be encouraged to be strong and bold in your Christian faith. There is also a good story song about the Israelites, with God's help, taking Jericho. I'm rating this live CD 90 %. For more info visit: www.carman.org or connect with him on Facebook.