Carmen Domenic Licciardello was born on January 19, 1956 in Trenton, New Jersey. He was saved at an Andrae Crouch concert. His debut album was 1980's GOD'S NOT FINISHED WITH ME. What I am reviewing here is his landmark eighth album, REVIVAL IN THE LAND (1989, Benson). In the liner notes, Carman writes: "And most of all thanks to the Lord, Who gave me the songs, the ideas, the strength, and the wherewithal to carry it out. I'm ready for war!"
Starting things off is 'God's Got An Army', one of eight songs penned solely by Carman. Tom Hemby and Jerry McPherson play guitars on this great rock song that begins with these bold lyrics: "God's got an army/Not afraid to fight/Soldiers of the cross/And children of the light/Warriors of righteousness with healing in their hands/God's got an army marching through the land/Let me hear your war cry, 'Hey!'" 'I Got the Joy' has an upbeat black gospel feel to it and is a song of celebration: "Lift your praises to the sky/We're gonna get down with some church tonight/We gonna dance and we gonna shout/We gonna turn this whole place inside out/Come on gimme a shout of victory/Overcomers and conquerors are we". Appearing on this song are Carlton Pearson (Carman's pastor at the time) and The Higher Dimensions Sanctuary Choir.
'A Witch's Invitation' is one of two co-writes between Carman and Keith Thomas. It's a stellar story song over six minutes long about a Christian's encounter with a warlock. The Christian is victorious. He says: "My friend, one day they're coming for you/The soft associates in your incantations/The friendly demons you think you now control/The time will come when you'll be lying in bed wheezing like a dying animal when those spirits lay claim to the rights they own to your soul". He adds: "Next time think twice before you rumble with a man of God". Ashley Cleveland, Kim Fleming, and Vicki Hampton are on backing vocals on 'Get Your Business Straight With God'. Horns are used on this pop/rock number about purification: "He's pulling back the curtain/Revealing what's inside/Cleaning house from prejudice/Sinfulness and pride/There's a cloud of glory coming/And you better make some room/There's a glow on the horizon/Cause the Son is coming soon/And He's holy".
'This Blood' features the Christ Church Choir and also strings arranged by Don Wyrtzen. It's a moving adult contemporary ballad about the atonement: "And this blood can save the soul, heal the sick, mend the heart/This blood can give you access to the very throne of God/And it still can go the distance through the pain to where you are/This blood is for you, the blood of the Lamb". Susan Ashton, Mark Heimermann, and Chris Harris sing backing vocals on 'Saved, Delivered and Healed'. It's a ballad of encouragement: "Night and day He thinks of you/He hurts to see you cryin'/He wants for you and He hopes for You're always on his mind/So trust His heart and lean on Him/And let the Father lead the way".
Mark Douthit plays sax on 'Jesus is the Light', a cool pop song drawing from the Bible: "In John chapter one, the one 'bout God the Son/Tells us why the Lord He was sent/It says in Him is life, the life is the light/That shines on the darkness in men/There was one sent from God, whose name was John/Who came as a witness you see/He said 'I testify that Jesus is the light'/So everybody might believe". 'The Resurrection Rap' is a fun hip-hop song of testimony: "Now Satan was behind the attack/Cause he wanted to be at the top of the stack/But he'd soon learn the truth we've found/That you just can't keep this good Man down/Word up, it's fresh/Christ will rise from the dead!"
Next up is 'Shine Through Me', a ballad of spiritual compassion: "Let the light of Your Word light my pathway/Let the love of Jesus flow through me/It's the love of God that draws the wayward children back to Calvary/They're in my heart, they're all I see/They're like kidnapped royalty/But I can win them if Your love will shine through me". It's beautiful! Last is the title track, 'Revival in the Land', a creative story song that finds Satan delighting in abortion, tv violence, false religions, suicides, etc. He trembles at prayer, the Word, and revival! In the end Satan is defeated: "Lift your hands in victory/This is our finest hour/For this sleeping giant called the church is rising up in power!/Cry loud, spare not/This lion's got a roar!/We may have lost some battles but we will win this war!.../The Spirit of God is being poured out on all flesh and/There is revival in the land!" The Nashville String Machine is used.
REVIVAL IN THE LAND is quite a diverse project with story songs and various musical genres (pop/rock, gospel, adult contemporary, and rap). The cross and the blood shed at Calvary are central themes. So is the resurrection. God is love, life, and light. It is through Christ we have spiritual authority over the devil and his demons. We can stand up for God, do His will, and live in victory. Carman urges us to celebrate, and to be a witness to a dying, entrapped world. I'm rating this album a perfect 100%. For more info visit www.carman.org or connect with him on social media.