Clearly the single greatest oversight in the previous Top 50 list was the omission of Bob Bennett as an artists, and most specifically, this amazing project as an album. That omission is hopefully rectified here with its inclusion in the Top 20; a well deserved placement for one of the early 80’s most poignant, important and brilliant releases. Bennet’s stories songwriting career found a zenith of sort in the nearly perfect musical expression. A decade before the strains of life brought a painful album of loss and regret in “Songs From Bright Avenue,” Bennett released “Matters of the heart,” an album filled with grace, yearning, hopes, legacy and love. Brilliantly performed with not one stray note or moment, the album is Bennett’s finest complete collection. There is nothing here that can be skipped. No album title has ever been more apropos than the one here as Bennett explores the emotional, nostalgic, inspiration and frailty of the human heart and its faltering condition. The themes are set against some beautiful melodies that warm, soothe and wrap their notes around the listener in such a gentle and calming way that the album serves as both wonderful background music and forefront personal examination encouragement. Bennett’s first release was on Maranatha Music and Bennett noticed from the very beginning that he did not quite fit with the rest of the artists on the label and with the Calvary Chapel way of doing things. the label’s pastoral type executive were kind enough to allow Bennett to record his brilliant debut, but did nothing to garner airplay, tour support or marketing. In fact, Bennett was left out of all of the label sponsored concerts and events. Bennett’s concerns about the relationship were verified when there was never a discussion about a follow up despite the albums relative success given the lack of support. So, as the 1970’s became the 1980’s Bennett found himself with a suitcase full of songs and no label. At the same Time CBS Records was working on an “Inspirational” imprint with eyes of taking CCM into the mainstream with artists they believed carried that potential. The James Taylor-like musical expressions of Bennett’s soulful pop had a strong Adult Contemporary, acoustic appeal that was quite popular at the time. The label would be called “Priority Records” and would be the home of everyone from Bennett to Carman and even a one-off by Mylon LeFevere under the name, “Look Up.” Bennett was impressed initially by the label when the label’s President actually personally returned a phone call to him. This true rarity gave Bennett hope this would be his new musical home. Bennett went into the studio with Jonathan David brown to record some demos for the label and eventually signed with the label. Bennett described to me that after the rather simplistic contract with Maranatha Music, the CBS record deal would make the IRS regulations seem pale in comparison. SEE COMPLETE REVIEW ON OUR OR DAVID'S WEBSITE Contributor David Lowman – legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/ Please consider supporting us on Patreon - www.patreon.com/Real80sCCM Check out our music video channel - youtube.com/channel/UCjzG_jXjDhE8lOqQM_dfctg Follow us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Real80sCCM Join our group on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/real80sccm Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/Real80sCCM/ See us on Instagram - www.instagram.com/real80sccm Visit our Website - real80sccm.com/ #BobBennett #Real80sCCM #80sChristianMusic Tracklist 1 - Matters Of The Heart - 3:30 2 - Falling Stars - 3:07 3 - Mountain Cathedrals - 4:54 4 - 1951 - 3:07 5 - A Song About Baseball - 3:21 6 - Madness Dancing - 3:19 7 - Together All Alone - 2:48 8 - Beggar - 3:57 9 - Come And See - 2:51 10 - Heart Of The Matter - 6:10 Credits Acoustic Guitar – Bob Bennett Arranged By [Strings & Woodwinds], Conductor – James Gabriel Stipech* Art Direction – Bob McConnell Booking – The Holmes Agency Concertmaster – Pavel Farkas Drums – John Ferraro, Keith Edwards Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – John Patitucci Electric Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith Engineer [Second] – Wally Grant English Horn, Flute, Saxophone – John Phillips Guitar [2nd] – Steve Swinford Hammered Dulcimer [Hammer Dulcimer] – Mark Davis Keyboards – Smitty Price Mastered By – Steve Hall Percussion – Alex MacDougall Photography By – Ken Kim Photography [Bob Bennett and Albie Pearson] – Dad Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown Score Editor [Rhythm Charts] – Smitty Price Steel Guitar – Steve Swinford Companies, etc. Manufactured By – Priority Records Manufactured By – CBS Inc. Produced For – Pacific Entertainment Group Recorded At – Weddington Studios Mixed At – Weddington Studios Mastered At – MCA Whitney Recording Studios Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Carrollton, GA Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc. Copyright © – CBS Inc. Published By – Priority Music