The Ministry Years 1977 - 1979, Volume 1 is the first of a two-volume posthumous compilation album series of Christian singer - songwriter Keith Green, released on October 23, 1987 by Sparrow Records. The 2 CD/2 cassette set is compiled and produced by Bill Maxwell.
Volume 1 covers the years 1977 to 1979 from his two Sparrow albums For Him Who Has Ears to Hear and No Compromise, as well as tracks from his posthumous albums The Prodigal Son and Jesus Commands Us to Go!, plus "Pledge My Heart to Heaven" featuring Bob Dylan on the harmonica from So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt, "Rushing Wind" from The Keith Green Collection, a live version of "Altar Call" from I Only Want to See You There and "There Is a Redeemer" from Song for the Shepherd. It also contains three previously unreleased songs: "Go to the Hungry Ones," "The Battle Is Already Won" and "Here Am I, Send Me." The latter track was co-written by Green with Wendell Burton back in 1979 and was released to Christian radio as the lead single. The track "Walk and Talk" is a vocal duet with Green and Barry McGuire, originally released on the 1976 various artists LP, Firewind, described as "A contemporary dramatic musical depicting the times after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 1–4."
Included is a 19-page booklet insert. Volume 1 was re-released in 1999 with a new cover patterned after the 1998 Songs of Keith Green CD series. The re-issue also includes a digital copy of the book No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green. Volume 1 climbed to number 24 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart in early 1988.
Track listing
All songs were written by Keith Green, except where noted.
Disc 1
1. Because of You (from For Him Who Has Ears to Hear) -2:57
2. How Can They Live Without Jesus? (from No Compromise) -3:06
3. Walk and Talk (with Barry McGuire) (Terry Talbot) (from Firewind) -2:38
4. Run to the End of the Highway (Keith and Melody Green) (from Jesus
Commands Us to Go!) -3:11
5. Your Love Broke Through (Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, Todd Fishkind) (from
For Him Who Has Ears to Hear) -3:31
6. The Victor (Jamie Owens-Collins) (from No Compromise) -4:26
7. Thank You Jesus (from Jesus Commands Us to Go!) -2:58
8. The Prodigal Son Suite (from The Prodigal Son) -12:22
9. Stained Glass (Keith and Melody Green) (from No Compromise) -2:51
10. Go to the Hungry Ones (Keith and Melody Green) (previously unreleased) -3:04
11. Love With Me (Melody's Song) (from The Prodigal Son) -3:24
12. You Put This Love in My Heart (from For Him Who Has Ears to Hear) -3:32
13. There Is a Redeemer (Melody Green) (from Songs for the Shepherd)-3:14
14. No One Believes In Me Anymore (Keith and Melody Green) (from For Him Who
Has Ears to Hear) -3:24
15. On the Road to Jericho (from Jesus Commands Us to Go!) -3:26
16. You! (Keith and Melody Green) (from No Compromise) -3:34
17. When I Hear the Praises Start (Keith and Melody Green) (from For Him Who Has
Ears to Hear) -4:27
18. Asleep in the Light (from No Compromise) -4:27
Disc 2
1. He'll Take Care of the Rest (Keith Green, Wendell Burton) (from For Him Who
Has Ears to Hear) -4:02
2. Make My Life a Prayer to You (Melody Green) (from No Compromise) -3:24
3. Easter Song (Annie Herring; additional verse by Keith Green) (from For Him
Who Has Ears to Hear) -4:00
4. When There's Love (Keith and Melody Green, Bobby Hart) (from Jesus
Commands Us to Go!) -2:57
5. The Battle Is Already Won (Keith Green, Wendell Burton) (previously
unreleased) -3:32
6. Pledge My Head to Heaven (from So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt) -3:56
7. My Eyes Are Dry (from No Compromise) -2:06
8. Song to My Parents (I Only Want to See You There) (from For Him Who Has
Ears to Hear) -4:05
9. Trials Turn to Gold (from For Him Who Has Ears to Hear) -3:28
10. Dust to Dust (Melody Green) (from Jesus Commands Us to Go!) -4:04
11. I Can't Believe It! (Keith and Melody Green) (from For Him Who Has Ears to
Hear) -3:40
12. To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice (from No Compromise) -3:23
13. Soften Your Heart (Keith and Melody Green) (from No Compromise) -2:53
14. I Don't Wanna Fall Away From You (from No Compromise) -3:12
15. Here Am I, Send Me (Keith Green, Wendell Burton) (previously unreleased)
-3:46
16. I Can't Wait to Get to Heaven (Keith and Melody Green) (from The Prodigal
Son) -4:12
17. Dear John Letter (To The Devil) (from No Compromise) -3:24
18. Rushing Wind (live) (from The Keith Green Collection) -3:45
19. Don't You Wish You Had the Answers (Melody Green) (from Jesus Commands
Us to Go!) -3:22
20. Altar Call (live) (from I Only Want to See You There) -4:09
Radio singles
1987 "Here Am I, Send Me" -#14 Christian CHR, #2 Christian AC
1988 "Go to the Hungry Ones" -#39 Christian AC
Previous release: Jesus Commands Us to Go! (1984) (posthumous album)
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