Any good Contemporary Christian recordings

Anything by Gillian Welch.

Ditto the The Innocence Mission.

Mindy Smith, One Moment More (not quite as saturated with Christian lyrics
as the above).

The Blind Boys of Alabama (the new one with Ben Harper is great)!

Bob Dylan had a Chritian phase with three or four CD's devoted to that theme.

I'm assuming you are looking for Popular Music and not for Classical, but if
the latter as well, you may want to add that to your query.

Marco

Drubin - well, yes, I guess it is that the content of much of her lyrics contain so many Christian references, and spiritual overtones that I assume that it is part of the message she wants to bring to her music. As far as her own personal beliefs, I have no idea, if that is what you are questioning. I guess the question you may be posing is, what exactly constitutes a "contemporary Christian recording"?

Marco

I listened to a little bit of 16 horsepower on line. Pretty interesting.

Here are a couple of good 16HP videos. The first by the Brothers Quay, is a favorite.

Black Soul Choir

Haw

And a couple of Woven Hand to give you a sense of Edwards other (current) project:

Blush (with the dance company, Ultima Vez)

Ain't No Sunshine You will not hear a darker version of this tune.

Another favorite Christian band, and among my own top 5 bands of all time;

16 Horsepower

Though Woven Hand clearly does reveal a founding signature in Edwards' genius, and is an extension of 16HP in that respect, I find those two bands very distinctive from each other. I can take Woven Hand in much smaller doses. 16HP I could listen to all day. Woven Hand is darker, more cerebral, more complex and brooding, and at times even a bit abstract. You won't hear as much of the roots of folk, Appalachia, gospel, bluegrass and rock, that makes the music of 16 Horsepower such a unique and distinctive fusion of sounds. Woven Hand is also a highly unique fusion of sounds but definitely not hot the same or even similar to my ears - you can hear Edwards lead, yes, but he's using a different musical vocabulary. But there is no mistaking Edwards presence in both bands - Yes, "Intense" most certainly describes him very well. He reminds me a bit of Nick Cave in some respects, who also uses uses lots of religious references in his music/lyrics, and is also a very theatrical and intense performer. No, 16HP are definitely not your grampa's Christian Rock band - good call on that Marty. Other 16HP band members went on to do a project called Lillium which I don't care for at all. It sounds nothing like 16hp.

Nobody's mentioned Bob Dylan?! John Wesley Harding is a pretty amazing album. I guess it's not that contemporary anymore (1967). Though much of his later work have plenty of Christian references, I think JWH is a jewel.

Well, shooot, I'd already mentioned Dylan, early on. How about Over the Rhine? I probably already mentioned them too. If not, try, "Ohio" or "Good Dog, Bad Dog".

Hey Marty - Alejandro Escovedo made up for having to listen to a few verses of Michael Jackson before I had to stop him. Indeed, quite a contrast. They are from different planets. I was intrigued about Escovedo; when I did a search on YouTube I saw he did a duet with Chuck Prophet who I do like very much. Anyway, yeah, definitely more pop driven. Nothing wrong with that...hey, it's short for "popular". But none of this is very, well, Christian. Christian pop music - Anyone mentioned the band, Live. Always liked this video from them. Can't get much more mainstream pop MTV than that - I used to like that band...whatever happened to them? By the by, Stacy is Richard's beautiful wife, so you don't want to be calling her Mister.

Marty, your post compelled me to look into some music in my library. Here's a few ditties on Jesus. Not exactly Christian bands though.
Chuck Prophet on Jesus

Tom Waits on Jesus

Jim White on Jesus

Cake on Jesus

Damn, no video or link to share for one of my favorites: "Thank You Lord", by Hellwood (a Jim White collaboration)

Back to the Christian bands, I'd point once again to two in particular if you are a fan of female vocals. These are two of my favorites. Your post prompted me to go on a video hunt:

Innocence Mission live from back in '95 when they used to open for The Cowboy Junkies, and a more current video (less acoustic and more produced, but Karen Peris voice is no less beautiful.

If you've never heard Over The Rhine, and you are a fan of female vocals, you are in for a treat.

Suitcase (short lead in giving some brief background)

The gorgeous song, Latter Days, with some homemade video (sorry, no official version online)