Customer Reviews

Unguarded (Reis)

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Before this album was released, the Christian music industry knew a totally different Amy Grant. This was the woman who had given them praise classics like "El Shaddai", touching melodies like "Fathers's Eyes", and sweet, reflective tunes like "Giggle".

The first 10 seconds of this album revealed another side to Amy's talent. The hard-driving beat of "Love of Another Kind" marked the beginning of Amy's cross-over into popular rock... And I, for one, was thrilled! Always shooting from the hip, Amy Grant delved into this new style of music with an honesty message of hope that shines with each successive track.

This is fun music: music to crank up in the car as you drive down the road. "Find A Way" and "Wise Up" join "Love" as the albums most "rocky" and catchy tunes. "Everywhere I Go" is a beautifully arranged and well written expression of hope, and "Who to Listen To" speaks of the choices we face when we choose who to trust. By far, the most fun tune is the aforementioned "Wise Up" which has been the cause of more near-accidents on the American highway than should probably be counted.

The title, "Unguarded" comes from a background lyric in the song, "Fight" ...'I've got to stay open, keep defenses all down (unguarded heart) Don't want to be hiding, when the love comes 'round. '

There are four covers to this album, with Amy striking different poses in her now infamous spotted jacked. As a plus, listen for then-husband Gary Chapman doing background vocals on many of the tracks.

I wanted to point out that my opinion here is a bit biased...I am quite the Amy-fan. For the diehard Amy-ite, this is one of the best albums she has ever done and if you don't have it, you should click the button NOW. For the casual or non-fan, this album contains many fun songs with a definite 80s flare, and I really do believe that you would enjoy them.

Rock on, Amy!

Many casual listeners mistakenly believe "Heart In Motion" was Amy's first pop crossover album. Nope. It was this one.

Light years removed from her previous acoustic sounds and soft-pop feel, "Unguarded" was a masterfully produced turbo-charged bombshell that forever altered not only Amy's career but Contemporary Christian Music as well. From the first blasts of the first track, it shattered every pre-conceived notion about Amy to millimicrons.

With singles aggressively cross-marketed to pop radio and Amy's first Top 40 hit ("Find a Way"), it was a litmus test for many's idea of genuine faith. Conservatives considered her a sell-out who was using her God-given talent, her beautiful face, and inoffensive lyrics to lead young people into a false sense of spiritual security. Moderates were secretly anxious to see how well the album was received but mindful to observe her public integrity. Liberals were saying ... well, they didn't say much. They were listening to Huey Lewis.

Every pop success enjoyed by Amy or any other Christian crossover artist (from Michael W. Smith to Jars of Clay to Jessica Simpson) can be traced to this album - which still holds up well today.

From a musical standpoint this is Amy Grant's best album. The album was very creative from the four different album covers to the various topics she sings about. Definately an album that bridged the gap between secular and Christian.

Many casual listeners mistakenly believe "Heart In Motion" was Amy's first pop crossover album. Nope. It was this one.

Light years removed from her previous acoustic sounds and soft-pop feel, "Unguarded" was a masterfully produced turbo-charged bombshell that forever altered not only Amy's career but Contemporary Christian Music as well. From the first blasts of the first track, it shattered every pre-conceived notion about Amy to millimicrons.

With singles aggressively cross-marketed to pop radio and Amy's first Top 40 hit ("Find a Way"), it was a litmus test for many's idea of genuine faith. Conservative Christians considered her a sell-out who was using her God-given talent, her beautiful face, and inoffensive lyrics to lead young people into a false sense of spiritual security. Moderates were secretly anxious to see how well the album was received but mindful to observe her public integrity. Liberal Christians were saying ... well, they didn't say much. They were listening to Huey Lewis.

Every pop success enjoyed by Amy or any other Christian crossover artist (from Michael W. Smith to Jars of Clay) can be traced to this album - which still holds up well today.

This CD made a lot of fuss when it was first released back in the eighties. Amy embraced rock and made some people back away. For me and thousands of others this CD is a treasure. The musicians are great, among the many talented ones are Bill Champlin from Chicago and Richard Page from Mr. Mister. Listen to the words and enjoy the music. This album is filled with a Love of Another Kind.

This must be a listing for the short-lived secular release on Reunion/Uni. It was first released by Myrrh/Word Records for the Christian market, and A&M in the regular market. It was reissued in 1993 by RCA.
Amy had her first Billboard Top 40 hit with "Find a Way" after conquering the CCM scene. She was now touring overseas.
The love songs have cross-over appeal.
This was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, CO, frequented by Chicago (ex-lead singer Peter Cetera did a duet with Grant, "Next Time I Fall"), the Beach Boys, and Elton John to name a few. Amy said in a 1997 interview that the studio, used for three other LPs, was destroyed by fire.
Reissued 2007 by Sparrow/EMI CMG.

By the early 80's, Amy Grant had established herself as a true force in Contemporary Christian music, having sold over a million copies of her albums 'Age to Age' and 'Straight Ahead'. These milestones still did not prepare her primary audience for the new sounds of 'Unguarded', however. At the time of its release, 'Unguarded' sounded more like the top 40 radio of the time, with 80's synth-rock production and oblique lyrics that had Amy singing about a vague "you", rather than God or Jesus directly. There was some dismay among traditionalist fans, who saw this album as Amy moving away from her roots, but the mainstream audience, many of whom had never heard 'Age to Age' or 'Straight Ahead' made 'Unguarded's singles top 20 hits on the secular charts, a feat unheard of at the time for a Christian artist.

In retrospect, 'Unguarded' is perhaps more important as an historical turning point for Christian music, rather than as an album in itself, since the songs do sound somewhat dated today, and yet the Christian music audience is forever indebted to this album because it broke Christian music to a wider audience and paved the way for many rock-oriented Christian acts to follow.

This was the album that brought Amy's name to to the mainstream music scene. She had her first top 40 hit with Love will find a way. This is by no means only a top 40 album though. It is very much a contemporary christian album. But the message of christianity is more subtle than some of her others albums. A must have in any Amy Grant collection. Some songs do have an '80's sound to new listeners but the message in the songs is still applicable today. Check out, Find a way, Wise up, and I personally like Sharayah.

I popped this CD in my player the other day having not heard it for several years. I was amazed by the songs and remembering certain moments when I heard Find A Way being played on my favorite top 40 radio station. In those days, hearing a song by a Christian artist was unthinkable and by todays standards Find A Way is a true Christian anthem of love and hope. This album is a true historical icon! No other artist has ever made this kind of impact in this way before with such powerful staying presence. Amy Grant is definately an artist to celebrate over. Her music continues to inspire and creat more and more other artists who are following in her footsteps-Jaci Velasquez and Leanne Rimes to name a few. Unguarded was a true breakthrough album for Amy and cemented her as a true artist and performer and not just a stuffy Christian hymns trendsetter. Amy made Christian music real and inventive. You go girl! Amy, you haven't released anything in a while, what's up?!?

By the noughties' standards, definitely dated and a little embarrassing in terms of instrumentation, but this is the album that sees Amy rocking out and perfecting her raspy growl.

While 'Baby Baby' became her solo No.1 to officially seal her status as a 90s Pop chanteuse, 'Unguarded' was Amy's landmark crossover album that spawned her first Billboard Top 40 Single 'Find A Way' and made her a bonafide video star on MTV.

It's a little funny to see on hindsight the controversy Amy Grant's music generated back in the 80s in CCM circles, when conservative listeners were scandalised that a Christian record should contain so few explicit references to God. But perhaps the appeal of Amy's songs is that they approach religion from a humanistic angle (it's dangerous to even go there so I won't harp on this).

Artistically, I see this album as a young artist's effort to push the envelope with her music and message to put Christian music on the forefront in the 80s.

This reissue is a must-have for old Amy fans hoping to revisit her older material (with a fresh, clear sound, thanks to the remastering. Blast 'Fight' on your sound system to hear the soundscape for yourself - you'll be blown away!). It's also a fine introduction to her back catalog alongside 'Lead Me On' and 'Age To Age' for those who only listened to her in the 90s.

If nothing else, Amy's music really 'colors my day'.