• Included among the Record Descriptions of Favorite Albums (Part 1).
• The 2nd Chapter of Acts is classified as “Jesus music”, since the group predates the later Christian contemporary music category that arose by 1975. 

The 2nd Chapter of Acts – In the Volume of the Book (1975):  The 2nd Chapter of Acts is a family group, composed of siblings Annie Herring, Matthew Ward, and Nelly Greisen.  The 2nd Chapter of Acts is classified as “Jesus music”, since the group predates the later Christian contemporary music category that arose by 1975.  (I know, the proper term is “contemporary Christian music”; but it seems to me that the “Christian” part is more important as well as being more descriptive of this category of contemporary music, instead of the other way around).  The intricate harmonies of the 2nd Chapter of Acts are a hallmark of the group, but their music is just as complex; and they are not afraid to rock out either, as they do on “Yaweh”, the only song on their second album, In the Volume of the Book that was not written by the bandmembers. 

The 2nd Chapter of Acts came to the notice of 1950’s pop/rock singer Pat Boone in the early 1970’s, and he arranged the release of two singles for them in 1972 and 1973.  The 1960’s folksinger Barry McGuire – best known for his 1965 hit “Eve of Destruction” – brought the 2nd Chapter of Acts on board to sing background vocals on his first two Christian albums, Seeds (1973) and Lighten Up (1974); the latter album includes a new version of “Eve of Destruction”.  Barry McGuire’s record producer on these two albums is Buck Herring, the husband of bandmember Annie Herring.  The instrumental backing group and touring band for the 2nd Chapter of Acts is a Band Called David; they also provided backup on several albums that the 2nd Chapter of Acts made with other artists, including Barry McGuire, Phil Keaggy, Michael Omartian, and Stormie Omartian.  Phil Keaggy, one of the best of the Christian-music guitarists, and keyboardist Michael Omartian are among the backing musicians on In the Volume of the Book.  The best-known song by the 2nd Chapter of Acts is “Easter Song” (written by Annie Herring), taken from their 1974 debut album With Footnotes.  From Wikipedia:  “According to Tori Taff of CCM magazine:  ‘The opening notes to “Easter Song” just may be the single most recognizable intro in contemporary Christian music.’  The song even achieved moderate success as a crossover on mainstream radio stations.  In 1998, CCM Magazine named ‘Easter Song’ as the No. 4 Christian song of all time.”