John Fischer (Christian musician)


John Fischer is a Christian author, singer, songwriter, and speaker. He is one of the credited founders of Jesus music and was a Senior Writer with PurposeDrivenLife.com.

Personal life

John Fischer was born in Pasadena, California in 1947. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1969. He studied for the Christian ministry at the Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California under Ray Stedman.
He released his first Christian album The Cold Cathedral in 1969. This is considered the first American contemporary Christian album. Fischer indicates on his website:

To this day, I still don't know how it happened. I got a phone call from this catholic recording company. They'd heard I was writing contemporary religious music and would I send them a tape. I went on to record these songs in Chicago immediately upon graduating from Wheaton College in June 1969. The Catholics were eager to fill a demand for contemporary music that was coming from the growing popularity of folk masses around the country--a kind of precursor to the Jesus movement. The producer and musicians on this album were all from the Old Towne School of Folk Music in Chicago. With this release in the fall of '69, I think I beat Larry Norman's "Upon This Rock" by about three months. On some lists, this is the first American contemporary Christian album. Jonathan and Charles beat us all in England.

His third album, Still Life, contains the now-classic track "All Day Song ". It was engineered by Keith Olsen while he was also working on the Buckingham Nicks album by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, at the same time.

Discography

F.E.L. Publications

These releases were on the F.E.L. Publications label.

''The Cold Cathedral'' (1969)

Words and Music by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "The Cold Cathedral"
  2. "The Road of Life"
  3. "See the Lilies"
  4. "Born to Die"
  5. "Open Up"
  6. "Got To Shout About It"
  7. "Alleluia"
  8. "Lamentations"
  9. "Look All Around You"
  10. "Hard Feeling to Explain"
  11. "No Vacancy"
  12. "The Lord's Prayer"

    ''Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?'' (1970)

Words and Music by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Jesus My Lord"
  2. "Jesus Is My Song"
  3. "Way of All Flesh"
  4. "Jesus in Me"
  5. "The Word"
  6. "Salvation Song"
  7. "Sons of Cain"
  8. "Love"
  9. "Light"
  10. "Trust and Obey"
  11. "Death Is Swallowed Up"

    Light Records

These releases were on the Light Records label.

''Still Life'' (1974)

All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Still Life"
  2. "Open Your Heart"
  3. "Simple Pleasures"
  4. "Setting of the Sun"
  5. "I'm Human"
  6. "Matthew's Blues"
  7. "Brightest and Best"
  8. "All Day Song "
  9. "We Are All Together"
  10. "Rest In Him"

    ''The New Covenant (A Musical)'' (1974)

All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Let It Be Free"
  2. "What Has Gone Wrong"
  3. "Evangelical Veil Productions"
  4. "Ways and Means"
  5. "Alleluia"
  6. "The Way of Peace"
  7. "I'm a Vessel"
  8. "We All Get Hurt"
  9. "We Have Died"
  10. "Rest In Him"
  11. "Alleluia "

    ''Naphtali'' (1976)

All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Naphtali"
  2. "We Are His Workmanship"
  3. "Don't Veil the Door"
  4. "Work Out the Life"
  5. "Naphtali Arise"
  6. "Angel's Song"
  7. "Mary and Joseph"
  8. "Song for the Good Times"
  9. "Live in the Power"
  10. "Arise My Beloved"

    ''Inside'' (1977)

All songs written by John Fischer.
  1. "Inside"
  2. "I've Been Hiding"
  3. "Tunnel of Trial"
  4. "A New Day"
  5. "The Sanctuary"
  6. "Two Years"
  7. "Master Potter"
  8. "Righteous Man"
  9. "With Him"
  10. "The Lamp"

    ''Johnny's Cafe'' (1979)

Johnny's Cafe LS-5757. All songs written by John Fischer.
  1. "Johnny's Cafe"
  2. "One Lane Road"
  3. "Nothin' in this World"
  4. "Circle of Blessing"
  5. "Talking Faces"
  6. "Pawn in the Game"
  7. "Right On Time"
  8. "Hard Line"
  9. "Blessed Is the Man"
  10. "Midnight on Main Street"

    ''Self Portrait'' (1985)

Self Portrait LS-5865. Mastered by Steve Hall. A Light Records "Best of" compilation featuring tracks from Inside, Still Life, Naphtali, and Johnny's Cafe. All songs written by John Fischer:
  1. "Righteous Man"
  2. "All Day Song"
  3. "We Are His Workmanship"
  4. "Johnny's Cafe"
  5. "Still Life"
  6. "Angel's Song"
  7. "Blessed"
  8. "Inside"
  9. "Arise, My Beloved"

    Myrrh Records / Word Records

These releases were on the Myrrh Records / Word Records label.

Dark Horse (1982)

Dark Horse 701-6713-385. All songs written by John Fischer.
  1. "Dark Horse"
  2. "Beggar"
  3. "Only a Few"
  4. "Falling in Love "
  5. "Christopher's Toes"
  6. "Nobody Wants to Die"
  7. "Losing is Winning"
  8. "Roses On Wednesday"
  9. "Looking Straight On"
  10. "Leaving It All to You"
    Valualbum (1982)
Some copies of Dark Horse came with a bonus LP titles Valualbum, a various artist promo LP. This is one of the only compilation albums that John Fischer ever appeared on. Featuring the songs:
  1. "Lean On Him" by Kenny Marks written by Keith Thomas
  2. "Bethlehem Morning" by Morris Chapman written by Morris Chapman
  3. "Cover Me" by Andrew Culverwell written by Andrew Culverwell
  4. "Dark Horse" by John Fischer written by John Fischer
  5. "Dreamer's Dream" by Pete Carlson written by Pete & Cindy Carlson
  6. "Farther and Higher" by Steve Camp written by Keith Thomas
  7. "The Best" by Dion DiMucci written by John Fowler
  8. "Cornerstone" by Leon Patillo written by Leon Patillo
  9. "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" by Amy Grant written by Richard Mullins
  10. "I Was Made to Love You" by Maria Muldaur written by Stevie Wonder and Syretta Wright
  11. "They Would Love Him Down In Shreveport" by Mercy River Boys written by Bobby Braddock

    Valualbum II (1983)

"Dark Horse" by John Fischer was on this album, also. The songs on the cassette version include:
SIDE 1
  1. "Here Is My Servant" by Dion
  2. "Bethlehem Morning" by Morris Chapman
  3. "Someone to Trust" by David Edwards
  4. "Drawn to the Light" by Paul Clark
  5. "Dark Horse" by John Fischer
SIDE 2
  1. "Cover Me" by Andrew Culverwell
  2. "Dreamer's Dream" by Pete Carlson
  3. "Livin' Without Your Love" by Keith Thomas
  4. "Beyond Saturday Night" by Leslie Phillips
  5. "Lean on Him" by Kenny Marks

    ''Between the Answers'' (1985)

Between the Answers 701-6788-385. All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Rejoice!"
  2. "Lord of the Dance"
  3. "Move On It"
  4. "Heartbeat"
  5. "It's Still Life"
  6. "Between the Answers"
  7. "Every Tear"
  8. "Long Way Back"
  9. "All We Need"

    ''Casual Crimes'' (1986)

Casual Crimes 701-6833-380. All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Time for You"
  2. "All Fall Down"
  3. "I Will Still Love You"
  4. "A Changed Man"
  5. "Everything Matters"
  6. "Dance!"
  7. "24 Green Street"
  8. "For a Good Man"
  9. "We Have Won This War"
  10. "Until Then"

    Urgent Records

''Wide Angle'' (1992)

All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Wide Angle"
  2. "Too Many Preachers"
  3. "The Only Way"
  4. "It All Comes Down To This"
  5. "A Witness"
  6. "O Rocker"
  7. "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt"
  8. "Cup of Cold Water"
  9. "Where Did They Go?"
  10. "By My Spirit"
  11. "Down to the Water"
  12. "Not the Only One"

    Silent Planet Records

''Some Folks' World'' (1999)

Some Folks' World is a re-release of Wide Angle with three new tracks. All songs written by John Fischer unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Some Folks' World"
  2. "Wide Angle"
  3. "Down to the Water"
  4. "Vanquard"
  5. "Pass It Around"
  6. "Too Many Preachers"
  7. "The Only Way"
  8. "It All Comes Down To This"
  9. "A Witness"
  10. "O Rocker"
  11. "Not the Only One"
  12. "Cup of Cold Water"
  13. "Where Did They Go?"
  14. "By My Spirit"
  15. "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt"

    Exploration Films

''First Love'' (1998)

  1. "All Day Song"
  2. "Jesus Loves Even Me"

    Selected bibliography

Fiction

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