- I Will Lift My Eyes
- Nothing Without You
- Great Light of the World
- Holy Is Your Name
- Falling Down
- Into the Day
- The Hammer Holds
- Tip of My Heart
- Stand
- Sometimes By Step
It's becoming far too common now for artists to fulfill their contractual obligations before switching record labels by releasing a premature best-of album. Unlike most others, however, it actually doesn't seem too soon for Bebo Norman, who recently transitioned from Essential Records to BEC Recordings. After all, he made his major label debut back in 1999 with Ten Thousand Days and released four more albums since then. Though he hasn't scored a ton of radio hits, there's still a wealth of material for cherry picking Norman's finest from.
So why is it Great Light of the World: The Best of Bebo Norman only scratches the surface of his impressive catalog with such a skimpy, 10-song track list? Moreover, two of the selections are radio singles that come from compilation projects: "Holy Is Your Name," a collaboration with Cliff and Danielle Young of Caedmon's Call from City on a Hill: Sing Alleluia, and a cover of Rich Mullins' "Sometimes By Step" from WoW Worship [Aqua]. There's only eight songs worth mentioning from Norman's acclaimed five-album catalog? Crazy.
This disc certainly doesn't represent all the radio singles, with notable omissions like "I Am" and "Cover Me" from Big Blue Sky, and "Disappear" from Try—not to mention "Yes I Will," a duet with Joy Williams from The Christ: His Passion. And because there's plenty of unused space on this disc, why not include fan favorites like "The Man Inside" and the wedding favorite "A Page Is Turned" from Ten Thousand Days, or "Our Mystery" from Myself When I Am Real? There's little incentive for fans here: no new songs, live tracks, alternate recordings, or even a comprehensive collection.
Still, even with those significant missteps, it's difficult to get upset with strong material like the soaring worship of the title track, the genius poetic expression of Christ's sacrifice in "The Hammer Holds," and Norman's successful foray into polished pop with "I Will Lift My Eyes." The essentials are at least present, all great stuff. But with the switch to BEC, it's a shame Essential couldn't offer something that better summarizes his first eight years. We can only hope that Norman will someday be honored with the comprehensive project he deserves.