166. Never For Nothing – Margaret Becker
NEVER FOR NOTHING (1987)
Margaret Becker
Sure, the “womullet” is so 1987 and Mags sounds at times like Nancy Wilson and even the title track could have been a single for heart, this album was possibly the greatest shot of fresh air in a stinky, stagnant pool of women CCM artists. In retrospect, not only was it great for its time, it is just plain great. It was the 1980’s and this album was set squarely in the middle of it all.
The industry at the time was filled with Amy Grant, Kathy Trocolli and Susan Ashton. Margaret came out blazing and Sparrow was smart enough to let her rock and not try an sanitize the sound for the sake of radio. The ballads would be all the CCM radio would get and they would play those songs to death.
As mentioned above the first radio hit was the title track and it a Heart rip-off. But a really, really good heart rip-off. The song, though, shows a vocal diversity in Becker that would become more prevalent in later releases. Her ability to shift from smooth and silky to rough and ragged is unmatched in the industry.
The album not only was a great record, but it opened the doors for female artists to branch out beyond the cute and bubbly sentimentality that they had been pigeon-holed with for over two decades. Becker would join forces in a few years with Charlie Peacock and create some amazing music not to be missed.
CCM's 500 Best Albums Of All Time 
The first time I heard Maggie was on an album of duets, of all things. She did an awesome duet with John Elefante and totally blew me away with her voice. She certainly pushed the female envelope for Christian Rock music for her day. Then she went and mellowed out on us. Even though I actually still like her more mellow stuff, it almost felt like a bait and switch kind of thing, at times. Still, I love Maggie!
Susan Ashton’s debut was in 1991.
Never totally got on board with Maggie B until Immigrant’s Daughter, along with Simple House, a formidable one, two punch.