DELIRIOUS
Cutting edge one and two

The band have recently announced they will be retiring in about a years time and so, I thought it would be a good time to look at where it all started for the band we now know as Delirious., although they started life with a different name. It all goes back to 1993 when Martin Smith and Tim Jupp started playing at a small youth event called Cutting edge in Littlehampton. Martin brought many of his own songs to the band and it became clear to all that this was something new. They went in to the studio and recorded 6 of these and the first cutting edge EP (called cutting edge 1) was released on tape and sold at these events.

The songs on the album were “Singer’s song”, “Message of the Cross”, “Lord, you have my heart”, “What is this thing called love”, “The Crucible for Silver” and “Thank you for saving me” and unlike many other first attempts in the studio the songs sounded great. People listening to them; loved them and it was only natural that more was wanted. It was the beginnings of what could be called the modern worship movement and together with Matt Redman, Delirious laid a foundation just about everyone else has used since then. Sure, there were worship leaders around then and they wrote good songs, but somehow these went to the heart of young people everywhere. The lyrics were simple but heartfelt and the music catchy enough that anyone could pick up the tune and get it stuck in their heads. Chord progressions were nothing too deep which made them incredibly easy to build on in a live setting and allow free expression. Most worship teams found it easy to learn the songs and many future leaders, such as Tim Hughes and Chris Tomlin, got started playing Martin Smith compositions in the early days. 

At this point only 3 of the five eventual members were in the band, but when it came time to record a second EP (called… yes… Cutting edge 2) guitarist Stu G joined and gave his touch to the songs. The six released this time were: “The Happy song”, “Prophet song”, “King of love”, “Coming back”, “Lead me” and “I could sing of your love forever”. That last song has become a worship anthem and many still sing it in church today, the chorus line ringing true as millions around the world repeat it over and over. At this point in time the group was still only known as “The Cutting Edge band” and bassist Jon Thatcher was yet to join but by the time “Cutting Edge Fore” came out the band was complete and people around the world had taken hold of what was by now considered a revolution in the way praise and worship music sounded. The group was now left with a serious decision since doors were opening for them to become a full time thing and after a car accident

Martin decided the Lord was calling him to take up music full time (the song August 31 is about this). After an extended time of prayer and consideration the rest of the band agreed to join him and the name Delirious was chosen. What followed was 8 more studio albums (including one in Spanish), 4 live albums and countless classic tracks known and loved by millions around the world… “History Maker”, “Deeper”, “My glorious”, “Majesty”, “Kiss your feet”, “Jesus Blood”, “Investigate”, “Now is the time”, “Paint the town red”. The last studio album they released shows a band still on top of their game with songs like “Love will find a way”, “Give what you got” and “Break the silence” and they say there won’t be another album before the end. This is of course sad news to all those who’ve followed the band through the years and they will be missed but thankfully they have left us with great memories and “Cutting edge one and two” (always bundled together when in CD form) is where it all started.