Shall we consider Free At Last to be, of sorts, a sacrifice for what was to come—maybe for Jesus Freak? Perhaps even Jesus Freak was even more of a continuance of this notion that ultimately culminated on their last group effort, Supernatural? Excuse our digression—maybe this is a topic for another article?

As he reminisced, Collins winced at the fact that DC Talk wanted to be, in his words, “overtly ‘Christian’”—but also sensing a spearhead-like spirit, as he explained how the group was constantly striving to push the envelope for the ways in which the Gospel could be presented—and eventually accepted.

“Free at Last was a pretty substantial record, and we wanted to take it to another level,” said Collins.

Aiding in this endeavor, in the mid nineties the DC Talk team bought a little house just off the tiny and historic downtown square of Franklin, TN—coincidentally right next door to an elderly couple, many know by name from the famous Jesus Freak skit, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. The home was gutted, studio installed, and it became the center of operations and ultimately the birthplace of their next, and groundbreaking album.

Once the studio was set up, Collins recalled Toby McKeehan bringing in a batch of really intricate songs—“Incredible,” as Collins put it, that were quite a departure from Free At Last.

“When he would come in with those songs, we were like, ‘Oh shoot, these things aren’t even finished, and they are really good!’” recalled Collins.

CLICK “4” TO ADVANCE (Song-by-song conversations begins Page 5)

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