Rick Cua was a strong presence in Christian rock throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although he first gained notice as the bass player for Southern rockers The Outlaws, unlike the common story of rockers finding fame yet finding it wanting and then finding Jesus, Cua was a Christian before joining the band. He recorded his first solo album, "Koo-Ah," in 1981, releasing it the following year. Over the ensuing decades, Cua has put out 16 albums either as solo efforts or with his present band Blues Counsel, a Nashville-based ensemble loaded with premiere talent such as guitarist Will McFarlane, whose distinguished pedigree includes several years working with Bonnie Raitt followed by an extended period working with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

Cua, whose work now focuses on pastoral duties, has taken care to license and rerelease his work from back in the day, much of which is unavailable save for the used market. The result is "40 | The Ultimate Collection." It is a winner.

The height of Cua's career came when the Christian music industry was prone to doing whatever it took to emulate popular music trends while spending as little money as possible. Recording budgets were tight, and the sonics often reflected this miserly approach. One of the remarkable elements of "40 | The Ultimate Collection" is the sonic power it offers. The guitars have authentic crunch and chime, and the drums don't sound like someone is fluffing pillows. The album sounds fresh, even with some tracks dating back over 40 years.

The tracks are not laid out in chronological order but instead are assembled for flow between the tracks to stand out for themselves rather than as a nostalgic collection. Of course, nostalgia enters the room when favorites such as "I Can I Will" come on.

Cua broke no new ground musically; that was never his aim. He was and is authentically about melodic harder rock, not metal, alternative, or grunge. There are tastes of '80s alternative rock's more pop elements and, of course, the occasional arena rock ballad. What is surprising about hearing the music, much of it for the first time in decades, is how well it stands up from the musical and production angles. While undoubtedly a product of its time, Cua's music fits seamlessly alongside his '80s and '90s contemporaries on both the Christian and secular front. A Journey or Foreigner fan would notice no quality drop-off from their favorites to anything included in this collection.

Lyrically, Cua kept it basic. There are no "Is he singing about God or his girlfriend?" moments and no ambiguity in message or intent. Biblical fundamentals abound, mercifully minus shallow platitudes or anemic attempts at praise without gravitas. Cua's lyrics are meat and potatoes Christianity, a roots-level faith offered without pretense or patronization.

Rick Cua may not be remembered as frequently as Petra or DeGarmo & Key. That said, his take on arena rock easily stands alongside his peers. "40 | The Ultimate Collection" is a welcome addition to every classic Christian rock fan's collection.

The CD is available on Cua's website.

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