The songs were originally written for a regular youth event, Cutting Edge, in the band's home town of Littlehampton.
Reviewing the 1998 United States release, CCM magazine found that the band had created "a modern hymnody for generations raised on rock 'n 'roll.
The North American version was certified Gold in Canada by the CRIA and the band's distributor CMC Distribution.
At the time, future bassist Jon Thatcher worked selling the tapes at the Cutting Edge events.
Cutting Edge 2 contained the fan favorite, "The Happy Song", which was later remixed for the band's compilation album Deeper.
At this point, Jon Thatcher still had not joined the band, despite the fact he is credited as bass player in the sleeve notes of the Cutting Edge 1 and 2 compilation.
Additional musicians were Dudley Philips (bass), Chris Hutchinson (Hammond organ), along with Jussy McLean and Andy Piercy on backing vocals.
By this point, Jon Thatcher had joined the band as bass player, after filling in when a previous bassist could not perform at the event.