No comments about The Best of Bluegrass II.

1 comments about The Stoneman Family - Old-Time Tunes of the South.

1. The CD has excellent musicianship, but the singing could be better. I was hoping for more instrumentals, of which there are few. There is no option of 3-1/2 stars.

1 comments about Ring of Fire.

1. I bought this album after watching "Walk the Line," a film which turned me into some sort of Johnny Cash fan. There are a handful of quality tracks on this album, including "Boy Named Sue," "Sixteen Tons," and "Get Rhythm." There is nothing quite like Cash's baritone voice, and he gets to demonstrate his vocal range throughout the album.
   
   My hesitation to more fully endorse this particular album is several-fold. First and foremost, it is just too short. There just ought to be a few more tracks on it. Second, it is a live album, but even so, the quality of the recording could have been better. Finally, there are some real clunkers on the album, which is inexcusable for a late-career, randomly-assembled album. It's not as if this is a studio-recorded release of freshly written songs. With the ability to pull from his entire career, the producers could have included a few more of his best hits.
   
   At the end of the day, it's a Johnny Cash album, so it's not bad. I just imagine that there are any number of his albums that would be a much better investment.

1 comments about Recollections.

1. BJ takes us through many of his earlier Gospel songs in this classic collection. Included are many contemporary songs as well as a number of standards, such as The Old Ruggged Cross and Just As I Am. Truly a great CD to add to your collection!

3 comments about Sing Gospel.

1. Some decent cuts from their early gospel days of the 1960's.

   Side note: Yes, this IS the current group on the cover, which I would complain about, as well. Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden (before his long beard), and Joe Bonsall, as well as their keyboard player at the time, Garland Craft ARE featured on the cover.




2. I would just like to make a comment to the reviewer who claimed the current Oaks are on the cover of this album...I would like to know when the last time was that they saw the Oak Ridge Boys...Most people would ask if I knew what I was talking about here, and I do...I've seen the Oak Ridge Boys, and this cover does NOT display the current group, not only have the members' appearance changed, but the clothing style cannot be mistaken for a current trend.



3. False advertising. I was looking forward to the current Oaks singing gospel songs and what I got was a set of old recordings of earlier Oakridge Boys recordings. That would be okay if the current Oaks weren't on the cover. That is false advertising. I thought I had found a good gospel CD because the current Oaks have a great sound. I was sorely disappointed. Whoever created the cover for this CD and the current Oaks should be ashamed of themselves.

1 comments about Sure Dont Feel Like Home.

1. If you want to hear some great country sounds and not be pelted by garbage for lyrics this is it. A neat twist on your normal country lyrics, the song "Are you still hear", he loses his family and he hopes Christ won't go too because of his "messups". "I can call on you" This song paints a wonderful picture of how no matter how alone you feel, Christ is right there. I felt like I was laying there looking into heaven. Excellent. I sure wish Mr. Haynes would keep recording.

No comments about This Is Positive Country.

No comments about What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

2 comments about Hand-Clapping Gospel Songs.

1. Songs of faith were central to the King of Country's recording career from the start, but it wasn't until this 1963 release on Hickory (the recording arm of his own Acuff-Rose publishing company) that he purpose-built a themed album of gospel songs. All twelve of the album's titles were taken at mid-tempo and full throat, which gives the album a toe-tapping, hand-clapping energy. The album's songs mixed classic gospel titles ("Turn Your Radio on" and "I'll Fly Away") with contemporary tunes (Hank Williams' "Jesus Dies For Me" and "I Saw the Light") and several credited to Acuff's partner Fred Rose ("Wait for the Light to Shine" and "Thank God"). The sole original was "That Glory Bound Train." Acuff is supported by a string band (guitar, bass and fiddle). light honky-tonk piano and drums, and backed by ardent group harmonies. Varese's CD reissue adds six bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased pair "Hallelujah Square" (from 1977) and "From Cradle to Cross to Crown" (from 1978). Also included is Acuff's 1962 waxing of the song most closely associated with his career, "The Great Speckled Bird." The original album was previously reissued as a two-fer with Acuff's "Sings American Folk Songs," on the UK Ace label, but for those seeking a straight shot of gospel, this is the edition to get. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]



2. This is a great collection which brings back his 1963 classic. There are some differences and extra's. Tracks 1-12 are suppose to be from the 1963 Hickory Lp. In fact tracks 1-11 are, track 12 "Glory is Coming" is from his last or next to last recording sessions of 1978. "From Manger to Cross to Crown" makes it's debut here. To my ear it also sounds like a slightly different cut of "The Great Speckled Bird" from 1962. All in all a wonderful package of recordings. I rate it A+

No comments about Homecoming in Heaven.