1 comments about Isaacs Bluegrass: Sonya.

1. Sonya Isaacs does amazing things with her voice. The Isaacs are a family group with an extreme talent in making bluegrass harmonies, vocally and instrumentally. This CD is a collection of songs featuring Sonya's vocals, and it does not disappoint. If you're a fan of Allison Krauss, you will fall in love with this sound.

5 comments about Full Moon.

1. This is not one of Charlie's best efforts. Apart from The Legend of Wooley Swamp, which is a CDB classic, it's hardly representative of his best work. South Sea Song has to be about the worst song he's ever recorded. It sounds like a warmed-over Jimmy Buffett track, although I doubt Jimmy would touch it. Lonesome Boy From Dixie isn't bad, but kind of cliched, as is the inferior El Toreador. No Potion For the Pain is kind of bland, and Dance Gypsy Dance is ruined by female backing harmonies that sound like Olivia Newton John. Carolina is a heartfelt track, and Money isn't bad, but In America is an example of one of Charlie's worst traits - his penchant for jingoism.



2. Looking back this album came out during the heyday of southern rock. It fit the bill very well sliding right in with Lynyrd Skynrd, Molly Hatchet and the rest. "Lonesome Boy From Dixie" is a very good poster child song of the era. It's a good song but also describes the times. "In America" was written in response to President Carter's ineptitude but it is still a good song. "Legend Of Wooley Swamp" is the hit on this album and it's good and worth th price if you're wondering.



3. This is one of the Charlie Daniels Bands best cd's. It was hard to find on disc but was glad that I could get it through .... From the opening fiddle to the last guitar cries this is an outstanding mix of country and southern fried rock. Charlie blends it all together and makes this a pure listening experience. Charlie playing like only Charlie can.



4. This recording will never be remembered as an all time classic. However, in the realm of Southern Rock, it stands quite tall. Charlie Daniels lyrics are always written straight from the heart and the stories and scenery behind each of these nine songs are quite ear catching. There is enought diversity to make this a worthy listen every now and then.



5. CDB shows their patriotism with In America. Lonesome Boy from Dixie is a good Civil War song. Carolina is a great song.

1 comments about Greatest Children's Christmas Hits.

1. This is my favorite collection of Christmas hits. But that's just because these were the songs I listened to as a kid. Aww, brings a tear...

1 comments about The Essential Ricky Skaggs.

1. The success that Ricky had in the eighties is nothing short of sensational. In the wake of the Urban cowboy craze, along came a bluegrass singer and picker to take the country charts by storm. Bluegrass purists didn't approve because Ricky added a drummer to the line-up in order to appeal to a wider audience. Yet this one concession to commercialism was a master stroke. For many people, the first bluegrass music they ever heard was by Ricky. I hadn't listened to a lot of bluegrass before Ricky came along, so he helped my interest in the music to grow.
   
   Among the classic tracks here are Crying my heart out over you, I don't care, Heartbroke, Don't cheat in our hometown and Honey open that door. All those tracks were from his first three Epic albums, which I still think were his best original albums.
   
   Ricky continued to record plenty of great songs, so his chart success continued for a few more years, reaching the top of the charts in the late eighties with Loving only me. Ricky showed how bluegrass could appeal to a wider audience. Although he faded from the spotlight in the nineties, he continued to make excellent music. Meanwhile, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Ralph Stanley and others have further increased the popularity of bluegrass music.
   
   This compilation contains many of Ricky's classic hits of the eighties but the omission of Highway 40 blues, Uncle Pen and Country boy devalues it somewhat. I would have expected these three tracks in any collection titled Essential. Despite these omissions, this compilation provides a useful introduction to Ricky's eighties music although I recommend you buy 16 biggest hits or (better still) the double CD, Country gentleman, rather than this one.

5 comments about Big Sky.

1. I fell in love with The Isaacs at a Gaither concert--after all, they were the only ones both singing AND playing their own acoustic stuff. Awesome. With "Big Sky" they cross over from southern gospel/bluegrass to a very contemporary country sound but with enough "twangyness" to make me love it. The overall sound--vocals, instruments, production--is very, very polished. I was pleasantly surprised to find Becky and Ben also singing lead and they sounded great. Wow. (Previously, of the three siblings, I only thought Sonya did lead. She's extraordinary.) The only failing I find with this recording is a lack of any real spiritual depth in the lyrics. I would LOVE to hear The Isaacs do some songs that clearly speak of Jesus and challenge Christians to be conformed to His image. (a la CCM'ers Casting Crowns or Mercy Me.) I believe they would turn the northern states popular Christian radio upside-down. But I also think using their superb talents on just regular songs is a mighty fine way to make a living and I am glad they did.



2. I absolutely love this album! I purchased it on amazon last week and have listened to nothing else since. I never liked bluegrass until I saw "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". Then, like a million other people, I bought the soundtrack and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since then I have purchased one Alison Krauss CD and mostly enjoyed it. A friend turned me on to the Isaacs and this is the first of their cds I have owned. It is a unique blend of harmony, interesting and folksy lyrics, and unusual combinations of instruments. I highly recommend it.



3. Not really crazy about the new direction this extremely talented family has taken. Way too much drums and way too little bluegrass sound - for me.



4. Well after "Heroes" this is what I expected. I knew that after their successful Heroes album in 2004 that they would change their sound. On this project I think they have changed for the better. Even thoug I am a long-time fan of The Isaacs I still think "Big Sjy" is one of their greatest projects. But I do think they should be careful who they choose as their producers. I just hope they don't switch from gospel to country. Even though Sonya is known for country music; The Isaacs are not. But I love the music and the great work they are doing.



5. Prime Cuts: Barbie Bandaids, I Bring It to You, Love is a Cross You Bear
   
   The Isaacs is not your typical Southern Gospel act. When they sing about "the Great Big Sky," they incarnate the very words they sing. Never constricted by the manacle of genre, "Big Sky" finds the family-sextet extending their musical forays from bluegrass to gospel to contemporary country. Part of such all-encompassing foresight is engineered by the album's producer Mark Bright. Bright who has been the sonic architect behind the mega successes of Racal Flatts and Carrie Underwood, varnishes this new disc with a more polished Nashville sheen in lieu the more rustic ambiance of their previous efforts. Similarly, the themes of these 10 paeans canvas a larger scope: from songs that address Christian themes and the Almighty to family-oriented devotions to tributaries to romance.
   
   Just like their previous CDs, the vocals are evenly divided among the family members. Ben Issacs puts his canorous George-Strait-like tenor to great effect on the Hugh Prestwood's "Love is a Cross You Bear." A moving tale of a wayward wife of a preacher who finally repented of her flagitious ways is couched in an acoustic guitar driven ballad that is just a piece of art. While Leslie Satcher and Kent Blazy's "That's Alright By Me" is a blatant love song with Becky Isaacs' vocals punctuated by some gentle-sounding mandolin. Of the Isaacs' siblings, Sonya Isaacs has the greatest vocal charisma calling to mind the aforementioned Carrie Underwood. And Sonya is right in Underwood's territory with the popish big ballad "I Bring It to You."
   
   But Sonya does have her more folky moments when she belts out with attitude and confidence on the bluegrassy "Walk On," an inspirational anthem about not being defeated by life or the devil. "Umbrella," though a beautiful meditation on God's companionship in hard times, is let down by its quirky and somehow nebulous melody; one that often morphs along some unusual chord changes. Much better is the ballad "Barbie Bandaids," a "soup for the soul" for mothers struggling with the tension of nurture and letting go of their children. Sonya's delivery is passionate yet delicate enough to let us feel her motherly warmth. The title cut, which is also the current single, is about escaping the cares of city living. Its pretty nondescript lyrics and its over-eager to please radio production are regrettable misfires.
   
   For the long-time fans of the Isaacs, "Big Sky" may sound too slick and at times too contrived in order to encompass contemporary country fans. However, such an overarching attempt also works positively as the various themes, tempos, styles of these compositions make the listening experience even more engaging. Definitely for this faith-oriented family, they are not only unafraid to sing about their Savior, but they are also able to express His love in various circumstances of human interactions, be it the family or marital relationships.

2 comments about White Dove: The Bluegrass Gospel Collection.

1. This compilation contains a very nice variety of artists, arrangements, and styles, with each offering coming from a different Rounder / Umgd label CD.
   
   A number of cuts are quite powerful... like Tony Rice's 'Wayfaring Stranger', Jeff White's 'All Prayed Up'. Wondrous Love is simple, heartfelt, and moving... Without a doubt, Blue Highway's 'The Seventh Angel', about the last days, is the most moving -- Robb Ickes' resonator guitar licks, and Alison Krauss' background vocals are absolutely haunting.



2. The recent surge in popularity of Bluegrass is in no small way partly down to Rounder label' own roster of amazing `grass talent some of the most popular names appearing on this compilation.
   While Alison Krauss, The Cox Family and Rhonda Vincent should all be familiar names to those who regularly browse the CD racks- if you're discovering this music for the first time, it's the less well known artists that really deserve your attention here. From Weary Hearts joyous toe-tapper `Power in the Blood' to Tony Rice' jazz infused rendition of `Wayfaring Stranger' this modern collection is a far cry from the endless stream of `Duelling Banjo' CD's presently clogging up the Bluegrass section in you're local record store. If the awe inspiring multi-part harmonies of the Johnston Mountain Boys `Harbor of Love' doesn't raise you Heavenwards, then you must already be there- check your pulse pilgrim!

   Note: The insightful liner notes are penned by Union Station's own multi-talented Ron Block whose songs and indeed musicianship are apparent on this and many other bluegrass/country artists albums.

1 comments about Treasures - Thirty Years of Music & Memories.

1. Nobody can compare with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. This is a real treat for DL&Q fans. We have watched this many times and have yet to grow tired of it. We also have the new DVD "Through the Years", and we highly recommend it also.

2 comments about The Gospel Spirit.

1. This is a wonderful gospel album from Conway Twitty released at a time when he was on his red-hot streak of enormous hit singles. This CD contains 11 songs recorded in the early 1970's from Conway's only gospel project, WHO WILL PRAY FOR ME/STEAL AWAY. This CD came along in 2004...a cassette copy was in print 11 years prior in 1993 under the original album title of WHO WILL PRAY FOR ME but missing the song "Steal Away". For whatever reasons, this 2004 re-issue is called THE GOSPEL SPIRIT even though it is released on MCA. Each and every song is filled with the right arrangements, of course, to give the album it's gospel over-tones but i'll point out the music is country gospel, the steel guitar being prominent in a lot of the tracks will show a listener this right away. My favorites are "Clinging To a Saving Hand", "Suppertime", "Me and My Neighbors", the sermonizing "Steal Away" which will make one think back to the Hank Williams/Luke the Drifter recordings and then there's the great "The Third Man"; "Lead Us Back To Love" and basically the entire album are great. Oh, i love "Jesus Is a Soul Man" too. The opening song was recorded in 1971 and the remaining tracks, 1972. The album came along in 1973 showing that the album had been in the planning stages for awhile before it's release. This is Conway Twitty gospel country and the reason why it works, in my opinion, is because 90% the music is all arranged like a typical Conway Twitty album of that time period yet with religious lyrics being sung as the only difference. The CD re-issue features a few pictures on a fold-out cover but doesn't tell much at all of the album's original release in 1973.



2. This is an re release on cd of this album,was released on cd.
   In this new release it got one more song.Incredible good singing by Conway,one of Conways rarest albums.If you got to have an gospelalbum by an countrysinger it must be this one.
   Incredible good playing by the musicians too.Buy it and enjoy it.

2 comments about There's a Light Guiding Me.

1. Once again, Doyle Lawson takes a group of musicians to a new level of musical accomplishment.



2. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver are known for their tight harmony and creative arrangements of gospel songs. This album is one of their best. Musically, the bluegrass sound is flawless, and the song choices are thoughtful and inspirational. "There Is a God" is my favorite cut, and worth the price of the CD by itself. The sincerity of the singers comes through clearly, and makes this one CD I never tire of hearing.

5 comments about For the Sake of the Call.

1. For the Sake of the Call, which appeared in stores the very last week of December 1990, was Steven Curtis Chapman's first classic album. By this reviewer's estimation, it's still his third best album; only Signs of Life (1996) and Speechless (1999) surpass it, although Heaven in the Real World (1994) and The Music of Christmas (1995) run neck-and-neck with it. And almost seventeen years later, it's still Chapman's most serious album -- an intense examination of what truly constitutes discipleship to Jesus Christ.
   
   Chapman had been building up to this subject for several years. Real Life Conversations (1988) deals heavily with the Christian's position in Christ and the relationship between faith and works in the believer's life. (Interestingly enough, that album also reflects a less theologically Reformed position on Chapman's part than would become evident in later works.) More to This Life (1989) was the singer's first partial look at the sacrificial nature of the Christian life. (The album covered other topics as well.) But reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic work The Cost of Discipleship led to For the Sake of the Call, which far surpasses the previous two albums with its unflinching call to a radical discipleship.
   
   The album opens with a flourish of keyboards and Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Church choir (which was no stranger to contemporary Christian music, having contributed to albums like Michael Card's Known by the Scars) singing the familiar opening line of the refrain, "He will abandon it all." The choir and Chapman volley lines back and forth twice before Chapman takes over, leaving the choir to add its vocals to the refrain and bridge. With a decidedly country tinge dominating the verses, a big chorus, and strings used unsparingly throughout, it's not too surprising that the title track became one of Chapman's signature songs. Unfortunately, the song is overproduced by longtime Chapman producer Phil Naish; the more spare arrangements of concert versions suit the song better. But Chapman's heart is in the right place, and if the big production put such a serious subject on the lips of many evangelicals, well so much the better.
   
   The rest of the album mostly only gets more intense. "What Kind of Joy" is almost a country pop ballad looking at what motivated the apostles to make the sacrifices they did; it was a truly unlikely radio hit (the fifth for the album) that went big in early 1992. "Lost in the Shadows" is the highlight of the album, a sobering declaration of identifying with Christ in His suffering. "When You Are a Soldier," the album's second single, is a beautiful and moving ballad. It often has been interpreted as being about solidarity between two Christians when one of them is facing trials, but the lyrics rather suggest that Christ/the Holy Spirit is speaking to the troubled believer. "Higher Ways" is a sweeping, moving look at how God's ways are often beyond our comprehension. With Chapman writing in the first person, it's perhaps the most personal song on the album. "Show Yourselves to Be" is a sobering reminder of the need to produce fruit in the Christian life.
   
   Even the songs on the album that sound more upbeat and lighthearted usually are no less serious in their lyrics. "Busy Man," the album's third single, is catchy enough, but it's about someone evading true discipleship. "Blind Leads the Blind" impresses with its horn section, but Chapman (with frequent cowriter and good friend Geoff Moore) is giving a warning here of false teachers. "You Know Better's" '50s doo-wop stylings don't mask the singer's call for erring believers to repent.
   
   The one exception on this album is the fourth single and smash hit "No Better Place." Here, while Chapman expresses a commitment to following a road "that will not be the easy way," a sense of fun uncharacteristic of this album dominates. It's not a surprise that this song proved second only to the title track in terms of longevity; Chapman continued to play it in concerts at least up into the mid-'90s. It's the closest thing this album has to Chapman's future defining song, "The Great Adventure."
   
   For the second album in a row, Chapman stretches himself vocally, delivering easily his most confident vocal performance up to that point in time. He's effective here at big, almost bombastic moments, such as the title track and "No Better Place." He sings "What Kind of Joy" with more force than you might expect for a near-ballad. On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, "Show Yourselves to Be" and the bridge in "Higher Ways" find Chapman at the softest you'll probably ever find him; the effect is that of almost a whisper.
   
   The country pop characteristic of the late 1980s evidenced on this album has aged less well. The keyboard flourishes on the title track are grating to me, although I've never heard anyone else complain about them. On the other hand, the orchestrations on "Higher Ways" and "Show Yourselves to Be" still hold up well.
   
   The message presented on this album by Chapman is timeless. By the time you get to the closing instrumental reprise of the title track, you may well feel that you've heard a major statement by an up-and-coming artist -- and you have. This album continues to make anyone who listens to the lyrics uncomfortable, as it should. It's a call to radical obedience that still has the power to hit the heart and the mind -- and will undoubtedly continue to do so as time progresses.



2. This was a necessary CD for Steven. It is truly a defining moment in his career. This was the recording that would lead to his very best work,
   "Speechless." It is always great when we can grow with an artist, and that is clearly established in this wonderful, extradinary,(sp?) must-have CD.
   As usual, Chapman doesn't hold back. He tackles controversial subjects without never once backing down on his faith.
   Must have, must have, must have!
   God Bless You!



3. This album placed 5 hits on Christian radio (#3 title track,#3 "Busy Man",#11 "What Kind of Joy", #15 "You Know Better" and "No Better Place", which stayed at #1 for 2 weeks) and there's good reason why: this is a very solid album with few missteps. Chapman finds some passion in putting himself in the feet of the "twelve unlikely men" who helped found Christianity and themes the album around the idea of what it means specifically to follow Christ's call.
   
   HIGHLIGHTS:
   The title track is the epic here and the orchestral and choral flourishes lend it more weight, rather than being distractions intended to puff up a bit of fluff. Chapman reminds us that in the end, the 12 disciples accomplishments stem from this: "All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them/He said "Come follow Me" and they came". He writes the song as the disciples' manifesto that he hopes we'll make ours: "We will abandon it all for the sake of the call.." If you want to see the strides Chapman has made vocally, listen to the way he sings "No Better Place" and compare it to anything off FIRST HAND. The boy's coming out of his shell at last...
   
   LOWS:
   "Show Yourselves to Be" isn't particularly involving. "When You are a Soldier" is another "Stick up for your brothers" Christian anthem that's been done many many many times. In this case, it's not as captivating as, say, Michael W. Smith's "Friends" or Russ Taff's "We Will Stand".
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   You don't have to be a diehard SCC aficionado to "get" this one. It feels like he went into the studio trying to make a grand statement here and for the most part he did. Recommended.
   
   3 1/2 stars



4. With many more recordings under his belt since this release, Steven Curtis Chapman has had a chance to expand his horizons. Over the years he has gained confidence and more of an edge to his music. This is an excellent album, but very subdued in comparison to his later releases.
   
   Consider songs like Blind Lead the Blind and You Know Better. Both contain very strong messages and powerful lyrics, but they are cloaked in very wimpy melodies - a wolf in sheep's clothing that can't find its way out. Lyrically Chapman is very strong, but I couldn't help feeling that he was still struggling to find his sound on this album, opting for the safe and familiar rather than taking new ground.
   
   For any other artist, I might consider this a five star album. However, knowing how shy it fell of Chapman's true potential, I have to give it a four. Looking back, he'd probably tell you the same thing.
   
   Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory



5. When I was just beginning to seriously explore Christian music, I kept running into one name, Steven Curtis Chapman. I decided to give him a try with this disc, his current release at that time. The result? A new fan was born, and I've enjoyed every moment I've spent with this talented artist.

   Even with all the high quality CD's he's released over the years, this is still arguably my favorite. Every song has come to mean something to me over the years, and listening to it again is like getting reacquainted with old friends.

   The theme of this CD is captured so well by the title. Every song deals in some way with living our lives for God because that is what He's called us to do. Some songs are obvious, such as the title anthem and "Lost in the Shadow." Others look at the subject from a slightly different angle. "What Kind of Joy" and "When You Are a Soldier" discuss God's help as we follow Him. Of course, following God leads us to "No Better Place." And, the result is that you "Show Yourselves to be" followers of God.

   I especially like "Higher Ways." While I don't usually live up to the faith expressed in this ballad, it's a challenge to place my faith in God, Who does know what He is doing, even when I don't. I have to pray this on a regular basis.

   With his fourth release, Steven Curtis Chapman proved he was in Christian music to stay. In it, he took the simple theme of following God no matter what, and explored it from all possible angles. The result is a strong CD that holds up today just as well as it did 13 years ago.