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.

No comments about Net Breaking, Boat Sinking, Bountiful Blessings.

2 comments about Heroes of Country Music, Vol. 2: Legends of Honky Tonk.

1. A fun, unique sampler of the greats. A chronological progression from 1937 - '67, with classic instrumentation and surprises like Carl Smith on "Baby I'm Ready" and Chet Atkins on "Car Hoppin' Mama". Interesting liner notes, too.



2. ...this would be the first platter I'd put on it. While this is playing, you can close your eyes and almost feel the honky tonk hardwood floor vibrating with the music and the dancers. The "Honky Tonk Heroes" CD over on Columbia is real nice, but not as fine as this: You got your Hank Williams Sr., your early George Jones, your "Wild Side of Life" from Hank Thompson and your Lefty Frizzell. I guess the only thing missing would be a classic from Patsy Cline but I guess you can't have everything or else life, like this CD,would be five stars.

   Can't hardly go wrong with those, but then you've also got your Leon Payne (the Blind Balladeer)and horny Al Dexter (going nuts for that gal with "her skirts up to her knee"). Did you know that the Al Dexter cut was done in the same sessions as Robert Johnson's recordings of "Cross Road Blues" and other blues classics?

   Highly recommended, along with the aforementioned "Honky Tonk Heroes" CD.

2 comments about Side by Side.

1. Originally issued in 1992 on the Step One label as "Memories That Last," these tracks represent the only duets on record by two country superstars known for their transitions from honky-tonk to pop. By the early 90s, Price's recording career was mostly given over to live performance in Branson, and Young's 40-year run of hits had wound down. Though Young was stricken with a career-ending case of emphysema a couple of years after these sessions, it's not evidenced here. Both he and Price were still in good voice, and if not as creative or imaginative as earlier in their careers, still engaged by the songs and each other.
   
   Accompanied by Nashville A-listers like Buddy Emmons on pedal steel and Jimmy Capps on guitar, Price and Young stuck mostly to the pop balladry of their later careers, dipping into the canons of Dean Martin ("Everybody Love Somebody" and "Side By Side"), Nat "King" Cole ("Somewhere Along the Way," "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" and "When I Fall in Love"), and generally staying in the middle of the road. When the singers turned to material from Hank Williams Sr. ("Cold, Cold Heart" and "Mansion on the Hill") and Willie Nelson ("Funny How Time Slips Away"), there was a sense of the innovation they'd found earlier in crossing pop influences into country music: the strings dropped away, Emmons' steel guitar cried and the two-step rhythms provided contrast to the crooned vocals. The playful rivalry of "Too Big to Fight" and wistful memories of "Whole Lot of You" also found a nice balance between country sentimentality and pop style.
   
   Varese's CD reissue adds four bonus tracks taken from individual Step One albums on which the artists re-recorded their earlier hits. These don't really compare to the originals, and they're lacking the novelty of the duets. The original album is sufficiently unique to merit a spin, but in the twilight of their recording careers, neither artist was the powerhouse they'd once been. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]



2. Originally issued as "The Memories That Last," this Faron Young - Ray Price duets album would be the only time these two Country Music Hall of Fame legends would record together.
   
   This CD features an outstanding mixture of country standards along with some of the finest pop songs ever written like "Funny How Time Slips Away," " Cold, Cold Heart," "Walking My Baby Back Home" and "Side by Side." Also included are four solo bonus tracks that were not on the original release.
   
   The album was produced by Ray Pennington (Waylon Jennings, Norma Jean, Billy Walker and Kenny Price).
   
   Featured on this release are major Nashville sideman Clinton Gregory, Buddy Emmons, and Jimmy Capps among others.

1 comments about A Proper Introduction to Tennessee Ernie Ford: Rock City Boogie.

1. Someone must have the rights to his greatest song tied up! I've checked out 5 "greatest hits" collections, none of which have this, his most well known song.

No comments about Greatest Gospel Songs.

3 comments about There's a Great Day Coming.

1. The Village Singers are excellent singers with great harmony, especially for the kind of songs they sing (Old Fashioned Gospel Harmony). Furthermore the instrumental accompaniement on these songs is absolutey awsome.



2. Once you have heard the Village Singers you are hooked. Their beautiful blend of harmony is second to none. It would be a great thing to see The Village Singers and the original Chuck Wagon Gang on the same stage performing. I'm sure Governor Jimmie Davis is smiling down at The Village Singers for their Tribute to Governor Jimmie Davis recording. Also there would be nods of approval from the original Chuck Wagon Gang for the splendid way The Village Singers perform their material. All in all any albums by The Village Singers are a treat to behold.
   Arkansas Red-Ozark Troubadour, Ozark Mountains, Arkansas



3. This music is a "must" for anyone who loves simple four-part family harmony with acoustical upbeat accompaniment and a variety of song types. Don't let the "Bluegrass" categorization turn you away if you're not normally a bluegrass fan -- the Village Singers capitalize on the uplifting beat and rhythm of bluegrass but their vocals are pure harmony without the stereotypical nasal tones. The song selection varies from the soulful harmony and beautiful lyrics of Gov. Jimmie Davis's "Someone to Care" to the Stamps/Baxter standard, "I'll Live in Glory" to the more bluegrass-flavored Far Side Banks of Jordan popularized by Allison Kraus and the Cox family. Most people think of the title song as a slow invitational number sung at the close of a "Hellfire and Brimstone" sermon, but the Goad family (and Shirley)sing it from the upbeat and joyful perspective of Christians looking forward to the "Great Day." Their short acapella rendition of the classic "In the Garden" is the final selection and is really the frosting on this scrumptious cake.

No comments about The Ultimate Collection.

No comments about Country Gospel Favorites.

No comments about Acappella Country.