Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Those who know their Christian music history will know Dave Pope is a stalwart of British Christian music history having started with '70s folkies The Alethians, gone on to make youth-friendly pop (with one album produced by Cliff Richard) before being an omnipresent at Spring Harvest leading worship. With John Daniels Dave recorded two successful albums with keyboards man, singer and composer John Daniels, 1979 and 1980. Now, after 28 years away from the recording studio, the veteran Midlander has made a surprise comeback, working again with his long time collaborator Daniels who recorded and produced the basic tracks in his new home town, Fort Worth, Texas. Additional recording was produced in Motherwell by Graeme Duffin (the Wet Wet Wet man) and Ian Watson (the Praise Gathering man). So what of Dave's return to ministry? Well, first off one has to acknowledge that in the autumn of his years Dave has lost none of his smooth delivery and warmth of vocal tone which once made him a ministry favourite. Several of the tracks here are re-recordings of songs popularised on 'Love Offering', "Love" (a reflection on 1 Corinthians 13), "People Need The Lord" and "Still Waters" while there are two strong worship songs penned by American worship leader Caleb Collins. Then there's a smooth rendition of Frances Ridley Havergal's "Take My Life", a jazz-tinged "Broken Up People" with nice sax from Rob Hall, and a medley which fuses Andrae Crouch's "I'm Gonna Keep On Singing" and "Through It All". But Dave is no black gospel singer and neither does he make the slightest concession to the modern worship movement so there are no rock guitars or stadium bombast here. But if you're a nostalgist who fondly remembers Dave's glory days or a lover of rich balladry with inspiring lyrics, Dave's return to the music racks will hit the spot.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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