Reviewed by Jennifer Brooker

There are some big names among the guests on this album (Chet Atkins, Michael W Smith, Ruth McGinnis, Buddy Greene) which is meant to evoke the atmosphere of the 'Sam's Place Series', itself named in honour of the Revd Samuel P Jones, famous revival tent preacher round the turn of the last century. Nevertheless, by half way I am glad there are only 37:23 minutes of music on this album, and also beginning to think there is something slightly phony about the production. I can believe that the artists are on stage at the cavernous Ryman Auditorium, but.there is no audience. Or congregation. So when one of the guys remarks between two cuts, "That's a great melody - Lord! Makes me wanna give some money to the Church, or something', I dunno.", it just sounds faked. And since when has "Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring" been by 'Trad'? The tune used for "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Nicaea) is not by 'Traditional' either: it is by JB Dykes (1823-76, so out of copyright). Many of the other melodies are not in fact that great. Not having made their way into our hymn books, they will be pretty unfamiliar to most UK listeners; and they remain pretty forgettable. I suspect that "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" comes from the pen of William B Bradbury, "Softly And Tenderly" from Will L Thompson, "This Is My Father's World" - Franklin L Sheppard, "Tis So Sweet" - William J Kirkpatrick, etc. Clearly the sleevenotes use the word "Traditional" in some sense with which I am not familiar. As for the country and western arrangements, some are quite ingenious: Bach set to violin and harmonica, for instance. Elsewhere, the album features possibly the clumsiest modulation I have ever heard.

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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