Reviewed by Tom Lennie

Some Christian labels seem adept at regurgitating previously released material in smart new packaging and making you feel like you really otta get it! This is the third - and presumably final - three-disc volume in the series. Obviously, having released 180 old songs like this, not every one is gonna be a “classic”. In fact, there were a good number that I'd never heard before (and, to be honest, a few that I hoped I wouldn't hear again!). As with Vols 1 & 2 (check CR76 and 79 for reviews), all tracks come from the Kingsway stable, so certain names appear frequently - eg, Richards, Rinaldi, Redman and the Fellinghams. For sure, there are some terrific tunes (one or two Redman gems, Townend's "How Long", Robert Critchley's "What A Faithful God", etc) with some others well worth a listen. But the problem is that with most songs being over four years old, it all sounds too dated, far too "last year" to be classed as truly "contemporary", yet not old enough to be vintage and worth getting nostalgic about. This stuff kinda fits into no-man's worship-land, and frankly I see little practical purpose in it. On the plus side, at £16.99, the set works out at just £5.66 per disc or a mere 28.3p per track (but who but a likeminded Scotsman could care about such stats?). Kingsway, no offence, but please, that's enough compilations for the next two years at least.

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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