"Grace" Contains Some Amazing Tracks

Prime Cuts: ?Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Cyndi Thompson), He Touched Me (The Issacs), I Need Thee Every Hour (Jamie O?Neal)

?Amazing Grace 3? as the title suggests is the third offering put out by Sparrow Records allying the artists belonging to the echelon of country music with old fashioned hymns of the Christian faith. Colored by some mandolin, fiddle, steel, dobro, guitar and accordion, the soundscape of ?Amazing Grace 3? provides the woodsy backdrop for these hymns in exhortation of Christ. Though the backings is solidly country, thanks to Nashville?s elite producers Don Cook, Frank Rogers, Scott Hendericks, the readings of these hymns are straightforward and safe. The only exception perhaps is Keith Urban?s rendition of the toe-tapping Southern favorite ?I?ll Fly Away.? Urban?s performance is languid, understated and dreary which ironically misunderstands the urgency and jubilation of this paean of hope. Also, though newcomer Josh Turner has a deep voice, ?Softly and Tenderly? was played at a key far too low for Turner.

These couple of songs aside, the rest of the album is nothing short of stellar. A much anticipated welcome is extended to Capitol Records? artist Cyndi Thompson. After walking out of the music industry after one smash album, she?s back here offering a sensitive and sublime reading of ??Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.? Thompson?s dulcet vocals is deftly imbued with the most fragile of accompaniments, giving ??Tis So Sweet? an impassioned feel. Nashville star winner Buddy Jewell, on the other hand, jovially tackles a stirring version of ?Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.? Good dobro, fiddle and mandolin fills make this a standout, and it features some top-quality backing vocals from Wes Hightower and Marty Slayton.

Jamie O?Neal who is known more for her popish-country material is surprisingly at home in the ultra country version of ?I Need Thee Every Hour.? Listen to how O?Neal starts from a whisper building up to a cinematic crescendo, making Celine Dion or Whitney Houston swoon as she holds the high notes on this well written hymn of dependence on Jesus. The surprise comes towards the end: the Issacs (a bluegrass/gospel family band headed by former Lyric Records? Sonya Issacs) give a spirited performance on the sententious ?He Touched Me? -- exquisite and tastefully performed.

The only non-country artist to appear this time is Christian pop-rocker Steven Curtis Chapman. Chapman here teams with Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown on the gospel favorite ?Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.? Miller?s bluesy vocals perfectly compliment Chapman?s lighter tenor timbre augmented by some fine guitar playing by Chapman himself.

?Amazing Grace 3? is a stronger salutation to Gospel music than its predecessor, which was a more a hit and miss effort. However, my only cavil is that the production is safe and the performances (on the whole) are not too creative. Nevertheless, still a fine collection regardless of whether you are a Christian music or country music fan or just a fan of great music.

Just a music lover

This is the first gospel album I have bought, and I am not going to break it down song by song, All I can say is that I get uplifted after listening to each song, as they are singing praise to the lord - I catch myself singing along praising his name as well. I could care less if they were all on key or off, performed it exactly like I hear it in church and make it there own. The music is all beautiful and uplifting. Thank you Sparrow Records

Wonderful CD

Keith Urban's simple & natural singing of I'LL Fly Away Is wonderful.
This was recorded live in a studio with all the other talented musician circled around to give it the warm feel it has.
I love this CD...
Susie