Rock of Ages: Hymns With a Modern Touch
9 April 2007
Some popular hymns have been sung so often that they can lose their vitality. “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” “I Surrender All,” and “Rock of Ages” might fall into that category. Thanks to Amy Grant and Vince Gill for their great arrangements on this album. This is an enjoyable CD which takes some old hymns and gives them a modern touch. For the most part, the update is a country sound.
Actually before “Rock of Ages”, Amy has released another album of hymns: Legacy…Hymns & Faith which was released in 2002. According to her, “Rock of Ages” is a little more developed musically” and has bolder production. They spent more time on it, making it less sparse than Legacy. The result is a more polished recording. That’s evident right from the start with the opening “Anywhere With Jesus.” It doesn’t just dabble with the blues; it dives in making it a full-sounding blues number.
The album contains 13 songs (please see the list below). Among them “Sweet Will of God” and “O’ Master Let Me Walk With Me” are my favourites. “Sweet Will of God” opens with a youthful-sounding Amy leading a choir of female a cappella voices on a 1986 recording. It comes from a tape of hymns that she recorded as a Christmas gift for her mom and dad. “O’ Master Let Me Walk With Me” features a pennywhistle and accordion, giving it a Celtic flavor.
“Abide with Me” was a bit of a disappointment for me personally. Although it sound fresh on this recording, I would enjoyed listening the original one. (”Abide with Me” was taken from one of Henry F Doanne’s poetry, while its music was arranged by Henry F Lyte).
The recording ends with a blues version of “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.” This is the much-loved hymn written by George Matheson, the blind Scottish preacher. Aside from the blues arrangement, what makes this version even more unique is a couple of sax solos by Jim Horn. One of them takes the song to its end.
For those who enjoy a modern twist on old hymns, this is a worthwhile collection.
Here are all the album’s tracks:
- Anywhere with Jesus
- Carry You
- Sweet Will of God
- Joyful, Joyful/We Adore Thee
- Jesus Loves Me/They’ll Know We Are Christians
- Rock of Ages
- O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
- Abide With Me
- God Moves in a Mysterious Way
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
- El Shaddai
- I Surrender All
- O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
June 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 am
I surrender all selalu bikin saya mrinding tiap kali ngedengerinnya