Customer Reviews

All the Best: Live

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been listening to Sandi Patty's music for 10 years now. The first album of hers I listened to was "The Finest Moments". The Lord used Sandi's music to draw me closer to Himself during a very long illness and hospitalization.

While I've enjoyed some of Sandi's newer albums (These Days, Artist of My Soul), I've been longing for another album with songs like those Sandi songs I that first touched my life. Songs like the ones on "Make His Praise Glorious" and "Morning Like This".

I was SO thrilled to find out that Sandi had a new CD, and when I popped this CD into my CD player this morning, I knew that my long wait was over! This is Sandi at her BEST!

The album starts with "Praise Medley", which includes Make His Praise Glroious, Let There Be Praise, and How Majestic is Your Name. The next track is "In the Name of the Lord" with the audience singing parts of it. (Did I forget to mention that this is a LIVE album?!)

Sandi invited her parents to sing a song with her that she started singing with her dad in high school, It Took a Miracle/Down From His Glory. Then there are a couple songs about her kids - her youngest son, Sam, joins Sandi in telling the story that Sandi wrote about how Sam came to live in the big white house with a big backyard and lots and lots of kids and lots and lots of room.

Sandi talks about her oldest daughter Anna (now a senior in high school) and how she loves to dance and praise the Lord that way. She sings a song while Anna dances - we've gotta get this video, which is coming out. I hope Amazon carries it!

There's something for those who love Sandi's rendition of hymns too - she sings How Great Thou Art on this album.

"Passion Medley" is a combination of some of Sandi's songs about Jesus' death and resurrection - Via Dolorosa, Where the Nails Were, Who Will Call Him King of Kings, and We Shall Behold Him.

The last track "The Last Day" reminds us to live each day to its fullest - we never know what the next day holds. This message is especially poignant in light of the events of September 11th.

By the way, if you don't have Sandi's two Christmas CD's, The Gift Goes On and O Holy Night, be sure and order them now!

You might be interested in checking out my reviews of Christian music and Christian books.

Thank you, Sandi, for giving us the album that I have been waiting for for years! God bless you and your family!

I have been a Sandi fan for almost 20 years and have seen her in concert almost that same number of times! Given the vast repertoire of her recordings, it is difficult to choose which songs are "the best." One would think it would take a two-plus hour recording to come close to that moniker. So given the content of this project, I was a little disappointed. But let me say before I go off criticizing this release that Sandi's voice is still a marvel, and she's still one of my all time favorites. She sings like an angel, despite the following disappointments.

This album/video is only an 1.5 hrs (almost 80 minutes for CD), consisting mainly of sweet anecdotes about Sandi's life and family. No doubt Sandi is an excellent communicator, and her stories and sense of humor are very entertaining. But what I was really interested in was having another LIVE album, one that would match the incredible classicism of LIVE! MORE THAN WONDERFUL.

However, musically it leaves more to be desired. The actual amount of musical numbers is skimpy and only one song from the "THESE DAYS" album is included. The CD itself only has 10 tracks...how can you only put 10 tracks on a recording and call it "all" the best? Older, more popular, songs are packed into rather boring medleys. Sandi still injects her charismatic and emotional delivery through her wonderful voice, saving these numbers from total boredom by lack of fresh arrangements. Medleys are quick and efficient ways of recapping popular songs, but it still leaves the listener wanting more than just a snippet.

A touching moment with her parents takes a turn when Sandi and her father duet on said type of medley. Both Sandi and her dad "perform" a song in similar manner, by yanking the mike away and throwing their heads back on high notes, but sadly, Mr. Patty cannot hold a candle to his daughter. His falsetto high notes are sometimes uncomfortable to hear, and he should have just done everyone a favor by letting Sandi handle all the high stuff.

Another uncomfortable aspect about the concert video itself is the camera crew's desire to zoom in on people who are obviously touched by Sandi's performance. I don't really revel in seeing other people's emotions splayed out on my TV, especially when crying is not always the prettiest sight to behold. Isn't it enough to just focus on the performer rather than exploit the audience?

And I can do without Mark Lowry's ridiculous commentaries that are positioned at the intro, intermission, and end of the concert. The most entertaining part is that after the credits roll, a 30 second home video of Sandi's family is shown. Now THIS is funny!

Regardless of all my comments, I still bought it and recommend it to any Sandi fan. But this is not really representative of her best stuff. Go get The Finest Moments and More Than Wondeful for a REAL glimpse of Sandi's best work.

WOW!!!! After being a Sandi fan for 15 years now, I must say that I was in no way dissapointed with this release. This is just how I remember Sandi years ago. She can STILL bring a tear your eye, a smile to your face and can touch your heart deeply.
I purchased the CD and Video. The video has more songs on it. If you only purchase the CD you REALLY need to get the video. There is nothing like SEEING Sandi perform. I have read some of the reviews and a couple of people who just bought the CD was not too thrilled, but if you actually see the video of her performance it will quite a moving experience.
I LOVED the whole concert. Sandi's voice touched my heart, as it always does. You can see where she really touches peoples lives during the concert. People who has tears in their eyes from being touched by her God given voice. Her voice is so angelic.
You won't be dissapointed on this recording. Just remember it's a live concert and she does have her family with her. Her duet with her father singing while her Mom plays the piano is very touching.
This is a must for anyone who wants to be touched deeply.
Sandi, YOUR THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been a Sandi fan since MORE THAN WONDERFUL...LIVE in the early 80's. I have been touched by her beautiful angelic voice for most of my adult life. So, the following comments about the production of ALL THE BEST...LIVE CD is in no way a personal reflection of Sandi Patty. She is a dynamic singer and the sole reason why I love Christian music.

I have read all of the customer comments thus far and I agree with very few. I stopped by my favorite music store and to my complete surprise stumbled across Sandi's new CD ALL THE BEST.. LIVE. It was so cool to see a new CD produced so close after her last release...THESE DAYS. I was so excited. I thought, "Finally, another compilation CD with some of Sandi's cool songs since her last compilation CD, THE FINEST MOMENTS, but live!!" I turned the CD over and saw that there were only 10 songs with only few songs I recognized. Skeptical, I bought the CD and listened to it from start to finish. First thing I noticed was that the sound was really poor. I understand that it is a live performance, so I didn't expect it to be of studio quality. But, it's really bad. Especially during "How Great Thou Art."

I totally agree with another customer comment that mentioned that there were too many heart-warming family moments. In my opinion, that should have been only in the video. Especially Brian McSee's "Amen!" I found myself skipping around alot to get to the few musical parts I enjoyed.

However, I did enjoy the medleys. I thought they were arranged beautifully. It was nice to hear a portion of "Where the Nails Were" from FIND IT ON THE WINGS. I often wondered if she would ever sing those beautifully written songs released after ANOTHER TIME...ANOTHER PLACE. In my opinion, her music released during her very turbulent times (FIND IT IN THE WINGS, LE VOYAGE, ARTIST OF MY SOUL) were her best. Her ministry began to take form, as well as depth. We finally began to see the real Sandi revealed through her music, instead of songs that seem to only have the purpose of showing off her vocal capabilities. Anyway, more medleys! They sound great.

Finally, I was very touched by the song, "Someday." Gorgeous song. I find myself humming it periodically.

But, all in all the CD was decent. Maybe if the CD was called, " Sandi and Family" or "An Evening with Sandi," I would have liked it better. She should have saved the ALL THE BEST title for her box set.

Gospel's very best singer (just compare her with the cookie-cutter singers with their superficial songs on current Christian radio) has made one of the finest albums of her career! Much of the material here is familiar to her fans, but you've never heard it this fresh-sounding, this exciting. Sandi's voice sounds young, vital, so "on fire" through the entire concert, and the sound quality is so palpable that you feel you're right on stage with her. The excitement in some of these songs is so intense that it surpasses anything she's recorded so far. Particularly good are the "Praise Medley," the "It Took a Miracle/Down From His Glory" duet with her father (her mother lends very fine support on the piano), "All This Time," "Yes, God Is Real," and the "Passion Medley" (although she starts to run out of steam on "Who Will Call Him King" and "We Shall Behold Him"--a minor quibble).

The sound quality on Sandi's albums has been improving slowly but steadily over the last few years (they've never had much clarity and presence or a dynamic range to match her voice), but

this one sounds wonderful--a rarity for a live album. The concert video is powerful also, but should have been released on DVD. In other words, folks, THIS IS QUALITY--BUY IT!

Since I first heard about this album, I have been SOO excited, and I can gladly say, it was WELL worth the wait!! This one is a must have for Sandi fan's! If you enjoy her older music,(which I especially do) as well as her newer stuff you'll LOVE the album!! As always she is in top form vocally, amazes me with her phrasing ability, and sounds awesome live. I've been a fan for about 15 years, but since having met her last month, my appreciation for her and her ministry has taken on new perspective. What a Sweetheart!! So gracious and appreciative!! It was great to have an artist I so admire live up to my expectations!! Thank you Sandi for such great music down thru the years, and for having such a big heart!! This fan LOVES ya!!

on this cd is the sandi of the past, present, and future and all are just simply brilliant. It just does not get any better than this. This project is full of joy and passion, from the begining praise medley to the very appropriate ending "the last day". sandi patty has nothing to prove, she is the voice of gospel music, but on this cd i really heard her like never before, and with the shape that the world is in right now,inspiration is something we all need, and that combined with pure talent is what you'll get on this cd. enjoy

WoW! This is a really powerful recording of Sandi's concert. I have been experiencing the blessings of her voice for 20 years and its only getting better. This album brought back memories through songs form her past. And is inspiring with her new songs! A great investment! A great gift!Buy it for yourself or someone you love. They'll love you for it!

Sandi Patty is still the BEST and this CD demonstrates her incredible range and beautiful voice....and wonderful personality. If you've never seen Sandi in concert, this is the next best thing! The Passion medley and How Great Thou Art are the highlights. No one can sing How Great Thou Art like Sandi. I highly recommend this CD.

What a neat CD release from the most fantastic vocalist ever to live!! If you are looking for a great CD recording of all Sandi's best music, you won't find it here. You will, however catch a glimpse of the person that Sandi Patty is! The family moments are touching, the music stirring and Sandi's voice is as always, riveting. Quite a few of the reviews have stated that they expected more. If so, I would advise them make their own compilation. I don't believe that Sandi "deceived" her listeners into buying a "greatest hits" CD, but offers a glimpse into the ministry that her life has become.