Customer Reviews

The Apostle (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I felt a bit suckered after buying this album. I loved the movie, and was moved by the music (and I'm not a religious guy). But these aren't the hard-core gospel songs in the flick. Instead they're more professional covers done by bigger names. As a result, they lack a lot of the heart of soul of the songs in the movie. I guess my problem is I can't find the "old-school" gospel that was featured in the movie. It's such a shame that a movie that was so un-traditional (in a movie sense) didn't have the cajones to release the songs that were actually in the film.

It is a rare thing to find gospel music treated with the reverence it dserves in today's cynical entertainment, but this CD puls it off. I'm from the South and can appreciate the country twangs that pervade nearly all these old standards.

If you've ever wondered what a Sunday morning revival in the South sounds like, this is it. Beautiful.

I have yet to see the movie in its entirety but after hearing Lyle Lovett over the closing credits, I had to buy the CD. Lovett's "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord" is a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, good old-fashioned Sunday-go-to-meeting jam that works!
The album is filled with traditional Southern gospel, interpreted by artists that truly understand the power of music to express one's faith.

Other highlight's include the familiar "Softly and Tenderly" (Rebecca Lynn Howard), a spiritually evocative "In the Garden" by Johnny Cash, Lori White's "There is Power in the Blood", Sounds of Blackness' soulfully a cappella version of "Victory of Mine", the funeral favorite "I'll Fly Away", done by Gary Chapman and Wynonna.

Star Robert Duvall shows his vocal talents, along with Emmylou Harris, on the harmonically satisfying "I Love to Tell the Story".

It's music like this that makes one long for the "little church by the side of the road".

This is a great CD. Listened again today after not hearing it for a few months. The Far Side of the Jordan was sung at my Mother's funeral. Very powerful and moving. Still can't hear it without crying. Highly recommended!

In many styles, (acapella, to bluegrass, quiet hymnody) including meditative hymns and exuberant praise and bold statements...this anthology captures more of the wide spectrum of faith than I've ever heard in one collection. Even my favorite CD's can get old after constant repetition, but so far I may wear it out before I get saturated.

What a marvelous C.D. There is quite the spectrum of great songs here: the moving "Softly and Tenderly" all the way to the very rocking "There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down). The Sounds of Blackness do a great rendition of "Victory is Mine". Love it.

I found myself singing along to most of the songs in my car the first time I played this CD. And then I realized: I had been singing some of these since I was a child growing up in church. What a terrific way of bridging traditional gospel/bluegrass with some contemporary favorites to reach a wide audience! Once you get over the initial amusement at the contrast of Johnny Cash singing "In the Garden," you realize he's a classic singing a classic. So rich! A good pass-along, too. I recenly left our car with our mechanic and this CD was still in the dash. When I picked up the car, our mechanic asked if he could borrow The Apostle; he listened to it as he test-drove, and was really moved.

I saw "The Apostle" years ago and remembered its soundtrack to be filled with rousing gospel, songs which were hard to find individually, so I ordered the CD and have been singing along since it arrived. It wasn't easy to track down and I can't figure out why - it's such a winner! Of course I got it at Amazon - Itunes didn't have it (although they did have one of the singles, "I'll Fly Away").

I am late to the party, having just seen the movie. It was a superb film, and brought back many memories of church just like this when I was a child. Listening to this CD of music inspired by the movie is soothing and joyful! I especially love the song by Lyle Lovett and the one Robert Duvall sings with Emmylou Harris.

Bought this specifically for the Emmy Lou Harris & Robert Duvall song "I love to tell the story", but I enjoy others as well.