Customer Reviews

Precious Memories

5 star:		(220)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Prime Cuts: In the Garden, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, I'll Fly Away

Following in the footsteps of many country greats such as Randy Travis, Brenda Lee and Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson has added to the venerable canon of country artists singing the great hymns of the church. Unlike many other gospel CDs, "Precious Memories" does not come across as pretentious or spurious. Rather, recorded as a labor of love for his mother as a Christmas gift, Jackson's performance here is indubitably heartfelt. And wrapping his distinctive baritone around all around those vastly familar notes, Jackson gives each of these gospel chesnuts a warm glow brimming with a southern charm. With only a piano, acoustic guitars and organ, simplicity is the order of the day. However, with Keith Stegall's production, there is still that Alan Jackson familarity that has graced his last 10 studio CDs.

A listen to Jackson's spirited version of the poignantly phrased salvific hymn "Are You Washed in the Blood?" brings us directly to church's altar. "Blood" in an almost medley-like fashioned is quickly followed by the southern favorite "I'll Fly Away" boasting an ascendary piano bridge that certain gives flight to this great paean of hope. Though understandability Jackson's penchant for those honky tonk barnburners is missing here, but the more obscure "I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You" comes closest. Continuing the theme of the blessedness of eternal life, "Heaven" finds a heavenly-minded Jackson reveling in pellucid Saturday night Texas fun.

When Jackson gets more reflective: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" still has that trancendant mesage that still bespeaks truth in today's melee of trials. Affirming the trustworthiness of Jesus in all the tribulations of life, wife Denise and daughters Mattie and Ali join in on "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus." Though the Jackson's read of "In the Garden" is straight forward, the simplicity of the tune and the vivid image of walking with Jesus is just heartwarming. While many tend to oversing "How Great Thou Art," Jackson's take is subdued with a sense of awe-inspiring reverance.

Though there are 15 tracks, many of these songs only run for over a minute or so, making this a very listenable CD without being monotaneous. However, this can work as a double-edged sword as the CD only clocks in for a little more than half an hour. Perhaps, the other criticism is that one would like to see Jackson giving some of these songs a more imaginative read. Other than these quibbles, "Precious Memories" is a pleasurable listen. But more important, it is with gratitude that Jackson would record this CD at the height of his career, brining to his fans and others a hopeful message deeply grounded in the Cross of Christ. Kudos to Jackson and Arista Records for having such an eternal perspective in mind.

Alan Jackson performs these songs the way they were meant to be sung. There seems to be some today who only want to hear contemporary Christian songs and some who only want to hear the older Christian songs. There is a place for both. Alan Jackson's rendition of these show just how great these old traditional hymns are. Simply sung, simply outstanding.

I have been an Alan Jackson fan for some time and I know I've never heard him sing quite like this. You as the listener are brought into a special place of intimacy and precious memories of Alan Jackson's and the result is a highly-emotional, deeply moving recording. It's truly an incredible experience.

I've listened to this album at least a hundred times in the
last three days. Being from Nashville and a huge Alan Jackson
fan since his earliest days, just makes this album sweeter.
Alan had an album for his father Drive for Daddy Gene and
his father passed away before it's release. This album wasn't
intended to be released commercialy, but was done at the Ryman
with very few people in attendance,his mother among them.
I think it fits with Alan's roots,and his enduring love for
his family and also his fans. I love it and just for the record
his voice is the purest voice in country music. He never misses
a beat.The inspiration is great and so is he.

For those who were raised in a traditional Christian home or for those who live in one, this is an excellent CD. Alan Jackson's voice is the right tone, with the right instruments to produce the feel of a good church solo. The 15 hymns fit together nicely, producing a body of song that brings back memories. Standards like, Blessed Assurance, Softly and Tenderly, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms and The Old Rugged Cross build a solid foundation for the other selections. The tempo of When We All Get to Heaven and I'll Fly Away is to slow by today's standards. However, this is within the historic norm for white churches.

I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You is an excellent song and very well done. Personally, I'd rather have In the Sweet Bye n Bye on the CD.

I love this recording. As a southern baptist who loves Alan Jackson's music this is pure heaven! The production is key. I was hoping that the songs would not be over compressed and flooded with accents and stringed insturments. This is pure raw sitting in the pew hymns that are sung the way they were written to be sung.

There's a sincerity and simplicity to this album that is simply beautiful. Perhaps it's because the album was originally recorded as a special gift to Alan's mother -- I found this album quite moving. The opening track, "Blessed Assurance," sets the tone and each track has its own special offering. This is a wonderful album, sung in a heartfelt way by Alan Jackson.

My sister told me about the CD. I'm glad she did. You won't be disappointed. Alan Jackson does a great job singing the old time favorites like Blessed Assurance, How Great Thou Art, The Old Rugged Cross, and he does a wonderful job.

Open your hymnals to page . . . oh . . . just open your hymnals up to ANY ol' page! . . . this collection of recordings by country artist Alan Jackson will carry you off into an old country church for a "spiritual experience" that will renew, refresh and revive your spirit and soul.

Alan intended this set of fifteen tracks as a goft for his mother, singing a selection of hymns from his mother's church hymnal personally chosen to "represent" his own experience of these hymns from his own childhood through his life . . . but now it is also a sharing of his gift with everyone on this cd "Precious Memories" -- and these ARE Precious Memories indeed! (and you don't have to come from the same denominational background as Alan or these hymns in order for them to work their spiritual magic on your spirit, nor even from the same Christian religious heritage. The Hymns by themselves lift our minds and hearts to the "One" to the "Creator" . . . and Alan's very unembellished and straightforward performance of them delivers "the effect" of calming our hearts and fears and anxieties, even if just a little and just for awhile . . .and allows us to still the worries and troubles that besiege and attack our "calm".

i didn't grow up with these hymns sung in the church to which i grew and am rooted, but i DID know these hymns and through my life have had the respect and reverence for them as "universal" expressions of "soul-speak": our voices speaking to God and God's voice speaking to our hearts.

my favorite track on this almum happens to be "The Old Rugged Cross". i was speaking of this song to my own mother just several weeks before she took ill . . . and now as she lays ill, my sister presented me with THIS cd of Alan Jackson, as i played it on the cd player and heard Alan singing this very same hymn, i knew it was no coincidence . . .I'm sure that as Alan sat recording this song it never entered his mind that the track would have a special meaning to "me", but it does . . . and i am thankful to my sister for presenting me with this cd "Precious Memories" and also to Alan Jackson for singing these songs for his mother . . . and for "my" mother. . . and for "me".

If you're looking for some uplifting music, this is the album you need to get! Alan Jackson presents these old time hymns with feeling. You can't go wrong when you buy this CD.