Customer Reviews

Straight Ahead

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I grew up with Amy and although we've gone our seperate ways I still appreciate the influence she's had on me. This album is incredibly joyful full of faith. The title track is great as well as "Thy Word" and "Angels." I didn't realize how well I remember this album until I listened to the samples and remembered every word. Great.

This was the first Amy Grant album I ever listened to and, I think, still the best. All of the songs were enjoyable and theologically deep. She sang like one who believed in what she was singing and the messages behind the songs were a true blessing to everyone who heard. And they still are today.

I have two personal favorites on here. One is "The Now and the Not Yet" (written by Pam Mark Hall), about the waiting period we are now in while we anxiously await being with Christ for all eternity. The song echoes Paul's lament from I Corinthians 13. "Now we see in a mirror dimly...then we shall see face to face...Now we know in part...Then we shall know fully." (I'm paraphrasing here since I don't have the Bible open in front of me.)

My other favorite song is "Doubly Good To You" (written by the late, great Rich Mullins). This song is perfect for when you've had a rough day. The lyrics are classic Rich Mullins:

When you look in the mirror at the end of a hard day
And you know in your heart you have not lied
If you gave love freely and you earned an honest wage
And if you've got Jesus by your side

You can thank the Father for the things that He has done
And thank Him for the things He's yet to do
And if you find a love that's tender
If you find someone who's true
Then thank the Lord
He's been doubly good to you!

Amy has a way of making me think. When I listen to her music, my heart is touched; I find so much meaning in her music. Much of what she sings about we can apply to something in our life. This album is full of simplicity, all the while driving home a focal point: God loves all of us.

This is a must have for Amy collectors. This is a very inspirational album. Every song is great. If you like Amy at her contemporary christian song best, then this is a great choice. If I remember correctly, this was the album that came out right before Unguarded. There is a definite difference between the two. I prefer Straight ahead, the next person might say Unguarded. This album has more sacred songs featured than Unguarded. You won't be disappointed in either.

First album to show Amy's songwriting complexity, and true heartfelt pop sensibilities. So many gems besides the popular Thy Word. Use of synthesizers is creative, but would love to hear songs like Where Do You Hide Your Heart updated without so much 70s-80s synth. Thank goodness for Rhodes beds on the driving It's Not a Song and Open Arms. And piano on the standout and touching Doubly Good to You written by Richard Mullins.

The whole second half of the set moves emotionally and musically to the thoughtful The Now and the Not Yet. The "realness" of her voice quality and interpretations come through. Easy to understand why she would soon be doing duets with Peter Cetera, etc.

My 3 yr. old daughter has a tender heart for knowing and following Jesus. She recently asked me where the angels were and what they did. After a mommy type explaination I sang her Amy Grant's Angels, and have been looking for it since. I was thrilled to find it online.

A chaplain's daughter lent me this album my freshman year of high school and it was the first album I ever truly loved. Now, ten years later, even though it seldom finds its way into my stereo, my love for it has not deminished. It would be hard to choose a favorite track; "Angels" and "Thy Word" are probably the best well-known, but I think "Jehovah" and "Open Arms" are the best tracks of the album. Both Amy and I have matured much since this album, but that doesn't make this any less of a jewel for Christians looking for a moment of solace. Though a little lower-key than the grand-scale "Age to Age," this album will always have a special place in my heart.

Amy Grant's follow-up to her classic 1982 album Age to Age, "Straight Ahead" has the misfortunate of following one of the greatest albums in Christian music history. That aside, "Straight Ahead" is a wonderful effort on its own merits, and also showcases Amy's continuing evolution from Christian to pop, albeit somewhat gradually. Noticeably more aggressive than "Age to Age," "Straight Ahead" is still lyrically in sync with the Contemporary Christian music of the day.

"Where Do You Hide Your Heart" is a prime example of Amy's growing departure from straightforward Christian pop, as it combines a mainstream synth pop feel with lighter but noticeable spiritual content. "Jehovah," one of my personal favorites, proves to Amy's audience that she has definitely not abandoned her core CCM audience, with its strong religious message and sing-a-long feel that makes it easily compatible with a Sunday morning church service. "Angels" fits just as well in that category, erasing all speculation why it was such a huge hit on Christian radio when the album was first release. The title track is somewhat ambiguous in its religious message, but is still an inspiring song and pleasant to listen to.

"Thy Word" is easily the star of the album. Co-written by Grant and Michael W. Smith, it simultaneously provides the simple message of God's protection for His children and a moving piano accompaniment that makes it hard for any subsequent track to top its moving content. "It's Not A Song," "Open Arms," and "Tomorrow," while still pleasant to listen to, may be the weakest songs on the album, but every good LP has filler tracks and this is no exception. Meanwhile, "Doubly Good To You" and "The Now And The Not Yet" are nice closers for the album, wrapping up a collective effort that truly shines God's word. In retrospect, "Straight Ahead" is a transition for Amy Grant from the pure religious "Age to Age" to the hopeful, harder-edged Unguarded, and this album shines beautifully in this effort, truly a gem for anyone who's a fan of Christian music.

This is a great follow-up to "Age to age" with the arrangements taken a little bit further. It reveals a certain amount of progression in the use of digital instruments but with the same balanced cooperation between music and lyrics as the predecessor. The lyrics are even more based on straight foreward messages, and on this album Amy Grant really stands up for her beliefs. This is very much something to light up your everyday, and even without the lyrics it's a great musical experiance.

Originally released on the Christian market by Myrrh/Word Records, and the secular market in 1984 by A&M, 1990 by Reunion/Uni, and 1993 by RCA. Notably the cover she did where she wasn't on the front! You see the pun there. Reissued 2007 by Sparrow/EMI CMG.