Customer Reviews

Worship & Faith

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you could put Randy Travis' three gospel albums on a continuum, they would go Worship and Faith > Inspirational Journey > Rise and Shine - from traditional gospel to more contemporary country. Randy Travis fans will want to get all three of these albums because Randy has put a lot passion into these recordings. Here are some additional differences that might help you choose which CD to get first.

Worship and Faith is the least polished of the three albums. Some of the tracks sound like single-take recordings done from a live concert rather than in a recording studio. Randy's voice doesn't sound as rich as you might be used to hearing, probably because he's singing a lot of songs that weren't written for him. Worship and Faith is also a mix of hymns (Farther Along, How Great Thou Art, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Shall We Gather At the River, Love Lifted Me, Softly and Tenderly, Sweet By and By, Blessed Assurance, In the Garden, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Peace in the Valley, The Unclouded Day, Room at the Cross For You), a couple of well-known gospel songs (He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield; I'll Fly Away; Turn Your Radio On), and a few contemporary worship songs (You Are Worthy of My Praise, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Above All, We Fall Down). To be honest, I don't think Randy's voice fits the contemporary worship songs very well. They don't sound bad; they just don't sound like him. They will sound especially out of place to you if you've been listening to Micheal W. Smith sing them over the last few years that he's put out his worship albums. The three songs that I called well-known gospel songs are fantastic, but don't really fit the tone of the rest of the album. The real strength of Worship and Faith is the traditional hymns. The hymns fit Randy's voice well and they are all pleasant to listen to and sing with.

If you like Randy Travis a lot and enjoy singing hymns, then this is a CD worth buying. If you're new to Randy Travis or are looking for a more contemporary country gospel album, then this is not the best place to start. I'd suggest Rise and Shine if you like contemporary country (it's the strongest of his three gospel albums) or Inspirational Journey if you like more traditional, male vocalist country music in the vein of George Jones or Johnny Cash. If you liked his first two gospel albums, you should try this one, but prepare yourself for a different, more traditional, lower-key recording.

This is Randy Travis's second gospel album in two years, and it remains to be seen if it will have the break out hit that 2002's RISE AND SHINE did with "Three Wooden Crosses." I'm just happy to hear Travis, who has one of the greatest baritone voices in country music history, still recording after country radio has all but abandoned him.

This 20-song collection contains the familiar ("Farther Along", "How Great Thou Art," "Sweet By and By, "Peace in the Valley") along with more contemporary songs ("You Are Worthy of My Praise," "Open the Eyes of My Heart," "Above All"). This album is sheer joy from start to finish. It's hard to stop yourself from joining in and singing along. [And all the lyrics are included!] It's also worth noting that no electric instruments were used on this recording.

In his liner notes, Travis says, "I pray God will take this music to places it's never been, that it will touch hearts and souls to glorify Him, our Lord and Savior." I'd say he's succeeded on that account. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is the third release of gospel music from Randy and, once again, there are no disappointments. It is a treasure to add to the growing collection of treasures from this wonderful artist! There are classic old traditional favorites as well as some newer praise and worship songs. This CD is beautifully done, and I can't stop playing it! There are 20 songs so it plays a long time!

I have loved Randy Travis since 1988 and have loved the Lord a whole lot longer than that! And to hear that wonderful voice singing such special music is one of the greatest blessings of my entire life! And to know that he means every word he is singing makes it priceless! It's country and gospel at the same time...and it doesn't get much better than this!

WORSHIP & FAITH
Truly Traditional

If you are one of those fans searching your radio dial for some good southern gospel or traditional country gospel music, search no more. All you need to do it take a listen to Randy Travis' recent release "Worship & Faith." The third gospel release by this great artist in the same number of years differs this time from those previously released by offering some of the best-loved well-known songs in the Christian arena. Whereas "Inspirational Journey" in 2000 and "Rise and Shine" in 2002 offered primarily new Christian material, this latest release offers songs many can relate to from their childhood memories.

Sung like only Randy could sing them, this CD offers such gospel ballads as "Peace in the Valley," "How Great Thou Art," "Blessed Assurance," "In the Garden," to the more upbeat songs such as "Sweet By and By," "I'll Fly Away," "Love Lifted Me," "Will the Circle Be unbroken," and many more.

For those more familiar with the "praise and worship" songs often sang in many of the churches of today, Randy's rendition of songs such as "Open the eyes of My Heart," "You Are Worthy of My Praise," "Above All," and "We Fall Down" are truly breath-taking.

Backed by only acoustical blue-grass musical arrangements, no one could be more convincing in his dedication to a music ministry than that baritone sounding voice of Randy Travis.
Whether you are familiar with the more traditional hymns or the less familiar worship and praise offerings, with 20 songs in all you will find there is a little of something for everyone on this CD.

You may also want to check out the DVD of this same title offering a live performance of many of these songs. The DVD was recorded At Calvary Baptist Church in Florida.

I have a flash for Thomas E. Guenthner of Germantown, MD: I loved this CD. My childhood memories are limited to the Presbyterian Church.

My hunch is Randy's Travis' rendering of praise and worship songs will appeal anyone who loves to hear God's love expressed musically. Travis does that -- and more. He employs his talent to do it with style and grace.

If you like Randy Travis' twang, then you will like this CD. He sings all the current praise and worship songs along with some good old favorites.

I don't know what is left to say that hasn't already been said about this latest gospel offering from Mr.Travis. It is everything that Linda Webb and others have stated. It is just one more incredible collection of songs.

The familiar gospel selections such as "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Peace In The Valley", "In The Garden" along with the more modern day worship and praise offerings " Above All","Open The Eyes Of My Heart", "You Are Worthy Of My Praise" are performed with such stunning and stirring deliveries. The couple of guest appearaces only add another demention to those selections. The pairing of John Anderson with Randy on "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" is pure perfection.

I, being a long time fan of Randy Travis, I often ask myself how can he come up with something new after each recent offering. He never ceases to amaze me with what he comes up with, to make old songs sound new, and new songs sound old. It is obvious that Randy Travis is an artist who truely loves performing his craft.This collection of gospel and worship and praise songs is just one more example of that truth! Well, done once again Mr. Travis!

The last gospel album I bought was, well, never. But if you believe in Spiritual inspiration, the concept of putting Randy Travis' unbelieveable voice to work on Gospel classics like these will weaken (and perhaps bring you to) you knees.
It is a match made in heaven, no pun intended. The arrangements (acoustic--with such bluegrass legends as dobro master Jerry Douglass on some tracks) are spare and an understated counterpoint to the uplift of the music. There are few vocal guests, most noteably John Anderson dueting on"Just a Closer Walk with Thee"), but Travis doesn't need them.
Two last thoughts: One. Travis singing Gospel reminds me of Willy Nelson recording non-country standards on "Stardust." At first you are surprised, then you are stunned at the amazing fit, and wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Two. This kind of faith & worship music is often associated with the religious Right. As a Liberal, I'm happy to report this music, like religion itself, transcends political barriers. This album is a masterwork in any genre.

Randy Travis really knows how to do a gospel album. That's all there is to it.

Actually, this is the most modern gospel music that I have. I suppose it's not as grandiose as a lot of gospel albums by Nashville artists but I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm not up on contemporary gospel music but the arrangements of the old familiar ones on this are great.

I love that this album isn't as "polished" (as some of the reviews have said) as a lot of other country gospel albums. I wouldn't even say it's less polished, though. It's much less egotistical than most; one gets the impression that Travis was more about the songs than about trying to make it all about himself and how-original-can-I-be? The arrangements are clean and straightforward (there's a great guitar break on "I'll Fly Away") without being boring. I could listen, especially, to "Sweet By and By" and "Peace in the Valley" all day long. Great listening and great for singing along.

Randy Travis' 2003 release "Worship & Faith" provides an excellent experience in worshipping God through the gift of music. "Worship & Faith" features a blend of hymns, old-time gospel favorites and modern worship songs which we often hear performed by today's contemporary Christian artists. Travis also performs a couple of duets as John Anderson joins him on the hymn "Just A Closer Walk With Thee," and then Randy teams with Third Day vocalist Mac Powell on "Love Lifted Me." Other noteworthy tracks include "How Great Thou Art," "Softly And Tenderly," "You Are Worthy Of My Praise," "Blessed Assurance" and "Above All." My overall favorite here is Travis' rendition of Paul Baloche's "Open The Eyes Of My Heart," a modern worship standard which Randy has adapted to his own musical style, and he does a masterful job of pulling it off. "Worship & Faith" is a great worship album, and I would gladly rank it alongside Michael W. Smith's "Worship" series and Third Day's "Offerings" series as one of today's best worship CD's.