Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions

Engelbert Humperdinck

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: November 4, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B00020HAPG
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,097 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Always Hear the Harmony

2. Old Rugged Cross

3. At the Cross

4. Sending Me You

5. Take My Hand, Precious Lord

6. How Great Thou Art

7. Our Wedding Song

8. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

9. It Is No Secret

10. Nearer, My God, To Thee

11. In the Sweet By and By

12. Amazing Grace

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

The first gospel CD ever recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck, Always Hear The Harmony: The Gospel Sessions, is an acclaimed addition to this legendary superstar's amazing catalogue. During his career that spans more than 35 years, Engelbert has generated sales in excess of 130 million records including 64 Gold and 23 Platinum albums. The Jordanaires, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and The Light Crust Doughboys join Engelbert on the recording. Produced by Art Greenhaw, this marks the first collaboration between Humperdinck and Greenhaw. Greenhaw earned a Grammy in 2002 for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year. Engelbert Humperdinck continues to tour globally, performing more than 175 sold out concerts every year. Songs from Always Hear The Harmony: The Gospel Sessions will be included in his concerts on selected stops.

Product Description

The soaring vocals of Engelbert Humperdinck join with gospel and country greats The Jordanaires, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and The Light Crust Doughboys for a roots, southern-style country gospel album that's been called a classic in its field. Pop music icon Engelbert is creatively backed by musicians and singers grounded in the classic elements of the style--heaven-sent harmonies, barrelhouse piano, rocking rhythm guitars--and the results form an essential gospel album with unbridled passion.

Engelbert and Company have brilliantly avoided a bland, toothless, middle-of-the-road approach to inspirational music and instead have built an album that stands as one of the very best albums of the year.

Engelbert's famous voice is earnest and world-weary as he sings in a remarkable style which is part ballad singer, part r&b soulman. The old hymns of the centuries come alive, and the new songs sizzle with an arresting power. The Jordanaires, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and The Light Crust Doughboys are perfect accompaniests, singing and playing with great soul and conviction. Indeed, this is a showcase for their sounds and styles, as well as Engelbert's.

This could be the most intimate and emotional music we'll hear on record this year--bold, gutsy, sanctified and real.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best In Country Gospel Blues, October 11, 2003

By	Robert Bow (Norman, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Hear The Harmony: The Gospel Sessions (Audio CD)

Engelbert Humperdinck has always been a favorite of mine, but I must admit I haven't followed his latest releases not being a fan of techno pop. Since this CD was receiving rave reviews from all the gospel and country and folk music fans, I thought I'd give this international singer a try in the year 2003. Wow, what a revelation! Wow, what an album! It's like Engelbert Humperdinck has been reborn as a gospel and a folk singer. This will likely be a definitive album in his career, a turning point to making CDs that stand the test of time and become classics. "Always Hear The Harmony" is as good as any album I've ever heard in country gospel, including of course Elvis, Ernie Ford, Statlers, Oaks, and so forth. It may even be better! How these guys and Engelbert came up with this sound where you feel like you are actually there soaking in the textures of the singers and the musicians. Where a lot of pop star albums are over-produced and all-synthesized-up, this CD is the real thing. The CD booklet says this fantastic sound was recorded in Texas and at Sun Studios in Memphis. Maybe this partially accounts for the exciting, organic stuff we hear here. Fans who pick this CD up early on may be the very firsts to latch onto a phenomenum like the original Sun sound and like the Stax sound and like the Muscle Shoals sound. Engelbert and his producers have created magic with this CD and have something that will live forever. Engelbert's voice is powerful, almost raspy, almost crying out. It's like he and the gospel singers are singing these songs just for God. I heard from an Englebert fan site that this album was being considered for major international music and fan awards. This album deserves every award it gets. It's Engelbert Humperdinck, it's his friends on this album The Jordanaires, The Blackwood Brothers quartet, The Light Crust Doughboys, all coming together for one of those rare recordings that grab at your heartstrings. Let everybody say, AMEN! Can't wait to hear Engelbert sing some of these songs on TV or in the movies. God Bless This CD!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENGELBERT SINGS "GOSPEL", October 21, 2003

By	Phyllis Donabedian (RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Hear The Harmony: The Gospel Sessions (Audio CD)

JUST RECEIVED MY CD AND MUST TELL THE READERS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST CD THAT ENGELBERT HAS EVER DONE. WE ALL KNOW THAT HIS VOICE IS A GOD GIVEN TALENT AND TO SING SONGS OF PRAISES WITH THE REKNOWN GOSPEL GROUPS IS JUST DOING IT RIGHT. IT IS SUNG SO BEAUTIFULLY THAT YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF SINGING ALONG.I JUST REALLY CANNOT CHOOSE ANY ONE SONG AS THEY ARE ALL GREAT. "AMAZING GRACE" IS ONE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS AND WHAT A THRILL TO HEAR HIM AND THE GROUP SING IT. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM IN THIS MOOD. REALLY IS TERRIFIC - MY FAVORITE BY FAR!!!WHAT A TALENT HE IS AND HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO SHARE WITH HIM WHAT IS HIS. THANK YOU, ENGE!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic by a Legendary Performer, November 12, 2005

By	Lon S. Roberts (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hats off to Enge for this CD. It's a classic and easily the best album of his career. The arrangments and vocals are simply perfect. Enge's performances are honest and heartfelt. This is a CD that will help get you through good times and hard times. My personal favorite is Nearer My God to Thee. I can listen to that song over and over and over and each time it rings true and touches my spirit.

If you like Elvis' gospel, you'll enjoy this CD. It's a southern gospel classic that won't disappoint.