Review

As I listen and write about "Hymned No.1", I can say that this is the easiest review I've ever written. Track 1 - Loved it ! Track 2 - Loved it! Track 3 - Loved it a lot! Track 4... Well, you get the picture. I loved it- ad infinitum.

I have played this album over- and over- and over. It's hard for me to imagine getting tired of hearing Bart Millard (lead singer of Mercy Me) intone these classics of hymnody. I literally cut my teeth on these songs. Granted, I am biased. I love the old hymns of the church. That being said, I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed and been blessed by Millard's rendition of these church standards- at least the standards of the churches I grew up in. The arrangements are terrific, the musicianship first rate, and the production is top notch. I would use better adjectives if I knew them.

As if the soulful vocals of Millard aren't enough, we are treated to a sweet background harmony vocal by Vince Gill on Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior. Russ Taff provides a from-his-heart, knock-down-drag-out, powerful solo on Precious Lord, Take My Hand.

It's hard to pin down the style of this album. It's somewhere between killer country and rock and roll. But then you run into this soothingly sweet rendition of Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus with a gorgeous steel guitar filling out the song. The album then closes out with a pretty much traditional version of
The Old Rugged Cross, if you consider a beautifully played dobro traditional.

Hammond B3, fiddle, Rhodes piano, and the ever present drums and bass, some acoustic and electric lead- I'm telling you, this is a sweet album. Consider these great songs- "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Have a Little Talk with Jesus", "Softly and Tenderly", "Power in the Blood..." While on my way home tonight, I had it playing in the car- again- (maybe the 10th trip through the album). And history repeated itself- I couldn't sit still again! Thought my wife was going to have to drive. It's thigh-slappin', steering wheel thumpin' good. I can't tell you the last time I had so much fun singing harmony to the songs on an album. Almost everyone one of the songs has its own unique musical phrase that kind of just grabs you. You'll have to take a valium to sit still through this album.

I sure hope a Hymned No. 2 is in the works. If there is, I'll be the first one in line at the counter. Thank you Bart! Please get started on No. 2!

Review by Danny Mullins