Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Hard to Get
2. All the Way to Kingdom Come
3. My Deliverer
4. Surely God Is With Us
5. Jesus... - Rich Mullins, A Ragamuffin Band
6. You Did Not Have a Home
7. Heaven in His Eyes
8. Nothing Is Beyond You
9. That Where I Am, There You...

Disc 2:

1. My Deliverer
2. Surely God Is With Us
3. Nothing Is Beyond You
4. You Did Not Have a Home
5. Jesus...
6. All the Way to Kingdom Come
7. Man of No Reputation
8. Heaven in His Eyes
9. Hard to Get
10. That Where I Am, There You...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23844 in Music
• Released on: 2002-07-02
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set

Amazon.com essential recording
This double album contains two discs, ostensibly two versions of the same record. The first disc contains Mullins's crude demos of 9 of the 10 songs on the album, recorded on a battery-powered box only a few days before his untimely death. Even with the abundance of tape noise, pops, clicks, and bum notes, Mullins's skill as a performer and passion for this material shines clearly through. The second disc contains the same songs, fully produced by Rich's band, the Ragamuffins, with special guests Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland, and Phil Keaggy. These performances feel haunted as well, trying to be faithful to Mullins's vision as a performer and folk/ethnic musicologist without resorting to grave robbing. Pennywhistles, accordians, and upright bass strike a jagged edge against the polished sheen of orchestras and children's choirs. The guest vocalists make Mullins's songs their own, while the Ragamuffin-sung tunes naturally carry more of the spirit of his own recordings. --Brad S. Caviness

Customer Reviews

Rich Mullins was ready for his Deliverer
At the time I'm writing this, I've only owned this CD for 2 days, and I've already memorized half the songs on it. The demo tape, on which you hear the last music Rich ever recorded, is one of the most powerful praise and worship compilations I've ever heard. Knowing that Rich Mullins was taken from us just 9 short days later makes it that much more powerful. When listening to him sing, though, you get the sense that Rich was ready for what was to come. And the Ragamuffins did an excellent job on the actual Jesus Record. They definitely have a future in this business if they want it. Their love for the music and for the man who wrote it is very evident, and knowing that Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Ashley Cleveland, Phil Keaggy, and others helped out with the studio recording shows just how much Rich Mullins meant to the Christian music community. But even without the touching story behind it, "The Jesus Record" stands out by itself as an awesome collection of music. "My Deliverer" is probably the best song on this CD, so it was probably not a such a good idea to put it first because if anyone else is like me they'll just play it over and over without listening to any of the other songs. Fortunately I fought that urge and listened to it all the way through the first time, and I'm glad I did. Every song is worth singing in church groups and during worship services. I was especially moved by the last song, "That Where I Am, There You...". Rich's original score is combined with Michael W. Smith's rendition to give you a moving song which was the last thing Rich Mullins recorded on tape. If you have the WOW 2000 CD, then you've probably heard it. But please take the time to listen to every song. This is one of those compilations where everyone will have a different favorite song because each song will touch you in a different way. Thanks to the Ragamuffins for putting this album together. And we know you're up there, Rich. Thank you as well.

Definitely a keep-sake album.
Very few albums have exhibited such a total and undivided thematic focus--from the opening "My Deliverer is Coming" to the closing "Where I am there you may be." It is indeed a Jesus Record, as one of Christian music's greatest songwriter and singer pens some soul stirring songs. The second CD which features the Raggamuffin band and Mullins' friends "adds flesh" to the late singer's demo. Rick Elias sings with the soul of Mullins; Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Ashley Cleveland, among others, all bring their singing resources to bear on the decidedly Mullian rhythms. Then there's the mildly eerie sensation in the last cut as we hear the band and singers join Mullins in singing the comforting words of Christ as He prepares for the cross. Maybe, it's not eerie; maybe it is indeed reasssuring to know that though Rich Mullins is gone, we can still have his music, and if we believe what he believes, then where he is now, with Christ the source of Mullins' songs, there we too who listen would be after this life.

Chiji Akoma

A Fitting Final Album
I will confess, when I first bought this CD, I wasn't that big a Rich Mullins fan. I got it mainly because of his death. But through it I discovered what I'd been missing out on for years.

Rich Mullins was a great poet who had a unique way of looking at the world. He had a faith is God that was unshakable. And he used his talents to challenge his listeners. He also had a unique way of expressing himself in song. I find I listen to the demo CD more then the polished studio track second disc because I enjoy Rich's versions more.

This CD has one of his best works on it. "Hard to get" is powerful. Then I first stopped and listened to it, I was blown away. Basically, Rich spends two verses blasting God for the pain in his life, then acknowledges that God still loves him. Finally, he accepts that God is still in control and has been there all along, even if Rich was too blind to see. I've gone through that cycle more times then I care to admit.

There are several other highlights as well. "My Deliverer," "Surely God is with us," "Nothing is Beyond You," and "That Where I Am, There You..." all get plenty of play time as well.

Any Rich Mullins fan that doesn't have this CD yet needs to get it immediately. And it's a great buy for Christian music fans as well. It's the final thoughts from a wise man who was taken from us too soon.