Track Listing

1. Sit Down Servant
2. Streets of Galilee
3. Oh Mary Don't You Weep
4. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
5. Change Is Gonna Come
6. Devil Don't Sleep
7. Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down
8. Selah! Selah!
9. Take Me (I'll Take You There)
10. Lonely Road
11. I'm Gonna Get There

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26578 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2007-06-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
Those who remember Mike Farris as the frontman for '90s hard rockers the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies will do a double take when they hear this unexpectedly moving comeback. The singer has radically overhauled his image, shifting from gin-soaked frontman to gospel shouter on this roof-raising release. What hasn't changed is Farris's powerful voice, even more potent since he cleaned up from various excesses in 2004. While the appropriately titled Salvation in Lights is a drastic musical departure from his previous band's swaggering, boozy approach, it's also a logical use of his soulful vocals and candid personality. The singer delivers the goods on a handful of rearranged traditionals such as "Oh Mary Don't You Weep," but when he rips into Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," the song shimmers with a passion that nearly matches the original, and that's saying a lot. The oozing, swampy "Devil Don't Sleep," the restrained funker "Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down," and the Memphis-thumping "Selah! Selah!" add to the rousing, rootsy R&B groove. Farris is unexpectedly convincing throughout and obviously inspired as he keeps the faith on this stirring but not preachy album. He's accompanied by horns and a tough yet restrained band with righteous female backing vocals that perfectly position these tunes between heaven and earth. He testifies on his Staples Singers cover that he wants to "take you there," and by the time the album closes with "I'm Gonna Get There," you'll gladly follow wherever he leads. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

Stunning!
Former Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies frontman Mike Farris has returned in a BIG way with a phemomenal collection of tunes which bear no resemblance whatsoever to his previous work with SCW. Tied together by deeply spiritual lyrics, he blends gospel, rock, soul, blues & even dixieland into one cohesive unit. The material is ideally suited to Farris's soulfully expressive vocals. From the funkiness of "Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down" and "Selah! Selah!", to the pure joy of "Streets of Galilee" and "I'm Gonna Get There", Farris has created a great "soundtrack" to an even greater personal story. This collection is guaranteed to do your soul good.

Can't Sit Down
What an incredible album. Traditional and original gospel music that is wrapped Blues, Soul, and the sounds of New Orleans. Good start to finish. Give it a listen, and like the opening tune say's.... I bet you Can't Sit Down!

My favorite album of 2007 (so far)
This CD is fantastic, and it's great that it's a Christian CD. Great music and lyrics.