Product Description

Outline A few decades ago nearly every country singer had at least one--often more--gospel albums in their catalog. Today, aside from gospel veteran Amy Grant, who balances the sacred and secular, an

Track Listing

1. Blessed Assurance
2. Softly And Tenderly
3. I Love To Tell The Story
4. When We All Get To Heaven
5. 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
6. In The Garden
7. Are You Washed In The Blood?
8. I'll Fly Away
9. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
10. Standing On The Promises
11. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
12. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
13. The Old Rugged Cross
14. How Great Thou Art
15. I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #446 in Music
• Brand: Arista
• Released on: 2006-02-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
A few decades ago nearly every country singer had at least one--often more--gospel albums in their catalog. Today, aside from gospel veteran Amy Grant, who balances the sacred and secular, and Randy Travis, that concept has long faded. For Alan Jackson, however, treating the musical past as present has been a way of life, as it is with these 15 timeless hymns from his youth. Recorded with just two acoustic guitars and a piano, it was originally a private Christmas present to his mother. The spare instrumentation is surprisingly robust behind his flawless readings of "I'll Fly Away," "Softly and Tenderly," "How Great Thou Art," "Are You Washed in the Blood?," and "The Old Rugged Cross," all as beguilingly unpretentious as any of his country hits. Instead of an all-star duet, wife Denise and daughters Mattie and Ali join in on "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus." In the end, what began as a private bequest becomes a moving, eloquent gift to Jackson's entire audience. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Jackson's Precious "Memories"
Prime Cuts: In the Garden, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, I'll Fly Away

Following in the footsteps of many country greats such as Randy Travis, Brenda Lee and Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson has added to the venerable canon of country artists singing the great hymns of the church. Unlike many other gospel CDs, "Precious Memories" does not come across as pretentious or spurious. Rather, recorded as a labor of love for his mother as a Christmas gift, Jackson's performance here is indubitably heartfelt. And wrapping his distinctive baritone around all around those vastly familar notes, Jackson gives each of these gospel chesnuts a warm glow brimming with a southern charm. With only a piano, acoustic guitars and organ, simplicity is the order of the day. However, with Keith Stegall's production, there is still that Alan Jackson familarity that has graced his last 10 studio CDs.

A listen to Jackson's spirited version of the poignantly phrased salvific hymn "Are You Washed in the Blood?" brings us directly to church's altar. "Blood" in an almost medley-like fashioned is quickly followed by the southern favorite "I'll Fly Away" boasting an ascendary piano bridge that certain gives flight to this great paean of hope. Though understandability Jackson's penchant for those honky tonk barnburners is missing here, but the more obscure "I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You" comes closest. Continuing the theme of the blessedness of eternal life, "Heaven" finds a heavenly-minded Jackson reveling in pellucid Saturday night Texas fun.

When Jackson gets more reflective: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" still has that trancendant mesage that still bespeaks truth in today's melee of trials. Affirming the trustworthiness of Jesus in all the tribulations of life, wife Denise and daughters Mattie and Ali join in on "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus." Though the Jackson's read of "In the Garden" is straight forward, the simplicity of the tune and the vivid image of walking with Jesus is just heartwarming. While many tend to oversing "How Great Thou Art," Jackson's take is subdued with a sense of awe-inspiring reverance.

Though there are 15 tracks, many of these songs only run for over a minute or so, making this a very listenable CD without being monotaneous. However, this can work as a double-edged sword as the CD only clocks in for a little more than half an hour. Perhaps, the other criticism is that one would like to see Jackson giving some of these songs a more imaginative read. Other than these quibbles, "Precious Memories" is a pleasurable listen. But more important, it is with gratitude that Jackson would record this CD at the height of his career, brining to his fans and others a hopeful message deeply grounded in the Cross of Christ. Kudos to Jackson and Arista Records for having such an eternal perspective in mind.

Great Gospel Album
Alan Jackson performs these songs the way they were meant to be sung. There seems to be some today who only want to hear contemporary Christian songs and some who only want to hear the older Christian songs. There is a place for both. Alan Jackson's rendition of these show just how great these old traditional hymns are. Simply sung, simply outstanding.

Incredible
I have been an Alan Jackson fan for some time and I know I've never heard him sing quite like this. You as the listener are brought into a special place of intimacy and precious memories of Alan Jackson's and the result is a highly-emotional, deeply moving recording. It's truly an incredible experience.