I've owned the LP version of this CD for a bunch of years, and was delighted to find it remastered on CD. I assume this album was recorded some time in the sixties. Certainly it's Miss Lynn at her vocal best. Her voice is strong in all its vocal range. The hymns on this CD represent traditional songs sung in small churches like the one I was raised in. Actually, I'd have bought it just to have 'If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again'. I recall seeing on the 'Biography' broadcast on Miss Lynn, that Tammy Wynette was with her when Miss Lynn's mother died, and this was the song she sang to comfort herself. All the songs are terrific in my view, maybe a little too plain spoken for today's young generation, but it's traditional country at its best.
I was so excited when I received the cd of Loretta Lynn hyms. I had an old tape and no way to play it in the car. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing this music that I love again. Thank you for the ease of ordering and the expedient shipping.
I never LOVED gospel until I heard this album by the Great Loretta Lynn.She brings the passion and love of Jesus Christ to the Christian legion. When she sings it; you believe it. Thank you, Miss Loretta Lynn.
In her first gospel album, Loretta sets the pace for what every gospel album should be-a thoroughly enjoyalbe album!
In this set, Loretta (who was at the height of her career at the time) breaks with her honky-tonk tendencies and gives pure gospel. She tackles traditional material such as "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" and "How Great Thou Art" as if she's been doing gospel all of her life (she probably had). She turns in a stunning performance on newer material such as "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven".
Her performance on "The Third Man" can absolutely move you to tears as it is such a vivid imagery song. As an interesting sidenote (my CD doesn't give the writers names) the song was co-written by Don Helms who played steel guitar for Hank Williams and created the high lonesome sound on Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight". In some ways, the song is as moving as Hank Williams's "How Can You Refuse Him Now?" which is an excellent song. I don't imply the two are similar lyrically or melodically, but they both describe the death of the Lord on the cross.
A couple of complaints though. When this was re-mastered, it's given too much of a bass punch (my system doesn't boom like that on rock 'n' roll), but that's solvable by equalization. Also, on my CD, there's a total lack of liner notes and no original artwork (yes, it's from MCA). Also, a running time of 32 minutes is short for a CD-most fans will want "Who Says God Is Dead" as well, so why not give a two-fer with maybe a bonus track or two?
