Southern Gospel

I haven't written in a bit. However today (07/11) at work, I was inspired to write a post.

I was challenged by one of my coworkers to listen to an album. But not just any album: An Alan Jackson album. They had mentioned Alan Jackson. I am from the New England area, so when they said the name, I said, "Who?".

As most might be in this situation, they were surprised that I didn't know who this was. So they challenged me to listen to Alan Jackson's Southern Gospel album. Mind you I'm not a big fan of country. I love rock more than anything if I'm being honest. Nonetheless, I agreed. They had wanted me to Snapchat them at the end of the week with my thoughts on the album. I however decided to make it a post.

So the album I'm going to be listening to is Precious Memories by Alan Jackson. Released in 2006, this album has a bunch of old hymns in it. Just by looking at the album, I know some of these from going to the Hymn Sings at church, which I love going to.

So the first song on the album is Blessed Assurance. You know, "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine." It's a bit of a classic. Alan's version starts out with soft guitar picking. Quite pretty sounding actually. He comes in and it's faster than I imagined, however, I'm not disliking it. I actually can harmonize quite well to it. I love when the harmonies come in during the chorus. It's satisfying to me to hear it. During Verse 2 it seems there's an organ or synth of sorts gently layering in the background. It adds a little more to the song. Honestly, not a bad version of this song.

The second song is Softly and Tenderly. I don't actually know this one, so this should be interesting. This song seems to flow well. I love the piano part in the background with the slight organ sound. I love the harmonies in the back of the chorus. I like how the piano is a bit stronger in the second verse. Not a bad song, I like how it flows.

The third song is I Love To Tell the Story. This wasn't the one I knew of. The one I know is faster. So when this one started playing, I was a little confused. Though it's not a bad song. I like when it's him and the guitar before the organ and the other voices come in. It's not my total favorite, but it is a nice slow song.

The next song is When We All Get To Heaven. This is one I know we do at the Hymn Sings at church and it's usually fast and fun. His version is a little more upbeat but not as fast as I'm used to. I love the harmonies in this one. They are a bit more pronounced. I like the faster version of this more, to be honest, but his version isn't bad at all.

The fifth song is 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus. I actually know this one from choir. I like the piano in this one. His voice with the piano and light guitar is really satisfying. I like the change of voices in the second verse. It's not bad.

The sixth song is In the Garden. I have heard this one before but not enough to know it fully. It starts off with a pretty piano intro. Then Alan comes in with his southern twang and I actually like it a little bit. The chorus is my favorite part of this as there are harmonies. It gives me chills.

This next song is Are You Washed In the Blood. This one is more upbeat. I know this song. I like this song. It sounds good with the southern twang and harmonies.

I'll Fly Away is the next song and the way Are You Washed In the Blood flows into I'll Fly Away is amazing. I hadn't even realized that I was on the next song. This one is a bit short but it is good. I like the piano solo.

Now onto What a Friend We Have In Jesus. This one tends to be a bit slower when anyone does it. It didn't surprise me that it's slower. It sounds good for his voice. I've noticed while listening to this album that some of these old hymns actually fit with the southern twang really well.

The tenth song of the album is Standing On the Promises. This one definitely sounds older with the organ intro and the way the song flows. It's not one of my favorites as I don't really connect well with the more traditional-sounding songs.

This next one is one of my favorites. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. It's one I don't think I could ever forget. I remember singing it for a funeral in my choir back home. Of course, this is a more traditional version than what I sang. His version sounds a little different in the beginning but once you get to the chorus, it sounds fine.

This next one is Leaning On the Everlasting Arms. It has an upbeat organ intro. This one got me to dance a little in my chair as I wrote this. It's one of those songs that makes you want to sway to the beat. I like how the voices sound in the choruses.

The Old Rugged Cross. One I don't know fully but I do know it's a good one. Alan's version sounds like a Christmas carol of sorts. It gives me that vibe. Again this is one of those that fits well with that southern twang that Alan has when he sings.

How Great Thou Art. I would hope that y'all know this one. Sung in almost every church, it's a staple of our faith. Alan's version gave me shivers. I have heard this song done many different ways but yet it gives me shivers each time. His twang in his voice sounds good in this song. Especially in the chorus. The singers slightly swing it a little and scoop as they go to hit the note and it sounds good. The key change in the second verse gave me goosebumps. Honestly, I think I like this version a lot.

Finally the last song. To be honest, while listening and writing, I'm surprised that I liked the album. So this last one is I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You. This definitely sounds more traditional much like Turn Your Eyes. I like the chorus with the harmonies. This isn't one of my favorites of this album honestly. It's good but there's something about it.

All in all, this album may have changed my mind about some aspects of Southern Gospel and Country Music.