Amy Grant Album: “Legacy...Hymns & Faith [Expanded]”

This is a wonderful collection of old time Christian songs of faith from Amy Grant. Magnificently produced by husband Vince Gill, it is at once artistically beautiful yet simply presented so that the words of faith are not overpowered by the productions. Grant made this album to commemorate her roots in Christian music and has lovingly rendered all those songs she sang as a child in church with her grandmother in a manner that would make her proud. It is gentle and soulful and the selections are perfect.

1) "This is My Father's World"-This song has a ferris wheel kind of rhythm that ponders on the happiness of living in God's world in all its beauty.

2) "My Jesus, I Love Thee"-There is a Scottish Highland kind of feeling to this selection as Amy sings of love for Jesus.

3) "Softly and Tenderly"-Amy perfectly captures this haunting call for the weary to "come home" to God.

4) "I Need Thee Every Hour/Nothing But the Blood"-The heartfelt "I Need Thee Every Hour" blends effortlessly into the rollicking tent revival duet of Amy and Vince on "Nothing but the Blood" that will have you feeling as though you should be up on your feet and clapping your hands together.

5) "What You Already Own"-I am not sure if it was intentional or coincidence, but I could not help thinking of how Amy was abandoned by some in the Christian community for not being perfect. This gentle lament of sometimes being unfaithful and doing wrong and looking to God for strength shows his spirit remains with those with faith, which is played out by our lives.

6) "It is Well With My Soul/The River's Gonna Keep on Rolling"-This beautful blending of songs has a flow like a river itself as Amy sings of God's love being like a river that keeps forgiving and makes us realize it is not possesions that are our legacy, but ourselves.

7) "Do You Remember the Time"-This song is a longing for the innocence we all once had and an encouragement to hold on to how we once felt, when we were kids, and heaven seemed real.

8) "Fields of Plenty/Be Still My Soul"-A melancholy guitar solo turns into a haunting admonition to leave things in God's hands, culminating with a voice over by Amy that is heartrending.

9) "Imagine/Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus"-Amy's imagining what it will be like to see and be in His Glory ends in the brief ode to her love of Jesus.

10) "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"-This great church hymn with it's terrific background vocals and country flavor makes you feel like you driving by an old country church during a different era.

11) "Fairest Lord Jesus"-This is a guitar driven song of uplifting praise, and once again, makes you think of being in church.

12) "Holy, Holy, Holy"-This is a beautiful song of love for God that is like looking out over a glorious vista of His creation.

13) "What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art"-Traditional church songs are beautifully melded together and offer a nostalgic longing for the faith of simpler times.

14) "Marching to Zion"-The ending of a church service and that Scottish Highland feel return as Amy ends this wonderful album with an uplifting church hymn, choir and all.

This is a truly wonderful collection of songs born of faith that has a special feeling of old churches in the country and gatherings in small towns to sing praises. It is a very special CD that crosses boundaries and can be enjoyed by anyone who loves music.

It is a reminder to those of us who are jaded and world weary, who have stood next to the darkness and in it, who have seen a little too much, that good still does exist, as does hope.

I thought the album was excellent. Not since "Breath of Heaven" have I been so moved by a piece, as I was with "Softly and Tenderly". I found the album to be simple and straightforward, yet with many nice touches, to keep in interesting.

Amy's voice was more mature and fuller than I remember on her past albums.

I have followed Amy since her "Lead Me On" days, when I was literally dragged to her concert by some friends. (I had never heard Amy Grant's music) Well, from the first song, I was hooked.

Interestingly, one of the things that bothered me for years was how overly simplistic her life seemed to be. It seemed unreal by my experience with life. Even some of her lyrics seemd to good-to-true, when speaking about living out the faith of Christianity.

I often wondered if it was a marketing-ploy; or was Amy singing about a life that she was expected to live from a fundamental-Christian upbringing?

While I was sad to hear Amy and Gary divorced, it was the first human experience I had read about her life.

To think, we (Christians) have all the answers to every human conflict because we have accepted Christ, is naive and self-righteous.

Amy's job is making music, and she does it very well. I am glad to hear some new stuff!!

First, let me say I am not a Christian. The vast majority of Christian music makes me gag, it insults and overstates. That having been said, I am in love with this cd! That alone is testament to Amy's amazing gift for reaching her audience, while not hitting them over the head with a 2 X 4.

It doesn't matter to me what faith she is, I admire her dedication and devotion that comes across in every song. Nobody could sing these songs like she does were they not coming straight from the heart. I've always found Amy Grant to be so refreshingly HUMAN, so unprocessed, unlike someone like, say, Celine Dion (thank God).

Every song moves me, sounding immediate and fresh, not overly refined like so much music today. She is singing about love, and with such gentleness that it blows me out of the water. Within that gentleness is a very solid strength, which I've every reason to believe is her Christian faith. I respect, and admire, this love that she sings so beautifully.

I've a feeling she knows these songs will not go "top 10," irrelevant when the calling is higher than producing trash. Far from it, she has created gems.

In sum, whether you are Christian or not, this cd is a treasure to listen to time and time again. It delivers peace, peace and inspiration, even to me. Thanks, Amy, for singing the songs of your muse, and I hope you grace us with many, many more songs in the future. I never tire of how you give souls to the songs you sing.

This CD is awesome. I grew up playing electric bass in youth "praise bands" and was fortunate to combine my love of music and my love of God. One of my enduring memories of that time was the "chills" I would get as we played the music and praised Him. I get the same chills listening to this CD. The arrangements are just enough to showcase the hymns, and the combination of acoustic guitar and mandolin just sparkles. It's some of the best Christian music out there, and is just plain great music.

I'm quite saddened to read some of the reviews here that are critical of Amy Grant and her life. Clearly these reviewers are missing many of His greatest teachings. If you aren't in her shoes, I can't imagine how you could, or should, judge her life. I'm a little dubious that she "needs" to be back in anyone's graces, particularly "CCM" whatever / whoever that may be..... I suspect she's really only concerned about one "fan" and I can't imagine Him not smiling as he listens....

At the end of the day, my 10 year old daughter and 14 year old son listen to the CD and beyond enjoying the music, I believe it has moved them forward in their faith.

Enjoy your faith. Enjoy this music. Let Him be the only judge of others' lives...

Amy Grant has put out what is probably one of the most powerful CD's she's ever done. Grant's music always has sterling integrity and a great deal of depth. This CD is no different, and this time she lovingly presents the time-tested hymns of the church in a way that makes them fresh and alive, especially for those of us who know every one by heart already. Produced by Brown Bannister and Grant's husband, Vince Gill, the music has depth and yet remains accessible as always. Each cut is a treat -- especially if you're into singing along. I have never appreciated "This Is My Father's World" as it is done in its customary way in the church, but Grant's rendition flows and evokes the breezy images of nature that the lyric depicts. Great stuff! And that's only the beginning.

Of the 4 new songs, my favorite is Grant's own "What You Already Own," a powerful song that comes from a place of brokenness familiar to many. The song ends with a clear affirmation of God's sovereignty over the events of our lives.

"Softly and Tenderly" is perhaps the most dramatic cut, musically -- moody and intense, but the arrangement is very appropriate for the lyric. "Marching to Zion" ends the CD on an enthusiastic note as sung by an assembled choir of Grant, her family and friends. The bagpipes and drums heighten the sense of marching and give strength to a hymn that, done wrong, can become annoyingly sing-song in its rhythm. This version is terrific! Be sure to sing along!

Vince Gill duets with Amy on a jazzy-gospel rendition of "Nothing But the Blood." His subtle and creative harmonies on many of the other songs, and his incredible musicianship throughout the CD, give a richness to the music that is just right.

I'll be buying multiple copies of this one to give to my friends and family -- spanning the generations from my parents down to my kids. They all will love it, and that multi-generational attraction is definitely one of this CD's strengths.

All in all, a fabulous CD you won't want to miss!