Producer: Roger Talley
Label: Horizon Records
Website: www.ivanparker.com
Ivan Parker has one of the most loved and recognizable voices in Southern Gospel Music and he has set the standard for modern singers to follow in the Southern Gospel industry. Not since “Be Blessed” and “It’s True” has Ivan put out a recording that matches this one. “Under Grace” is a true masterpiece, and it’s great to hear Ivan singing with such a strong line up of tunes and turning in stellar performances on each one.
The progressive sound of “THE GRACE THAT I’M UNDER”, is somewhat of a departure musically, for Ivan, but it very efficiently sets the stage for the recording, and from the start you quickly realize this is going to be a great recording.
I love the musical intro to “I AM WHATEVER YOU NEED”, as the song provides great comfort that whatever we need, He will supply. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this hit radio later this year.
Things really slow down for the Woody Wright penned tune, “I WILL LEAD THE BLIND” before the pace picks back up for the Sandy Knight penned, “THE VERY FIRST THING”. Ivan has always found a niche with Knight’s tunes, and this song is no exception.
Penned by Steven Cheney and Tery Wilkins, Ivan does an excellent job on the power ballad, “LOVE CALLED MY NAME”, before moving on to the exciting Phil Cross penned, “MY LORD’S BEEN WITH ME”. Ivan even provides one of his own compositions with the fun tune, “MIRACLE RIVER”.
Powerful is the best way to describe, “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW”. Ivan has always been able to churn out his finest performance on the power ballads, and this ranks as one of his finest. Too, just when you think the song is over, Ivan breaks into the chorus of “I Bowed on my Knees and Cried Holy.” This is more than just a song…it’s an experience.
Ivan kicks things back up with “I’M HAVING ONE OF THOSE DAYS” before turning in a very subtle rendition of the classic song, “I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS”, which bring the recording to a quiet and reflective close.
While Ivan’s last couple of recordings, “Just Imagine” and “Redeemer” have been great and I enjoyed them immensely, I think Ivan got into a bit of a slump musically that I really didn’t notice until I heard this recording. Sometimes you don’t realize what’s missing until you hear it again. Great song selection and excellent vocals combine for a fantastic recording that I will definitely be finding myself listening to over and over again.
Personal Favs: THE GRACE THAT I’M UNDER; I AM WHATEVER YOU NEED; THE VERY FIRST THING; LOVE CALLED MY NAME; MY LORD’S BEEN WITH ME; EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 04/01/2006
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 18
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This is one of my all time favorite CDs. My favorite songs are "The Grace that I'm under" and "I am whatever you need".
This is a great cd!! I think "Every Knee Shall Bow" is especially powerful and the upbeat numbers are awesome too!
This is another great Ivan Parker project. I think he has outdone himself on all of these great songs.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
Ivan is my favorite artist. Every new project he does has certain songs that minister to me personally. My favorites on this one are I Will Lead the Blind, When Love Called My name and Every Knee Shall Bow. Ivan is not only a singer; he is a minister.
Though a high profile review person dissed this recording as unfocused, I say congrats to Ivan and Roger for providing a diverse collection of material. I think more artists (especially soloists) and groups should stretch themselves from their same ole, same ole comfort zone and make recordings that include various styles under the Southern Gospel umbrella! After all, the body is made up of many parts!
WouldHeWrite
Ah, but it's possible to "stretch" musically and still retain a sense of continuity from song to song on a CD. See _It's So God_ by Brian Free and Assurance for a terrific example of this.
—Making hay while the sun shines—
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com
Hello DBM!
WouldHeWrite
This is to David Bruce Murray, Hey maybe we can have Southern Gospel artists record a bunch of stuff that always sounds the same, & sounds like what they have been doing for 20 years. Then maybe Southern Gospel would be the smallest market in Christian music. I commend I van for the edgey stuff he did, I thought those were by far the best song son the project, I thought some of the slow traditional stuff was just boring, If more artists would come out of the box & do some new stuff, we might actualy start winning people over to SG music.
I am a huge Ivan fan and actually have hosted him in concert twice. I don't see how each recording can just keep getting better and better. I love the upbeat songs but the song that really spoke to me was When Love Called My Name. Almost every recording he has done speaks to me and my heart personally. I always look forward to every new CD and When Love Called My Name should be the next song to radio.
I Totally agree with Mr. Wright ... and they don't give him that last name for just any reason. We need more artist to think outside the box. Not everysong that makes a recording is designed for radio play although it is nice if the song least likely to make it to radio does. These high caliber artist like Ivan and Woody and numerous others are also interested in their search for a song that will transcend the commercial aspect of radio and minister to the people that attend their concerts and church dates. So a well rounded album of great material, as well as various styles and nuances makes for a project that maintains its longevity on the artist table and in the overall market place. Whoever made the comment Woody ... obviously is from another planet. But know this ... I have not known Woody Wright to be wrong on this idea yet and that is why he has the last name (Wright). Also why he is sought after as a writer and an artist. Please people ... don't forget that one mans dislike of a song or a project may just very well be another mans treasure. And that is my feeling. But if you disagree ... you have the wright (pun intended) to be wrong.
Steve, TJ, you guys are gonna get somebody mad at me. I didn't want to stir up a hornets nest, but I do hope the playful banter will encourage someone to buy a copy of Ivan's new project. A man who dresses as well as he does needs funds to pay for his threads!!!! Plus, I have a song on there and every writer knows, every penny helps feed the family!
WouldHeWrite
TJ,
Your suggestion is 180 degrees from my idea of what constitutes a quality recording. Do you really think the Brian Free and Assurance CD sounds just like the stuff quartets have been recording for 20 years?
Steven,
Your comment about me being from another planet was amusing. You are right that it's only one person's opinion. I don't know why my opinion on the CD is being taken so seriously, given that fact.
Woody,
My review of Ivan's CD was a positive review. I'm fairly stingy with 5 Star ratings. It's true that I rated Ivan's CD at 4 Stars because I felt it lacked musical consistency. I do believe consistency is an important element...not a necessity for a very good CD as you've so adequately pointed out (and I agree with you on that), but 5 Star ratings to me say the project is not just "very good". 5 Star CDs are outstandingly well done in an uncommon way.
When I look back over my CD collection from years gone by, my lasting admiration always goes to projects like Russ Taff's _Under Their Influence_ or Gold City's _Acappella Gold_ or Michael W. Smith's _i(2)eye_. Projects that stick in the mind are those that tend to focus on a unique theme and work on it for a full length project. I realize "concept albums" are becoming less of a goal for artists in this era of 5 second ringtones, but I believe history bears this out.
By the way, while I did say I wished that Ivan's CD was more consistent musically, I also pointed out that it's VERY consistent vocally. So with that in mind, I believe that characterizing me as "dissing" the recording for being "unfocused" overall isn't accurate.
—Making hay while the sun shines—
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com
DBM!
WouldHeWrite
Dear DBM,
... just kidding.
No, Woody, you didn't go astray regarding the ratings!
I gave the CD 4 Stars, not 5. James Hales wrote the review posted above and he gave it 5 Stars. My review of Ivan's CD is over at: http://www.musicscribe.com
Hey, it's funny you should mention the Kenny Bishop project. I just got the pre-release in the mail today, and I agree it is very focused thematically. I haven't had a chance to listen to it in detail yet, but my first impression was very favorable.
—Making hay while the sun shines—
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com
Stephen,
For what it's worth, I am also turned off by a predictable sounding CD. I realize I keep referencing the new Brian Free CD, but here's a link to a post I made recently regarding song pacing...
http://www.sogospelnews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16350
In my reply to Brandon, I broke down the song order to show how the Brian Free CD has a unifying symmetry. It's also paced like a concert set might be paced...with a variety of musical styles coming at you while maintaining an overall continuity and leaving you wanting more at the end. They don't put "The Coming Of The King" back to back with "Jesus Will Lift You Up," for example, because both songs have a similar feel.
This is just a very rare example of a CD that does everything right. As you said, the songwriting is outstanding. The production quality is pretty amazing as well. A defining mark of outstanding production is when you keep noticing fresh and creative elements in the mix that you missed on previous listens. The pacing is nearly perfect. The artwork matched the celebratory feel of the CD, etc.
—Making hay while the sun shines—
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com
Thanks for keeping me on my toes DBM! Wouldn't want you to get any of James' mail or vice versa. LOL.
WouldHeWrite
Wonderful CD, Ivan! We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the songs on this particular CD. A couple of our favorites are "Grace That I'm Under" and "Love Called My Name."
Blessings to you!
Amazed in His presence and humbled by His great love!
“God makes everything happen at the right time.” (In His Time) Eccl. 3:11
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