LEGENDARY SONGSTRESS SHARES LIFE EXPERIENCE
Over the past three decades Sandi Patty
has become one of the most recognizable voices in Christian music. With an
armload of Grammy and Dove awards, multiple platinum and gold records,
Presidential performances, television appearances on “Dr. Phil,”
“The Tonight Show” and “7th Heaven,” along with a
host of major symphony dates nationwide, Sandi’s supernatural soprano has
traversed the entire scope of popular music.
Crisscrossing the country as a part of Women of Faith’s
weekend entourage, Sandi is finding new opportunities to share her story, and
it pays off. With her 26th recording,
Songs for the Journey, the Gospel Music Hall of Famer eases through
11 diverse, but cohesive tracks, pondering her faith from childhood to present
day.
“Praise to the Almighty,” “Be Thou My Vision” and “Joyful,
Joyful” offer original arrangements of definitive hymns, issuing a worthy
sequel to 2004’s
Hymns of Faith
collection, while Andrae Crouch’s “Through It All” plays like a retro 1970’s
vinyl. Highlights run throughout the CD’s generous 50 minutes, including an
exquisite duet with husband Don.
However, Sandi sings with such believable conviction on “Were It Not For
Grace,” it is worth the cost of the album alone.
Though the song selection, at times, seems a bit disjointed,
the recording as a whole is effective, due largely to David
Hamilton’s (Michael W.
Smith, FFH) fantastic musicianship and seamless production.
Sandi
Patty has made an indelible mark
on gospel music, and
Songs for the
Journey further establishes her legendary stay in this industry.
–Andrew Greer