Bart Millard

Item: Hymned No. 1
Author: Joe Montague

Hymned No. 1

(2005)

Reviewed by Joe Montague

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label INO RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

bluegrass country gospel southern gospel

Bart Millard, the frontman for Mercy Me and producer Brown Bannister spread before us a feast worthy of a king with Millard's solo venture, Hymned No. 1. The project takes some old hymns dust them off and polish them with Dixie tunes, southern gospel country twang, bluegrass a jazz number and blues.

Of the three CDs dedicated to hymns that I have reviewed this year, Millard gets my vote for creating the best album. While Kristina undeniably has the best vocals and Scott Wesley Brown did an admirable job with his The Old Hymns Made New CD, Millard's stands out as a fun adventure down memory lane.

The album opens with a swinging version of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." Becca Bramlett and Nirva Dorsaint lend their splendid voices to a song already highlighted by pianist Shane Keister's extraordinary ability stroking the keys. You have never heard "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" sung or played this way before but I guarantee you sooner or later Millard will roll this one out in a concert. Millard whose voice made a chart stopping hit out of Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine" brings to life a hymn usually dressed in more subdued colors.

"Have A Little Talk With Jesus" is done with a flair befitting of the Statler Brothers, in fact you keep waiting for Harold Reid's rich bass voice to join in. The instrumentalists are simply outstanding with bassist Chris Donohue, acoustic guitarist Barry Graul, Paul Franklin on the lap steel, and clarinetist Sam Levine stealing the show. Perry Coleman and Becca Bramlett round out the vocals that show off southern gospel music at its best.

As each new song spins its way into your speakers and ear buds Millard and company just keep upping the ante. Joined by guest vocalist Russ Taff and backed by a choir that includes Lisa Bevill, Nandisa Hundley, Abel Orta, Anthony Evans Jr, Nirva Dorsaint and Seth Ready, Millard does a great bluesy rendition of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."

The prayerful and respectful "The Old Rugged Cross" would have made any saint from bygone years proud. Barry Graul provides a nice acoustic accompaniment on this old standard.

If you want to pay tribute to some of the old hymns your grandparents used to sing and have fun while you are doing it then go out and buy Bart Millard's Hymned No. 1. You will be glad you did.