The Charlie Daniels Band
How Sweet The Sound: 25 Hymns and Gospel Greats
(2001)
Reviewed by Zik Jackson
Country legend Charlie Daniels offers a capstone recording to a career that has spanned over three decades. How Sweet The Sound: 25 Hymns and Gospel Greats is a 2-disc collection of favorite hymns and gospel songs redone in The Charlie Daniels Band style, replete with plenty of Daniels' trademark fiddle, banjo, and mandolin playing. Rounding out the band are Charlie Hayward on bass, Bruce Brown and Mark Matejka on guitars, and Pat McDonald on drums. Daniels shares producing credit with Patrick Kelly.
The album kicks off with a rousing rendition of "Amazing Grace" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Daniels' resonating baritone voice is in prime form, as is his trademark cowboy hat on the cover art. Mellower tunes "In The Garden", "Softly And Tenderly," and "Abide With Me" are equally well-produced, and sung reverently with conviction. The Bobby Jones Super Choir adds background vocals on many of the cuts on both discs, including the Hank Williams hoe-down "I Saw The Light." "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" was a highlight with its blues style and mixed tempos. One could dance to it once it gets going.
Lovers of southern gospel and blues will enjoy Daniels' renditions of these classic songs. Better lyrics can't be found outside of the old hymns, and a well-done collection can add volumes to an artist's repertoire.
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