Reviewed by Dave Brassington

Those readers who follow the ever-changing country scene will know that Josh burst onto the US country charts in 2003 with the powerful spiritual warning song "Long Black Train". Now, after a string of albums, Josh at last delivers the full-on gospel album his many fans have requested. It turns out to be a superb release. Josh's baritone/bass voice oozes soulful conviction while even his renditions of much-recorded gospel standards have a lightness of touch ensuring they sound fresh rather than tired. In fact, the whole album is a delight from start to finish. The Hank Williams classic "I Saw The Light" opens 'I Serve A Savior' in a fast paced and catchy rendition while the next song "I Pray My Way Out Of Trouble", written by country music legend Loretta Lynn and her one time manager Teddy Wilburn, is a song of real depth. The hymn evergreen "Great Is Your Faithfulness" and the spiritual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" get engaging renditions before we are into "Without Him", a superb Southern gospel tune once recorded by Elvis Presley. The title track (note the American spelling) is an original new song, partly written by Josh, and is truly inspiring. Then we have the much loved "How Great Thou Art", followed by "The River Of Happiness", the first of three "live tracks from the Gaither studios" written by one of Josh's sons along with his mother and sung by his four young sons. There's still time for a version of "Amazing Grace" and a Gaither rendition of "Long Black Train", and finishes with Josh's own "Me And God". Thoroughly recommended.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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