Don Francisco - He's Alive

Sunday 1st February 1998
Don Francisco - He's Alive
Don Francisco - He's Alive

STYLE: Roots/Acoustic
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 4811-781
LABEL: Alliance ALD124
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RRP: £15.31

Reviewed by Daniel Smart

"He's Alive" features re-recordings of most of Don's best known songs. Many of the lyrics are Bible stories put to song: (here's the story of creation in "As lt Was, So It Shall Be" and the story of Jairus and his dying daughter in "Gotta Tell Somebody". The resurrection as seen through Peter's eyes in the title track follows his surprise, guilt and joy. There is even a praise sung which is a fun and upbeat piece. The music is led by some delightful acoustic guitar playing though the fact that the backing music was played on a synthesiser is very clear, and they do so love that "strings' voice. Many of the songs on this album start off soft and quiet, but have very triumphal endings and in some ways it can get a little tiresome, but it is all sung with passion and joy, and the choral ending on "Too Small A Price" is very apt. Don has I believe pitched this album as "evangelistic', with a sample prayer of repentance on the CD cover, although I'm not sure quite how non-Christians would react to such overtly Christian lyrics. However, this album has been growing on me the more I played it and is worth a listen, especially if you like this guy's stuff.

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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Reader Comments

Posted by Don in state of Delaware @ 16:08 on Jun 15 2012

This was such a refreshing sound to hear, nice to see that classics never die. This is nearly 1 hour of Don's best loved and well known rerecorded ccm gems.
The nearly 7 1/2 minute "As it was/So shall it be" begins the 12 songset. This was my first hearing of the song, I was so taken by it, I love it!
"Come & Follow" still takes a hold of the listener as it did in 1976. This pioneer has been blessing us with Bible story songs four decades, thank you Don!
I really liked the story on cd back about the church carolers. I have a video clip of Don singing "I Have Chosen You" at the time of the album release in 1987 that contained the song. The guitar strumming for '77 song "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping"echoes similar strings of the late John Denver's guitar sound. There is peace in hearing
"I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand".
Don's all time top song will always be remembered,
none other than the cd title song "He's Alive. I believe this song was my first introduction to CCM.
There is quite a lengthy recording of 1981 "Too Small
A Price/Joy"; nearly 11 minutes, the original recording is almost 6 minutes. The gentle sounds of "Brother of the Son" rightly closes the songset.
GOD Bless! -Don



Posted by Frode Bjørbekk in Namsos, Norway @ 06:29 on Jul 7 2006

You say you`re not sure how non-Christians would react to such overtly Christian lyrics. Well, how can they believe unless they`ve heard ?
( Romans 10; 14. )
Don Francisco has meant more to me than any other artist, since 1980. He`s still my favourite.



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

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