Reviewed by Sue Rann

Maybe this should be renamed ‘All-Time Theological Bloopers’ – I mean for starters there’s “Scarlet Ribbons”, a heart-rending ditty about a little girl getting into prosperity teaching, and then there’s “My Cathedral”, where Reeves waxes lyrical about the joys of jacking in church and communing with God alone in the great outdoors; “Padre Of San Antone” seems to be encouraging angel worship…I could go on (but I won’t). Jim Reeves had one of the most beautiful, truly tuneful voices on the planet. Listening to him was like being stroked with a black velvet mitten. It’s just a shame about the songs he chose to record. I refer particularly here to a snortful track in which Reeves tells a sad cautionary story over a backing of syrupy girl choristers. It’s called “Trouble in the Amen Corner”, is supposed to be touching but doesn’t quite make it. Remember Elvis doing “Old Shep”? This is Shep with added religion. The album as a whole is smooth and over-sweet, like too much Angel Delight, and leaves a similar gritty coating on the teeth. I’m dead sure Reeves fans will have all these tracks anyway, and packaging them like this to flog them to a Christian market is pretty desperate. ‘Gospel’ it ain’t.

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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