Chris & Kyle with True SpiritAward-winning St. Louis-based songwriters and producers Christopher J. Watkins and Kyle E. Kelley team up with the 40-voice True Spirit choir on Heal Me. It’s a CD filled to the outer edge with new songs, mostly from the individual pens of Watkins and Kelley, but with a few other contributors, as well.
The True Spirit choir, which also hails from St. Louis and East St. Louis, has a big, thunderous contemporary sound that works best when balanced well with the musicians and not in competition with them. They demonstrate nice unison ensemble work, for example, on the meditative title track and “Totally Complete.”
Although “No One Like You” is the album’s current single, buoyed by an electrifying solo by Judith Christie McAllister, the song that stands head and shoulders above the others on Heal Me is “Barabbas’ Song.” Written by Kelley, “Barabbas’ Song” is sung from the protagonist’s point of view as Barabbas marvels at this man Jesus who took his place on the cross. The trio of singers effectively delivers the song’s message of a Savior willing to die for us and who is also a God of second chances. Given the glut of praise songs, gospel music needs more compositions like “Barabbas’ Song,” pieces with real depth and character.
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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I Love this ultimate gospel music blogspot. I really love this album Chris & Kyle with True Spirit – Heal Me
I agree with you about the Barabbas song, its a song that makes you think and takes you through a complete process. Not a cliche’ song. My other fav is the hymn, All Hail The Power was phenomenal. Hymns are still great to hear among all of the praise and worship songs.
Charles and Keith, thanks! “All Hail the Power” is a powerful hymn and they are very refreshing to hear!
The true Gospel soon became hidden after the death of Christ Gal 1:6. Gospel means Good Tale.
Satan was allowed to deceive the whole world Rev 12:9 until the woman of Rev 12 delivers the true word John 1:1 to the world at the heel of time Gen 3:15. The heel of time is of the feet of Dan 2:33 a time not long before the return of Christ.
It is written in Jer 31:22 that the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall compass a man. The man compassed is Satan (Isa 14:16).
The word is delivered by the prophet of Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; (him) shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
The word (him) is Strong’s #846 and means she.
What was Moses like? Num 12:3. Moses and Elijah are together in scripture they are both in one prophet Luke 1:17 at the heel of time. This true word turns the hearts of the Father’s to the children.
I was raised up of the brethren of the lukewarm church Rev 3:16-17; the last church before the return of Christ. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3:23.
The true word is now going to the whole world as a witness at http://minigoodtale.wordpress.com and at http://thegoodtale.wordpress.com and at http://thegoodtale.blogspot.com
I love the cd these songs r long over do I just wish there was somewhere to get lyrics