CD Reviews

Dec

2008

Soundtrack - Billy: The Early Years

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RATING:

Producer: Anastasia Brown
Label: Sony/BMG/Arista/Essential Records
Website: http://www.billytheearlyyears.com

Earlier this year, the Christian production company, Solex Entertainment, released the autobiographical movie about Billy Graham’s early life and subsequent calling and early years of ministry. That movie, Billy: The Early Years, faired about as well as other Christian films in the past - and like other releases - featured a multi-artist soundtrack of music featured in the film. Billy: The Early Years soundtrack is a collection of pop and country songs that are meant to accurately depict the nature of the time period the film was a part of as well as music that showcased the things Graham stood for during that time. There are a handful of standout cuts here - most notably Brandon Heath’s bluesy cover of Patty Griffin’s “Heavenly Day” and Sara Evans’ pop/country “Low” (though it sounds a little too modern for a soundtrack like this). Alan Jackson’s “Look At Me” is a strong country love song, while Third Day’s Mac Powell and Brooks & Dunn pull out a fantastic performance on “Over the Next Hill”. Country mainstays Josh Turner and Brad Paisley also turn out decent enough performances on their hymn-based tracks, but it’s also nothing extremely notable either. The rest of the album is very hit or miss. Michael W. Smith’s duet with American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle is way over-produced and over-sung. Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” - stylistically - fits the time period of the movie - but really fails to connect with the listener. Overall, if Billy: The Early Years had featured more of a throw-back style to the era in which the film is set (like Heath’s fantastic song) - the album probably would have succeeded much better. However, with the array of musical choices found on this recording - listeners may only find one or two tracks worth keeping.

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Song List:

1. Over the Next Hill - Brooks & Dunn and Mac Powell (Third Day)
2. Low - Sara Evans
3. Look at Me - Alan Jackson
4. Shelter Me - China Edelman
5. Ruth's Prayer - Patty Griffin
6. Heavenly Day - Brandon Heath
7. The Great Wild Beyond - Gregory Page
8. Amazing Love - Michael W. Smith & Melinda Doolittle
9. In Dreams - Roy Orbison
10. What a Friend We Have In Jesus - Brad Paisley
11. Almost Persuaded - Josh Turner
12. Just As I Am - Sierra Hull with All-Star choir featuring John Cowan, Harry Stinson, Ronnie Bowman, Ronnie McCoury, and John Wesley Ryles

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