Music Review: Songs from the Heart by Sandi Patty

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Fun songs that will life your heart in worship

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Pure praise songs to God

Sandi's inspiration style

Still enjoy this one

Timeless Music to Glorify the Lord

During the 80's, Sandi Patty was a force to be reckoned with in Christian music circles. Okay, so maybe the rock audience didn't pay any attention to her, but the pop and adult contemporary crowd loved her stuff. And Songs From The Heart is a perfect example why.

For starters, this isn't your typical 80's release. It was originally released in 1984, but it would be hard to tell just by listening. Thanks to real instruments, most often an orchestra, this CD still sounds fresh.

But don't think you're in for a stuff recording. There's still plenty of fun in these tracks. Just take the opener, for example. "Give Him the Glory" is an upbeat pop track. Okay, so, the drums do sound a little fake here. The horns and strings more then make up for it. This is a straight forward praise song. What I found interesting was that it was co-written by Steven Curtis Chapman. I knew he had written another song for Sandi right before he started recording, but I didn't know he had started writing music for her so early.

The praise theme continues with "Sing to the Lord" and "Wonderful Lord." Both are fun upbeat recordings that lead us to God in worship. "Sing to the Lord" includes a dramatic orchestral opening. "Wonderful Lord" chooses a quieter piano opening to reflect a more toned down sound a slightly slower tempo.

Sandi had just had her first child when this was recorded. That influenced the choice to include "Cradle Song." This song could almost qualify as a lullaby as Sandi sings of the wonder of new life and her hopes for her daughter. It's full of lush strings and Sandi's voice is so expressive here. It's a beautiful song.

The single best known song from this disc is "Via Dolorosa." This Good Friday classic portrays Jesus' walk to Calvary. It opens with dramatic strings before quieting down for the tender first verse. The song builds in intensity as it progresses and becomes dramatic again for the ending. It's in a minor key and wonderfully captures the scene and the reason for it. Probably the most interesting thing is that, instead of a second verse, Sandi repeats the first verse in Spanish. I'm not quite sure why that was done, but I'm quite used to it by now.

3 songs later (and I seriously doubt that was a coincidence), we get the flip side of the weekend. "Glorious Morning" celebrates Easter Sunday by reminding us what that day means for us. It's a slower song then some of the others on the disc, but it is so alive with song and celebration it fits the theme perfectly.

"Purest Praise" is back to the praising God, this time reminding us to praise with the same innocents of kids. For background vocals they used - you guessed it - kids. It's another fun track I love to listen to.

Sandi Patty very seldom wrote her own music. In fact, there is only one track on here she had any hand it. She co-wrote "The Stage is Bare." It's a quiet disc closer with the focus on piano. In it, she lays out the struggle to know God in her daily life and not just through the euphoria of the crowds during a concert. To make it even more poignant, she transitions into a verse of the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" at the end.

This disc really hits no sour notes. There are 11 tracks, and I like all of them. So if you want a CD to encourage your spirits, get Songs From The Heart.

CD Length: 39:02

Tracks:

1. Give Him the Glory

2. Sing to the Lord

3. We Will See Him as He Is

4. Cradle Song

5. Wonderful Lord

6. Via Dolorosa

7. Shine Down

8. Pour on the Power

9. Glorious Morning

10. Purest Praise

11. The Stage is Bare/I Need Thee Every Hour