Description
Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs is the third album by the American singer, songwriter and keyboardist Kelly Willard, released on Maranatha! Music in 1984, distributed by Word. The album was produced by Dan and Kelly Willard and Stan Endicott.
Featuring Kelly Willard, Phil Kristianson, Jeff Lams and George Merrill on keyboards, Hadley Hockensmith on guitar, and a rhythm section consisting of Dave Coy on bass and Ron Tutt on drums, with Alex MacDougall on percussion. Backing vocals provided by Tata Vega, Fonda Bagley, Harlan Rogers, Jonathan David Brown, as well as Evie and Pelle Karlsson.
A new Kelly Willard album is something to celebrate. While she’s only released two albums in six years (and they weren’t super-sellers), dedicated listeners anxiously await Kelly’s recordings. Perhaps it’s because she provides such profound insights into her maturing faith that it sparks others to inspect their own.
But don’t be misled by the title of this album. ‘Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs’ is not another Maranatha! Music praise album. It does contain songs of praise and worship, but, true to Kelly’s heritage of musical and lyrical excellence, it’s more powerful than most generic-voiced, over-produced, contemporary praise projects.
Possibly the most pleasant element of Psalms’ production – except for Kelly’s velvet vocals – is its simplicity. There are no whining strings clouding up the background. And producers Dan and Kelly Willard haven’t tried to hype the sound with the latest in technological toys. Other than the occasional use of a synthesizer, the over-all sound is acoustic. With all due respect, it sounds like a holdout from the mellow sounds of the mid-’70s.
Since the title of the album indicates three different types of songs, we’ll stick to these classifications in discussing the album’s repertoire.
Psalms: Verses from three psalms written thousands of years ago have been given modern treatment by Kelly and friend Billy Batstone. Psalm 119 is paraphrased in «Silver and Gold» and «Where Could I Go from Your Spirit» paraphrases Psalm 139. The most outstanding cut on the album is the celestial «Thy Throne, O God», a hauntingly beautiful account on God’s omnipotence from Psalm 45.
Hymns: Many modernists claim that the hymns which speak of the blood of Jesus are morbid and passé. Kelly certainly doesn’t believe they are, because she’s combined two of the most powerful and popular («Nothing But the Blood of Jesus» and «Washed in the Blood of Jesus») into a contemporary medley. However, even though the old hymn, «Follow Me», possesses sharp imagery and tremendous power, Kelly’s version tends to drag a bit.
Spiritual Songs: These are defined by Maranatha! Music as “Songs filled with worship and praise for the One who gave us the Song.” Included in this category are a praise/worship medley called «God Alone/Come Unto Me» and four worship tunes («All That You Are We Want», «Come Unto Me», «Make Yourself at Home», and «I Want to Praise Jesus»).
After numerous listenings to ‘Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs’ the music remains fresh. While even the best songs can become monotonous after repeated play, this collection hasn’t yet. I sincerely hope Kelly doesn’t wait three more years before recording another gem. [Caroline Amedea, CCM, July 1984]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/psalms-hymns-and-spiritual-songs/580922152)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Psalm 139:7-14 (Where Could I Go From Your Spirit)” – 4:21
A2. “I Want To Praise Jesus” – 2:18
A3. Medley: “Nothing But The Blood”/”Washed In The Blood” – 4:59
A4. “Make Yourself At Home” – 4:06
A5. “All That You Are We Want” – 2:40
Side Two
B1. “Silver And Gold” – 3:53
B2. Medley: “God Alone”/”Come Unto Me” – 6:24
B3. “Follow Me” – 5:30
B4. “Your (Thy) Throne Oh God” – 3:24
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music.
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