Small Graces

Description

Small Graces is the fifth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Bob Bennett, released on Covenant Artists in 1997, distributed by Myrrh Records, a division of Word. The album was produced by Phil Naish who recorded the tracks by having Bennett come into the studio and record each track solo (only acoustic guitar and vocals), along with a click track; to obtain Bennett’s most natural performance. Then the other players were brought in to play around that initial solo track.

It’s been too long since Bob Bennett recorded an album, so ‘Small Graces’ arrives like a welcome letter from a long absent friend. The spirit of Bennett’s newest collection of songs is captured in the album’s title track: “Small graces surely have a meaning… / There’s more to life than meets the eye… / Small graces pointing me to the larger ones.” And, what are the “small graces”? They are “A smile that is not automatic/ That lingers on a little more…/ Cheerful greetings unexpected/ Shared by strangers on the run.” They are the little things in life that lift our spirits and strengthen our resolve while we wait for the big things in life to work themselves out. They are “little glimpses of the kingdom come.” This song alone, makes the return of Bob Bennett all the more welcome.

But ‘Small Graces’ is not a one-hit wonder. Several songs explore the effort, emotion and risk of engaging others in relationship. A survivor of divorce, Bennett writes with wit and insight about the struggle and delight to be found when trying to love again. «The Only Risk Worth Taking» is love, of course. «Lone Star State» and «The Better Part of Me» tell a true story of unrequited love, expressing the vulnerability of reaching out to another, while «The Last One» asks if there will be love yet to come, or, asks «My Shadow Companion», will I remain alone? These are songs for anyone who’s experienced the fragile uncertainty of human emotions and human relations. It’s important that songwriters as skilled and insightful as Bob Bennett write songs from within the Christian faith tradition that deal with the real ups and downs of living and loving upon this gentle globe. ‘Small Graces’ does that.

The production is a little too polished, and there could be a few more up-tempo tracks for most modern acoustic music tastes, but a warm spirit is sustained throughout. Bob Bennett is nothing if not his own real self. That’s a very good thing. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, January 1998]

This is acoustic melodic music that is finely crafted and beautifully executed by a man who has a large cult following in the USA without ever making it huge. Respected as an artful artistic and thoughtful songwriter, it comes as no surprise to find him signed to Michael Card‘s Covenant Artists label. ‘Small Graces’ shows Bob at his creative best presenting us with some gentle inspiring songs that are full of vulnerability, humanity, humour and a sense of the reality of God. Easy on the car without ever descending into MOR blandness. Bob’s voice has a distinctive texture reminiscent at times to English hippie folkie John Martyn. I love the title tune with it’s focus on those blessings that we often forget. Other standouts include the story song «Lonestar State» which contains some great one liners like “She picked the lock of her prison cell with a shiny wedding ring” and the wonderful «Jesus In Our Time» which places the simplicity of desiring to find the reality of Jesus in the midst of modern church practice. This is an excellent recording, mellow, reflective and deserving your close attention. Bennett remains an underrated songwriter but one listen and you’ll be hooked on this mellow selection. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, February 1998]

Flashback – Summer 1982. I was a rising senior in college, home for the summer, looking for a church and friends who believed. I found the church. I found the friends, and I found something else.

I found out about Bob Bennett. He was the rave of the young adults in my new church. Everyone was abuzz about his latest album, ‘Matters of the Heart‘. Still considered by most to be his best record, ‘Matters of the Heart’ won me over with its excellent production and Bennett’s profound lyrics. Somewhere along the way, my copy of the album got lost, and I haven’t been able to locate many vinyl copies of it, let alone CDs, but the record still gets played in my mind.

That timelessness is kind of a Bob Bennett trademark. He writes intimate songs that speak to real people, and the production is always tasteful, never trendy or earth shattering, but clean, simple, soothing, and begging for repeated listenings.

‘Small Graces’ is no exception. In fact, the production reminds me of ‘Matters of the Heart’ or maybe more precisely his debut ‘First Things First‘. It’s a fairly quiet acoustic album, but it avoids the suffocating production that usually afflicts albums like this. While many folks will like ‘Small Graces’ because it’s mellow and doesn’t assault the senses, it won’t put to sleep those folks who are bored by most MOR/Inspirational music. This is largely due to Bob’s unique crystal-clear tenor voice (and by the Kelly Willard backup vocals who’s worked with him so much in the past).

On ‘Small Graces’, Bennett proves that he’s still a profound songwriter. It can be easy for an honest record to be predominately dark, but that’s not the case with ‘Small Graces’. Rather, it’s a collection of prayers, observations, and encouragements of life and love.

The title cut kicks the album off with a look at the little things in life that we take for granted – things that really are small miracles of everyday life. That’s followed with an encouragement to live and love, «The Only Risk Worth Taking».

The risk of romantic love is the theme of a couple of ‘Small Graces’s tunes. Bennett acknowledges the risk is real and mourns losing the gamble at times, but encourages us that all is not lost. Divine love is another recurring theme, one that works its way even through the romantic songs. It’s back to those small graces, and the ones that aren’t so small:

I’ve no need to be reminded of all my failures and my sins
For I can write my own indictment
Of who I am and who I’ve been
I know that grace by definition

Is something I can never earn
But for all the things that I may have missed
There’s a lesson I believe I have learned
There’s a hand of kindness
Holding me
Holding me
(From «Hand of Kindness»)

This is the kind of stark raving honesty that keeps me coming back to Bob Bennett. I love this stuff. It moves me. And his theology isn’t sloppy. There’s more here than words that rhyme and speak in Christianese. Here’s a man who’s studied God, lived life, and learned through it all. Quietly he shares what he’s found out.

Those of us who discovered and loved Bennett’s music years ago will welcome this fresh new release. Those who haven’t had the experience will find a solid album to enhance contemplative moments and may just be prodded to look for those rare finds of his early career. ‘Small Graces’ is just that – a small grace. [Ed Rock, The Phantom Tollbooth, 1998]

CD tracklist:

01. Small Graces – 3:53
02. The Only Risk Worth Taking – 4:14
03. Lone Star State – 3:47
04. Hand Of Kindness – 4:05
05. Jesus In Our Time – 4:45
06. The Better Part Of Me – 4:17
07. Jesus Christ The Apple Tree – 3:39
08. The Last One – 3:09
09. My Shadow Companion – 5:19
10. Altar In The Field – 2:32

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Covenant Artists.

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