Under the Waterfall

Description

Under the Waterfall is the third album by the American singer and songwriter Cindy Morgan, released on Word Entertainment in ‎1995. The album was produced Mark Hammond.

Cindy Morgan blasted onto the Christian music scene in 1992, giving notice that “This is real life, that’s why we need Jesus.” The immense success of her debut album failed to spoil her vision, and she continued to sing about real life, real need, and a real Jesus. 1993’s ‘A Reason to Live’ showed a rather sober and reflective Cindy Morgan who had endured a sometimes shaky and unsettling first year of public acclaim and private turmoil.

However, there is “a time for everything,” as Ecclesiastes says, and 1995 is clearly a time for celebrating in Cindy Morgan’s life. ‘Under the Waterfall’ finds her singing about the “sweet, sweet days of grace.” A fine cast of musicians contribute to the project, including Tommy Sims, Dann Huff, Phil Madeira, and once again producer Mark Hammond. Morgan contributes more of herself to the project than ever before, as well; she wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 12 songs included.

Bypassing both lyrics which are either trite or ambiguous as well as a bland, saccharine-like feel to the music, Morgan once again offers a combination of tight R&B-influenced grooves and piano-based ballads. While there are several improvements which distinguish this album from her previous two, the most notable is her vocals. Though she’s always possessed a powerful voice, at times she has had quite poor enunciation while singing. This album finds her making sizable leaps forward in that area.

The album has been divided into two sections, with the first seven songs labeled “Embraced by Grace”, and the last five dubbed “Pathway of Pain”. The opening cut, a short tune entitled «Prelude to Grace», has Morgan singing quietly over a piano, before immediately kicking into «Sweet Days of Grace», a happy-go-lucky celebratory dance/pop tune. «Golden Rain» and «Miracle in the Making» encourage the listener to keep the faith in the midst of personal hardship, while «I Know You» is similar in thought to Apostle Paul’s reflection that “Now we see but a poor reflection… then we shall see face to face.”

The second part of the album kicks off with «Delilah», an unusually titled song about a girl acting out her insecurities. It’s a bouncing pop tune with an interesting jazz-flavored bridge. «Angels Falling», directed toward those entrapped in our society’s chaos, despair, and violence, is proceeded by a poem written and recited by Bob Demoss, of Focus on the Family. «I’ll Stand», a song of commitment to God, has a gospel choir which includes Angelo and Veronica, as well as Michael W. Smith on piano. «Love’s Sweet Name» closes the album on a quiet note, with just a piano and a string section, as Morgan sings confidently, “So ’til my journey’s end/ I’ve found a faithful friend/ ‘Tis but a taste of what awaits/ In love’s sweet name.”

‘Under the Waterfall’ celebrates the good days of life, yet manages to do so without failing to recognize the pain which is ever-present in a life lived this side of heaven. A fine example of what Christian pop music can be. [Michael Ciani, CCM, April 1995]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/under-the-waterfall/1165945186)

CD tracklist:

01. Prelude To Grace – 0:45
02. Sweet Days Of Grace – 3:59
03. Painted A Rainbow – 5:19
04. Reaching With His Love – 4:56
05. Golden Rain – 3:25
06. I Know You – 4:38
07. Miracle In The Making – 4:30
08. Delilah – 4:05
09. Oh, How The Angels Are Falling – 0:59
10. Angels Falling – 6:02
11. Last Days – 4:06
12. I’ll Stand – 4:04
13. Love’s Sweet Name – 4:07

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Entertainment.

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