Description
Forever Friends is the sixth studio album by the American R&B/soul singer and songwriter Jon Gibson, released on Frontline Records in 1992.
Sometimes it’s difficult to pay attention to what Jon Gibson is singing. Not out of discomfort, but because of the supple, euphoric joy in his voice and the ease with which one can become enrapt in his hooky pop/soul grooves. With ‘Forever Friends’, just about everything anybody would ever like about J.G.’s music comes into sublime sync.
Expressing Christ’s love and cluing the audience in as to who that Lover is is achieved on ‘Friends’ with Gibson’s friendliness being his most poignant evangelical tool. If God could put this guy in such bliss, why not anyone else?
His is a bliss with little artistic re-invention. If you liked ‘Jesus Loves Ya‘, there is more of higher quality to love here. Continuations in his winning formula are that he still busts a li’l rhyme in «Happy to Know Jesus» and gets a guest to do the honors on «You are the One». Expanding his fondness for integrating psychedelic textures into pristine pop sonics are «Happier Than the Morning Sun»’s Indian sitar and tabla accents. And in a cheeky show of self-borrowing, «Jesus Loves Ya» meets Marvin Gaye’s «What’s Goin’ On» and some choral gospel background in «You Gotta Love Somebody».
Wrinkling expectations are a full-blown exposition of black gospel grit in the concluding «To My Father’s House» and Sandra Stephens and Allegra Parks from Scott Blackwell‘s talent stable, supplementing the lead throughout «Happy to Know Jesus». Crystal Lewis, eat your heart out, goil.
With those bits of intermittent assistance and an increased recording budget allowing a lushness hereto unknown to J.G. recordings, Gibson has mastered his formula on ‘Friends’. With each previous album, he has added just enough to his palette to add fans while keeping the old ones happy. He sould have a few droves more to satisfy come next album. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM June 1992]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/forever-friends/387088329)
CD tracklist:
01. You Are The One – 3:47
02. Can’t Live Without Jesus – 3:00
03. Found A Home – 4:38
04. On My Way To Heaven – 4:09
05. Forever Friends – 4:52
06. Happy To Know Jesus – 3:31
07. You’ve Gotta Love Somebody – 5:47
08. Happier Than The Morning Sun – 6:00
09. To My Father’s House – 5:31
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Frontline Records.
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