Friends

Description

Friends is a multi-artist project featuring ten worship songs written and performed by three British singer/songwriters (Robin Mark, Stuart Townend, as well as John Hartley of Phil & John fame) and one American singer/songwriter (Gary Sadler), released in the UK on Kingsway Music in 2001.

This is the scene. An Irishman, an Englishman, an American and a Scot or more to the point, Robin Mark, John Hartley, Gary Sadler and Stuart Townend. Four musicians, worship leaders who have furnished the church with some of the great modern day worship songs. «Days Of Elijah», «For the Glory of Your Name», «Ancient of Days» and «How Deep The Fathers Love» are all songs we can thank these gifted men for. They’ve all had a healthy respect for each other, sung each others songs but up until a few months ago had never met. When they did, this album you now hold in your hand was the end result – ‘Friends’. A wonderful selection of songs, some new and some familiar but re-arranged and re-recorded to reflect the season these four friends now find themselves in. Join them on their journey through a tapestry of worship that, as you listen, will inspire you to draw closer to the creator and greatest Friend of all. [Album Liner Notes printed on the back of the CD]

Bit of a disappointing, laclustre collection of 10 songs from four great men of worship and praise. The passion of Robin in his own right is missing and it’s all a bit samey/contemplative and strumma-strum. The badly written sleevenotes (“Join them on their journey through a tapestry…”) tell us the collection was recorded when they all eventually met one another. The best bits are the superb B3 playing of Phil Madeira and the brilliantly minimalist bass work of Chris Donahue. But if truth be told, there are far better worship projects than this one in the bookshop CD racks. [Alan Smith, Cross Rhythms, November 2001]

> Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/5mfyHDAgCjUkkCCjrMEcsb)

CD tracklist:

01. Stuart Townend – Lord Of Every Heart – 4:02
02. Robin Mark – Take Us To The River – 5:09
03. Gary Sadler – Where Truth And Mercy Meet – 4:24
04. John Hartley – The Way It Is – 4:01
05. Stuart Townend – When Love Came Down – 4:33
06. Robin Mark – This Is The Day (6:30am) – 4:23
07. Gary Sadler – How Matchless Is Your Love – 4:38
08. Robin Mark – Every Day – 5:16
09. John Hartley – The Presence Of God – 3:37
10. Stuart Townend – How Long – 4:56