The Passionate Pursuit

Description

The Passionate Pursuit is the 13th studio album by the American singer and songwriter Scott Wesley Brown, released on Word Record in 1991. The album was produced by Tom Wanca.

One would think that Scott Wesley Brown would be running out of things to say after so many years in Christian music. Before you count him out though, you better listen to his latest album ‘The Passionate Pursuit’ – a high-octane evangelical lecture.

Brown wants to use music to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout all his travels – most recently the well-publicized trips to Russia and West Germany – it only makes sense that this self appointed and impassioned leader in evangelism should have his music reflect what is deepest on his heart: taking Christ to those who do not know him and teaching others to do the same.

Brown’s last album, ‘Marvelous’, saw the artist taking decided risks to contemporize his sound, which made for a fair amount of radio success. While ‘The Passionate Pursuit’ is not as pop and progressive as ‘Marvelous’, it is a much more ‘stick-to-your-ribs’, satisfying sort of sound – more suited for his listeners.

Producer Tom Wanca has assembled an exciting mix of songs to tantalize both the heart and the ear. From the duet with Kelly Willard on «Righteous and Holy» to the horn section on «Let My People Go», Wanca is determined to let Brown put his best foot forward with wonderful and surprising results. Brown is no Harry Belafonte, but his delivery of «Yet Still» is sweet and poignant while «Tower of Pride» with a guest appearance by Ashley Cleveland, is determined and pointed.

The album closes with Brown’s statement of purpose, «Our Hearts Will Burn». (“How can we speak of his coming/ When so many still do not know/ How can we count all the signs of the times/ When half the world’s never been told/ If we really love him and seek his return/ Our hearts will burn/ Oh they’ll burn”)

For the diehard evangelist, the one-to-be, or for those of us who think a walk around the block is a long journey, ‘The Passionate Pursuit’ is a promising effort by an artist who has learned to reinvent his sound while keeping his message intact. [Kathleen A. Ervin, CCM, February 1992]

CD tracklist:

01. Creator
02. Tower of Pride
03. Through You
04. Let My People Go
05. Righteous and Holy
06. Elohim
07. Who Will Stand in the Gap
08. Your Name
09. Yet Still
10. Into the World
11. Our Hearts Will Burn

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