Our Family

Description

Our Family is a multi-artist album project released on Everland Entertainment in 1993, a division of Word. Two related compilations entitled Our Hymns and Our Christmas were released in 1989 and 1990 respectively.

Remember ‘Our Hymns‘ and ‘Our Christmas‘, Word’s all-star concept projects that brought new life to contemporary arrangements of seasonal songs and the classic music of the church? Well, they’re at it again over at Word, this time with a project celebrating “family values” in general and the love of children in particular, in a very tasty musical package.

Lest you misunderstand the concept however, this is not a children’s album per se (‘Psalty Psing with Psandi’ this ain’t), but rather a collection of songs developed with an adult/parent audience in mind, on the subject of children and family. The execution of the project and the appeal of the songs is so strong however, that many younger listeners and non-parents may embrace the album as well.

‘Our Family’ is full of surprises, not the least of which is its opening track, «A Mother and a Child», written, played and sung by ex-White Heart/session player/currently-with-Springsteen bassist Tommy Sims. The subtle track is a bit of an underwhelming way to open the record, but wait until you hear Sims’ voice! (Tommy, we hardly knew ya…)

Next up is «He Watches Over You», a BeBe Winans/Sandi Patti duet which you’ve undoubtedly heard on Christian radio by now, and with good reason – it works extremely well. Cindy Morgan follows with «In the Arms of God», one of the three songs written or co-written by Bob Farrell for the album; then a beautiful father’s prayer written by Chris Eaton and sung by Wayne Watson, «Be in Her Eyes». «Innocent Eyes», sung by Susan Ashton is another prayer of sort which concludes the first half of the album with the hopeful thought, “May your innocent eyes see peace in your lifetime/ May the wars stop and hunger fade/ Your heart’s desire come your way/ May your innocent eyes see love in your lifetime.”

Then the surprises really start, with memories galore for some. As Phil Keaggy begins to sing over his lyrical acoustic guitar lines, the realization hits that we’ve heard this song before – and indeed we have. It’s the first of two mainstream classics here: «The Greatest Discovery», written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. A charming tale of a very young boy, discovering his newborn baby brother for the first time, the tune works perfectly well in the context of the album. So does Kim Hill and Brown Bannister‘s duet of James Taylor’s lullaby, «You Can Close Your Eyes», for that matter. Some may complain about the use of these tunes, but they do fit the concept, and certainly have nothing offensive in lyrical content. Both were written in 1970, and should work well to connect to listening baby boomers, in and outside the church market.

«In a Father’s Heart» is a voice-and-keyboard ballad that brings to mind again what Kathy Troccoli does best. Soulster Roberta Flack’s «Say a Prayer Tonight», closes the album with a softly jazzy word of thank’s for God’s faithfulness and protection of the family. But my favorite new song is Alan Robertson’s «Promise You Anything» (sung by Bruce Carroll), probably ’cause it makes me actually miss those nights when the baby wouldn’t go to sleep. “If you’ll just go to sleep/ I’ll tell you what I’ll do/ I’ll keep my sanity/ Another day or two/ …I’ll lasso the moon/ Save you the cheese/ For later when you get/ A couple of teeth/ If you’ll just be my little tootsie-pooh/ I’ll tell you what I’ll do.” Maybe it’s just the use of the phrase “tootsie-pooh”… [Thom Granger, CCM, April 1993]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/our-family/id1043720875)

CD tracklist:

01. Kathy Troccoli – In A Father’s Heart – 4:53
02. Sandi Patti and BeBe Winans – He Watches Over You – 4:08
03. Phil Keaggy – The Greatest Discovery – 4:16
04. Roberta Flack – Say A Prayer Tonight – 3:39
05. Susan Ashton – Innocent Eyes – 5:21
06. Tommy Sims – Mother And A Child – 3:04
07. Bruce Carroll – Promise You Anything – 3:36
08. Kim Hill and Brown Bannister – You Can Close Your Eyes – 2:43
09. Wayne Watson – Be In Her Eyes – 5:06
10. Cindy Morgan – In The Arms Of God – 3:52

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