Love is Strong

Description

Love is Strong is an album by the American singer and songwriter Paul Overstreet, released on RCA Records in 1992. Also distributed by Word. The album was recorded by Bill Deaton assisted by Brad Jones at Crossroad Farm in Pegram, Tennessee; from September 1991 to February 1992, with Brown Bannister and Paul Overstreet producing. Mixed by Deaton at MasterMix in Nashville, Tennessee.

Country songs, perhaps more than any other compositional form, are usually based on one or two clever musical hooks and a killer title; often, unfortunately, there’s not much more to them than those elements. But one artist/songwriter who has consistently managed to get beyond the “pick-up/beer/hound dog/mama/prison” cliches has been Paul Overstreet. For nearly a decade, Overstreet has penned tunes for country music’s biggest stars, including The Judds, Randy Travis and George Strait. Additionally, Overstreet has charted several hits under his own name, such as «Sowin’ Love», «Love Helps Those» and «Daddy’s Come Around».

With the emphasis in this presidential campaign on family values, it wouldn’t surprise me to see both Republicans and Democrats quoting Overstreet’s down-to-earth homilies. But no matter your party affiliation, if you like superb songwriting and warmly-delivered vocals, Overstreet’s your man. The heartfelt title track, a creative re-write of I Corinthians 13, offers the album’s most directly religious statement. But Paul’s faith is never far from the surface in any of the the tracks. Songs such as «Take Another Run», «Me and My Baby» and «Head Over Heels» look at the ins-and-outs of a marital relationship, encouraging couples to see beyond the words spoken in anger to the bond created by Christ. «There But for the Grace of God Go I» echoes Bruce Carroll’s «If We Only had a Heart» in its compassionate examination of the plight of the homeless, while stressing that we are indeed our brother’s keeper. «What’s Going Without Saying» is a gentle reminder to let our loved ones know how much we care for them, while there’s yet time. Joining Overstreet on vocals for this tune are Kelly Willard, Glen Campbell and Susan Ashton, who makes a solo cameo on one verse; other well-known contemporary Christian artists on the album include Wayne Kirkpatrick, Lisa Bevill, Buddy Greene and Shane Keister.

The song which perhaps best sums up Overstreet’s writing approach, is the Texas swing tune, «Still Out There Swinging». If it’s possible to look at infidelity with a sense of humor, Paul does it. As an old friend tells him of her man’s transgressions, Paul wryly observes that “She gave him enough rope to hang himself/ And he’s still out there swinging.” Overstreet manages to look at an indelicate situation delicately, without thumping the listener with a Bible, and still make his point. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, November 1992]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-is-strong/1083542790)

CD tracklist:

01. Take Another Run – 3:52
02. Still Out There Swinging – 3:08
03. Me And My Baby – 3:39
04. There But For The Grace Of God Go I – 4:58
05. Love Is Strong – 4:12
06. Head Over Heels – 3:54
07. What’s Going Without Saying – 4:38
08. Take Some Action – 4:08
09. Lord She Sure Is Good At Loving Me – 3:08
10. Till The Answer Comes – 2:48

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