Steven Curtis Chapman - Greatest Hits

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

10 years and 10 albums, the singing/songwriting career of SCC has garnered mega success Stateside and a sideboard of awards for his work. Now a hits album packages up some of the best moments complete with a couple of new songs to hook the fans who already own it all! So what docs your money get you? The classics "Great Adventure" and 'For The Sake Of The Call" which both still sound fresh and inspiring, some older stuff like "More To This Life" and the song of marital faithfulness ""I Will Be Here"'. "Heaven In The Real World" is urgent passion; "No Better Place" is straight ahead open road rock'n'roll. Listening, it's amazing how many great songs SCC has recorded and as well as the classics, the newies are pretty hot too. "Not Home Yet" builds in typical SCC style lo a hooky chorus and musically could be an out lake from the "Signs Of Life' sessions because it continues in that vein, an apt statement that this album is but a pause on Steven's musical journey. The other newie, "I Am Found In You", is again classic SCC honouring the one who gave him life and the talent to express that life in music. An interesting footnote lo the album are the re-recordings of "'Lord Of The Dance" and "The Walk" made in 1997 at Abbey Road studios in London, where the Beatles made their classic recordings. Cut absolute live with his band. don't know if it was the excitement of the Studio but there's an edgy vibe captured and they're a fitting close to a fitting tribute to the talent of Steven Curtis Chapman.