Godfrey Birtill - R U Ready? Live

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The song "R U Ready?" by Godfrey Birtill launched onto an unsuspecting Christian public at the Grapevine Bible Week is the worship music equivalent of Marmite. Many, particularly congregations of a certain age, only have to hear its cod rockabilly rhythms and its chorus of "Are you ready, ready/A ring a ding a ding a ding" to do a sterling imitation of Rock Around The Clock movie extras. Others gag at the cheesiness of the whole thing even though the lyrics, despite that chorus, are in fact an important reminder that we can experience God in the kitchen, living room, pub, park, cinema, etc, etc. The version of the song offered here is the best of the three renditions now on CD and like the other tracks on this CD/DVD package was recorded at Oceanway Studio in Nashville with John Hartley and David Schroeder producing. Like his previous Nashville recorded album 'You're Still God', this offers bright new versions of a number of the prophet/musician's much loved oldies like "If It Wasn't For The Blood", "Why Do You Stand (Carry Me)" and his engaging recasting of Wesley's hymn "Jesus The Name High Over All" while cramming congregations from two Tennessee churches into the studio gives the project plenty of atmosphere and, as is clear from the five songs on the bonus DVD, blessed the throng as well. As we know Godfrey isn't the best of singers, but as a composer of songs showing plenty of prophetic bite he has few equals in the British church.