Amy Grant - Age To Age (re-issue)

Reviewed by Stephen Luff

Amy's early recordings are going though a remastering process enabling you to obtain a clearer sounding musical experience - compared to that old record or tape you may still own! 'Age To Age' was, of course, Amy's first megahit and gained Amy her first Grammy for Best Contemporary Gospel Album, and the outstanding song "El Shaddai" (written by Michael Card and John Thompson) gained the Dove Award for Song Of The Year. As an album it does sound a little dated today, despite the crisp sound, the introduction to "Don't Run Away" for example while the track "Got To Let It Go" is pretty pedestrian. But there are real gems such as the quality production (Brown Bannister) on "Fat Baby", which contains amazing vocal arrangements put together by Alan Moore. This 1982 project was prior to the more contemporary 'Unguarded' album released in 1985, so it leans more towards the MOR sound, although I have decided shows a hint of what was to come. This album showed the world what an amazing talent Amy is, and also showcases excellent songwriting. But to my mind some of her later albums such as 'Lead Me On' do have more to offer the listener in 2008.