STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 13669-12770 LABEL: Myrrh MYRCD6697 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2005-09-30 RRP: £10.20
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
For once the "classic" tag is deserved. This concoction of soft pop CCM may not be Amy's best album (1984's 'Straight Ahead' has that distinction) but this is still a milestone album of inspirational pop with one or to worship classics thrown in ("Sing To The Lord" penned by Rich Mullins and "El Shaddai" written by Michael Card and John Thompson). It is of course Amy's haunting rendition of "El Shaddai" which is the standout track on this album and is a rare example of a cover improving significantly on the original. Elsewhere, "I Have Decided" showed the first signs that Amy could convincingly do pop rock which she was later to explore during the 'Unguarded' era while the simple ballad "I Love A Lonely Day", written by her then husband Gary Chapman and Michael W Smith (who plays piano on the track), is an understated gem. 'Age To Age' was the first CCM album to go platinum (a million sales) and no doubt even as I write EMI CMG are planning some kind of special edition.
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