STYLE: Blues RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 8724-8459 LABEL: Spark SK7046 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Neil Brennan
Years of hard slog have resulted in this definitive Darrell compilation, a (re)productive fellow who the only thing he's made more of than albums (six according to the inlay sleeve) is children (seven according to the accompanying family snap captioned "The real Mansfield collection!"). The musical collection is a 16-track journey through time, evoking memories of Neil Sedaka on earlier albums, Hall & Oates in the likes of "Walk Across Heaven" and eventually the bluesier and rockier side of life on the 'Revelation' album, "Bible Study" being almost ZZ Top in its influence! It's an interesting and enjoyable experience listening to Mansfield's transition from soulful young songsmith to elder CCM statesman. Commercially, I'm no big fan of compilation albums, but Darrell's devoted followers and many others will welcome this release with open arms. If there's one minor criticism, it's that the lyrics aren't included with the inlay, flying in the face of compilation album convention. That apart, it's a case of buy it, try it and (probably) like it.
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