The Childress Family “Music for the Soul” Album Review

Prime Cuts: I Won't Have to Cross the Jordan Alone, Total Praise, This is How We Know

Impeccable is certain an understatement when it comes to the Childress Family's latest project.  Thanks to producers Teresa Childress Lutz and Carla Childress, the production of this disc stands toe to toe with any major label project out there.  Never stymied with just one style, here you will hear the traditional full-bodied harmony sounds, danceable country waltzes, zestful worship songs that will get your feet moving, and the mesmerizing allure of carefully crafted story songs that get us listening at the edge of our seats.   Moreover, both producers have keening ears for when to spurge on those big brassy horns and swirling strings and when to lighten up with economy for the rustic sways of fiddles and steel.  Most importantly, these songs are drenched in the teachings of Scripture.  Over these 11 songs, the great doctrines of the faith, such as grace, salvation, heaven, worship are all not only made palatable but contagiously embracing.

The Childress began singing almost forty-five years ago. The group consisted then of Mom, Marlene; Dad, Ken; and three children, Teresa, Carla and Shannon, who were about ages 10, 7 and 4 at that time.  Since that time, there have been changes in the family group, but it is still "family." Today, the Childress Family's line-up include mum Marlene Childress, Teresa Childress Lutz and her hubby Jammy Lutz, their daughter Courtney Lutz, and Carla Childress.  "Music for the Soul" is the much anticipated following the highly acclaimed predecessor "Dedicated." 

The disc opens with the family team on all cylinders with those rich ornamented family harmonies on the sprightly "High and Lifted Up" augmented with the chorus of Handel's "Hallelujah."  Again paired with the old hymn "He'll Hold to My Hand" is the steel and fiddle country-sounding waltz "I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone." "Jordan" is particularly pertinent to the family as their son and brother Shannon Childress just passed through "Jordan" not long ago.  Again, the late Shannon gets an explicit reference in their rendition of the old hymn "It's Just Like Heaven."  One cover the Childress Family really excel with sublimity is "Total Praise."  Years ago, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir gave a definitive reading of it.  Though the Childress Family's version doesn't quite get to that standard, they come close when they imbued the song with understanding and an inherent passion.

The adage that no artist who ever sings about the Cross will ever run out of songs to sing is particularly true with "Grace Will Always be Greater Than Sin."  Here Carla Childress offers a tour de force rendition as her careful nuances add shafts of meaning to this Cross-exalting song.  Piano ballad lovers will adore Courtney Lutz's mellifluous vocals on "This is How We Know."  Augmented by some frenzied harmonica riffs, Jammy Lutz takes the lead on "Poor, Rich Man," a marching Happy Goodman Family romp.  With songs that give us a wide array of styles and sounds from the various members of the family,on Childress Family's "Music for the Soul," we are spoiled by a rich buffet of songs done with class, forethought, and verve.

 

 

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