I love your songs, I think I love the one's where you play
the guitar the most. Harmonies are wonderful. I grew up
on this song. I can't remember hearing it sung so pretty.

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Thanks, Tom. This is an old favorite of mine that was fun to arrange and sing.

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Reminds me of an old Gatlin Brothers album I've got.

This track would have been at home on the "Brother,
Where Art Thou" sound track.

Very good work. Sometimes simplest is best.

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Thanks for listening, John. Tonight, I just happened to hear a 'hymn' of yours
(Come Down) on another website. Very nice piece.

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Nothing special to add. Just enjoyed it. Very well done,
as always.

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Very clever; brings out the sentimental agnostic even in a
Godless bloke like me. A beautiful arrangement; and
excellent triumphant/weary harmonies. Out of interest,
what chord does the hanging note after "needless pain we
bear..." belong to? It's a really fine touch.

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Good question, William. The chord is an A7 with a C natural on top. So, I have
no idea what that is called? Good ear, though. That chord is the key to giving
this piece a feel that is very different from the original standard hymn setting.

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This is great! I like the way you arranged this song. nice
harmonies as all ways. again this is awsome! thanks for
sharing.

- Hawks

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Thanks for listening, Jemimah, and for fanning me. I guess that's what
matters at MacJams these days...

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But it was a good try anyway! And now you've got me
going on the song I remember singing growing up. It was
something like "The Little (brown, green,white)church in
the Vale". Great singing and arrangement of course.Goes
without saying on one of your songs. And was that Sister
Mary Temptation on that organ?

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Speaking of salvation, Tom, I am working on a possible gospel piece that
explores salvation as a gift, and heaven within each one of us now. I'm also
working on lyrics for this one: "Promise Me Jesus There's No Asphalt in
Heaven." (These are slow developing.)

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Nice Harmonies. Peaceful! Good rhythms.

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Nice treatment of this hymn. Very nice!
I love hearing different versions of songs like these because the interpretations are always so personal, and just when you think 'it's all been done before,' a nice new interpretation comes around.

Thanks, Tom! :)

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Such a great pace, wonderful playing, simple and honest
singing. A classic made intimate and yours. I liked the
rhythmic arrangement. A few hiccups, timing-wise, but
such a gently hip production that simply warms the heart.

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Like the tune, good harmonies.

Nice rhythm


Thanks for sharing

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Great hymn. Harmonies are top shelf. How many voices
are on the prechorus and chorus'? How do you get your
mix so spare sounding and airy for using such lower
quality stuff? Mic placement? Natural reverb of instrument
and room? The other thing is, A7 with a C natural on top,
wouldn't that just be a C major open? I'm a bit new with
guitar theory. Take care and thanks for creating music
that is genuine and unpreachy in delivery.

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Kram,
Thanks for digging this up and listening. You are right, the equipment I use is
not high quality. I place the mic (a Shure SM57) very close to the strings, and I
record the guitar and vocals in a closet, using the BR-8 digital. I have found a
closet to be the closest substitute for a real studio booth, although it does
get crowded in there. The BR-8 also has a compressor, or filter, that
eliminates hiss to a certain extent.

The chord mandolinquent and I were discussing is not a C major chord, it is a
traditional A7 (A-C#-E-G) with a C natural on top. It is that slight dissonance
provided by the C natural (fighting the C#) that gives the chord a kind of
funky sound.

Thanks again for your kind words and support. I am obviously drawn to
performing and writing songs that have a redemptive, spiritual (well,
religious) quality. But I am very careful not to preach. I will leave that to
someone else.

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Tom, I'm new on MacJams and have been browsing the inspirational lists
to find...inspiration. Your arrangement of this wonderful classic is equally
wonderful. I very much enjoy the harmony, the guitar, and the gospel
flavor.

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I love your take on this!
Blessings,


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