Recorded in 1961, "A Session With The Blue Ridge Quartet" was their second LP with Bill Crowe as their baritone singer. He sings the lead on "Someone To Care" in this 12 song collection. Amazingly, I owned this album, sealed, for 15 years or so before ever getting a chance to listen to it. I'm glad someone convinced me to either break the seal or purchase another copy, because it is certainly worth a listen (or many!) The back of the album cover has quotes from the boys saying how poorly they thought they were performing during the recording session, including Kenny Gates saying it sounded like he was playing piano while wearing boxing gloves! Pay no attention, this is just another example of the "Sweetest Singing This Side Of Heaven!"
The album opens up with the lively "Happy In My Heart", as Elmo Fagg, George Younce, and Ed Sprouse all contribute to a chorus. "Lord Keep Your Hand On Me" is a deeply spiritual song, as is the third selection, "It Is No Secret." I love the story behind this song, written by Stuart Hamblen, who was one of radio's first singing cowboys. He didn't handle his fame very well, with drinking and brawling landing him in jail more than once. That all changed when he met Billy Graham, and committed himself to Christ. Later, when his good friend John Wayne got wind of Hamblen's conversion, he asked him, "Do you think you can live it?" Stuart replied, "It is no secret what God can do." John Wayne said, "You oughtta write a song about that!" So he followed his advice, and "It Is No Secret" became the first song to reach #1 on the Gospel, Country, and Pop charts. Can you imagine? A song with the lyrics "with arms wide open He'll pardon you" reaching #1 on the Pop charts!
Other can't miss tracks include "Not My Will", "Mansions Can't be Bought In Heaven", "Lead Me Gently Home, Father", "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus", "My Only Hope, "I Saw A Man", and "Victory In Jesus." The album closes out with a recitation by George Younce called "Model Church."
So, sit down and enjoy a "Session With The Blue Ridge!" You won't be disappointed!
"It Is No Secret" was written by Stuart Hamblen, who is regarded as one of radio's first "singing cowboys." Hamblen, the son of a Methodist minister from Texas, didn't handle his fame very well. As Wikipedia tells us, his drinking, and the brawling and "destructive behavior" it produced, landed him in jail "many times."
This all changed in 1949 when Billy Graham appeared on Hamblen's show as a way to publicize what would become the historic Los Angeles Crusade. While on the show, Graham invited Hamblen to attend the crusade, and Hamblen accepted. Later, Hamblen contacted Graham and asked if they could meet and talk. And it was then that Hamblen committed his life to Christ.
Sometime later, a friend of Hamblen asked him about the rumor going around Hollywood that Hamblen had changed his ways. Hamblen replied that it was no secret what God had done for him and what God could do for his friend, too. The friend then replied that Hamblen should turn those lines into a song.
That friend's name was John Wayne. No kidding.
So Hamblen followed Wayne's advice—he wrote it. "It Is No Secret" became the first song to reach #1 on the Gospel, Country, and Pop charts. Think about that: a song that tells us that "with arms wide open, he'll pardon you" reached #1 on the Pop chart. Thank you, John Wayne.
It's been recorded many times, arguably most famously by Elvis Presley. Also by Johnny Cash. Perhaps the greatest illustration of the song's lasting impact is that "the original manuscript of the song 'It Is No Secret' is buried in the cornerstone of the Copyright Buildings of the Library of Congress." Wow.
Singing cowboys, Billy Graham, John Wayne, Elvis and a song about God's restorative power. As I said, you can't make this kind of story up.
But God can. And that is the point of Hamblen's song. God longs to, as my friend Thomas Howard wrote in "Christ the Tiger," (great book),"restore to you the good which your own foolish mistakes have cheated you."
That's no secret. That is the good news.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-story-behind-it-is-no-secret-what-god-can-do-138248/#wcqM0W382w5mGjZj.99
"It Is No Secret" was written by Stuart Hamblen, who is regarded as one of radio's first "singing cowboys." Hamblen, the son of a Methodist minister from Texas, didn't handle his fame very well. As Wikipedia tells us, his drinking, and the brawling and "destructive behavior" it produced, landed him in jail "many times."
This all changed in 1949 when Billy Graham appeared on Hamblen's show as a way to publicize what would become the historic Los Angeles Crusade. While on the show, Graham invited Hamblen to attend the crusade, and Hamblen accepted. Later, Hamblen contacted Graham and asked if they could meet and talk. And it was then that Hamblen committed his life to Christ.
Sometime later, a friend of Hamblen asked him about the rumor going around Hollywood that Hamblen had changed his ways. Hamblen replied that it was no secret what God had done for him and what God could do for his friend, too. The friend then replied that Hamblen should turn those lines into a song.
That friend's name was John Wayne. No kidding.
So Hamblen followed Wayne's advice—he wrote it. "It Is No Secret" became the first song to reach #1 on the Gospel, Country, and Pop charts. Think about that: a song that tells us that "with arms wide open, he'll pardon you" reached #1 on the Pop chart. Thank you, John Wayne.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-story-behind-it-is-no-secret-what-god-can-do-138248/#loJFheXJoqOTHXMD.99
"It Is No Secret" was written by Stuart Hamblen, who is regarded as one of radio's first "singing cowboys."
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-story-behind-it-is-no-secret-what-god-can-do-138248/#loJFheXJoqOTHXMD.99
No comments:
Post a Comment