Glory Train (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Randy Travis; Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, resonator guitar, arch guitar, banjo, mandolin); Brent Mason (acoustic guitar, gut-string guitar); Al Anderson, Larry Beaird (acoustic guitar); Randy Kohrs (dobro); Craig Duncan and the Smoky Mountain Band (hammer dulcimer); Larry Franklin (mandolin, fiddle); Connie Ellisor, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin (violin); Jim Grosjean, Kris Wilkinson (viola); Anthony LaMarchina (cello); Jelly Roll Johnson (harmonica); Tony Harrell (accordion, harmonium); Eric Darken (vibraphone, bass drum, snare drum, clay drum, cymbals, djembe, Jew's harp, shaker, tambourine, timpani, bells, chimes); Casey Wood (snare drum, hi-hat, tambourine, bells); Chip Davis, Cindy Walker, Pastor Matthew Hagee, Christina Ketterling, Billy Davis, Sidney Cox, Lisa Silver, Suzanne Cox, Vicki Hampton, Wes Hightower (background vocals); The Crabb Family, The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Audio Mixer: Kyle Lehning.

Recording information: Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY; John Hagee Ministries, San Antonio, TX; Stepbridge Studios, Santa Fe, NM; The Compound, Nashville, TN; The Home Place, Cotton Valley, LA.

Photographer: Eric Swanson .

If 2004's Passing Through was comprised primarily of inspirational songs with a modern bent, Randy Travis's 2005 follow-up Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship and Praise acts as its flip-side, being devoted largely to traditional spiritual songs. More than that, the songs on Glory Train are by and large classic Black gospel tunes, which is something that Travis hasn't explored before, and his mild stretching here results in a splendid album. Not only does he tackle standards like "Sing Down Chariot" and "Oh Death" along with several Sister Rosetta Tharpe tunes, including "This Train" and "Down by the Riverside," he brings in the Blind Boys of Alabama for harmonies on several songs. Although there are a few detours into tasteful, calm contemporary inspirational material, such as "Shout to the Lord," this grounding in classic gospel gives this album both gravity and soul, and when Travis marries this sound to his light, clean, impeccable neo-traditional country, the results are enormously appealing. This is a warm, relaxed, friendly, soulful album that's arguably Travis's best gospel album to date. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

In a country music scene filled with crossover artists and "hat acts," Randy Travis's roots-conscious music and smooth, beautiful baritone have always been a saving grace. In 2005's GLORY TRAIN, a collection of familiar worship songs, that saving grace is elevated to a celestial order.

In the hands of another artist, an album of old religious songs might seem like a throwaway release, an idea lacking originality or room for freshness. Nothing could be further from the truth here, though. The all-acoustic and often minimal accompaniment frames Travis's performances beautifully, and well-worn chestnuts like "This Train," "Down By the Riverside," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" seem almost tailor-made for the singer's voice. Inventive arrangements and help from the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Crabb Family make this a must-have for both country fans and Christian-music enthusiasts. minimize