Songs for the Journey (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Chris Rodriguez (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tom Hemby (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin); Skip Cleavinger (whistle, Uilleann pipe); David Hamilton (piano); Tim Akers (Hammond b-3 organ); Craig Nelson (bass instrument); Don Needham (drums).

On her 30th album in a quarter century as one of the biggest stars in contemporary gospel music, Sandi Patty mixes the styles she's worked in throughout her career. The 11-track album includes traditional hymns like "Praise to the Lord the Almighty," a pair of songs written by gospel master Andrae Crouch ("My Tribute" and "Through It All") and some repurposed pop tunes, including an almost jazzy take on the Manhattan Transfer's "Operator" and a song from the Broadway musical WICKED, "For Good."

Another big-voiced triumph for the longtime superstar, with plenty of shining moments as Sandi Patty takes fans on a surprisingly personal journey. It suits this singer well to go back in time and lay down a set of hymns and show tunes that play to her strengths. If nothing else, it shows how times have changed in the CCM landscape. Songs for the Journey is the type of grandiose AC pop that might have scored big in the late '80s/early '90s, back before the worship explosion. In the new millennium, however, though it was an absolute delight to hear her treatment of "Joyful, Joyful" and "Praise to the Lord the Almighty," it stood as more of a niche release. ~ Jared Johnson minimize