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 .

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