Bellsburg: The Songs of Rich Mullins – Various Artists
****
Rich Mullins went home to be with the Lord following an accident near Lostant, Illinois on I-39 on September 19, 1997, on the way to a benefit concert in Wichita, Kansas, where he lived. Mitch McVicker was also in the vehicle, and though badly injured, he would survive. To commemorate the 25th year of Mullins’ homegoing, a new double-length album of his songs has been released. The album (and future documentary) was recorded in the living room of Mullins’ old house in Bellsburg, Tennessee, where he often crafted songs on the same piano that his parents acquired by trading for a cow from the family farm. Each of the 16 new folk/acoustic interpretations of recordings are by artists who were greatly impacted by the original versions. Each of the artists featured in the project has a personal connection with Mullins or has been deeply influenced by his music. Each side of the project ends with an original, never commercially released demo from Mullins.
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- More of this review
- Music News
- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Unconditional by Matt Redman, featuring Matt Maher
The 18-track album was recorded with sparse arrangements, in some cases one voice and one instrument, so that the energy and passion of each artist (and Mullins’ lyrics) are out front. You will also occasionally hear some banter from the artists. The album was produced by Chris Hoisington, Andrew Greer served as co-producer, executive producer, Evan Sieling was co-producer and mixing, Anthony Hoisington was executive producer, Dave Trout was supervising producer, and Connie Hawk and David McCracken were special coordinators.
Among the many artists on the album are Andrew Peterson, Ashley Cleveland, Amy Grant, Kevin Max, Ben Shive, Mitch McVicker, Jimmy Abegg, Sara Groves and Audrey Assad.
I really enjoyed listening to this project. Some of the songs are well known while others are not.
Here is the tracklist for the project:
Hello Old Friends – Andrew Peterson, featuring Andy Gullabhorn and Ben Shive
You Did Not Have a Home – Kevin Max, featuring Mitch McVicker
Both Feet on the Ground – Ashley Cleveland
Heaven is Waiting – Brothers McClurg
Sparrow Watcher – Amy Grant, Cindy Morgan and Andrew Greer, featuring Tommy Sims
If I Stand – Steve Cudworth
I See You – Audrey Assad
Sometimes by Step – Iam Zumback, featuring Ron Block
Hold Me Jesus – Sara Groves, featuring Bonnie Keen and Andrew Greer
Whitewater – Rich Mullins
Here in America – Jason Gray, featuring Kipper Gray and Jimmy Abegg
My Deliverer – Mitch McVicker
Calling Our Your Name – Andrew Osenga and Taylor Leonhardt
Bound to Come Some Trouble – Steven McWhirter and Jason Clayborn
Hard to Get – David Mullins, featuring Jonathan Mullins
Whitewater – Carolyn Arends
We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are – Derek Webb
Holy Pretenders – Rich Mullins
Watch the trailer for the project here.
- New Creation – Listen to a new version of Mac Powell’s song “New Creation”, featuring Ellie Holcomb.
This week’s song of the week is “Unconditional” by Matt Redman, featuring Matt Maher. The song was written by Redman, Maher, Cody Carnes, and Henry Seeley, and is included on Redman’s new album Lamb of God. Listen to the song here.
Love with no restrictions
Grace so freely given
And I am standing on
A promise that remains unbroken
Through all my brokenness
Your love is unconditional
Your hope is unconditional
Your joy is unconditional
Always, always
The Father’s heart wide open
Hope that can’t be stolen – it’s never running out
There’s grace enough for all Your children
It’s never running out
I don’t have to earn it
Could never deserve it
You are my joy
You are my joy
The end of all striving
A new way of living
You are my joy
You are my joy
