REVIEW - 'TURN THE PAGE' - PHIL OVERTON  -  ***** 5 star rating!

It’s a thoughtful looking Phil Overton pictured on the cover of his latest and eagerly awaited new album, ‘Turn the Page’. The same picture appears on the disc itself, apart from the fact that the centre hole takes out most of Phil’s right cheek. But what’s this? Removing the disc from the case reveals a rather manic looking Phil playing what looks to be a life sized, piano shaped plant pot! Has he lost the plot? Thankfully not!

Maybe Phil chose these contrasting images to highlight the contrasts that are evident on this album. Contrasts in musical style (a Phil Overton trademark) and contrasts in the messages contained in this collection of 11 songs – several of which are welcome re-workings of songs previously recorded.

From the re-assuring words of ‘Everything Must Be Fulfilled’ (telling of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how God’s purpose will eventually be completed) to the final song, ‘Unspoken Words’, there is not a single track on this CD that doesn’t contain a message of some sort, whether it be of hope, re-assurance or thanksgiving. Musically this is an excellent album with a good ‘live’ sound (for a studio recording) and some excellent musicianship.  Witness to this is the very tight, and funky, guitar, bass and drums on the intro to ‘Love In My Life’ and then, by complete contrast, the acoustic guitar and voice opening to ‘Give The Crown To Me’, a song, like many on this album, that was inspired by scripture.

‘Little One’, with its haunting melody and some lovely piano and flute, this song is a reflection on the world we live in and the concern parents have for their ‘little ones’ as they watch them grow up in a world which these days sadly seems to show scant regard for the God who created us and loves us. A timely re-recording of a beautiful song.

A further reflection on the society we live in, ‘In Your Arms’ tells of how God’s love can reach into even the darkest situations. The up tempo ‘My Lovin’ Eye’ may sound like a bit of light relief on first listening but catch the words and again there is that message that God holds us in His hands.

‘Never Enough’ sums up perfectly the world we find ourselves in, as all around us we see the consequences of greed, selfishness and a general sense of a society for which enough, is never enough.

I have always found the words to ‘Jesus In You’ very challenging.  The same can be said for ‘The Best Years of My Life’ – both songs speaking of how we need to focus on living lives to please Him, of how we should show Jesus to people in how we live and how we should give God our best, by putting Him first and learning to trust in Him as we live out our daily lives.

Against the backdrop of some excellent bluesy guitar, the words of ‘The Rest of My Days’ are inspired by Psalms 42 and 43 and speak of the psalm writer’s feelings of desperation contrasted with a sense of hope as he turns to God.

And so to the closing track - ‘Unspoken Words’ – another song from Phil’s vast back catalogue and a song that speaks of how often we fail to tell people the things we should. How often we fail to tell God the things we should. 

 
This album should definitely be on your shopping list or ‘wish list’ this Christmas! 

 
You can find out more about Phil, his ministry and his music by visiting www.philoverton.co.uk

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CD REVIEW by Richard Malin

"I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU" - Joe King

***** five star rating!

It's a brave artiste who dares to release a new 10 track album consisting of just five previously released songs and then, makes the numbers up by repeating those same tracks, but this time without the words.  If this was a Billy Joel album I would be feeling seriously short changed! 

However, this is not Billy Joel and, at just a fiver, this is probably the best value CD you will buy this year! For those not familiar with Joe King, his ministry or his music, may I suggest a visit to Joe's website where you can read about his and his wife Sara's work in Christian ministry, both in the UK and overseas, and also checkout his catalogue of CD's, released over more than a decade.

"I Will Always Love You", will transport the listener into a place where the words - God's words (devoid of any slick production or complex arrangements) speak from God's perspective, right into your very soul.  I was moved by the original versions of these songs over ten years ago when they helped me through a particularly difficult time as a church leader. They have moved me again now as I listen to Joe's voice and acoustic piano - there is no distraction to what God is saying through these beautifully crafted songs.  Whether you are feeling down and need uplifting, or simply need re-assurance that God loves you and will never leave you, then I can't recommend this small but superb collection of songs highly enough.  The piano only tracks are ideal for playing as you read your bible, pray or just contemplate on God's wonderful love for us.

If this CD is your first foray into the music of Joe King, then I hope it will encourage you to try some of his earlier offerings - a particular favourite of mine being his 1997 album "The Harvest Has Begun" - an absolutely stunning collection of songs that is still regularly found in my CD player.

Joe's website is www.joekinguk.com

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BOOK REVIEW  by Andrew Jackson

The Secret Life of an Evangelical by Beth Dickson

                                                         Authentic Media, 128 Pages, £5.99

Occasionally a book comes along which, whilst not saying anything startlingly new, still strikes you as fresh and causes you to reappraise your own positions. Beth Dickson’s Secret Life is such a book. In what is a very short volume, the sheer range of topics covered is impressive, so to come away feeling that each subject has been effectively covered is really quite a feat.

Beth Dickson was raised in the Scottish Brethren church and one aim for this work is to challenge the perception that this movement is ‘intellectually primitive and tediously strict.’ She also seeks to explore issues which she feels are often ignored by many evangelicals. Her Brethren background informs much of her discussion, perhaps most obviously in chapters about conversion and her own struggle to come to terms with being a gifted preacher in a setting where acceptable roles for women in ministry were very limited.

However glib, comfortable, evangelical positions also come under the microscope when she asks why some people don’t get healed despite our prayers and in her discussions of our attitudes to suffering. This latter chapter, drawing heavily on NT Wright’s Jesus and the Victory of God, and rooted in the transfiguration, is especially rewarding.

Whilst Beth Dickson may not have found the evangelical movement particularly interested in her chosen topics, I would suggest she may find the opposite to be true for individual evangelicals, who will find much of themselves in Beth’s experiences.  Secret Life is never dull, often challenging and thought-provoking, and everywhere honestly grounded in personal experience. Most importantly, it speaks to those who are tired of easy answers which don’t ring true in their experience and introduces them to a God who is both more than competent and certainly worth getting to know.

 

***************ALBUM REVIEW*****************

Isn't It Good - Phil Overton

***** five star album

You can rarely read an album review these days without coming across the word ‘eclectic’. The Oxford dictionary states: deriving ideas, style etc. from various sources.

Certainly many contemporary song-writers are giving us offerings encompassing a variety of musical styles all within a single album project.  The latest offering from Phil Overton (Isn’t It Good) is no exception and showcases Phil’s diverse musical abilities and creative song writing.  The lack of a question mark in the album title perhaps signifying that the title is more a statement, than a question.  This is confirmed when you listen to Phil’s lyric’s which cover a wide range of emotional and spiritual highs and lows, yet always leaving the listener feeling that despite life’s ups and downs, God is always there for us. 

Anyone familiar with Phil’s (vast!) output over the passed 3 or more decades will know that Phil is neither a trend-setter nor a follower of fashion.  Hence his songs never seem ‘out of date’ and the lyrical content is as relevant ‘yesterday, today and tomorrow’.  However, that is not to say that the reworking of some of his earlier material (‘Oh Father’ & ‘When I Look At You’ to name just two) does not benefit from some fresh new arrangements and the input from the musicians (Jack Harris, drums, Ben Hodson, bass, Tim North, guitar & mandolin and Ralph Jackson, flute & sax) who worked here with Phil on these recordings for the first time. 

From the swirling Hammond-esque organ introduction to the opening track, ‘Perfecting Your Praise’, (a prayerful lyric asking God to help us prepare ourselves for Heaven) through the up beat ‘Melt It’ (a fairly recent song and played here with a really tight arrangement) we arrive at track 3, ‘Oh Father’, a simple song (with some nice harmony courtesy of Phil’s eldest daughter Niki) reflecting God’s goodness to us and our response as we sing God’s praises – yes this is a song you will find yourself singing spontaneously once you have heard it a couple of times!

‘Isn’t It Good’, (title track) is an unashamedly American country style offering with a simple message – that it is good to be part of God’s family! Amen to that I say!

Some tasteful sax playing from Ralph Jackson and some nice vocal harmony takes us through ‘After All These Years’, which also features some typically characteristic piano playing from Phil.  More piano from Phil on the opening bars of ‘Is It Really You?’ the words of which speak for themselves.

Next up is ‘I Find My Happiness’, a jolly arrangement but with a serious message as it quotes some of the ten commandments and tells us that we should find joy in the very act of keeping God’s commands – a lesson to all of us I’m sure!

‘Reach Up’ with it’s tight funky arrangement even includes a bit of hip-hop style rap (who would have ever thought it!) which shows that Phil can still show the younger generations a thing or two!

‘When I Look At You’ is a song from Phil’s enormous back catalogue and reflects on the contrast between the ‘world’, with all its bad news and desperate situations, and the Good News that is God, in all His glory, and how we should look at the wonders of God’s world.  This is a lovely song that will lift your spirits with its message of gratitude and hope as we face tomorrow with God’s help.

‘Yes, Lord’ another simple song (echoes of the Lord’s Prayer) the lyrics again speaking for themselves.

And so we arrive at the penultimate track, ‘You’re The Only One’, a modern day ‘grace’ set to music – the words asking God to take our very lives as our offering to Him and asking that He helps us live our daily lives in accordance with His will – that we might show God to others in the very way we live out our lives.

And finally, ‘Fisherman’.  I will say no more than it is worth the price of this album for this one track alone! 

Is this a good album? Definitely!  Is it Phil’s best? Possibly! Will it appeal to everyone? With an album of songs so diverse in their style, not all tracks will instantly appeal to all listeners.  Thankfully though, as with all Phil’s recordings, the strength of the songs lay not just in the music, but in the lyrics.  Listen to it through a few times and even the tracks that may not ring your particular bell first time round, will start to make an impression as you consider the message behind the words and music.  Well done Phil and the rest of the excellent musicians for a truly ‘eclectic’ album! 

 

You can buy Phil’s music from the Christian Resource Centre, Leamington Spa, or direct from Phil himself.  If you would like to book Phil to speak or perform at your church, visit his website at: www.philoverton.co.uk for contact details.