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  For
many, this seems like 'old news'. We've all heard of this excellent
pianist and arranger, best known for his hymn arrangements. But
he is also known for arranging popular songs, and other songs by
LDS artists like Janice Kapp Perry, Jeff Goodrich, and others.
This
album of arrangements, however, is different. It's literally an
anthology of some of the greatest tunes ever written in the LDS
genre over the last 30 years or so. I've included dates with the
songs on the tracklist so the reader can see just how far back the
LDS music scene goes back. There are real gems out there, as far
as LDS music is concerned. And this album doesn't even scratch the
surface, but it does an excellent job nonetheless.
1,
'He Hears Me'. This song is what got Hillary Weeks noticed back
in 1993. Marvin does a sensitive arrangement of this melody that
brings out it's simplicity, with a few nice touches of its own that
makes the arrangement very listenable.
2.
'Hold On, the Light Will Come'. This 1986 classic by Michael McLean
is now being heard in its basically original version on Broadway
soon after this review is published. It originally appeared on 'The
Ark', but later appeared on the 1989 album 'A New Kind of Love Song'.
Marvin Goldstein's arrangement is true to the feeling of the original
song, and is a tune that anyone can play with a little practice,
not too difficult either.
3.
'Paper Dream'. In 1973, Lex de Azevedo and Doug Stewart wrote and
produced a musical that broke ground in the LDS culture and along
with another project commissioned by the Church for the Seminary
program, announced to the world the genre of LDS music. That was
'Saturday's Warrior'. This Marvin Goldstein album showcases three
of the tunes from that landmark production. Paper Dream is one of
these.
Marvin's
arrangement is true to the original more so than most of the arrangements
on this set of CDs, because the tune is so well crafted, and also
because it's such a memorable tune.
4.
'Jesus was no Ordinary Man'. This 1985 song by Janice Kapp Perry
is a favorite of many. Marvin gives this one a very simple, sensitive
treatment that reminds one of the words if they already know them.
Also an easy tune to play on the piano as well, a hallmark of Janice
Kapp Perry songs in general.
5.
'Sailing On'. The second song on this album from 'Saturday's Warrior'
to be included in this collection. This song is more complexly arranged
on this collection than I remember it being on the original soundtrack,
but the melody can be heard clearly over the undulating wavelike
background. Almost any arrangement of this is going to have that
feel to it more so than the original did, and Marvin rises to the
challenge to create the visual imagery for this arrangement.
6.
'His Hands'. One of Kenneth Cope's "signiture songs" which
debuted in 1989 on his 2nd solo album, Greater Than Us All. A very
modest arrangement of the original, well in keeping with the sensitivity
of the subject of the words of the original as well.
7.
'O Lord, My Redeemer'. In 1989 and 1990, Jeff Goodrich put together
some albums of his originals he had written over the years and decided
to include them with his already well-known 'I Heard Him Come'.
This is one of the songs from those projects. A simple but elegant
song about the Savior, and Marvin Goldstein takes that feeling to
a whole new level, treating it with a very simple arrangement that
does not lack in substance either.
8.
'I'll Build You a Rainbow'. This was prodcued in the mid-70s on
an album by Sun Shade 'n Rain. This band was the Jericho Road of
their day, and ran a string of albums that unfortunately are all
but forgotten now. Maybe not the best production, Salt Lake simply
didn't have the good facilities then, but the feeling was there.
The
song was picked up by the Church for the missionary program in the
late 70s, and that's how everyone knows it. Because only the chorus
is sung, being the recitation of a story, Marvin wrote original
music that could conceivably be played behind someone telling the
story parts of the song.
9.
'I Walk By Faith'. This 1984 song was written by Janice Kapp Perry
for a general meeting of Young Women, and was included as the title
of an album by the same name. It has been a favorite of many ever
since. Marvin's arrangement remains true to the spirit of the original.
Disc
2.
1.
'Like a Lighthouse'. A 1989 song by Michael Webb, the words have
great imagery. If you've heard the original, it's one of the best-loved
songs out there. Marvin treats it with the calmness that the tune
deserves when it comes to musical treatments.
2.
'Greater Than Us All. From 1989, this classic song by Kenneth Cope
is from probably his best-seller, by 1990 over 60,000 copies were
in print. This was the title track for that project that also gave
us the version of the 1988 landmark 'Never a Better Hero' that is
in print today. Sadly, 'Never a Better Hero' was not included on
this project, it would have fit nicely with everything else. The
arrangement of 'Greater Than us All' has all the dynamic expression
of the original but keeps the simplicity of the original intact
as well.
3.
'Line Upon Line'. One of the most unforgettable songs in LDS music
even today. Another of the three songs from 'Saturday's Warrior'.
Marvin's arrangement has the childlike enthusiasm of the original,
and the reverb added to the entire project when mixing it gives
it that extra boost as well.
4.
'Yhe Olive Tree'. This mid-90s song by Kurt Bestor and one of his
cowriters is a classic of the CES soundtracks, and is the only one
from those to be included on this project. Marvin has created a
completely new, original arrangement of the backgroundharmonies
and tune, while keeping the melody largely intact. Has a new 'anticipatory'
introduction before the introduction that everyone knows as well.
5.
'Consider the Lilies'. A 1986 song by Roger Hoffman that has become
an almost universal favorite, so much so that it has made an appearance
in at least two General Conferences and numerous other programs,
including 'Music and the Spoken Word', and covered by many. Marvin
gives us a simple arrangement accenting the melody and reminding
us of the simplicity of life.
6.
'You Can Believe in Christ'. Appeared on the same project as 'O
Lord, My Redeemer'. No one can forget the feeling of the original
either. In this arrangement, Marvin retains the calmness of the
original tune, and the feeling is also as deep as if you were to
hear the original lead vocal when it comes to his treatment of the
melody.
7.
'Jesus' Love is Like a River'. This 1997 title track from a Janice
Kapp Perry album, cowritten by Orrin Hatch, is fast becoming a favorite
new hymn of m any. It's even published now in her collection of
hymns (3 volumes so far).
Marvin
starts with the last two lines of the tune, then moves into the
tune as a whole. This is straight up his alley here and he does
not disappoint in the least. Hymns of this type require a simplicity
and sensitivity that Marvin is able to deliver on every time, and
this arrangement is as good as any he's done.
8.
The entire project closes with an early 90s song from Julie de Azevedo,
'Window to his Love'. I forget which project it first appeared on,
but it's been on several and I believe covered by several other
artists as well. The arrangement on this CD set also reminds me
to some degree of the acoustic version that appearedat the end of
the album 'State of the Heart' (1992). But Marvin does not make
it sound like that, but gives us a simple arrangement. You could
conceivably take the melody line out and sing the original words
to it.
All
in all this project does not disappoint. It's an extremely well-recorded
project, and aside from some pops heard between the first few songs,
there is excellent quality in the recording, the pops don't distract
at all. They are just artifacts that happen sometimes when you are
arranging the track order for the CD after everything else has been
done, but usually before mastering. I give this one a five-star
rating on account of the professionalism and musicianship displayed
on the project as a whole. 'Not a bum one in the bunch', as some
say. This is a great project to put on in the background while working
around the house, or even studying, etc.
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James
Anderson
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