LARRY CORDLE

LARRY CORDLE
GIVE ME JESUS

Mighty Cord Records
MCR1003

Singer-songwriter-producer Larry Cordle and his celebrated musical compatriots sure raise a joyful noise on this fine new gospel album. The 13 wisely-chosen songs are an inspired mixture of traditional spirituals (the title-tune and “Two Coats”) and powerful oldies (Carl Story’s “It’s A Lonesome Road,” A.E. Brumley’s joyful “I’ll Meet You In The Morning,” Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible,” and Carl Jackson’s and Jerry Salley’s “God Had A Hand In It”).

These are leavened with a handful of sparkling Cordle originals, co-written with Larry Shell and Ronnie Bowman. Among the latter are the spooky “The Old Thing’s Walkin’ About,” the soulful “Gone On Before,” and the playful yet profound “Lost As A Ball In High Weeds.” The picking on the album, provided by Clay Hess (guitar and mandolin), Brennan Hess (bass), Irl Hees (bass), and Rob Ickes (Weissenborn slide guitar), is impeccable. The vocal arrangements, in which Cordle raises his voice in celebration with guest vocalists Carl Jackson, Lethal Jackson (Carl’s dad) Don Rigsby, Val Storey, Bradley Walker, Jerry Salley, Chris Latham, Angie La Primm, and Gail Mayes, are as near to transcendent as it gets down here on earth.

As an added bonus, the first-run edition of Give Me Jesus includes a 12-page booklet with song lyrics, along with Cordle’s personal notes on each track. (www.larrycordle.com)BA