Music in My Soul

In the southern gospel tradition, High Fidelity proves that “church music” doesn’t have to be stodgy or sedate. “Music in My Soul” is a heaping helping of thigh-slapping, camp meeting music, with dinner on the grounds. It’s sure to bring out the listener’s inner Pentecostal.

The opening track, “I’m Ready to Go” is a gleeful romp that just might earn the band the nickname “The Heavenly Hillbillies.” “Walking with my Savior” is a spirit-boosting stroll around the block in comfortable shoes. 

From track to track, the band’s two pillars of power are self-evident: strong instrumentation and vocal harmonies. Singing is no afterthought in this ensemble.

“There is Power in the Blood” is such a familiar song to old time church goers that listeners hear the words in their heads throughout the jaunty instrumental.

Song selections not only honor the band’s Savior, but pay homage to forebears, like Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Ralph Stanley, and L.O. Womack. Randall Hylton was just inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame last year, and his tune “My Lord is Taking Me Away” complements this compilation.

“The Mighty Name of Jesus” is an original composition that is faithful to the old time gospel style. It features such an enthusiastic emphasis on the second syllable of Jesus’ name that it is sure to become an ear-worm.

Even a song about hopelessness, “The Storm,” is delivered with banjo-pickin’ good cheer, which just proves Steve Martin’s quote: “The banjo is such a happy instrument—you can’t play a sad song on the banjo—it always comes out so cheerful.”

The band includes Jeremy Stephens on guitar, Corrina Rose Logston Stephens on fiddle, Kurt Stephenson on banjo, Daniel Amick on mandolin, and Vickie Vaughn on bass. Vaughn received the IBMA Bass Player of the Year in September, the same month this CD was released under the Rebel Records label.