Somewhere Beyond The Blue 

This powerhouse, multi-IBMA Award-winning band bounds out full-tilt on this soulful 11-song bluegrass gospel collection.

Aside from the Ramblers’ commanding gospel quartet vocal arrangements and top-notch picking, Beyond the Blue is informed with an inspired balance of traditional material and newer compositions by some of the music’s most celebrated composers.

The rousing opening track, “Hear Jerusalem Calling” was cowritten by Marty Stuart and Jerry Sullivan.  “You Gotta Get Down,” written by Larry Cordle, Galen Griffin and Larry Schell and delivered in a capella quartet-style by the Ramblers, offers a unique commentary on salvation and the power of repentance.  Another pair of inspirational gems, “Go Spread The Gospel” and “There’s No New Way Home” were penned by Jerry Salley and Bill Anderson.

Reaching into gospel’s back pages, the Ramblers breathe vivid new life into numbers like “I’m Never Alone” (written by Vep Ellis in 1946) and “Clinging To A Saving Hand,” composed by Bill Mack and recorded by Connie Smith back in 1970.  On “Untitled Hymn—Come To Jesus,” the band turns in a particularly breathtakingly a capella performance. “Perfect Healing” (Jim Rushing) is a heart-melting ballad about watching a loved one go through the harrowing struggle of leaving this life for a better one.

All in all, Mullins and the band have never sounded better than they do on this roof-raising celebration of the Word.  And that’s sure saying a lot.