Classics & Hymns (USB)

The concept of an entire album that paid tribute to the cream of the crop in classic songs and hymns started to germinate in 2022 as plans began for a follow-up to JUST SING!, The Collingsworth Family's debut release on the Gaither Music Group label.  The entire team became very excited about the concept of taking classic songs, released over the past 50+ years, placing them in brand new, up-to-date arrangements and re-releasing them ...... so that forthcoming generations do not miss out on these treasures.

The selection process was intense, a ton of fun, and so personally fulfilling.  Every member of the team brought potential selections to the table, including Bradley Knight, the CFAM's Producer.   They all met together at the Collingsworth Family HomePlace in February, 2023 and began to choose repertoire that would fulfill all of the necessary elements for the variety of a total recording project.   With a properly balanced variety of fast tunes, time-tested hymns, and soulful power ballads, the project began to take shape.   Many days of arranging and rehearsing commenced, preparing the final selections for the recording process.  

May, 2023 found The Collingsworth Family in Nashville @ OceanWay (one of their favorite studios), spending three days, recording basic tracks with Ronnie Brookshire, their primary engineer; Bradley Knight producing and playing piano, keys, and B3 along with his brother, Christopher Knight commanding the drums.  Completing the band were Jacob Lowery, one of the finest bass players Nashville has to offer and guitarist officianado Jeremy Metcalf.

June, 2023 then found The Collingsworth Family at Digital Groove Productions in Cincinnati, OH, laying down the vocals for the 14 selections of repertoire that had made the final cut.

Magic then began to happen in July, 2023 when The Nashville String Machine converged on Ocean Way Nashville for two days and the recording of the orchestra brought the entire project to life.

Ronnie Brookshire commenced on many tedious hours of mixing,  re-mixing, listening again with Phil & Kim, Bradley, and the team ...... this their first recording ever to record in 96K technology.

Preparations were then made for the filming of the television special/DVD to accompany the studio album.  This all took place in January, 2024 @ Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, TN as part of INSPIRATION ENCOUNTER 2024.   The original 14 pieces of repertoire from the studio album + 5 additional selections were recorded in front of a capacity audience, with a full live band and orchestra, made up of members of the Nashville String Machine and students @ Belmont University.

So sit back, relax, and remember Andre Crouch, Rich Mullins, Lanny Wolfe, Gloria Gaither, Dawn Thomas, Elizabeth Goodine, Charles Wesley, Brown Bannister, Charles Tindley, Steven Curtis Chapman,Tracy Dartt, GT Speer and the incredible literature that they penned and left behind for all of us, sprinkled along our life's journey.  Literature that injects a heavenly point of view into our thinking on a litany of subjects : Heaven, Grace, the redeeming power of The Blood, the sustaining strength of our Father, and many, many more subjects.

Remember; listen; cry; enjoy !!!

Songs include:

1. WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY / HEAVEN'S JUBILEE
2. JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF MY JOY
3. ARISE MY SOUL, ARISE
4. GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN
5. SWEETER AS THE DAYS GO BY
6. PRECIOUS BLOOD/THE BLOOD WILL NEVER LOSE IT'S POWER
7. I BLESS YOUR NAME
8. SING YOUR PRAISE TO THE LORD
9. HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT
10. I'M GONNA KEEP ON SINGING
11. I AM NOT ASHAMED
12. JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME
13. JESUS IS THE ANSWER
14. PRAISE THE LORD