Precious Memories - Alan Jackson...Gospel Singing at its Best!

I was so excited when I read that Alan Jackson would release a new CD. As I read about it I got even more excited.

Precious Memories - Alan Jackson is a CD he made for his Mother for Christmas. It was not intended to be released to the public but he was convinced that it would sell well. It is a collection of his Mother's favorite gospel songs. Beautiful!


The Songs

Song Titles
Blessed Assurance
Softly and Tenderly
I Love To Tell The Story
When We All Get To Heaven
'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
In The Garden
Are You Washed In The Blood?
I'll Fly Away
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Standing On The Promises
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
The Old Rugged Cross
How Great Thou Art
I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You


My Favorites

Softly and Tenderly sings softly of returning to Jesus and knowing that He is a soft place for us to land. The accompaniment is mostly piano and soft guitar. It is slow and melodic and makes me feel warm as I listen.

When We All Get to Heaven is a little peppier song with a bit more of bounce to it than most songs on this CD. The sound of gospel singers behind Mr. Jackson makes me want to clap and sing along. I like that this one is a little livelier and makes me want to tap my toes and clap my hands as well.

In The Garden makes me cry. As I'm listening and trying to type I feel the tears well up in my eyes. I'm not even really sure why but this song has a definite effect on me. The soft slow sing song melody reminds me that He is always walking with me and talking with me, that His love is always there.

I'll Fly Away is another quick paced melodic song that makes me tap my toes. It features guitar and piano solos.

I'll fly away oh glory
I'll fly away
When I die Hallelujah
By and by
I'll fly away

What a Friend We Have In Jesus so familiar and yet this country singer makes it his own as he sings. It starts with a soft guitar playing as Mr. Jackson begins to slowly sing. His song reminds us that we need to carry everything to God in prayer. This soft slow song reminds of the friend I have in Jesus.

Old Rugged Cross is a beautiful ballad type of gospel song that has been sung by so many. Soft loving words and piano background makes this song one of my favorites on this CD.

How Great Thou Art is another song that makes me cry just to hear the beginning chords being played. He is my Savior and this song reminds me of His greatness. I feel so close to my Lord as I sing:

Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
How great thou art

The beauty and softness of this song is so familiar and yet hearing Alan Jackson sing it moves me even more than it usually does. I sat back to listen before typing about it and can just feel the connection to beauty of the world and the greatness of the Lord, opening my eyes I see it is snowing outside and I'm reminded again of God's greatness.


Not Familiar To Me Yet

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus is beautiful, but unfamiliar to me so while I enjoy it more and more as I hear it, it isn't my favorite song on the CD. It has a slow and softly almost spoken sound to it. With very little music behind the words it is almost sung a cappella.


My Feelings

While I'm not a church going religious person, I am a very spiritual person and always feel the closeness of the Lord with me. He has comforted me through many trials and as I rest in His arms I always know that I am safe. This CD reminds me to continue my walk and to continue trusting in Jesus.

I think it is really interesting that on the song 'Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus Mr. Jackson's wife Denise and two of their daughters joined in to sing with him. Along with this his wife also helped him to pick on the songs on this CD.

While this is definitely a Christian gospel CD, Alan Jackson assures his singing hasn't taken a new direction but rather that this was something he put together for his Mother originally after going through an old Baptist hymnal he and his wife picked out songs they thought were appropriate for his Mother. He had to keep eliminating until he ended up with the 15 songs on this CD.

This CD makes me feel warm and comforted. I'm anxious for my husband to hear it, because I think it may be one country music CD that he will appreciate. The songs are all beautiful remakes of standard old gospel songs and speak to the heart as I'm listening.

My only con is that there are no liner notes with this CD. I really would have liked to know when each song was originally sung and by whom. I also love having lyrics included although I must admit that I know most of the lyrics to these old gospel songs.


Nuts & Bolts

Alan Jackson Precious Memories was released on February 28, 2006 on the Arista label.

This CD was produced by Keith Stegall and was recorded at the Sound Station, Nashville Tennessee.

Acoustic Guitar - Brent Mason
Piano and Organ - Gary Prim with Keith Stegall playing piano on Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
Background vocals - John Wesley Ryles, Melodie Crittenden, Dani Jackson, Denise Jackson, Mattie and Ali Jackson.

I bought this CD at Wal*Mart for $11.87 which I think is a wonderful deal for a CD that makes me feel so warm and comforted.