Search - Marty Robbins :: What God Has Done

Marty Robbins' Old Time Religion

Love the oldies | Cedarhurst, NY USA | 08/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fine collection of what I believe to be Marty's only gospel album. It was recorded during Robbins' prime period in the early 60's meaning that everything from the passionate vocals to the heavenly recording techniques one comes to expect from this old C&W master is there. There is as much conviction in this album of spirituals as there is in any of the gospel albums of other country heavywieghts such as Johnny Cash, Elvis, Hank Williams, or Willie Nelson...and like the best albums in this genre, you don't have to subscribe to any particular theology to be moved by music this lovely. Definitely a must have for us Robbins fans who have precious little of his once extensive catalog on CD. My only major complaint is that this Sony budget pressing of "What God Has Done" contains no liner notes whatsoever. It doesn't even say who produced the album (Don Law? Bob Jonston?) We need more Robbins reissues!"

Much better than average country gospel.

Lee Hartsfeld | Central Ohio, United States | 04/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of old and new gospel songs (two of them penned by Marty Robbins) is quite representative of early-1960s country gospel, if less plastic than Elvis Presley's more famous pop-gospel efforts and unusually well-produced. The older numbers work the best, probably because they ARE the best. These include the Charles H. Gabriel classics "An Evening Prayer" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" (from 1913 and 1907, respectively), Lewis E. Jones' rollicking 1899 "Power in the Blood," and Philip Paul Bliss' elegant cautionary revival ballad "Almost Persuaded." The newer material pales in comparison, with the exception of the rocking "You Gotta Climb" and Robbins' own "A Little Spot In Heaven," a competent bit of tune-writing whose cliched lyrics hang together more literately than what passes for same in modern praise music. Robbin's other number, "With His Hand On My Shoulder," is a forgettable exercise in nautical spiritual-journey cliches and melodic repetitiousness, and Eddy Arnold's "Who At My Door Is Standing" is similarly mundane, however sincere. Still, this is a most enjoyable collection for the wonderful singing of Marty Robbins, the pristine production standards and super-slick studio musicianship, and the evenly balanced mixture of old and new. And the composer credits are better than usual, with the only gaffes being the crediting of "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" to "Traditional" (George C. Stebbins wrote the music, and Adelaide A. Pollard the words), and the use of the Carter Family lyrics for "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" vice Ada Habershon's. Worth getting."

Better than Elvis Presley

Sweet Pickle | Wichita, KS USA | 06/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Marty Robbins fans will not want to miss out on this one. Once it has been recorded/sang by Marty - it's his. Anyone else that comes along - it just doesn't sound right. For those who purchase this, you will not be disappointed."