RANDY STONEHILL - SPIRIT WALK (*NEW-CD, 2011, Stonehillian Records)

RANDY STONEHILL - SPIRIT WALK (*NEW-CD, 2011, Stonehillian Records)

It's been awhile since 2009's triumphant Mystery Highway collaberation with Phil Keaggy even longer since2002's remarkable Edge of the World comeback.I wasn't sure what to expect after the Keaggy collaboration but I was pleasantly suprised by what 2011's Spirit Walk had to offer material wise.From the bluesy satirical humour of "Blood Transfusion& a CokeaCola" to a serious cautionary tale of"Remember the Devil" about not letting our guard down when it comes to Old Luci himself,to the acoustic blues based encouraging title track,Randy never disappoints.His lyrical style could be put in the same vein as his late mentor Larry Norman.Randy also takes a stab at accapella with "Life is Tough But God is Good" which threw me for a loop,while encouraging rockers "Try Havin' Some Faith"and the sincere vulnerability of "Pray for Me"gives the artist a chance to relate to his audience in a personable way.Again Randy returns to the spiritual warfare theme behind the psychedelic blues rock of "That's Where the Devil Lives",to the acoustically beautiful "Last time I Saw Eden" to the grande finale and lovingly encouraging "Finish Well" which I happened to be listening to when I received word that one of Victoria's famous street pastors Gipp Forster had passed away on his 76th birthday no less (which was April 15,2013) from cancer of the esophagus.This song really touched my heart because it was the Holy Spirit who made Gipp His chosen vessel to minister the truth of the gospel to me as a young believer in Christ Jesus at a time when I had become disillusioned with religion,Catholicism,in general.I needed something more and Gipp &some of the people I knew from that congregation delivered ,thanks to Our Lord&Risen Saviour Jesus Christ who deserves all the credit in the universe!Thank you,Lord for Randy Stonehill as well for how his music has touched my life in such a positive way! 

Tracklist 
1 Blood Transfusion And A Coca Cola
Acoustic Guitar – Mike*
Backing Vocals – Mike*, Randy*
Harp – Mike*
Lap Steel Guitar – Mike*
Percussion [Table] – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
4:01
2 Remember The Devil
Backing Vocals – Mike*
Bass – Baba Elefante
Drum Programming – Mike*
Guitar – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
5:20
3 Spirit Walk
Bass – Baba Elefante
Drums – Ronnie Ciago
Electric Guitar – Mike*
Slide Guitar – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
4:59
4 Life Is Tough, God Is Good
Backing Vocals – Mike*, Royce Taylor, Tom Sabella
Claves [African] – Mike*, Randy*
Finger Cymbals – Mike*, Randy*
Kalimba – Mike*, Randy*
Percussion [Tray Table, Wood Case] – Mike*, Randy*
Shaker – Mike*, Randy*
Tambourine – Mike*, Randy*
Vocals – Randy*
4:21
5 Try Havin' Some Faith
Bass – Baba Elefante
Drums – Ronnie Ciago
Guitar – Mike*
Vocals – Mike*, Randy*
4:13
6 Broken Places
Acoustic Guitar – Randy*
Vocals – Randy*
4:09
7 Pray For Me
Backing Vocals – Mike*
Bass – Baba Elefante
Choir – Cecile Pachelli, Mike*, Natalia Dodd, Randy*
Drums – Ronnie Ciago
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Lance Abair
Guitar – Mike*
Organ [B3] – Lance Abair
Tambourine – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
4:17
8 That's Where The Devil Lives
Backing Vocals – Mike*, Randy*
Bass – Baba Elefante
Drum Programming – Mike*
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Mike*
Guitar – Mike*
Percussion – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
4:44
9 Last Time I Saw Eden
Acoustic Guitar – Randy*
Backing Vocals – Mike*, Randy*
Drum Programming – Mike*
Electric Guitar – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*
4:36
10 Finish Well

Accordion – Mike*
Acoustic Guitar – Mike*, Randy*
Drums – John Sferra
Electric Guitar – Mike*
Lap Steel Guitar – Mike*
Vocals – Randy*