Rich Mullins & the Ragamuffin Band - The Jesus Record

This double album contains two discs, ostensibly two versions of the same record. The first disc contains Mullins's crude demos of 9 of the 10 songs on the album, recorded on a battery-powered box only a few days before his untimely death. Even with the abundance of tape noise, pops, clicks, and bum notes, Mullins's skill as a performer and passion for this material shines clearly through. The second disc contains the same songs, fully produced by Rich's band, the Ragamuffins, with special guests Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland, and Phil Keaggy. These performances feel haunted as well, trying to be faithful to Mullins's vision as a performer and folk/ethnic musicologist without resorting to grave robbing. Pennywhistles, accordians, and upright bass strike a jagged edge against the polished sheen of orchestras and children's choirs. The guest vocalists make Mullins's songs their own, while the Ragamuffin-sung tunes naturally carry more of the spirit of his own recordings. --Brad S. Caviness Amazon.com essential recording

Awesome package!

Genuine and truthful composition and lyrics! The arrangements are the best I ever heard among many christian cds! The first time when I started to hear the songs( remake with orchestral arrangement version not the Mullen's original recirding)tears started to flow out of controll for its ultimate beauty and spirit filled composition....
Chuck girald's ( Especially his spirit filled recently released cd), Vineyard music and this cd, Andra Crouch's, Richard Smallwoods' are the truely the astounding cream of the crop of American's High level Gospel music. May 28, 2008

Speechless

Every song is great. What else can I say? What person is more important than Jesus? What topic is more important than the Cross? May 18, 2008

we miss you Rich

I have loved every song I have ever heard Rich Mullins sing. Knowing that the demo cd was the last he ever recorded made it more poignant and worshipful than hearing the versions made in styles I don't believe Rich ever would have used. With the exception of some of the tracks sung by Rick Elias, the songs on the "remake" were a bit lacking.
The writing of the original songs is excellent and goes to a depth not heard before from Rich's music. The first time I heard "Jesus" I cried at how powerful a song it is. "Hard to get" is an accurate description of the thoughts that go through one's mind when in a desert place.
All in all the writing is beyond excellent, but the mixes miss the mark. March 22, 2008

CD

Was purchased for church use for one song but we have not listened to it yet. December 28, 2007

The Jesus Record

Arrived in good condition in a timely manner. I really enjoy a couple of the songs. There some songs I'm not really fond of. I wish I had been able to buy just one CD. It came with two that are exactly the same, except that one is a demo CD. November 3, 2006

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