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= HOW I FIRST HEARD ABOUT GORDON MOTE
=
Every week, I download the podcast of Michael Card's 'In the Studio' Christian radio programme, and listen to it on my iPod while driving to and from work. Most week's he has guests talking about what they are doing, and last October, his studio guest was Gordon Mote. As Gordon Mote played one of the songs from his new album, my eyes were filled with tears, so powerful and moving were the words of 'Wake Up Dancin'', and so exquisitely simple the music. You could tell from the response of the presenters that I wasn't the only affected in this way. On getting home, I bought the album on iTunes, and most of the songs now feature very highly in my most played songs list.
= WHO IS GORDON MOTE?
=Gordon Mote has been blind from birth, but at the age of three stunned his family on Thanksgiving Day by getting up on to a stool and playing the piano. Growing up, he pursued his music, and is well known in Nashville as a session musician and concert pianist, playing with many of the big names on the music scene there, such as Porter Wagoner and Bill Gaither, with whom he is performing in Belfast and Glasgow in early March 2008. He has been nominated for Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for three straight years, and most recently has been nominated for various Gospel music awards. (A longer biography can be found at http://www.gaither.com/artists/?v=bi&a=98.)
The one thing that is unmistakeable about Gordon Mote however is his Christian faith that shines through all his music, which is why he was on the Michael Card show. There is a complete absence of self-pity, and instead you get the impression of
someone who rejoices in what life has to offer him, and gratitude for the amazing musical gift he has.
= DON'T LET ME MISS THE GLORY
=
Gordon Mote's album 'Don't Let me Miss the Glory' was released in October 2007, and contains a mix of styles, all with a strong Country and Western tinge. The opening track 'Adoration' opens with a choir, before developing into an up-tempo rocky worship song, a style that is also in Don't Let Me Miss the Glory.' 'I know Somebody Who Does' and the tracks that make up the central chunk of the CD - 'Get Up in Jesus' Name', 'Mercy Walked In', 'All That Noise', 'I I Can't Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand)' and ' Ain't Gonna Give Up on God' - are variations of Gospel, while the last three songs are much more reflective ballads. 'Maplewood Methodist Church' is a Country story song.
The music is accomplished, well-mixed with strong backing vocals provided by his wife Kimberly, and Alison Krauss on lead vocals on 'My Redeemer is Faithful and True'. However, much though the music is very good, it is the lyrics where the real impact is.
= LYRICS
=
I could go through the whole album highlighting lyrics that have stood out for me, but I shall limit myself slightly. 'Wake Up Dancin'', the track that brought tears to my eyes, is the song of an old man, who knows he will die very shortly, trying to comfort his very upset grandson, by explaining that when he dies, he will rejoin his wife. The words are very simple, but are so poignant, and the music does not descend into schmalz, but acts as a counterpoint, reflecting the old man's assurance of what awaits him. This is the chorus:
"I'm gonna waltz across the Heavens While a band of angels play I'm gonna two-step on some stardust A million miles away You'll never have a new beginning Until you reach the end And these old legs are gonna come to life again Gonna wake up dancin'"
'The Other Side of Time' is a track I found very insightful and encouraging when dealing with unanswered prayer. To think of someone born blind who can put his faith in knowing that all the unanswered questions and injustices will be resolved in the future was comforting. The bridge sums it up:
"There's no guarantee that life won't be unfair But the debt this life owes us Will all be settled there."
This track is preceded by 'My Redeemer is Faithful and True', which reflects the other side of the same coin, ie praising the God who has shown himself true in the difficult times, and reminds me of the words of Job in the midst of his ordeal " I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God" (Job 19:25-26).
The title track 'Don't Let Me Miss the Glory' has become something of a prayer for me, and it captures the desire to shift my focus away from whatever difficulties come my way, and not miss out on the bigger picture, of the wonder of God's creation around us - in laughter, in the miracle of new life, in nature, in the stars. Interestingly, this track about glory is followed by the tale of the humble cleaner of a local church. The second verse sums it all up:
"Every night's the same routine And by the time he finally leaves He's done so much more Than clean the building He's called down angels from on high And helped someone Through a sad goodbye And lost souls finally find what they've been missing The congregation will never see That simple man who still believes He can change the world By saying ..." (then there is a list of very ordinary sounding prayers.)
I found quite challenging the contrast between God's view of what glory involves - self-sacrifice, perseverance, service - and what we would normally see. It is a song which challenges by the example of a humble janitor.
The final song, 'This Life' has a real end of the day feel to it, being very mellow in tone. However, the bridge has a great encouragement
"So work like you're worth more than money And love like you've never been hurt And dance like you do when no one is watching you"
= COVER/INLAY
=There is nothing at all flash about the case. The cover has a picture of Gordon Mote in black and white, while the back lists the tracks. The booklet lists the tracks in greater detail, who plays on them, wrote them etc. The full lyrics are on the website http://www.gordonmote.com/
= OVERALL ASSESSMENT
=
I guess that it is obviously that this album has made a big impression on me. I generally reckon that if 3 of the tracks on an album are ones that I want to listen to over and over then that is a success. On this, there are 6 at least. I have given copies of this CD to 5 people at our church, and recommended it to lots of others. I even used a couple of the tracks when giving a talk on coping with unanswered prayer. So I would unhesitatingly recommend it.
All this of course is within a church setting, but I think 'Wake Up Dancin'' and 'The Other Side of Time' for example could be interesting even to those with no faith at all. Musically, although the bluegrass and country influence is unmistakeable, it does not feel as just a country or a gospel CD. For me, quite simply it has become my number one record to listen to.
= PRACTICAL INFO
=
Track list:
1. Adoration (4:37) 2. I Know Somebody Who Does (3:33) 3. Wake Up Dancin' (3:55) 4. Don't Let Me Miss the Glory (4:36) 5. Maplewood Methodist Church (4:04) 6. Get Up in Jesus' Name (3:39) 7. Mercy Walked In (3:28) 8. All That Noise (3:14) 9. I Can't Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand) (4:18) 10. Ain't Gonna Give Up on God (4:28) 11. My Redeemer Is Faithful and True (3:41) 12. The Other Side of Time (4:55) 13. This Life (4:29)
Personnel: Gordon Mote (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Kimberly Mote (vocals, background vocals); Gaither Vocal Band, The Isaacs, Alison Krauss (vocals); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar); Kelly Back, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin, Scott Sanders (steel guitar, dobro); Aubrey Haney (mandolin, fiddle); Duncan Mullins (bass guitar); Lonnie Wilson, Scott Williamson (drums, percussion); Russell Terrel, Marshall Hall, Michael Sykes, Charlotte Ritchie, Wes Hampton (background vocals).
Spring Hill Label
Amazon.co.uk quotes £14.99, but you can get it for less than £5 from one of the sellers of amazon market place.
The episode of the Michael Card show where I first heard Gordon Mote and his music can be found at http://www.michaelcard.com/audio/radio/290.mp3
Gordon Mote has his own website http://www.gordonmote.com/ from which you can buy this CD ($15.00 plus p&p), and various others.
exceptional by (20%):
very helpful by (80%):
