Today’s post was written by Paul.
I’ve been searching through old CD’s in my house, looking for a CD of Sonny Reighard, so I can see if it’s possible to use part of his vocal in the collaboration I’m working on with Darrell Savage. So far, I have found only the case, not the CD. However, in the process of searching, I have found several interesting things, including the recording I’m sharing today of me and Pap singing “At the Cross.”
In late 2015, I was still working on the Shepherd of My Soul CD. It went through several iterations. Some versions included more hymns than the finished CD wound up featuring. At some point, I decided to cut some of those hymns to make room for more original songs from Pap. “At the Cross” was one of the songs that I cut. I had forgotten that we recorded it.
I had never heard the hymn until Pap taught it to me around that time. I loved the poetic lyrics immediately. They are majestic in their description of the mystery of all mysteries: why does God love us so much as to sacrifice His only begotten, precious, perfect Son? It defies our understanding.
You may notice that some of the words we sang differ from what appears in the sheet music. We didn’t sing the song from the hymn book. We relied on Pap’s memory. Some differences might reflect minor misremembrances on his part, such as saying “grieve” in the first line, rather than “bleed.” Other changes, like “through” instead of “by” in the conclusion of the chorus, were probably intentional on Pap’s part, so as to better match the Bible.
Isaac Watts’ created the lyrics in 1707. Ralph E. Hudson created the melody in 1885.
This recording features the Dove and the Taylor 710, the same guitars in the photo of me and Pap. The Dove kicks the song off and concludes it. The Taylor shares a break in the middle with a Honor Harmonica. I played all the instruments in the recording. Pap could have played one of the rhythm guitars, but because the recording studio was in my house, it was easier for me to do it and then invite him down to add his harmony vocal when everything else was ready.
The recording isn’t bad, except for a couple of things. The beginning of the guitar break on the Taylor got accidentally cut off in the mixing process when I accidentally armed the track that the Taylor was on. That’s what makes it sound like the guitar came in a little late. It’s not very noticeable.
The other problem is that most of my singing is slightly sharp (i.e. off key). It gets a little better as the song progresses. That’s a sign that we probably should have sung the song higher, in the key of G, rather than E or F. Moving the song to G would also have allowed Pap to sing out more on his tenor, rather than being stifled by the lower key.
Some Acorns seem to get a little annoyed when I criticize some aspect of my musical performance, and they ask me not to “beat myself up,” etc. I promise that I’m not beating myself up about the mistakes. I mostly point those types of things out to show that I’m aware they’re present. It’s somewhat comparable to handing a draft of a paper to someone to read and letting them know that you’re aware that it contains errors in spelling and grammar. If you (as the performer) can recognize the mistakes, then you can correct them and/or do better next time. Pap and I made this recording one piece at a time, using headphones; therefore, if I can find the 8-track master, I could re-sing my part and improve it.
If I recall correctly, when we recorded it, Pap led the first and second verses by himself, and I sang the last verse (which is my favorite). I seem to remember that it just didn’t work as well for Pap to lead those verses. If I’m recalling correctly, I’m almost positive the reason was that the key needed to be higher.
Though I wish I had done a better job organizing what I have, I’m very thankful to have so many recordings of my family, especially the gospel music. It’s also a great blessing to be able to share them with you. As several Acorns have pointed out, putting them online may provide the opportunity for future generations of my family to hear them. When I’m no longer around, it’s doubtful that anyone could effectively go through the mountains of recordings that I have and pick out the good stuff to hear and preserve. A lot of the technology is becoming obsolete. For example, few people have DVD players/CD players these days. So, it’s good that I can save them on some server in cyber land.
I hope you enjoyed our recording of this beautiful old hymn. Thanks for watching!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
Paul you are truly correct. a true artist no matter what skill or craft we have we are always the hardest critic of our work. we always see where we could have done better or wish we had done better! this is what drives each of us to improve. same in our walk with God, we know where we fail and he guides us to do better next time. God bless y’all and prayers. You and your family are a blessing to us all!
I love your recording of this old song. You and your dad sounded so perfect together. We always sang it in the little church I attended growing up. Thank you. It was sweet to listen to.
Lovely! I love the old hymns like this and wish I could find a church around Blairsville that sings them. Some of the new Christian songs are okay but many are too repetitive and I can’t relate to them.
By the way, isn’t there a religious sect (whether Christian or other, not sure) that if they did anything too well would deliberately mar it in some way as an exercise in humility? Anyway, seems to me one of the arts in a life well lived is to grow into having a true appraisal of ourselves that needs no outward evidence. Those are the folks that have nothing to prove. But somehow that centeredness (is that a word?) shows and it is an attractive personality trait.
Wonderful singing and beautiful “old” hymn. Love it!
Beautiful song!
Thank you for singing this “old” hymn. I remember singing it almost 70 years ago in the Baptist church I attended then. it has as much meaning now as it did then. I appreciate it more than today’s contemporary Christian music. You and your father did a fantastic job singing this hymn. The harmonizing was superb.
So beautiful. This is one of my favorite hymns! A sweet way to start my day!
thank you Paul God bless you very much,
I really enjoyed this wonderful Gospel song and your write up about it, Paul. Thank you!
Thank you for this song. It’s been many years since I’ve heard it & it brings back wonderful memories of the time my late husband & a pastor friend started a small church in a neighboring town. We sang that song often at that little church.
Could that have been a Hohner Harmonica? Hohner is the gold standard in harmonicas. There have been many copycat makers but none can touch the Hohner.
Good morning Paul – thank you for sharing this song again – always a good ‘listen.’ Since most of us are not into making music like you and your family are, we don’t have the ‘ear’ to notice all the things that you do that you feel should have been better – we just know what we like to listen to. What a blessing and treasure to have all those recordings of days gone by – especially for the next generation such as those two little boys: Ira & Woodrow. May it be that one day they will be joining y’all in the picking/grinning and singing. 🙂 BTW: I am one who still prefers DVD/CD’s
Thank you Paul and Pap! I first loved this song as a child at Calvary Baptist Church in Bluefield, WVa,
Paul, you just taught me more about music and recording than I had gleaned in my lifetme. Now I have abroad context. As to being critical of yourself, I’m in that group. I do very little that satisfies me. I know that to some that s a character flaw. So be it. Part of it is about being honest with myself nd others. Part of it is being bad to make a mismatch between what I am doing and what I am better at.
Thanks for sharing this toe tapping hand clapping great old song. Harmony is great have a great Sunday!
Thanks for sharing this old toe tapping hand clapping song. Wonderful harmony. Hannah Harper, the American idol winner, she sang this at the finale. She’s a Christian blue grass singer. If you have time, search for her singing with her family back in the day.
Now let’s go to SS and church!
Great song. We use to sing it often at the Methodist church I grew up in. We sang it at a little slower tempo just having the piano and organ. The message is certainly the same no matter the tempo.
The message has more time to sink in at a slower tempo!
Thank you Paul! I think families have THE BEST HARMONY of all groups! I enjoyed yours and Dear Pap’s rendition of AT THE CROSS very much! Sweet Lord, did my soul benefit from this powerful, upbeat refill!!! It’s a real toe tapper and soul lifter-that’s for sure! Just wonderful indeed! I praise the Lord and thank him for sharing such excellent musical talent! Have a great day!
Good morning Paul and Acorns. I love the song, At the Cross. I used to sing with our church choir. You and Pap sang so well together. TY for sharing the recording with us.
Thank you for the lovely song this morning. What a wonderful reminder that because of the Cross, we can be HAPPY IN THE LORD no matter the circumstance. Also, I appreciate the humble explanation of why you point out your mistakes. Through your honesty you can really help others. But just so you know I never noticed the mistakes. You and whomever you happen to be singing with always sound so beautiful. The harmony is amazing.
Just love that song and this rendition of it. Thank you. KT
Thank you, Paul. Enjoyed this beautiful hymn, At the Cross.
It’s so sweet – Just Lovely – reminds me of singing with my Nannie the old hymns of the Quaker church often only sung with an old out of key piano. The church carried the melody!
Happy Sunday! Love the hymn At The Cross and enjoyed hearing Paul singing it with Paps beautiful harmony.
Again thank you Paul for a beautiful description of the song and how it relates to you and Pap.
Beautiful song ! Enjoyed listening to you and Pap perform it.