Evelyn ‘Evie’ Tornquist was born on March 29, 1956 in
Rahway, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrants.
She released her debut album A SONG FOR EVERYONE in 1970. In 1977 and 1978 she won the Dove Award for
‘Female Vocalist of the Year’. In 2005
she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Three of her albums were Grammy nominated,
including 1977’s COME ON, RING THOSE BELLS.
What I will be reviewing here is a best of project entitled OUR
ReCOLLECTIONS (1996, Word). Evie shares:
“Really, life begins with Jesus and never ends thereafter. It reaches its full meaning when we make Him
center and Lord of our lives. I did that
at a very early age and have been privileged to walk with Him for all of these
years”.
First up is the adult contemporary ballad ‘Special Delivery’
about the uniqueness of Jesus: “Never was anyone like Him/Never will one be the
same/A tiny babe, an infant King, Savior/We worship and honor the power of His
Name/Oh, He came special delivery/Wrapped up in love/Bound by a promise/Sealed
by a dove”. ‘Live for Jesus’ was penned
by Nancy Henigbaum, better known as Honeytree.
It talks about the importance of legacy: “Oh, I want to be remembered/As
a girl who sang her songs for Jesus Christ/Who was willing to lay down her life/And
do His will no matter what the price”.
Ron and Carol Harris wrote ‘Mirror’, an easy listening tune
addressed to seekers: “You’re searching for Jesus/Looking to find hope for
tomorrow and some peace of mind/When you can find Him in the Bible and many
churches that I know/But ‘til you find Him in the mirror/You’ve got a long way
to go”. ‘Step Into the Sunshine’ is a
song of invitation: “Children, step into the sunshine, get out of the
shade/This is the one time that you’ve got it made/And you can feel yourself
smilin’ way down to your shoes/Step into the sunshine, find the great Good
News!”
‘Give Them All to Jesus’ points to Him as Healer: “Wrap up
the shattered dreams of your life/And at the feet of Jesus lay them down/Give
them all (2X)/Give them all to Jesus/Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken
toys/Give them all (2X)/Give them all to Jesus/And He will turn your sorrow
into joy”. Andrew Culverwell wrote the
classic country and western song ‘Born Again’ that uses tambourine. It’s a testimonial: “One day I prayed ‘Jesus
take my sin away’/And that’s when I was born again/Born again, there’s really
been a change in me/Born again, just like Jesus said/Born again and all because
of Calvary/I’m glad, so glad that I’ve been born again”.
Kurt Kaiser wrote the campfire classic ‘Pass it On’. It begins with these familiar words: “It only
takes a spark to get a fire going/And soon all those around can warm up in its
glowing/That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it/You spread
the love to everyone/You want to pass it on”.
Evie’s husband Pelle Karlsson wrote ‘Never the Same Again’, a country
ballad of testimony: “I remember how He waited/How He called me by night/Yet I
chose to wander my own way/And nothin’ worked out right/Till the day I finally
surrendered/Jesus healed my life/I won’t be the same, no never the same again”.
‘Clean Before my Lord’ speaks of how Jesus transforms us:
“Clean before my Lord I stand/And in me not one blemish does He see/When I
placed all my burdens on Him/He washed them all from me”. John Daniels wrote the disco track ‘Broken Up
People’ which offers a commentary on society: “Broken up people and broken down
lives/Broken up homes, broken husbands and wives/All the world around us is
falling apart/Broken up people with broken up hearts/There are so many things
that money can buy/But it won’t buy peace of mind no matter how hard you
try/Broken up people need brand new lives”.
Ray Hildebrand wrote the inspirational classic ‘Say ‘I
Do’’. It anticipates heaven: “Anybody
here want to live forever?/Say ‘I do’/Anybody here want to walk on golden
streets?/Say ‘I do’/Anybody here sick and tired of living like you do?/Anybody
here want a home with love forever?/Say ‘I do’”. ‘Praise You Just the Same’ includes these
prayerful words: “Oh, but thank You for the trial if it will bring me close to
You/Help me Lord to smile when things don’t go the way I’d want them to/If I
suffer pain, help me that I don’t complain/But thank You Lord and praise You
just the same/I want to thank You, Lord, and praise You just the same”.
‘Unfailing Love’ sounds like an epic ballad from a Broadway
musical. It speaks of Christ’s goodness:
“Unfailing love flows from His heart and heals my soul/In spite of who I am He
loves and makes me whole/I almost can’t believe it’s true/Unfailing love and yet
I know/He gave His life to give to me/Unfailing love”. Sharalee Lucas and Ron Harris wrote ‘Praise
the Lord, He Never Changes’, a praise and worship ballad: “Praise the Lord/He
never changes/I come to Him/He’s always there/He comforts me on every level,
takes the burden that I bear/Praise the Lord/He never changes/He’s never any
other way/And He’ll be the same tomorrow as He was and is today”.
‘The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power’ is one of two gospel
numbers on this CD penned by Andrae Crouch.
This one’s about the atonement: “The blood that Jesus shed for me way
back on Calvary/That blood that gives me strength from day to day/It’ll never
lose its power/It reaches the highest mountain/And it flows to the lowest
valley/That blood that gives me strength from day to day/It’ll never lose its
power”. Jessy Dixon wrote ‘Hold On’, a
song of encouragement: “Weeping may endure for a night/But if you’ll trust in
Jesus/Everything’s gonna be alright”.
‘Just Because I Asked’ is the song of one amazed: “I can’t
help singing/I feel I’m bursting/I can’t keep it to myself, oh no/For the
Spirit is moving in me/And has filled me and made me new”. Last up is another classic, ‘My
Tribute’. It exalts God: “With His blood
He has saved me/With His power He has raised me/To God be the glory/For the
things He has done”.
If you enjoy the easy listening and inspirational sounds of
Twila Paris, Sandi Patty, and early era Amy Grant, you should pick up this
superb collection by a true Christian music pioneer. These are songs that come from a childlike
innocent faith in Jesus Christ. The
lyrics admit life can oft be difficult, but point to Jesus as the solution to
our problems. He is loving and
compassionate and yearns for a personal relationship with us. I’m rating OUR ReCOLLECTIONS 100%. For more info visit: www.eviemusic.org.