Four For Harmony originally formed as an a cappella group. They later changed their name to Far From Home, and then FFH. In 1998 they put out their major label debut I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU. It included the hit song 'One of These Days'. In 2000 they released FOUND A PLACE. It included the successful 'When I Praise'. 2001 saw the release of HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU (Essential). It peaked at #119 on the Billboard 200. The group was comprised of Jeromy and Jennifer Deibler, Brian Smith, and Michael Boggs. In the liner notes you will find the following: "Àside from seeing people come to know Jesus, there is nothing more fulfilling than to have folks know and appreciate your music. We thank the Lord every day that this is our `real job', and are constantly amazed at how faithful He has been".
1. Starting things off is the bouncy, energetic pop tune 'Watching Over Me'. It's one of seven songs penned solely by Jeromy Deibler. This one is about God's faithfulness: "How could I stray too far away/Where You won't leave the ninety-nine/To come and bring me back/And put me on Your shoulders and carry me around Your neck/Until it's safe to walk?/And I'll be alright/Safe inside/Stayin' alive/As long as You are watching over me".
2. Jerry McPherson plays electric guitar and dobro on 'Fly Away', a cheerful pop/rock song that anticipates Christ's return: "Curiosity has got a hold of me/Tell me how it's gonna be when/One day I'll see You coming back for me/And all together we'll fly away/One day I'll hear that trumpet loud and clear/And all together we'll fly away/O how I long for the day/When we fly away".
3. Jeromy Deibler, Todd Young, and Scott Williamson wrote the great praise and worship anthem 'We Sing Alleluia'. Here are some of the words to this song that makes good use of a choir: "Men have praised You through the ages/Followers who have gone before us/So we stand before You/And we lift our voices/All together we join the chorus/We sing alleluia/Praise Your Name and glorify/We sing alleluia/Lift our voices to the sky".
4. 'Jesus Speak to Me' is an adult contemporary prayer: "I've been walkin' in the desert/I need to hear from You/I need Your touch, I need Your love/O Jesus speak to me, yeah/I need to hold You oh so close/O Jesus speak to me, yeah/O Jesus speak to me".
5. Matt Kroeker and Brad O'Donnell wrote the fun, quirky pop song 'Astronaut'. On this song Byron Hagan plays B3 and Scott Williamson plays the tambourine. Here's the chorus: "And I don't know that much about astronauts/But I know that Jesus cares an awful lot/He made the stars, He made the moon/Just think of how much more/He loves you".
6. The Nashville String Machine is featured on the strong pop title track 'Have I Ever Told You'. It's about divorce: "Have I ever told you that I'm sorry it didn't work out?/Have I ever told you that I'm, I'm sorry that I walked out?/Have I ever told you that I'm sorry that I didn't think about how it was gonna make you feel?.../Have I ever told you that I love the way you've turned out?/Have I ever told you that I've, I've been watching and I'm so proud?"
7. Jonathan Yudkin plays fiddle on 'I'm Amazed', a song that reflects on Calvary: "What do I think of when I think about the nails in Your hands?/What do I think of when I think about Your blood in the sand?/What do I think of when I think about it, I don't understand/I think about love/I think about grace/I think about You standing in my place/And I'm amazed".
8.Michael Boggs wrote 'Millionaire', a soothing song that reflects on fame and popularity: "I may never be the reason that people come from miles around/Just to hear that beautiful sound/I may never see the season where people love to hear me speak/And everybody wants to be me.../I may never drive a fancy car/Or be a movie star/But I'll be, I'll be, the light of the world".
9. Jeromy Deibler and Brian Smith wrote 'Open up the Sky', a catchy pop song that starts off like a modern day Psalm: "I've had my share of heartache/I've felt the sting of pain/From standing out in the desert/Praying for rain/I've seen my lonely teardrops/Fall down my lonely face/Oh, how I long to hear the thunder roll again/And I want to be swept away in Thee/Only You know what I need".
10. Michael Boggs, Jeromy Deibler, and David Hamilton wrote 'Before it was Said', an adult contemporary ballad about prayer: "So I get down on my knees/'Cause I'm stronger than these voices inside of my head/They try to deceive me and make me believe/That I would be better instead/To take my requests and put them to rest/But You're already one step ahead/You knew just what I would say/Before it was said".
11. 'You Write the Words' is an inspirational ballad that finds the band speechless: "I don't know what to say/That hasn't already been said/I don't know what to write/That hasn't already been read/I don't know what to play/That You haven't already heard/So here's my song/You write the words/Here's my heart/You write the words".
12. 'On My Cross' finds Craig Nelson on bass, Mark Baldwin on the gut string guitar, and uses the Nashville String Machine. It spent two weeks at #1 on Inspirational Radio and is the album's longest song. It's one of deep gratitude: "I don't know why You went where I was meant to go/I don't know why You love me so/Those were my nails, that was my crown/That pierced Your hands and Your brow/Those were my thorns, those were my scorns/Those were my tears that fell down/And just as You said it would be/You did it all for me/And after You counted the cost/You took my shame, my blame/On my cross".
HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU has an even split of fast paced songs and slower paced ones. This terrific Christian pop album was produced by Scott Williamson and David Hamilton and executive produced by Bob Wohler and Robert Beeson. Jeromy and Jennifer Deibler (husband and wife) take turns on lead vocals. Themes on the album include: a gratitude for Calvary, God's comfort, care, and love, and the Second Coming of Christ. A couple of songs cry out for Jesus' touch and love, a couple songs are on the subject of prayer. The title track is a good song about divorce. If you enjoy the music of PFR and Avalon, you'll want to check this album out! I'm rating HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU 90 %. For more info visit: www.ffh.net or connect with them on Facebook.