Rick Elias and Regie Hamm wrote the opening number 'All Around the World'. It's a good pop/dance song that is highly optimistic: "All around the world/I see the arms of Jesus reaching/All around the world/He's healing hearts and souls/And teaching perfect love to every man and woman, boy and girl/'Til the light of heaven shines/All around the world". Strings, french horn, oboe, and saxophone are used on the adult contemporary ballad 'Soul to Soul'. It encourages unity: "My hair's too long and your clothes are way out of style/My music is much too loud and Perry Como's a bit too mild/These trivial things that drive us farther apart/For a much higher call/We must tear down the walls between our hearts".
Regie Hamm wrote 'Pledge to Purity'. It's a lovely duet with Tina Vallejo. It's one of spiritual devotion: "I pledge my life to do what's right/This is my sole security/Here in my heart/Both day and night/I'll make a pledge to purity". Phil Madeira plays B3 organ on 'Church of Love', a gospel number of inclusion: "The orphans of the world can find a sister or a brother/It's where the weary rest and the weak stand tall.../So bring the poor and bring the lonely/Bring the sin sick and diseased/There's no one perfect here/Only passionate disciples doing all they know to believe".
Next up is one of two songs solely penned by Dennis Patton. Lisa Keith and Micah Wilshire are backing vocalists on 'See Him'. It's an easy listening song with these words from one having a burden for another's soul: "How can I show you the love that you need to see?/And how can I tell you the truth and somehow make you believe?/Maybe just one word or a simple smile/Will bring you to your knees and you'll open your eyes and see Him". Dennis Patton and Steve Siler wrote the title track, 'Do You Know This Man?' Dan Huff plays guitars on this adult contemporary song that asks us to examine our standing with Jesus: "Do you know this Man?/Do you call His Name?/When no one can see/Do you call Him your King?/With nothing to gain do you take a stand?"
'Stand on Love' is an upbeat pop song encouraging unity amongst believers: "You see we're so concerned with labels and wanting to belong/We create so much division/We can't even get along/There's no time to judge each other/We're the only ones who lose/We need to come together/Upon the Word of truth". Al co-wrote 'Life on the Edge' with Linda Elias and Blair Masters. It's a pop/dance track of spiritual encouragement: "It's time to live what you believe/We live in a world that will demand your very soul/So stand apart and guard your heart/You can't follow the status quo/You've gotta walk the narrow road/You're not alone". Glenn Pearce provides an electric guitar solo.
Joe Beck, Al, and Brian White wrote 'One Nation Under God'. It's a patriotic cry for revival: "Our fathers built this land on the foundation of the Word/They gave their lives for truth and liberty/Yet today there's something missing/We've pushed aside God's Word/It seems we've lost the reason to believe/The banner's torn and tattered beneath a cloud of sin/And it's time we took America back to the cross again". Last up is the Leonard Ahlstrom/Al Denson composition 'More to Love Than Meets the Eye', on which Bob Carlisle is a backing vocalist. It's an easy listening ballad that includes these hope-filled words: "I keep dreaming of a place that waits behind the door/Where I will see for eternity/All that heaven has in store".
DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN? is the first Al Denson album I have in my collection and it's a dandy! Mainly adult contemporary and pop, there are also elements of easy listening, dance, and gospel. There are six slow songs and four faster ones. The importance of living pure, godly, devoted lives comes across quite clearly. Al stresses a need for unity and love amongst believers and warns against division. In addition, the need to share the Good News of God's love and salvation is a prevalent theme. If you enjoy the music of Wayne Watson and Clay Crosse, you should purchase this record, which I'm rating 100%. For more info visit www.aldenson.com and/or connect with him on Facebook.