Sandra Faye 'Sandi' Patty was born on July 12, 1956 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Early on her, her brothers, and parents performed as 'The Ron Patty Family'. Her first solo album, released independently, was 1978's FOR MY FRIENDS. One of my favorite albums of hers is MORNING LIKE THIS (1986). She followed it up with 1988's MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS (Word), which I'll be reviewing here. It was produced by Greg Nelson and Sandi Patty Helvering, and executive produced by John L. Helvering. Sandi writes: "My prayer is that these songs will encourage you and challenge you to a deeper walk with the Lord".
Bill and Robin Wolaver wrote the album opener and title track 'Make His Praise Glorious'. It's a great pop praise song: "Shout with joy to God all the earth/Sing glory to His Name/Tell aloud His marvelous worth/His righteousness proclaim/Glory and honor and blessing and power be unto the Lord/Come and let us make His praise glorious!" 'Come Let's Worship Him' is a pop song of invitation: "Come let's worship Him/Celebrate Christ the King/The mighty One/Come let's worship Him/Oh, give thanks to the Lord/Great things He has done/Worship Him!"
Gary McSpadden, Billy Smiley, and Chris Christian wrote 'No Other Name', an inspirational ballad that testifies: "There's power in the precious name of Jesus, Jesus/Forever He shall reign as King of kings/Lord of all and every living thing/From now on we'll worship Him/And praise the Name of Jesus, Jesus". 'Almighty God' again testifies: "He is excellent in power/All creation speaks His majesty/Jehovah, Father, mighty King/Sustainer of my soul/He reigns in golden splendor/His heaven's filled with wonder/He purchased my forever/Almighty God".
Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the beautiful adult contemporary ballad 'Love Will Be Our Home'. It's sentimental for sure: "Wherever there is laughter ringing/Someone smiling, someone dreaming/We can live together there/Love will be our home/Wherever there are children singing/Where a tender heart is beating/We can live together there/Love will be our home". 'Come Before Him' is a jubilant song of adoration: "Come before Him (2X)/Come unto Him and worship Him with highest praise/Come before Him (2X)/Give honor to His Name forevermore/Come before the Lord!"
Next up is 'Someone Up There Loves Me', penned by Steve Wenger. This upbeat pop/jazz number takes comfort in God: "Someone up there loves me/He's watchin' over me every day/Someone up there loves me/He's watchin' what I do and what I say/Someone up there loves me/Every minute of the day I know that someone's up there/And He's looking out for me". Horns are used to good effect. 'In Majesty He Will Come/Majesty' reflects on Christ's return: "Born of a mighty God/Sent from His heavenly throne/Given to reign over kings and priests/The sins of man to atone/The Messiah will return/The hour unknown to men/A fanfare of praise will inhabit the earth/As creation rejoices in Him".
'In Heaven's Eyes' is a pretty adult contemporary ballad of hope: "In heaven's eyes there are no losers/In heaven's eyes no hopeless cause/Only people like you with feelings like me/Amazed by the grace we can find/In heaven's eyes.../Looking down God sees each heartache/Knows each sorrow, hears each cry/And looking up we'll see compassion's fire/Ablaze in heaven's eyes". Last up is one of three songs written by Dick and Melodie Tunney, 'In His Presence'. It begins with these words of intimacy: "In the quiet of this hour/As I kneel before You now/I believe Your promise to be faithful/I don't always understand/What Your perfect will demands/But I learn to trust You more in Your presence Lord".
MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS is made up of six slow songs and four fast ones. Four are pop praise, four inspirational, and two adult contemporary. Sandi praises and worships God for being righteous, mighty, the Creator, and the Messiah. He shed His blood so we could have forgiveness of sins. Listeners are invited to come into God's presence and thank Him for His love and care for us, and the peace He gives us. We are to anticipate Christ coming back for His own. We are also to truly love each other. Sandi's vocals are magnificent, as are the backing vocalists who include First Call, Guy Penrod, and Brent Henderson. The Nashville String Machine and Pinebrook Orchestra are nice added touches. I'm rating this album 95%. For more info visit www.sandipatty.com and/or connect with her on social media.