Dave's Review

Label: Gaither Music Group
Website: www.marklowry.com
Song Titles on Vol. 1: "Bein' Happy," "God Help The U.S.A," "Sweet Beulah Land," "Look For Me," "Search Me, Lord," "Things To Do," "Home," "Goin' Up Yonder," "Satisfied," "I Don't Belong," "Mary, Did You Know?," "I Do Believe," "You Needed Me," and "I Thirst"
Song Titles on Vol. 2: "A House Of Gold," "Make It Real," "Get Together With The Lord," "Farther On Down The Road," "Lord, Feed You Children," "I Can't Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand)," "Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel," "It Wouldn't Be Enough," "We Fall Down," "He Touched Me," "Tell Me," "The Old Landmark," "I'll Worship Only At The Feet Of Jesus," and "God Loves New York City"

The Best Of Mark Lowry consists of two CDs containing 14 music tracks each. These tunes have been drawn from Mark Lowry's 1998 release But Seriously, Gaither Vocal Band recordings dating back to Testify, and some Gaither Homecoming titles. Depending on the retail outlet of your choice, online or otherwise, you may buy these CDs seperately or as part of a package that also includes two videos called The Best Of Mark And Bill. (I'm planning to write a seperate review of the DVDs for publication in the near future.)

As the simple but adequate CD cover artwork implies, Vol. 1 has a more humorous slant than Vol. 2. "God Help The U.S.A" and "You Needed Me" are hilarious parodies while "Bein' Happy" is decidedly lighthearted. Vol. 2 isn't totally devoid of humor, though. The song "Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel" was inspired from an older Lowry comedy routine and we hear him laugh briefly with Howard and Vestal Goodman at the conclusion of "I Can't Even Walk." More serious fare on these CDs include "We Fall Down," "Home," and "I'll Worship Only At The Feet Of Jesus." Also, "I Thirst" and the classic "Mary, Did You Know?" have been included from the Mark Lowry On Broadway video. "I Thirst" was written by Mark's mother Beverly Lowry and first popularized by the Cathedrals, while the other tune is Mark's own lyrical claim to fame.

The Best Of Mark Lowry recordings compliment Lowry's Some Things Never Change project from 2003 nicely. Only one song ("Make It Real") is repeated, and it is a different version. You may be less inclined to purchase these CDs if you already own But Seriously however. All of those songs are repeated here. "A House Of Gold" is a more recent live version taken from the Homecoming video called Harmony In The Heartland, but the other nine song titles are duplicate tracks.

I really expected to hear a lot more spoken comedy on a recording called The Best Of Mark Lowry, if not from his older recordings on Word Records, at least from Mark Lowry On Broadway. Overall, though, these CDs offer a great balance of music. 14 tracks per volume is a good value, and you get a good representation of Lowry's work from the last ten years or so when you listen to both CDs. If you buy the Best Of Mark And Bill videos at the same time you buy these CDs, I feel confident you'll get your fill of spoken humor from the videos. You'll probably be ready for just music when you turn to the CDs.