PHIL KEAGGY: THE COVER OF LOVE

 Greetings and Salutations O Ye Keaggsters... have ya heard the new Phil Keaggy album yet?  I picked one up at a Glass Harp concert last week in Nashville Tennessee...at a store called Two Old Hippies.  It was a little bit of a surprise...as I was not expecting anything new from Phil...but SHAZAM.. there it was on the product table.

First off...the cover is great.  It is a shot taken many  moons ago of Olivia Keaggy who also sings on the album.  It was taken by Ben Pearson.  Phil describes it as "my favorite picture of all time." 

This is an album of "love songs" that spans the genre from Beatlesque to Beach Boys to Paul McCartney to Elvis and anything in between.  It is a fab collection of influences.  That's right...a collection of "silly love song...and what's wrong with that...I'd like to know...so here I go..again." (Paul McCartney)

 BETWEEN WYOMINGS:  This is a song written by Ken Mansfield who was the U.S. liaison for Apple Records and was the go to guy for the Beatles.  NOTE:  Ken has written some great books.  First, The Beatles, The Bible, and Bodega Bay (a chronicle of his journey with the Beatles and his spiritual journey to Christ) and The White Book (a great history of Ken and his relationship to the Beatles but also his music history in general), and Between Wyomings: My God And An Ipod On The Open Road. 

Ken wrote the lyrics and music to the song and Phil brought life to  the music.  Ken had sang the song to Phil while they were vacationing on the Gulf Coast a couple of years ago and Phil went back to Nashville, and "arranged, recorded, and brought the song to life." (Ken Mansfield)  The song now fleshed out  has a Harrisonesque sound to it with the guitar's sounding like George on My Sweet Lord. I picture Ken singing to the love of his life, Connie.  Also a treat are to hear Olivia and Alicia (Phil and Bernadette's daughters) adding some background vocals.

GOOD VIBRATIONS:  Next up is a delightful recreation of The Beach Boy's Good Vibrations.  It originally appeared on the 2002 artist tribute project MAKING GOD SMILE.  Sonically, it has that certain groove that evokes sunshine, cars, girls, and good vibration...that I pick up as the girl or my dreams gives me excitations.  Phil had a some help form Gene Miller on vocals and Ken Lewis on drums and percussion... while he played all other instruments...but it sounds like Brian Wilson and the Boys in full force.

SHE SEES ME:  This could be my favorite songs on the project...and in my top Phil Keaggy picks of all time (that says a lot).  I think the way that he sings the phrase..."she is my best friend...and she sees me for who I am" that leaves me undone...and reminds me of my 40 + years with the love of my life, Brenda.

WHERE ARE YOU LOVE:  This is a simple song...with vocals and guitar...with some sweet "father and daughter harmony" sung by Phil and the little lady on the cover of the project...Olivia.

MY AUBURN LADY:  A play on the words...auburn (the color of hair)...and Aw..bern (Bernadette, Phil's lovely lady).  I heard Phil once sing a song by Phil Maderia..."it's not the hair on the head...it's the woman that makes the man." (or something like that).  Every man of God needs a Woman of God...and Bernadette is strength when he falls or becomes to proud, or just needs encouragement to keep on keeping on.  I originally heard this in a concert in Nashville...and then on the project
RE-EMERGING.  (with  the Phil Keaggy Band from the old Love Inn Days)

There are three songs on this project that evoke the sounds and songs of Paul McCartney (imagine that)...but as always... more than an imitation of Sir Paul...but a tribute to the influence.  Two of the songs were written by Paul.  One was off the FLAMING PIE project and the other from FLOWERS IN THE DIRT. 

SOMEDAYS:  Again, a very reflective...almost sad song, about a lover thinking about his relationship with his lady and how somedays...he can't believe she is real.  It is a song looking back on the journey and looking toward the future.  I can't help but thinking of the "lovely Linda."  The call and response guitar licks...the mandolin, the string sounds all showcase the lyrics.

MOTOR OF LOVE:  This is off the FLOWERS IN THE DIRT project by Mr. McCartney (to me with more spiritual searching songs)...and recorded by Phil on the IINSEPARABLE project...that is an overlooked gem...again...in my humble opinion.  The song is a smooth declaration of the love that the man cannot get over...and it is motivated by this "motor of love".  At first an odd phrase to me...but the more I listen I sense a care without a motor will not run and go anywhere...but a love with a motor of love...keeps the relationship going.  I love the line..."heavenly Father look down from above..I can't get over your powerful motor of love.  And of course I relate it to the heavenly Father Himself who is the ultimate "motor of love" in my life.

GROW WITH ME:  This one is not a song by Paul McCartney...but written by Phil and Michael Lewis... but it evokes the kind of songs that Paul had on his MEMORY ALMOST FULL.  The song is a blend of the gritty, raucous rock and roll...and slides into a smooth, mellow, shimmering pop.  It is almost an anthem of love for his love...and the desire to "keep the flame alive and never let me go."  I could easily almost hear this on the CRIMSON AND BLUE cd.


I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU:  A Tip O' Da Hat to Elvis Presley is seen in this song from the 1950's.  I just watched Elvis perform this on a collection of his "Greatest Performances" video and WOW...what emotion.  Phil takes some of the early Elvis raw emotion...and melds it with some 60's pop sounds of the Beatles...and makes this a wonderful salute to two influences in one song.  I like the way that the hand claps and the quicker tempo are used...right after the on spot introduction of the Scotty Moore style guitar sliced into my ears. 

VOICES IN THE SKY:  A song by Justin Hayward from 1968...speaks of a love calling. It evokes to me images of what was known as "the summer of love" and the days of the "Jesus Movement" which were charged with change...and hopes and dreams of a new world...which a lot of us found in Jesus.  Voices in the sky....brought on the wings of a bluebird...as she flies in the sky...where God speaks from...is what we want to hear.

WHAT MATTERS MOST:  A song of search and a song about in the search for "what matters most" and that is love that matters the most.  I first heard this song on the Glass Harp project HOURGLASS.  This world is constantly changing...the sun comes up...the sun goes down...but in a relationship...what matters most is that love never dies.  Learn to forgive...learn to go to the well that never runs dry...walk in the land of the living...and realize that God's love never dies...and if your relationship in your marriage is based on that never dying love...your love will continue to flourish.

WHERE THE MORNING DAWNS:  Influenced by the writings of the Scottish writer of fiction George McDonald and of course the Fab Four...this songs speaks of how the morning down...that comes out of the darkness reveals the amazing grace of God.  "Oh God you are my God...early will I seek your face..." (Ted Sandquist)  "When the morning dawns...and the evening fades." (Phil Keaggy and Mike Radosvsky)  I love the imagery of how our love for Him...is revealed "in the holy hush in the early dawn" and to "know that love has a face...the giver of Amazing Grace."

Well...that is this humble reviewers impression of what I consider to be one of Phil's best projects...but as Wayne Berry my creative arts Pastor told me just this last Sunday in a conversation about this project..."Rodney...you are biased."  He then added..."that's not a bad thing."  Well...it is true...from my earliest days of my walk with the Lord...until now...Mr. Keaggy has influenced, encouraged, pointed me to Jesus and lived the humble servant attitude.

I give the COVER OF LOVE on a scale of one to ten...eleven.

Rodney Boyd