Original country, folk and gospel songs of faith
Singer-songwriter Ed Bruce’s career evolved from songwriting (“The Man That Turned My Mama On,†“Restless,†“Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,†“Texas (When I Die)†for Crystal Gale, Waylon & Willie, and Tanya Tucker) to hit making in the mid-80s, but by the end of the decade he’d turned to acting. He released albums sporadically over the next decade, including the inspirational titles Changed in 2004 and Sing About Jesus in 2007. Varese’s new collection pulls together a dozen originals from that pair of self-released albums, offering testimony of rebirth and giving witness to the warmth of faith’s family. Bruce sings of Christian charity, makes the most of his resonant voice on the bluesy “Tougher Than Nails,†and works through feelings of loss on “I Know.†There’s folk, country, blues, two-steppers and gospel swing that will please everyone, and plenty of praise to please the faithful. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com] 