-
An Album of
- Catholic
"Good-Time" Music
- by
- Bill
Kassel
- Author of
- HOLY
INNOCENTS
- and
- THIS SIDE OF
JORDON
ON THIS MOUNTAIN is
an album of original gospel songs that are designed
to lift your spirits, to make you think, to let you
have fun.
Some of the songs
could be described as "Catholic good-time music" -
though the term, "catholic," might best be rendered
with a lower-case "c." Most have the kind of
universal (ie: "catholic") appeal which should be
pleasing to listeners of any Christian
disposition.
Stylistically, the
music is all over the map - from "folk," to
"calypso," to "country-rock," to "Motown," to
you-name-it.
Every work included
is original, with words and music by
journalist/novelist/Christian entertainer Bill
Kassel (except "For All the Saints," an Anglican
classic that has earned a secure place in
Protestant and Catholic hymnals alike, and is
rendered here in an original adaptation).
Lyrically, the
songs tend not to take themselves too seriously,
though there are some more reflective pieces to
leaven the loaf. They deal with the experience of
faith, with the human condition, with our
relationships to God and to each other, with the
things we seek, and the things we deny. In short,
with life, the way it is.
Indeed, Kassel's
lyric writing has a freshness that fits neatly with
his bouncy tunes, and bridges the gap between
religious ideas and the language of casual
conversation. As Catholic talk show host Al Kresta
has put it: "Imagine John Michael Talbot writing
for Tin Pan Alley (or perhaps the Grand Ole Opry),
and you have some idea of these songs. Believe me,
this is not your father's Catholic music!"
The songs of ON
THIS MOUNTAIN are timely, relevant, praise-filled,
readily singable - often quite humorous - and
evangelistic without being "preachy." And they're
all presented with a party-like exuberance made
possible by a talented "company" of Christian
musicians - guided by the fresh artistic vision of
producer Dan Adam.
ON THIS MOUNTAIN
truly breaks new stylistic ground. It's a genuine
milestone in the development of commercially
appealing Catholic pop music.
AVAILABLE ON CD FROM
CLICK
HERE TO ORDER
$16.95
(plus $1.75
Postage for each copy)
- MAKE CHECK PAYABLE
TO:
- Company
Publications, Inc.
-
- MAIL TO:
- Post Office Box
60
- Hillsdale, MI
49242
Or
contact us by E-Mail at:
companypub@sbcglobal.net
- THE
SONGS
- Words &
Music by:
- Bill
Kassel
-
- 1. On My Way
Back Home
- 2. I
Believe
- 3. Isn't It a
Miracle
- 4. Mother of
Peace
- 5. Lord, I'm
Calling to You
- 6. For All the
Saints*
- 7. Safe In the
Arms of the Lord
- 8. Three
Things
- 9. A Simple
Compulsion
- 10. Kyrie
Eleison
- 11. We Depend
on You
- 12. On This
Mountain
- 13. Walk in the
Light of the Lord
-
-
Produced by Dan
Adam
-
- *For All the
Saints
- Adapted and
Arranged
- By Bill
Kassel
- Lyrics: William
Walsham How
- Music:
Sine
nomine
- Ralph Vaughan
Williams
- © Oxford
University Press 1906
- Used by
permission
- All rights
reserved
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"...Kassel's music is both heartfelt and
easy to understand."
- CATHERINE
O'DONNELL
- Religion
Writer
- The Ann
Arbor News
"Bill Kassel has
created a whole new genre of Catholic 'good-time'
music - tuneful, singable, and just plain fun, but
with insights that make you go 'hmmmm.' Imagine
John Michael Talbot writing for Tin Pan Alley (or
perhaps the Grand Ole Opry), and you have some idea
of these songs. Believe me, this is not your
father's Catholic music!"
- AL KRESTA
- Talk Show Host
- Ave Maria
Radio
"The collection
attempts to use the devices of pop culture to
encourage thinking about faith and the questions
faced by believers."
- Faith
Magazine
"Kassel &
Company is quite unique. Their feel-good music, a
cross between John Michael Talbot, Peter Paul &
Mary, and the Oak Ridge Boys, might skew to a
little older demographic than the average Cheer Up
Charlie fan. Whoever listens to it, however, can't
help but feel better about life."
- DAVE
HARTLINE
- Catholic
Report
"I hear terrific
instrumentals and rousing vocals. These are songs
that reflect the great American folk heritage with
a strong blues coloration - and all with a great
Christian message."
- JAMES
AIKMAN
- Composer and
Music Educator
REVIEW
FROM...
- KASSEL
& COMPANY
- On This
Mountain:
- Songs for the
Way It Is
On This Mountain is
the debut album from journalist/novelist and
Christian entertainer Bill Kassel, known for his
novels Holy Innocents and This Side of Jordan. A
collection of songs touching on the many aspects of
the human condition, or life the way it is, On This
Mountain takes you on a feel-good journey back in
time.
Labeled "Catholic
good-time music," the songs have a bouncy, fun feel
to them. The music is arranged simply (the
instrumentation consists of acoustic guitar,
keyboard, flute, harmonica, bass and percussion),
the singing is heartfelt yet lighthearted, and
there is a distinct bluegrass/country feel although
many musical styles were incorporated. On This
Mountain creates a nice folksy atmosphere that
makes you feel like you've been transported back to
another era when life was a lot simpler.
Kassel professes
his Catholic faith (and even honors the Blessed
Mother with a song, "Mother of Peace") but he has
also worked to create a project that would be
pleasing to all Christian denominations. He takes
good, solid themes such as returning home to the
Lord ("On My Way Back Home"), simple faith ("I
Believe"), the miracle of God's love for us ("Isn't
It a Miracle"), sin ("A Simple Compulsion") and
Christian unity ("On This Mountain") and applies
straight-forward lyrics that should speak to any
heart open to the Lord.
On This Mountain is
available through www.companypublications.com. It
will put a smile on your face and a song in your
heart.
SUSAN
BAILEY
- THE
MUSICIANS
-
- Dan Adam,
Guitar, Keyboard
- Kara Fay
Coulter, Vocals
- Columbus James,
Percussion
- Bill Kassel,
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
- Tom Loewe,
Vocals, Harmonica
- Ron Patterson,
Vocals, Bass
- Eden Simmons,
Vocals
- Rachel Waddell,
Flute
- Scott Waddell,
Vocals
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