Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




City On a Hill (3): The Gathering
(Various Artists)



Album length: 14 tracks: 44 minutes, 10 seconds
Street Date: September 23, 2003


In 2000, Essential Records struck gold with the innovative collaborative effort entitled City On a Hill. Like any great original, a worthy follow-up is always welcome and Essential once again delivered a new worship favorite found in 2002's sequel City On a Hill: Sing Alleluia. Later that year, the nothing-short-of brilliant Christmas detour, City On a Hill: It's Christmas Time may have looked like a cheap addition to a hit series, but proved to be a unique must-have seasonal offering. Now it's Fall 2003 and Essential Records is releasing what is being called the third and final official chapter in the regular City series, this time entitled City On a Hill: The Gathering. The series ends on a high note scoring once more with fourteen new City arrangements of original and older worship cuts.

As with the other records, producer Steve Hindalong teams up with the brilliance of Marc Byrd (Common Children, GlassByrd) to piece together a thrice-done but always interesting format. Considering it is a format and feel done three (or technically four) times on the City On a Hill projects where CCM artists work together on the tracks, it's a surprise it maintains a fresh feel each time around. Although the novelty and wonder of the first City album has since worn off slowly with each release, what keeps it exciting is getting to see artists like Jars Of Clay and Sixpence None the Richer collaborate, or even larger moments offering the likes of Caedmon's Call, Jars' Dan Haseltine, Bebo Norman, and Sara Groves teaming on vocals with members of Jars Of Clay, Sixpence, and The Choir performing the accompaniment. There aren't too many other records where you will find this.

The Gathering opens strongly with the upbeat title cut followed by "Kyrie Eleison" fronting Sixpence's Leigh Nash with a mighty impressive backup choir. An inspired union of Sixpence None The Richer with Bebo Norman highlights "Beautiful Scandalous Night," a song originally penned by veterans Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty of The Choir some eleven years ago. Daugherty, Haseltine, and Groves team with GlassByrd and Paul Colman for a memorable original that tastefully incorporates a brief nod to the City On a Hill original "God Of Wonders," a song that first appeared on the 2000 record and has since become a favorite among worship services all over. The rest of the project falls in line as nicely as those that preceded it with the album coming to a bittersweet close in a reprise of "Marvelous Light," a song that has appeared on each of the City efforts. This time around, the regretfully short rendition is lead by Dan Haseltine and Ginny Owens, accompanied by another impressive vocal ensemble.

While it's understandable that the artistic muscle behind these albums would want to cap off the series at a trilogy, this remains a collection of collaborative efforts that are unmatched and it will be sad to see this new tradition end. Perhaps we'll see more projects like City On a Hill in the future. Until then, The Gathering is a worthy end to an impressive run. Thanks Steve, Marc, Derri... & friends.

- Review date: 9/22/03, written by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

City On a Hill 3 CD

Buy This CD Online


. Record Label: Essential Records
. Album length: 14 tracks, 44 minutes and 10 seconds
. Street Date: September 23, 2003
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Shall We Gather At River - Prelude
  2. The Gathering - Caedmon's Call, Dan
    Haseltine and Charlie Lowell
    (Jars of Clay),
    Bebo Norman, Sara Groves
  3. Kyrie Eleison - Leigh Nash & friends
  4. Beautiful Scandalous Night - Sixpence None
    the Richer and Bebo Norman
  5. Jesus Went To the Garden - Derri Daughterty
    (The Choir), Paul Colman, Dan Haseltine
    (Jars of Clay), Sara Groves, GlassByrd
  6. Table of The Lord - FFH and Paul Colman
  7. Holy Is The Lord - Andrew Peterson
  8. We Will Trust You - Ginny Owens
    and GlassByrd
  9. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing - Jars
    of Clay
  10. Come Be Who You Are - Sara Groves
  11. Instrument of Peace - Paul Colman Trio
  12. Hallelujah Never Ending - Caedmon's Call
    and Silers Bald
  13. Open Your Eyes - Ginny Owens
  14. Marvelous Light - Dan Haseltine (Jars), Ginny
    Owens
    , and friends
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics


Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics


Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images