Christmas Hidden Gem: Gaither Vocal Band – “Hand Of Sweet Release”

Our next hidden gem comes from the Gaither Vocal Band Christmas CD,  Still The Greatest Story Ever Told.  Most of the attention on this album went to two Mark Lowry songs, “Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel” and an incredible, in fact, definitive, recording of “Mary, Did You Know?”.  Buried toward the end of the CD you’ll find this track.  This is a great ballad that included Guy Penrod as a co-writer.  The lyrics of this song are such that it really could be played year round, though it bases its message off of the Nativity.  It’s similar to “That Little Baby” and others in this respect.  Penrod sings the lead on this song, and delivers an incredible vocal.  This was the first project with David Phelps, and on the second verse and chorus we get a teaser of the stratospherically high power harmony that the GVB would make their living on during the next few years.  There are some really nice unexpected chords in the last chorus/tag to the song in particular.  This song was the first of many great ballads to come from this configuration of the GVB.  Put this one on your iPod of Christmas favorites.  What a great song.