Type: Collection (various artists), Children, Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: Gospel
Review
Simplifying the Bible to make it understood by children is a risky process. They do not necessarily need it dumbed down, but it is difficult to extract the core of the stories without gliding over important facts. It would take a particularly contemptuous person to warn small ones about the real Biblical statements on redemption and Heaven and Hell. This is why children who learn about the Bible usually first learn songs about God's goodness ("Jesus Loves Me") and not the punishments and plagues described in Revelations. There are books in the Bible that especially appeal to children, "David and Goliath," "Daniel in the Lion's Den" and the Christmas story about the baby in the manger. Songs From the Beginner's Bible is an attempt to teach children some of these important Bible stories in the form of modernly orchestrated songs. Its best marketing strategy is utilizing singer and actress Jodi Benson (voice of Disney's Little Mermaid) who has tremendous vocal clarity and charisma. Songs From the Beginner's Bible walks a fine line when dealing with stories of a gritty nature -- "Me for You, You for Me" is a duet with Jodi and Wayne Kirkpatrick that reveals God's wish for man to have companionship, but the story closes before children hear about man's first sin in the Garden of Eden and the cursing of the earth. Some of the songs do deal with heavier topics and morality, such as selfishness in "The Tower of Babel," and idolization of false of Gods on "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." Mostly, the album stays close to the topic of love, and God's all-inclusive love on "All the Children." The album was clearly produced by Christians, but its purpose seems focused on teaching simple Bible stories rather than preaching the Gospel -- though it succeeds at that, too. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Phil Keaggy (Vocals), Donna McElroy (Vocals (Background)), Ashley Cleveland (Vocals (Background)), Phil Madeira (Organ (Hammond)), Phil Madeira (Vocals), Phil Madeira (Bells), Eric Darken (Percussion), Eric Darken (Sound Effects), Eric Darken (Vibraphone), Jodi Benson (Vocals), Jodi Benson (Vocals (Background)), Jodi Benson (Narrator), Jodi Benson (Main Performer), Mark Baldwin (Guitar), Joe Baldridge (Choir, Chorus), Joe Baldridge (Engineer), Joe Baldridge (Mixing), Greg Barnhill (Vocals (Background)), Lisa Bevill (Vocals (Background)), Steve Bishir (Engineer), Michael Black (Vocals (Background)), George Cocchini (Guitar), Ernie Collins (Tuba), Keith Compton (Engineer), Keith Compton (Mixing), Jackie Cusic (Vocals (Background)), Dennis Davis (Illustrations), Bob Farnsworth (Arranger), Bob Farnsworth (Keyboards), Bob Farnsworth (Vocals (Background)), Bob Farnsworth (Producer), Kim Fleming (Vocals (Background)), Thomas Flora (Vocals (Background)), Lynn Fuston (Engineer), Lynn Fuston (Mixing), Joy Gardner (Vocals (Background)), John Hammond (Percussion), John Hammond (Drums), Brandon Harris (Vocals (Background)), Brandon Harris (?), Chris Harris (Vocals), Chris Harris (Vocals (Background)), Chris Harris (Choir, Chorus), Chris Harris (Producer), Don Hart (Orchestration), Mark Heimermann (Piano), Mark Heimermann (Drums), Mark Heimermann (Keyboards), Mark Heimermann (Vocals (Background)), Mark Heimermann (Rap), Tom Hemby (Guitar), Tom Hemby (Special Effects), David Huntsinger (Piano), David Huntsinger (Keyboards), Patrick Kelly (Assistant Engineer), Patrick Kelly (Mixing), The Kid Connection (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Kirkpatrick (Vocals), Wayne Kirkpatrick (Vocals (Background)), Bryan Lenox (Engineer), Bryan Lenox (Mixing), Sam Levine (Saxophone), Ken Love (Mastering), Gary Lunn (Bass), Gary Lunn (Drums), Blair Masters (Keyboards), Blair Masters (Drum Programming), Blair Masters (Keyboard Programming), Chris McDonald (Horn), Chris McDonald (Horn Arrangements), Terry McMillan (Percussion), Jerry McPherson (Guitar), Tony Miracle (Keyboards), Tony Miracle (Drum Programming), Tony Miracle (Keyboard Programming), Craig Nelson (Bass), Todd Robbins (Assistant Engineer), Alan Robertson (Vocals (Background)), Chris Rodriguez (Vocals (Background)), Jimmie Lee Sloas (Bass), Denis Solee (Clarinet), Denis Solee (Saxophone), Jackie Street (Bass), Carry Summers (Assistant Engineer), George Tidwell (Trumpet), George Tidwell (Horn), Mervyn Warren (Vocals (Background)), Kristin Wilkinson (?), Jerry Wise (Sound Effects), Jerry Wise (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Wise (Choir, Chorus), Taylor Harris (Vocals (Background)), Taylor Harris (?), Jeff Lisenby (Accordion), Greg Parker (Assistant Engineer), Gary Janney (Vocals), Gary Janney (Vocals (Background)), Gary Janney (?), Gary Janney (Mouth Drums), Simon Levy (Art Direction), Frank Ockenfels (Photography), John Painter (Trumpet), John Painter (French Horn), Grant Cunningham (Vocals (Background)), Amy Heimermann (Voices), Helena Occhipinti (Make-Up), Helena Occhipinti (Hair Stylist), Jan Harris (Vocals (Background)), Jeffrey Tay (Stylist), Don Wise (Vocals (Background)), Don Wise (Choir, Chorus), Don Wise (Producer), Vinnie Chea (Vocals (Background)), Merrill Farnsworth (Vocals (Background)), Alex Makulu (Vocals (Background)), Tim Minzies (Vocals (Background)), Buddy Spicker (Fiddle), Brenda Whitehill (Design), Bill Altvater (Piano), Brian Mason (Sound Effects), Aaron Sweihart (Assistant Engineer), Missy McGinty (Sound Effects), Bob Burns (Bass), Mike Haynes (Horn), Mike Haynes (?), Pete York (Executive Producer), Matt Morris (Horn Arrangements), Matt Morris (String Arrangements), Jeff Bergman (Voices), Ronnie Brooks (Guitar)
