Jimmy Payne                                               The Man, His World & His Music

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REVIEWS

Much has been written over the years about Jimmy's albums. It is just a shame we can't find all the nice things that have been said since he started recording. Our search for those early reviews will continue. However, until then, you can read on this page reviews of the CD's "When Mama Prayed" and "Pieces Of Life."

Reviews of Jimmy's current CD "When Mama Prayed" from the CDBaby website

CD received, happy with it, nice selection of songs, good sound.
Reviewer: Lois

Nice selection of songs. Good gospel content. I am happy with it.

Brilliant
Reviewer: Maurice Taylor

A brilliant CD that is traditional country as it should be and was meant to be and is now the best CD that I own alongside Pieces Of Life. I want more of JIMMY PAYNE.

 
Great Country/Gospel
Reviewer: Bonnie Ahle

What a great CD. What a great singer and songwriter. Hope he keeps on making CD's. Highly recommended.

A wonderful selection of old and new songs
Reviewer: Alan C.Hardisty
                        
This is a wonderful CD. Jimmy Payne is blessed with a natural gift when it comes to delivering sacred music. I did have his gospel album on the Word label years ago and it is great to have these songs issued again - with two new titles. So refreshing and a wonderful selection of old and new songs. More please!

Beautiful Country/ Gospel
Reviewer: Ken Russell

This CD has certainly re-kindled my love for good old country gospel. So relaxing when behind the wheel on a long journey. I certainly want to hear more of Jimmy's CD's.

Highly Recommended
Reviewer: Karen Wanley

Jimmy Payne is probably better known as the co-writer of the million selling song "Woman, Woman" for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap in 1967. Not true! Jimmy is a fine entertainer, too, with his musical roots firmly placed in gospel and early country music with a career spanning nearly four decades. This album shows Jimmy not only as a respected country/gospel singer but also as a fine writer. Twelve of the fourteen titles here were originally released in England in 1978 and still sound as fresh today as they did back then. Two new tracks were especially recorded for this CD - "When Mama Prayed" and "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" - and fit in so well you would think it was part of the original album - which goes to show what a fresh and modern feel this CD has. It offers a splendid mixture of both old and new sacred music with compositions from Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Jim Glaser and Jimmy himself providing that classic country feel.

In the August 2003 edition of the British magazine "Country Music People" Craig Baguley wrote this review:

JIMMY PAYNE
When Mama Prayed

When Mama Prayed* /Walk With Me The Rest Of The Way/Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus/ Family Bible/Look Away Mama/Lord Won't Give You A Burden/Why Me Lord?/It's Not What You See/Jesus Use Me/When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder*/It's Not For Me To Understand/God Is The Foundation/Sinner's Prayer/ Amazing Grace

Producer: Bill Holmes & Jimmy Payne / *Jimmy Payne
Sounds Upon Cumberland SCCD 414 (41:56)
****

It's been many years since Jimmy Payne was a familiar visitor to these shores, and this CD reminds me how much the UK listening clubs are missing. Jimmy has never been an aggressive singer, and his relaxed, comfortable approach is captured perfectly on this collection of 14 songs, 12 of which were previously released in Britain on Word in 1978. Never have I heard the artist in better vocal form than here. The restrained production captures beautifully the intimate atmosphere of a man playing and singing favourite gospel songs for his friends. On the new tracks, a tremendous When Mama Prayed and a fine remake of the traditional When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder, Jimmy's voice seems not to have aged a jot since the rest of this album was recorded. It begs the question: are these newly recorded or previously unissued tracks cut years ago? Actually, it doesn't matter. Sit back and enjoy a masterful performance from the man in the trademark peaked cap.

Craig Baguley

This review of "When Mama Prayed" by Paul Davis appeared in the May issue of Life Times – the magazine for Christian living which is published in Ireland.

JIMMY PAYNE
WHEN MAMA PRAYED
Sounds Upon Cumberland SCCD414

This is 'working man' country music.
Jimmy's previous country gospel album was on the Word label. There have been over 200 recordings of JP songs over the years. Very popular in the UK, he is undoubtedly one to be cherished in country music history as this new keepsake collection conclusively reveals. "When Mama Prayed" - www.jimmypayne.org  - boasts 14 story songs with writers such as Don Wayne, Jim Glaser, Bill Holmes, Hazel Houser, Kris Kristofferson, Chip Hardy, John Newton, as well as Jimmy himself. Musicians include Bill Holmes, Jim Glaser, Doyle Grisham, Jon Corneal and Tom Pallady. Highly recommended. The rootsy tracks in order are "When Mama Prayed," "Walk With Me The Rest of The Way," "Wait A Little Longer," "Family Bible," "Look Away Mama," "Lord Won't Give You A Burden," "Why Me Lord?" "It's Not What You See," "Jesus Use Me," "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder," "It's Not For Me To Understand," "God Is The Foundation," "Sinner's Prayer" and "Amazing Grace."

A review from a Swedish country music website by Marcus Thell.

ARTIST: Jimmy Payne
TITLE: When Mama Prayed
LABEL: Sounds Upon Cumberland records.
4 hats (5 hats is the best you can get!)

Jimmy Payne was on Epic in the 1970's and has done a few really good records from that time. Vocally he sometimes reminds me of George Jones. This gospel album was first released in 1978 on the Word label in England but has now been re-issued on CD with two extra songs. Among the musicians you will find Jim Glaser on guitar, steel guitarist Doyle Grisham and drummer Jon Corneal. This is gospel at its finest. The best songs on this CD are; "Walk With Me The Rest Of The Way", Willie Nelson's "It's Not For Me To Understand", "Family Bible", "Jesus Use Me", "Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus" and "When Mama Prayed."

A very good gospel CD with an older country singer who knows how the traditional country should sound. The record might be hard to find, but try at Jimmy's website.

Reviews of "Pieces Of Life" from the CDBaby website

Reviewer: Sue Holmes

I've been a fan of Jimmy Payne for decades. His warm, mellow tones give the traditional country music he loves and respects a special earthy sound. Jimmy will always remain true to his beginnings, and his fans love it!

This is what "real" country music is all about!
Reviewer: Thomas Johnson

Maybe it is because I am mature in years and the majority of music I hear coming out of Nashville these days makes me cringe - so how refreshing it was to listen to this CD by Jimmy Payne. To me, this is what real country music is all about. I was already familiar with Jimmy's music having earlier bought his When Mama Prayed CD, but Pieces Of Life is really excellent and offers great value for money with 20 tracks of country music as it should be without being over produced. It was also pleasing to hear Jimmy's own compositions that have been recorded by other country singers - like, for example, Don't Say Love which was recorded by Connie Smith and Daniel O'Donnell; The Weight Of My Chains that was covered by Tompall & the Glaser Brothers; My Eyes Can Only See As Far As You which sold a million for Charley Pride and Cheatin' Turns Her On that Jo-El Sonnier recorded. A wonderful selection of songs but I think one of my own personal favourites has to be Mansion In Spain. This CD is brilliant and I have never stopped playing it!

If you know of an album or CD review from a magazine or newspaper that we haven't featured here, please be kind enough to send an email to the webmaster and we will make arrangements to have it included.

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