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Producer:  Mike Bowling
Label:  Daywind Records
Website:  www.mikebowling.net

Recordings like these are always hard for me to review.  Being someone who is fiercely rooted in the past and has an obsession for the history of this music, I typically find these types of recordings to be highly satisfying for me.  The Perrys tribute to the Happy Goodman Family I found to be very satisfying, but I have mixed emotions about Mike Bowling’s tribute to Kenny Hinson.  It is a great tribute, there’s no denying that…but I think in my mind I expected more; and I can’t quite put my finger on what that “more” is.

Some of the highlights for me on this recording include “AIN’T THAT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT” (which features former Hinson member, Chris Freeman on the second verse), “JUST LET ME FALL” (featuring Country Music singer Daryle Singletary), “BROKEN WORTHLESS VESSEL” (which features Mike with Kenny’s son, Weston Hinson), “CAMPMEETING DAYS”, “TOO MANY TIMES” (this is the best song on the whole recording) and “THAT I COULD STILL GO FREE” (also a flawless performance as well).

Of course, certain songs are a must for a recording like this and those songs, “CALL ME GONE”, “TWO WINNING HANDS”, “THE LIGHTHOUSE” and “HE PILOTS MY SHIP” are included, as are “THERE’S GONNA BE SOME CHANGES MADE”, “COME ON BACK”, “HALLELUJAH MEETIN’”, “LORD, YOU’RE ALL I NEED”, “SING ONE MORE SONG ABOUT HEAVEN”, “I’LL NEVER BE OVER THE HILL”, “SOUL FILLIN’ STATION” and “MERCY BUILT A BRIDGE”.  Ironically, the songs “THE LIGHTHOUSE” and “HE PILOTS MY SHIP” feature more Goodman overtones than Hinson, because the musical arrangements resemble more of the Goodmans than the Hinsons.

Per typical for me, there are always songs I would have loved to have heard Mike resurrect like “Desperation” (I fully expected this song to make the cut, but I digress…), “This Joy is Mine”, “Look to Him”, “Home With You Tonight”, “Put me Down” or “By the Time They Find Me Missing”.  I even halfway expected to see Mike re-cut his own version of “Homesick to Go” that he did a few years ago, but again, I digress.

Mike Bowling did this recording more so because of the love and respect he has for Kenny Hinson…not to fulfill some commercial aspect.  (At least I like to believe that!)  It was a passionate journey that he had to make because of the huge impact Kenny Hinson made on Mike Bowling.  We probably would have no Mike Bowling had it not been for the influence of Kenny Hinson.  No doubt, Kenny was one of the greatest voices to ever sing a gospel song.  As Mike, I too grew up watching the Hinsons and fell in love with their music during the late 1970s on the Gospel Singing Jubilee.  Mike Bowling will probably be the first to tell you that he’s no Kenny Hinson…but I feel in many places, Mike tries too hard to sound like Kenny.  Some of the songs sound forced to me.  They don’t sound natural for Mike.  Also, these songs don’t seem to express the same excitement and emotion that the original versions did.

I loved how that sweet country sound of the 70’s came shining through in some of the songs.  Somehow the music from the 70’s reaches me, and that style did come through in a few of the tunes.  And I love the cover.  Very cool looking and Mike’s own comments about the Hinsons and Kenny brought it home for me.  While in many ways, I believe Mike Bowling was very successful in what he was trying to accomplish, I feel in some ways let down.  But that’s just me.  It’s still a great piece of work.

Reader Comments

I don't think it's really fair to say that Mike's recording lacks the excitement/emotion as the originals. I don't care WHO is singing Kenny Hinson's songs....it is NOT going to sound like the original because there will never ever be another Kenny Hinson. We generally always tend to think the original versions are the best and that anything else is lacking. Now you KNOW how big a fan of Kenny's I am!!!! If anyone thought that, it should be me! lol But I thought that Mike did an awesome job! I didn't think he sounded forced in some parts of the songs. I think you can just naturally hear Kenny's influence coming through. Also, "The Lighthouse" version reminds me more of the Hinson's version that they did on the Gaither "Landmark" video than anything else. I didn't think Goodmans at all when I heard that. But I DID think Goodmans when I heard "He Pilots My Ship!" I agree that "Too Many Times" is the best song on the cd. And I also agree with your missing song choice. I would have LOVED to have heard Mike sing "This Joy Is Mine," "Put Me Down," and "Desperation." And I knew it wouldn't be on the list....but I've always loved "Better Than New." lol Oh and I'll close with the fact that Kenny's son Weston has an awesome voice and I'd like to see him record an album some day. Mike as a fellow human being that Kenny Hinson influenced and inspired.....I think you did an amazing job and I thank you for the album!

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