Search - Don Rigsby :: Vision

A Very Gospel Debut

lawhound | Fairfax, Virginia USA | 09/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To anyone familiar with recordings by the award-winning Lonesome River Band, "debut" is hardly the right word. Don Rigsby has graced many songs with that band as tenor harmony vocalist and mandolin player. Most, if not all, of the members of the Lonsome River Band had released solo projects prior to this album; all of those releases had been critically acclaimed. It is thus with some trepidation that I picked up Rigsby's all-gospel debut. After all, there has to be at least one flop . . . right?That ended up being a very fortunate gamble; every song on the album is a gem! As a long-time fan of bluegrass gospel music, I must place this recording at the top of my collection alongside such memorable recordings as Ralph Stanley's ALMOST HOME, Seldom Scene's BAPTIZING, and the Country Gentlemen's CALLING MY CHILDREN HOME.The majority of the songs featured on the album are what most people would refer to as "classics": Wings of Angels, Little Spirit Man, Rose Among the Thorns, I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages, Over in the Gloryland, Angel of Death, Higher Than I, That Home Far Away, On A High High Mountain, God Needed My Mother, Drifting Too Far from the Shore, It is Jesus, Vision of a Golden Crown.There is no doubt that Don Rigsby has been influenced by the musical tradition of the Primitive Baptist Church. The concluding song on the album, Vision of a Golden Crown, is a once in a lifetime recording. The song opens with a snippet of a sermon being delivered by Elder Jerry Brown in a rhythmic style that one would expect to hear from a mountain preacher. The sermon is followed by beautiful congregational accapella singing (much like that in a Primitive Baptist Church) that includes the voices of Ralph Stanley, The Isaacs, John Berry, and many others. Rigsby also goes solo accapella on Higher Than I. This song was recently recorded by Ricky Skaggs as part of his all-Gospel album SOLDIER OF THE CROSS, but is done much more justice by Rigsby. Don Rigsby's soaring vocals are a wonder to hear.Other standout songs include Rose Among the Thorns, on which Ralph Stanley (who wrote the song and recorded it in the 70's) sings lead, as well as Over in the Gloryland and Drifting Too Far from the Shore. The latter song is performed in an appropriately plaintive voice that is both appropriate to the subject matter of the song and wonderfully moving.This is Christian music at its very best: simple, beautiful, and from the heart."

A Must Have

Lisa Burke | Dandridge, TN United States | 06/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don Rigsy's debut album Vision is a gemstone. Not only does he provide wonderful instrument playing, but his voice soars with the spirit that he sings about. Don Rigsby's renditions of classics are truly a pleasure to listen to. His talent is a God-given gift to the world. You won't be disappointed."

Powerful, simple music

James W. Durney | Tampa Bay area | 03/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don Rigsby has a great voice, a wonderful ability to deliver a song and believes the message in these songs. This makes for a powerful combination producing an experience where the total is much more than the sum of the parts. Lawhound said "This is Christian music at its very best: simple, beautiful, and from the heart". That is an excellent summary and recommendation for this fine CD. Be sure to listen to "Little Spirit Man", "Vision of a Golden Crown" and "Drifting Too Far from the Shore". I think that those three songs alone are worth the price paid for this CD."