CD Reviews

RATING:

Charlotte Ritchie - Windows In the World

Producer: Ben Isaacs
Label: RSI Music Group
Website: http://www.charlotteritchie.com

Charlotte Ritchie is one of those singers that you can’t help but fall in love with. She has such a tenderness with her delivery and her singing entices you to sit and listen as she seemingly effortlessly belts out her song. This is Charlotte’s 3rd mainline release and, produced by Ben Isaacs, showcases Charlotte in a different light than we’ve previously heard her and with more of an earthy tone.

The recording starts off with the bouncy, “Little Bit of Morning Outside” before turning in her own rendition of the reflective “New Again”, previously released by country star Lee Ann Womack. In fact, many songs on this latest release by Charlotte have a reflective tone and allow us to pause and reflect. Other songs that tend to fall in this category is “After the Last Tear Falls”, the oft recorded “Before the Sun Goes Down”, “Song about Heaven” and the title song, “Windows of the World”.

Previously recorded by the Hoppers and Nelons, Charlotte turns in her own rendition of the classic, “Walk Right Out of this Valley”. Charlotte also renders her own arrangement of the Joel Hemphill classic, “Consider the Lilies”, which is the highlight of the recording for me and is followed by the bubbly, “Lead them to Jesus”.

The recording closes out with the Celtic sounding, “Even Greater” (I know I’ve heard this song somewhere before, but can’t place by whom) and the prayerful, “Heaven Hear my Prayer”.

When comparing Charlotte’s previous releases, I feel this one falls most in line with who Charlotte is and I perceive this is what she is most comfortable singing. While all that may be true (I’ve not had any conversations with her to verify), this isn’t my favorite recording by her. I still think “Closer” is her finest work and that recording really showcased what she can do vocally and stylistically. Fans of Charlotte should still enjoy this recording as it is a very good recording and there is a lot to enjoy!

Song List:

(stars denote personal favorites)
1 – Little Bit of Morning Outside**
2 – New Again
3 – Tell it Like it Is
4 – After the Last Tear Falls
5 – Walk Right Out of this Valley**
6 – Before the Sun Goes Down**
7 – So Good
8 – Windows in the World
9 – Consider the Lilies**
10-Lead them to Jesus
11-Song about Heaven**
12-Even Greater
13-Heaven Hear my Prayer