Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Even if your tastes are light years distant from the gentle, easy listening music of Marilyn Baker, you still can't argue that the blind singer/songwriter has been one of the most used ministers of the Gospel in the last three decades of British Christian music. Now Kingsway offer Marilyn's last two albums, 1996's 'Changing Me' and 1999's 'Overflow Of Praise', in a value-for-money package. 'Changing Me' was recorded in Nashville with some of Music City's best session musicians (Jack Jezzro, Craig Nelson, John Catchings, Sam Levine) and the slick, smooth production adds class to Marilyn's clean pure tones. Occasionally, it doesn't quite work - the middle eight about the antichrist on "Day Of The Lord" is simply too jolly to be effective - but on the lovely ballad "Can A Mother" spotlights Marilyn at her best. 'Overflow Of Worship' was produced on a lower budget by Steve Thompson and though there isn't a song here equal to her classic "Jesus You Are Changing Me", the black gospel chorus (including the sublime-voiced Tracey Riggan) add a pleasing dimension to her gently lilting songs of love of the Lord, while the piano and oboe instrumental "Tranquility" is quite lovely too. Marily Baker is the very antithesis of the cool, cutting edge, rad rocker. But that's cool too.

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