Alabama's First Faith Album

Don’t count out Alabama. The band just completed “Alabama – Songs of Inspiration,” an album of hymns, standards and two new songs, hitting stores October 24.

"We first started thinking about this in 1990," recalls Alabama frontman Randy Owen, "and it seems like fans have been asking for it longer than that. The timing just happened to finally work out to record the album now." "Alabama - Songs of Inspiration" is the Country Music Hall of Fame band's first new album in over 5 years, the first since the band's farewell tour wrapped up 3 years ago, and first album with inspirational content in the group's history. Included are classics like "Rock of Ages," "How Great Thou Art," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Amazing Grace."

Narrowing the vast offerings available to record was the most challenging aspect of putting together the album, according to Owen. "I initially looked for songs at my mother's house. I looked through her notebooks and found so many songs and old song books. We also did a survey with the fan club to get ideas from them on songs they'd like us to do.These are songs that we grew up listening to as little kids. They've been 'hits' for hundreds of years, and our hope was to just carry them along in the same tradition. They'll be around long after we're gone, and I hope what we did with these songs will fit in somewhere in a good spot in history."

Two original songs, "One Big Heaven" and "Rain" - both written by Owen - were recorded for the album. Dr. Ralph Stanley contributes vocals on "I Am The Man Thomas." Stanley co-wrote the song, which also features Stanley's grandson on mandolin. Gospel standouts The Isaacs provide beautiful vocals on "I Need Thee." Three granddaughters of Alabama's Teddy Gentry sang on "Jesus Loves Me," and the Christmas classic "Silent Night" was also recorded for the album - a first for Alabama. "We recorded two Christmas albums, but we never cut that song. It fit the project, and it's beautiful!" Owen continues, "Recording this album has been an emotional journey, and it's one I'm proud we took. I hope people feel like they're going to church when they listen to these songs."