Karen Peck & New River

Journey of Joy
Daywind

Where do I start? Do I start with the fact that Karen Peck & New River have never sounded better, or do I first address the all-star line-up of songwriters?

Karen Peck has won a truckload of Singing News Fan Awards and for good reason — the girl can sing. Karen’s sister, Susan Peck Jackson, blends well and has never sounded better on her solos. And let’s not forget Devin McGlammery. Devin has great tones, blends well, delivers great solos and does it all with lots of energy.

Kyla Rowland, Gerald Crabb, John Rowsey, Jeff Steele, Ronny Hinson and Rebecca Peck are just a few of the great songwriters who contributed to this recording.

Hinson wrote two of my favorites, “Round the Kitchen Table” and “Where the Dirt Road Stops.” Karen Peck and Rowsey co-wrote a toe-tapping, radio-friendly tune called “Hey.” (If Jeff Easter had heard this song first, Jeff would have snapped it up for a Jeff & Sheri Easter recording.)

The first single being shipped to radio is “Last Night,” written by Marcia Henry, a well-crafted hit in the making. It might even rival “Four Days Late.” However, in my humble opinion, the best song on “Journey of Joy” is “Whispered Prayers,” written by Steele and Earl Galloway. This mostly acoustic laid-back production takes me back to the early New River days of “God Still Answers Prayers” and “Daddy’s Home.”

Although very country in its musical presentation, “Journey of Joy” leans more toward the southern gospel side of country than, say, today’s Rascal Flatts-type of country sound. “Journey of Joy” will satisfy the many Karen Peck fans — and win over even the most reluctant listeners.