Artist: Joseph Habedank
Project Title: Take Time To Be Holy
Label: Daywind
Producers: Lindsay Habedank

Southern Gospel Music has really transformed over the past couple of decades. It was once an industry dominated by male quartets and family groups. However, while we still find male quartets and family groups, the industry also includes a number of trios, duets and an every growing number of soloists. Joseph Habedank is one of the newer soloist in Southern Gospel Music. Joseph is, without a doubt, one of the most talented songwriters in the industry today. However, his latest project does not include a single song that he wrote. It is a hymns project and it is amazing!

The project is titled “Take Time To Be Holy; Hymns For Quiet Reflection.” It is an outstanding project that includes ten classic hymns that many of us have been singing and listening to for years. Joseph begins with “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and this Martin Luther classic song has long been a favorite of mine and Joseph’s arrangement and performance is nothing short of amazing. My favorite hymn is next with “It Is Well.” I have loved this hymn, the message of it and the story behind it, since I was a teenager. Joseph is joined by his wife Lindsey on this song and I love the performance and the song! “There Is A Fountain” is the next song on the project and this amazing song has been around since 1772. The message however is completely unchanged and the song and message is every bit as powerful as it was back then.
Philip P. Bliss is one of my favorites of the hymn writers and one of his best is “Hallelujah What A Savior.” A great song of worship about how amazing our Savior is. One of the more modern songs on this project is “What A Day That Will Be.” This song was a favorite of my parents and I grew up hearing all kinds of groups and singers sing that song. Joseph does an outstanding job singing this great song. “Be Thou My Vision” is another of the great, traditional hymns that I remember singing in church on Sunday morning. It is great to hear these songs again and to really listen to the beautiful lyrics and the pictures that they paint. This is one of the great ones! One of my favorite songs while growing up was “My Jesus I Love Thee.” I remember always requesting it when we had requests in church. We never sang it quite as well as Joseph does but the message and proclamation of our love for God was very much the same!

One of the great Communion Sunday hymns while I was growing up was “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.” Joseph includes this amazing song on his project next and I love this version. “Come, Thou Fount” is the next song we find on this hymns project and I just cannot express the memories that these songs bring back to me. It seems I know every song and every word of every verse by heart. The title cut of the project is next as Joseph finishes up the project with “Take Time To Be Holy.” What an incredible ending to an incredible project.

I have already said that Joseph is one of the great songwriters today so I do appreciate him taking the time to record a project like this one. I love the old hymns and I am one of those people who thinks we do not sing them enough anymore. Joseph has chosen ten amazing songs and has an amazing arrangement and vocal performance on each song. My favorite songs from this project are “It Is Well,” “My Jesus I Love Thee” and “What A Day That Will Be.” In all honestly there are ten favorites on this project and if you love the old hymns of the church, this project is a must have for you! Joseph has delivered a top notch project here and it will be a great addition to your Southern Gospel Collection. For more information on Joseph Habedank, visit his website at www.josephhabedank.com.