The titular of Michael English's new album "Some People Change" is most telling.   Fans of English were most heartbroken when the faux pas of his moral fall almost ruined his career in 1994.  After his confession to an adulterous affair, a miscarriage by his mistress, and an ugly divorce, English was stripped of his recording contract.  Christian radio boycotted his songs.  And English returned all his Dove Awards.  Nevertheless, despite of our sinfulness, God's grace still prevailed.  During his lugubrious duress, English stayed with Ashley and Wynonna Judd.  Instead of throttling English for his moral downfall, Wynonna Judd encouraged English not to give up making music.  During this time, Judd even recorded the hit ballad 'Healing" with English making it into the soundtrack of the movie "Silent Falls."  While no label was willing to give English a second chance, Curb Records (also Wynonna Judd's label) did.  The imprint not only signed English but tenaciously stayed with him all these years.  "Some People Change" is English's eighth Curb Records album.  And his first since 2008's "The Prodigal Comes Home."  More importantly, this record is a testimony that every sinner who has encountered God's grace expressed on the Cross of Jesus Christ can be changed.  This album is choked full of such a theme.  While English has dabbled with various genres before including his soft rock secular albums "Michael English" (1995) and "Freedom" (1996), this new disc reflecting English's recent involvement with the Gaither Vocal Band is decidedly country/Southern Gospel with huge doses of soulful blues. 

The credits on "Some People Change" are enough to blow one's socks off: this is a star-studded affair with a celebrated bastion of the biggest names in the music industry.  Produced by Rascal Flatt's Jay Demarcus, the album features guest vocals by Russ Taff, Crystal Lewis, Chip Davis and the Gaither Vocal Band.  Just as one of English's biggest hits was a cover of John Berry's "Your Love Amazes Me," this is a cover album of sorts.  But "Some People Change" is a cover album with a difference:  the songs here originated from various genres and ears.  From the tried and true Gospel canon, you have George Beverly Shea's "I'd Rather Have Jesus," then you have the mainstream Aretha Franklin and George Michael's pop standard 'I Knew You Were Waiting from Me" to the rustic sounds of the Goodmans' "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey" to left-field blues rocker Jonny Lang's "The Great Day," and to country hit makers Montgomery Gentry's title cut "Some People Change."

When English sings the first few notes of Wilburn and Wilburn's "I Ain't Giving Up on Jesus" one begins to appreciate what a gorgeous voice English has.  Sturdy and high octave reaching yet consisting of the soulfulness of Michael McDonald, listen to how English sways with that bluesy rhythm on this magnificent ode of faithfulness to Christ.  Russ Taff shows up for a cameo on the swampy "Come to the River."  When it comes to George Beverly Shea's 'I'd Rather Have Jesus" don't expect a strait jacket cover.  Singing on a tangential melodic line, English truly has re-written to this hymn and has brought it to a new level of greatness.  Though English has covered "In Christ Alone" some 20 years ago, his updated version of this evergreen hymn soars with a greater maturity that is just breathtaking.  While Montgomery Gentry's "Some People Change" is a portfolio of stories of how individuals who have been so stymied in their own habitual evilness can still be changed by God.   And the real gem is the Don Schlitz's (who co-wrote Alison Krauss' "When You Say Nothing At All") co-write "Stubborn."  A gorgeous piano-led ballad about our struggles to turn to God, this is also perhaps the only song to ever contain the word "molecule" in its lyrics.

At first glance two songs seemed to stick out like soar thumbs:  "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."  Both of them are not known to be Christian songs in what is an overtly religious record.  The former is the 1987 George Michael and Aretha Franklin smash, here finding Crystal Lewis taking Queen of Soul's part.  Both English and Lewis sound so good together that it is all forgivable.  But Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome" -  a cry-in-your-beer country standard with its self depreciating lyrics  -- is certainly an odd ball here.  Nevertheless, it has been 5 years since English has graced us with a full studio album.  And he returns with a blast; this truly is a great record delivered by one of Christian music's best voices.