Spirit Walk

Since his emergence in the early ‘70s, Randy Stonehill has matured as a singer/songwriter without losing his youthful exuberance. *Spirit Walk* rings with the wit and wisdom of a seasoned talent yet displays the playful qualities that make Stonehill distinctive. “I got a touch of arthritis in my hips/I got a bird’s-eye view of the Apocalypse,” he sings in “Blood Transfusion and a Coca-Cola,” acknowledging both his elder status and his undimmed fervor. His well-crafted lyrics are filled with wry turns of phrase and arresting imagery, whether the setting is bluesy electrified rock (“Remember the Devil”), warm acoustic balladry (“Broken Places”), or gospel-tinged R&B (“Pray for Me”). Stonehill retains something of a “hippie for Jesus” air; “The Last Time I Saw Eden” could almost be termed psychedelic. The advice he offers to Christian seekers in “Finish Well” and the title tune is informed by real-life experience. After 40 years of record-making, Stonehill remains the enraptured troubadour, ready to celebrate the Lord with a touch of humor and an overflowing heart.