One Believing Man Has Soul
By Chris Wilson and Dallin Graham, BYU Meridian Correspondents 

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Parley P. Pratt’s Great Escape, a rousing musical about struggles of the early LDS Church, premiered in August 2005 and was a stunning hit.  Recently released is One Believing Man, an album with select songs from the musical.  Full of great songs and talent, it is an entertaining CD that honors a wonderful man.

Anyone looking for just another church CD to add to a Sunday collection should look elsewhere.  This is no average church musical: the storyline is taken out of its nineteenth-century context and retold with a little more soul.  Parley P. Pratt is given a Soul Sister to help him through his trials, and she brings a lot of spunk and personality. 

The soundtrack, although not recorded with all the original cast and songs, still has the same spirit.  Each one of the performers has very impressive credentials and is well qualified.  Randy Porter is a popular EFY artist and plays Parley in the musical, also bringing the same energy to the CD.  Kelly Eisenhour, who sings as Sister Soul, is a very talented jazz singer who has performed with the Boston Pops, Gladys Knight, and the Utah Symphony and released several solo CDs. 

John Fluker — backup singer, pianist, and organist for the soundtrack — plays the piano and sings for Gladys Knight.  He has written many popular songs and topped the gospel charts in 1994 with “Give Me Two Wings.”  Each one of these performers brings his or her unique skills and talents into the production coming together to create a wonderful album.

Randy Porter

Kelly Eisenhour

John Fluker

Right when the music starts, you know that you are in for a treat.  The gospel soul beat in the first song, “Singin’ and Hummin’,” catches the listeners’ interest and leads perfectly into Kelly Eisenhour’s smooth singing.  The lyrics are warm and uplifting:

The music reminds us that even in the toughest times God will send us people to aid us in our journey through life.  When listening to the music, it feels like being in a sort of Southern Baptist church filled with warm and supporting people.  The song takes us back to a time when things were more simple, and just like the title — it gets us singin’ and hummin’ along with it.  It’s as close as you can get to hand-clappin’, soul-swingin’ Southern Baptist without leaving Utah.

Even if gospel music isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other great uplifting songs.  In “Joseph, Take Me with You,” Parley honors the Prophet and addresses him as one would a dear brother.  The song has an undertone of worry and trouble consistent with what the Church’s leaders were experiencing at the time.  Joseph and Hyrum were being held in Liberty Jail and Parley was in another Missouri prison.  Parley expresses to Joseph his great love and concern, as well as his commitment to follow him. 

Several musical phrases from this song are repeated throughout the CD, and the same rhythmic guitar and mandolin picking are also laced through several songs, especially “Parley’s Overture,” an instrumental version of “Joseph, Take Me with You.”

A bonus song entitled “Heaven’s Light” comes from the song “He Shines on Me” on Gladys Knight’s album One Voice.  Kelly Eisenhour’s smooth voice is accompanied by Fluker on the organ, back-up singers, and a light drum set.  The lyrics bounce back and forth from Kelly to the singers in a kind of question-and-answer style, with one voice telling half of the message, followed soon after by the others echoing the rest of it.  Its gentle rhythms and peaceful chords are a pleasure to the ears.            

“Circle of Blackbirds” is a sort of autobiographical song Parley sings about his life and how he came to know the Lord.  It has very pretty piano, acoustic guitar, and mandolin work, and combined with Randy Porter’s vocals, bears strong testimony.

Although it may not seem like the best compliment to some people, these songs bring to mind those early years in Joy School.  The organ begins, and it just makes you smile, because the songs are full of joy.  They’re upbeat and happy, making you want to bounce, clap, and sing along.  A CD such as this one may be the last thing the average person looks for, but it has the perfect mix of spiritual and upbeat to soothe any soul.         

For more information, visit www.parleysgreatescape.com. To order the CD, click here. The DVD of the musical Parley Pratt's Great Escape can also be picked up at any LDS bookstore.