Artist Name: Danny Riddle
Website: www.DannyRiddle.com
Album Title: “You Raise Me Up”
Song Titles:
1. You Raise Me Up
2. Got My Armor On
3. Crying Out To Me
4. Cover Me Lord (I’m Goin’ In)
5. Shadow Of The Cross
6. Let Me Live
7. Seasons Of Friendship
8. I’m Going Up
9. Here He Comes
10. You’re A Big Shot
11. Reap What You Sow
12. He’s Dying To Meet You
13. If Jesus Comes Tonight
14. We Shall See The King
15. I Wouldn’t Miss It

Danny Riddle has been singing since he was a teenager, and he has received a good amount of airplay in his home state of Florida. Along the way, he also hosted a Southern Gospel radio show called “Reach Out”. This radio show ran for over 11 years. As you can see, Danny has been singing for a while.

“You Raise Me Up” is Danny’s latest project. It contains 15 songs- more than most artists will put on an album these days. The styles range from light contemporary to Southern Gospel to some original compositions by Danny himself. The album cover consists of a picture of Danny in front of a wooded background. Inside the album cover, you will find the song credits but no song lyrics. (Although, I must admit that putting the lyrics to 15 songs would be a bit much for one album cover.)

Now, let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.

The first song is the title song of the album, “You Raise Me Up”. This is a song that has been made popular by artists such as Selah and Josh Groban. At times, it seems like Danny is just behind the beat of the song. Next in line is an uptempo song called “Got My Armor On”. This song has a very good message to it. Song #3 is one of Danny’s original compositions. It’s entitled “Crying Out To Me”, and it’s a slower, softer tune. At times, though, the background vocals seem a bit out of tune with the song itself.

Song #4 is an uptempo song with some interesting lyrics. It’s called “Cover Me Lord (I’m Goin’ In)”, and it’s meant to have somewhat of a country sound. The tempo slows down again for the fifth song, “Shadow Of The Cross”. This may actually be the best song on the entire album. “Let Me Live” is the next song, and it is a medium-tempo song that starts out very slowly before speeding up. Song #7 is the second song on the album written by Danny, and it’s called “Seasons Of Friendship”. This song has a more contemporary feel to it than some of the other songs.

The eighth song is another uptempo song called “I’m Going Up”. It is definitely meant to be a Southern Gospel-style song. It was also written by Danny. Next comes a slower song called “Here He Comes”. This is another songs with a strong message. Danny contributes another song that is next in line. It’s a song with a driving beat called “You’re A Big Shot”. Song #11 is called “Reap What You Sow”. Danny gets back to a Southern Gospel style with this medium-tempo song.

Song #12 is a ballad entitled “He’s Dying To Meet You”. This song seems to showcase Danny’s lower range rather than the higher range that we’ve heard a lot of to this point. This leads into the thirteenth song, a medium-tempo number called “If Jesus Comes Tonight”. This is the last song on the album written by Danny. “We Shall See The King” is the fourteenth song. It has a bluegrass feel to it. The album ends with an a cappella song called “I Wouldn’t Miss It”- just Danny and the background vocalists.

I’ll be totally honest here- this album has some pretty serious issues musically. Danny’s voice is pitchy in almost every song. Sometimes he sounds as thought he’s singing through his nose, and other times he sounds like he’s singing from his through instead of his diaphragm. His voice “wobbles” a few times throughout the album, and his word pronunciation needs some work as well. He also has a tendency to “slide off” the ending notes of words. Some people think this is a stylistic thing, but it really isn’t. Finally, the accompaniment tracks all sound like they were played on a synthesizer instead of by actual instrumentalists, and several of the more contemporary arrangements are reminiscent of a 1980’s sound.

I really think that Danny would benefit from a few things. First of all, some vocal training would be a good start. Secondly, I noticed on the song credits that he helps sing the background vocals to many of his songs. This is something that is very difficult to do correctly, which means that he should probably stay away from doing this. Finally, Danny needs to concentrate more on simply singing the songs solidly than he does on trying to add “style” to it.

If it sounds as though I’m being overly critical, then I apologize to anyone that I may offend. However, I must be totally honest in all of my reviews. Overall, I think that this album deserves a rating of 3 out of a possible 10 microphones.

I have followed Danny Riddle's music ministry for several years now. I do appreciate you sharing "your" opinion of this album; however I would have to disagree with all the negativity that you put into the review.

I do not feel Danny needs to have vocal training as he is on key with each song he sings on this recording. Some people can not hear harmony as they always sing lead and that is all they know how to sing, I have always been impressed with the songs from his albums where he sings backing vocals as it blends well together. I saw Danny in concert this past January and he shared about his friend BK who plays the instruments for him on his recordings and yes as you listen there are real instruments on each song being played by BK, in an interview with a Southern Gospel magazine, Danny shared about BK and how well he plays a fiddle.

I have only seen and heard positive reviews and articles about this fine young man and his music ministry. Winning souls is what it’s all about, so many artists today have lost that aspect and goal in their ministry and I am glad that Danny has not lost sight of that.


All my best
Eric Williams
North Carolina

I have this CD, and I do not find anthing wrong with it. I don't think this review was a fair one. I dno't think he sings flat and his pronunciation on each word is very clear and I understand each word he sings. I feel the reviewer should re-review this project with out being judgmental. I apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings or come off as being rude, BUT this cd is better than how it was reviewed.

Thanks
Charline

Hi Chad,

I received your email about your review of my project “You Raise Me Up”. I have been out of town this past month and just had the opportunity to read my email and to read your review. I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this project and for your constructive criticism. There are no hard feelings for your honest opinion. I pray that my next project will have a more favorable review.

Continue to keep the music alive!
Danny
www.DannyRiddle.com