Love Never Fails (2003 album)

Love Never Fails is a collaboration album by American country artists, Barbara Fairchild, Connie Smith, and Sharon White. The album was released on August 12, 2003 on Daywind Records and was produced by Ricky Skaggs and Dorthy Leonard Miller. The album was collection of Gospel songs sung as a trio between the three artists.

Background and critical reception

Love Never Fails consisted of eleven tracks all recorded together by Babara Fairchild, Connie Smith, and Sharon White. Most of the songs were Gospel material, however their style also gave it a Country pop sound to it was well, according to Slicpue.com.^[1] None of the other tracks were written by Fairchild, Smith, or White. The album's final track, "Walkin' Through the Fire" was written by country artist and Smith's husband, Marty Stuart.^[2] The album spawned two singles released in 2003: the "Closer to Home" and the title track, however both failed to chart.

Love Never Fails was reviewed by Slipcue, which gave it a fairly positive review. The website gave credit to producer, Ricky Skaggs for giving the album "a strong production" and giving the, "disc a lot more rhythmic ooompf than most albums on this popular Southern Gospel label." The website ultimately concluded by saying, "This album is probably too rowdy for most Southern Gospel fans (who really like tinkly pianos and less-twangy vocals), and while it probably won't wow many country listeners, for folks who are fans any of these three singers, this is kind of a treat. Plus, it's certainly a heartfelt performance, with a nice harmony sound among the trio... Very Jesus-y, but the emphasis is on inspiration and self-affirmation, rather than the evangelical side of things, so it may be more accessible to secular listeners. Worth checking out."^[1]

Track listing

Personnel

• Jim "Moose" Brown – piano
• Stuart Duncan – fiddle
• Juraj Durovic – orchestra director
• Mark Fain – bass, session leader
• Barbara Fairchild – lead vocals, harmony vocals
• Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar, string guitar
• Wayne Haun – conductor
• David Huntsinger – keyboards, piano, hammond organ
• Brent Mason – electric guitar
• Ricky Skaggs – electric guitar
• Connie Smith – lead vocals, harmony vocals
• Marty Stuart – mandolin
• Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar, banjo
• Sharon White – lead vocals, harmony vocals

Technical personnel

• Dean Dixon – photography
• Norman Holland – artist and repertoire
• Michael Hradisky – assistant engineer
• Brent King – engineer
• Andrew Mendelson – mastering
• Josef Pokluda – contractor
• Calene Rader – make-up, hair stylist
• Cindy Rich – make-up, hair stylist
• Stanislava Vomackova – interpretation
• Kevin Ward – engineer

References