Album Notes

Welcome to my second album "God Loves You"! It was such an uplifting experience making the first one that I had to do more. My first album GHBG2M (for short) was very introspective and personal - there are songs on it that I still cannot perform with dry eyes - but this album is running over with energy and enthusiasm. I wanted to take the feelings of joy and blessings in my life and turn them outward for others to see, and I think I have succeeded.

Again, keeping with simple themes, the album starts with "God Loves You", the title track. This song combines a hint of African rhythm, several syncopated parts, and a techno-synth lead to produce a catchy song that bubbles over with joy. A friend of mine reviewed my album and told me that I needed to make the message more subtle, to make the listeners have to dig for it more. I told him that this was the greatest message man will ever know and that there was no way I was going to hide it.

"Back Into The Fold" is a punchy song that I wrote many years ago, about having someone there to rescue me. Next is "Rejoice Now", a praise and worship song with mandolin in the tradition of "I Will Praise You" off of GHBG2M. This song is really great live when the crowd gets in to the "Hallelujah"s at the end.

"Angel" is one of my favorite songs that was inspired by my failure to help someone in need as well as the lives of people that I know that just get the job done. Dick and Suzi Stephens are the champions of The Malawi Project, an organization that is saving the African nation of Malawi. Check out malawiproject.org for what is being done and how you can help.

The song "Roll Away The Stone" was written for an Easter celebration and it is about how the Lord can help us with burdens we cannot bear. I change the pace a little with "Circle Of Love" - this is an entirely a cappella song written for 4-part harmony (but actually using 9 or 10 parts in some places). I try to constantly develop my vocals and when you record without instruments, there is nothing to hide behind!

Don't let the intro to "Don't Know How He Does It" fool you - just around the corner from the harmony intro is a "power trio" rocker that is sure to get your attention. I also experiment with blues in "Sometimes The Answer Is No".

The ninth song, "Waiting For Me To Change", is probably one of my favorite songs so far. It starts out as a simple piano and vocal song, but quickly blossoms into a very dramatic and personal anthem. I only used piano, drums, and bass on this song, but the contrasts help me tell this story in a powerful way. This is a song I listen to when I need a boost.

I wrap the album up with "Walking In The Light", another older song, "I Am Here", a love song, and "Home With You", a southern-gospel hymn in the tradition of "The Feet Of Jesus" off of GHBG2M.

Give it a listen, I hope it will uplift and inspire you. Please check out my web site at www.SamuelLloydShelby.com for performance dates and more info. In the words of "I Will Praise You": "We have it all, we're family every one, the love of the Father, the Spirit and the Son and we are blessed, we're saved and we're free, our Brother has paid the fee, and He promises us His rest" - REJOICE NOW!