Shades of Grace

Bob Carlisle

Diadem Records
CD, 9219396912 $16.98
CAS, 9219396914 $10.98

Kiss of Success for Carlisle

From Los Angeles to New York, you can turn to a Christian radio station anywhere and sooner or later hear Bob Carlisle singing "Butterfly Kisses." The novel thing is that you can also hear him singing the same song on many pop stations in the same cities and towns. In fact, Carlisle can even listen to others singing his breakthrough hit on country music stations. There are at least two other versions competing with Carlisle's original, and although he'd rather be the only choice listeners have, he still gets paid royalties as a writer.

With the help of Randy Thomas, 40-year-old Carlisle wrote the ballad for his daughter. "I had written this song for Brooke and it was so personal that I really wasn't sure about putting it on the album at all. I suddenly realized one day that I wasn't going to have this little girl in my house for much longer, and this song came out of that realization." Still he had to be persuaded to include it on his CD Butterfly Kisses:Shades of Grace. Chronicling the journey of a father and daughter from childhood to her wedding day, "Butterfly Kisses" was first sent to Christian stores as a gift item for weddings or holidays such as Father's Day. It got attention, at least enough for initial play. In addition to having a memorable tune, the song's sentiments touched fathers and mothers everywhere, and was selected Song of the Year at the 1997 Dove Awards ceremonies. The rest, as they say, is history. Carlisle. has recently appeared on Jay Leno, Good Morning America, and Oprah.

But Shades of Grace contains other songs well worth a listen, many of them familiar. The CD, Carlisle's first for the Diadem label, opens with a touch of gospel in the upbeat "On My Way to Paradise." Melodic background singers add their blend to several numbers on the mix. On other cuts, Carlisle's smooth tenor wraps itself around "On My Knees" and the familiar hymn "It Is Well with My Soul."

Carlisle didn't include much original work in this collection. Maybe that's why he decided to add "Butterfly Kisses" to the mix -- give the audience something a little original even though it's not about the basics of the gospel. But the song hit a strong chord among listeners with its heart tugs that make it hard not to laugh and cry or sing.

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