(Jason Clark) Written for worship at Grace Baptist Church in Atlanta, Jason originally sang lead on the demo, but when it came time to make the CD, he says it was Amber who was passionate about recording this song. “I’m so glad she sang it because she really knocks it out of the park. I think Amber’s vocals really shine on it. It shows her range-- she’s got a two and a half octave range on that song! That coming together with her powerful delivery and the lyric, it really turned out even better than I could’ve anticipated.” “The Love of God for Me” is available in choral print from Prism Music Publishing.

(Wayne Haun/Barry Raccio) The song that would eventually become the title track wasn’t included in the original sessions for the CD. Feeling there might be something missing from the collection, Jason turned to producer Wayne Haun as he considered recording a classic to round out the album. “Wayne said, ‘Man, I’ve got a song that’s like a modern day hymn. It’s got the verbage and the language of a hymn, but I wrote it with a guy from out west who writes mainly secular music.’ Through some writing sessions Wayne was involved in, he was actually able to lead this guy to the Lord, and ‘Beside Still Waters’ was the very first Christian song this mainstream writer ever wrote. When Wayne sang it for me I said, ‘Man, we’ve got to cut that, that’s exactly what I’m looking for!’ So we went in the studio, and what was originally like a bonus cut became the title track of the album!”

(Wayne Haun/Joel Lindsey) Since the album ended up being titled Beside Still Waters, it’s interesting that the very first song chosen for the CD centers around another geographical metaphor. The Nelons were immediately sold on this infectious Wayne Haun / Joel Lindsey composition. While the unusual melody line appealed to Jason as a musician and arranger, it was the song’s sense of fun that captivated Amber and Kelly. “Amber and I were like ‘Woo hoo, we love that song!’ We’re just those happy…” “Bouncy,” Amber interrupts. “Bouncy people,” Kelly agrees with a laugh.

(Jason Clark/Rebecca Peck) Jason started “There Is A Way” by himself, and then decided to call on noted church songwriter Rebecca Peck (“His Life For Mine,” “Even in the Valley”) to help finish it. From there, the writing process took a decidedly 21st century turn. “She said, ‘Well call back and sing it over my answering machine,’ so I did, sang the verse and the chorus I had written. The next day she called me back with a lyric and said ‘What do you think?’ and I said ‘I love it, but I think it still needs a bridge.’ So, she goes ‘Let me work on it.’ A couple days later she emailed me the complete demo with her singing with the piano track and everything and it just worked out great. She just Facebooked me a couple nights ago because she’d just heard the studio cut and she was so proud of it. She was just so complimentary. She said ‘It’s not everyday I get a cut I’m so proud of, but I love this song and I love what ya’ll did with it.’” A choral version of “There Is A Way” is also available from Prism Music Publishing.

(Jason Clark/Wayne Haun/Joel Lindsey) The first hit from Beside Still Waters also has its roots in Jason’s time as Worship Pastor at Atlanta’s Grace Baptist Church. “I started ‘He Found Me’ sitting in the church parking lot one day waiting for band rehearsal. The chorus came really quick, just one of those things when you write a bunch of things that Christ has done. The hook was, I can find Jesus in scripture walking on water, I can find him raising Lazarus from the dead, but when I look at Calvary, that’s the place where He found me, just a little play on words. I sang the chorus to Wayne and he loved it. He and Joel Lindsey wrote the verses to it, and felt so strongly about it they wanted to release it as the first single.” “He Found Me” is currently available in the Lillenas choral collection titled “The Old Landmark,” along with the Nelons’ 2008 hit “We Speak Your Name.” It also includes Janet Paschal’s remake of “Hide Me, Sweet Rock of Ages,” which she originally sang with the Rex Nelon Singers in the eighties.

(Phil Mehrens/Lee Black/Lyn Rowell) When it comes to picking a favorite on Beside Still Waters, both Jason and Kelly point to “Settled at the Cross.” Kelly says it’s definitely a song that resonates with her personally. “So many times we go through things and we worry if God’s still there. When we go through a difficulty or a trial, does He care? It’s a song that just reminds us when we’re going through hard times, and I’ve been through my share of them and you feel like, does anybody love me out there, does anybody know I’m here, does He care? All it takes is a look back at the cross to know that He holds us in the palm of His hand and He died for us and He loves us unconditionally. We can know that everything we need to know was ‘Settled at the Cross.’”

(Carroll McGruder) Through the years, the Nelons have recorded many songs by noted gospel writer Carroll McGruder, including “Thanks,” “I Lean On You, Lord,” and “I Wanna Praise Jesus.” As they searched for an uptempo, classic gospel song for this collection, Kelly decided it was time to re-record one of his hits. “Our signature song for the past 20 years has been ‘We Shall Wear A Robe & Crown’ and we needed that type of feel for this CD. We basically had all the material picked except for that and I starting thinking we should do ‘Going Home with Jesus.’ Carroll McGruder has written lots of Nelon classics, so it made a lot of sense. We just went back and got that song, actually we watched it on YouTube a few times, the McGruders’ performance of it. We took it into the studio and charted it right off the YouTube version. That really served as our demo!”

(Andrae Crouch) Written and recorded by Gospel Music Hall of Famer Andrae Crouch, “My Tribute” dates back to his 1971 album, “Autograph.” Kelly suggested this new arrangement by the Nelons, one they frequently performed during their time on staff at Atlanta’s Grace Baptist Church. “It would always just bring the house down as far as people just responding in praise. The arrangement is one of those that just keeps climbing and when you think it’s done, it goes through another modulation. It’s just really powerful and goes right along with the lyric. You know, we serve a God who’s done great and mighty things and the song backs that up with the big, powerful orchestra and big arrangements. Once again, that’s been the song in our concerts that has just struck a chord with all kinds of listeners across the board. It’s really struck a chord with people.”

(Marcia Henry) A thoughtful, emotional ballad in the vein of her other hits like “Thread of Hope” and “God Likes to Work,” Jason says the Nelons wanted to record this Marcia Henry song because it offers such a unique perspective. “Tons of songs have been written about Lazarus being brought back to life, but nobody’s ever written a song from this perspective. Even though Jesus knew he was going to fix the situation and bring this man back to life and his sister’s sorrow was going to be over, He was compassionate enough before that miracle to take time and weep with his friends. Through that lesson, He’s teaching us, ‘Hey guys, yeah we’re supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice, but don’t forget that we need to weep with those who weep.’ I think it’s a powerful lyric.”

(Jason Clark/Wayne Haun/David Hill) You might remember David Hill as the Nelons’ lead singer at the time of their big hit “He Called Me Out.” A friend and frequent co-writer of Jason’s, he collaborated with him on this tune Jason describes as having “a retro kind of vibe.”

(Gerald Crabb) Though he’s written many hits for the Crabb Family and other artists, this is the first time the Nelons have recorded a Gerald Crabb composition. Kelly originally heard “What A Wonderful Name” on an album former Nelons soprano Karen Peck Gooch helped produce for the Watkins Family. In Kelly’s hands, what began as a bluegrass gospel number is transformed into an orchestral praise and worship ballad reminiscent of her earlier solo work.

(Jason Clark) The album’s closer marks 13-year-old Autumn Nelon Clark’s recording debut. Ironically, her mother Kelly first sang with the legendary Lefevres when she was the same age. Jason says the song gets a huge response every night when Autumn sings it. “It’s really a statement song about life, and I’ve been really amazed at how that little song has impacted people. There’s not a night that goes by when Autumn sings it that all kinds of people don’t come up and they want to buy the record just because of that tune.” “It’s really impacting people’s lives because there are so many of us who are so down and out. Everything may seem like bad news right now, but this song is saying you can choose to live in the dumps if you want to, but I’m gonna choose to laugh instead of cry, I’m gonna choose to do these positive things you know. It’s a more optimistic approach in a dark world, and it’s really been inspiring people. And then seeing it from a 12-year-old point of view and that innocence has really been touching hearts I think.”