Rock of Ages...HELP!!!

[jay7347]

This is a call for help from any of the worship leaders or players out there. Our worship band is looking at doing this version of the song "Rock of Ages Cleft for me." I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas or clips of different approaches than this. The vocal on this version sounds to me like something out of a 50's B grade Van Heflin movie, yeah, I'm old enough to remember stuff like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ibNMhkE_s

I guess I'm spoiled by the likes of Tomlin, Baloche and other contemporary Christian artists because I just can't warm to this. As I said, examples of any other approaches would be greatly appreciated! Now to listen to some U2 at the Rose Bowl to drive the memory of that guy's voice out of my head...
thanks!
-jay

[Mark Stone]

Knowing the relative strengths and weaknesses of your music team makes you and your team the best people to make that decision. Are you Rockers? Bluegrassers? C&W? Gospel-Sounding? The cool thing about Rock of Ages is that it can be "transcribed" (or arranged) in any one of a hundred styles. Maybe just give the sheet music to the team, and see what they come up with! For some suggestions, go back to the YouTube link you provided and listen to a bunch of the suggestions. Nice find - I may suggest the song to the leader of the church band I play in! :-)

[Misifus]

This doesn't sound at all like the traditional hymn, "Rock Of Ages, Cleft For Me". Frankly, I agree with your assessment of this arrangement. For me, the traditional tune could lend itself to a much better arrangement, in more modern style.

-Raf

[zombywoof]

Does this rendition do anything for you - Sam Nordquist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaQsXnSoi6k

[jay7347]

I did find a Fernando Ortega version that is of the old style that I like the approach to. Man, there is some strange versions out there, lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6yT2rz0iA&feature=related

I may be biased towards Ortega because we do some of his other songs and his sometime guitarist has helped, teaching wise, the three guitarists in our rotation before. He's a good guy.
-jay