Although George Jones had made gospel albums before this 2003 recording, both solo and with duet partner Tammy Wynette, this one bears a special significance.

The two-disc set of spirituals The Gospel Collection marks the first time he'd tackled such material since an almost-fatal 1999 car accident. The mishap is said to have put him on spiritual notice, so to speak, and inspired this album (though he'd done some secular work in between).

The arrangements, quite appropriately, steer clear of the customary gospel trappings and are squarely in the Billy Sherrill/classic Nashvile mold that suits Jones so well. The man's voice remains a marvel of tone and emotion, and hearing him lay into the likes of Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, and even the ubiquitous Amazing Grace is nothing short of heart-stopping.

No other country singer can emotionally inhabit a song as fully as Jones, and hearing a lifelong hell-raiser try to mend his ways is doubly affecting.

DISC 1:

• Amazing Grace
• It Is No Secret
• Just A Little Talk With Jesus
• Where We'll Never Grow Old
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Why Me Lord
• I'll Fly Away
• Precious Memories w/ Patti Page
• Just A Closer Walk With Thee
• In The Garden
• Lonesome Valley
• When Mama Sang (The Angels Stopped To Listen)

DISC 2:

• Peace In The Valley
• What A Friend We Have In Jesus
• Softly And Tenderly
• Lily Of The Valley
• The Old Rugged Cross
• Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
• Family Bible
• Mansion Over The Hilltop w/ Vestal Goodman
• If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
• How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
• Jesus, Hold My Hand
• I Know A Man Who Can w/ Sheri Copeland & Barry Smith