Jon Gibson has been creating some of the most interesting R&B/pop music in the Christian market since the early '80's - and yet, despite amazing success, he remains outside the Christian mainstream and has yet to become a household name.
During his career, he's recorded 22 top five singles - and seven of those went to number one. Many less deserving artists release "greatest hits" packages with less success than that. Regardless, after a five-year absence Gibson has returned to the work he loves - and does so well - with this great collection.
Heavy on the balladry, The Man Inside shows a more mature Gibson - but one who still knows how to lay down a groove, as well. Gibson wrote, or co-wrote, all 15 songs on this disc.
Gibson opens with the infectious title tune - a call to reconsider society's preoccupation with the external - race, ethnicity, and physical appearance:
What about my children when they play with yours?/They don't notice red, nor green, nor blue/Not talkin' 'bout black or white/not talkin' 'bout wrong or right/talkin' 'bout the man inside.
Most of Gibson's songs deal with interpersonal relationships. He writes about God within the context of his marriage, family, and friends - as well as within the bounds of larger society. There's no easy believe-ism in Gibson's world, but there is what I call a vivid God-reality.
Gibson's God is not just an external being he worships and prays
to - He is intimately involved in all aspects of life. In the song
"The Best In Me," Gibson puts God front and center.
Going through the motions, my little family by my side/Tryin' my best to live a godly life and to shake this foolish pride/Whoa, Jesus, you're the only way for me/Let Your light shine, so that everyone can see/Lord, You are the best in me.
In the song "Fly With The Wind," Gibson contemplates his career and his seeming lack of recognition:
They said I wasn't good enough, no, no/And maybe I should find another bag, yeah, yeah/They said I wasn't wise enough, wise enough/Maybe I should have zigged when I zagged, yeah, yeah/Instead I'm going to fly with the wind, sail like an eagle, and get over again.
Gibson has been without a record deal since releasing 1992's Forever Friends on Frontline Records - which, incidentally, was named Album of the Year by CCM Magazine. He released one independent project, Love Education, in 1994 before B-Rite picked him up for this latest release. Maybe, finally, Gibson will get the recognition he deserves, but I doubt it because he likes to do things his way - rather than the way a "successful" label would.
In other words, he wants to put out his music, the way he believes God has led him, without having to concentrate on creating the "hit single" that the industry looks for. So far, he's been able to do that AND find the hit single so Gibson must be doing something right.
At times Gibson has an eerie Stevie Wonder-like sound to his music. He's even recorded a number of Wonder songs, such as "Have A Talk With God" from Wonder's landmark Songs In The Key Of Life album, and "Happier Than The Morning Sun," from Wonder's Music Of My Mind project.
But, his songs differ from Wonder's in where the focus is placed. Wonder, while a musical genius and one of my favorite artists, has a faux spirituality to his work - especially in his latest efforts. It's more of an "I'm OK, You're OK, Let's All Hug Because God Loves Us" mentality. Gibson sees the deeper implications of belief in God.
In the song "God Will Find Ya" Gibson tells the story of a person who is playing hide and seek with God all through his life. Eventually, that person is going to fall - and when they do, if they call out to God, he will catch them:
Someday you are gonna see a change in your heart/Cuz you are living the kind of life that's bound to fall apart/And while you are tumbling down/God will recall your prayers/And you will find out that in this life/He's the only one who cares
Plus, Gibson is not afraid to admit to his own failings, knowing that God will forgive. In the song "Let It Be Done" he pleads for forgiveness for himself - and for the world, sort of like a modern-day Abraham pleading for the Lord to spare the righteous people in Sodom.
Gibson deserves more recognition than he gets, but I have the feeling that man's recognition is not what he's striving for. If it comes, great, but if not, he'll find a way to do what he does and continue making God real and available to the world.