The Oak Ridge Boys first recorded "How Great Thou Art" in 1967. Nearly six decades later, with several versions already in their history, the obvious question is why one of American music's most enduring vocal groups would return to it again. For Duane Allen, the answer began with a video of their newest member singing inside an old church.
Released October 2, the Oaks' stripped-down recording previews Buried Treasures, a 10-song album arriving October 30 through Lightning Rod Records. The performance also brings tenor Ben James' church roots into focus as the group navigates a chapter shaped by changes in its celebrated lineup.
The inspiration came during James' visit to a historic church near the Mississippi River. According to the release announcement, the building stood close enough to the water that a cannon shot fired from the river during wartime lodged in its choir ceiling. James went inside to explore the history and sang "How Great Thou Art" without instrumental accompaniment.
Allen saw a video of that performance and heard something that persuaded him the familiar hymn deserved another recording. The group introduced it into its concerts, where the audience response helped secure its place on the forthcoming album.
"The Oak Ridge Boys have recorded 'How Great Thou Art' several times over the years, and it's one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian faith. So why record it again?" Allen said. "I saw a video of Ben singing it, and it blew me away. We started doing it on stage, and people loved it. It had to go on Buried Treasures, because it's a buried treasure."
For James, the recording carries a connection to the music that shaped him before he joined the Oaks. His account places the hymn within a continuing tradition of church singing, giving this latest version a personal foundation.
"'How Great Thou Art' has always been a favorite of mine," James said. "I grew up singing in church, and the old songs have as much power today as they ever have. I was honored the boys wanted to do it. I love singing it on stage with them every night because that song represents the roots I come from."
That sense of continuity runs throughout Buried Treasures. Produced and engineered by Anderson East, with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb serving as executive producer, the album was recorded at Nashville's Sanctuary Blonde Studio and draws together songs of faith, friendship, comfort and love.
Gospel selections "Deep River" and "Softly and Tenderly" sit alongside Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" and Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever." The collection also includes "Stardust," "What a Wonderful World" and "You Are So Beautiful," bringing the group's harmony to songs whose histories extend across generations and genres.
The album's only newly written selection, "Buried Treasure," comes from Grammy-winning songwriter Aaron Raitiere and is already available. An official video for "Live Forever" is scheduled to accompany the album's October 30 release.
The project also captures a changing vocal lineup. James replaced longtime tenor Joe Bonsall shortly before Bonsall's death in 2024, and Buried Treasures marks his second album with the group. Richard Sterban is currently on leave from touring for health reasons, with Aaron Lee McCune filling the bass role on concert dates; Tim Duncan, who briefly toured with the Oaks, performs many of the album's bass vocal parts.
Those circumstances give the release an additional point of interest: how does a group with such a recognizable sound carry its musical identity forward as the voices change? James' role in bringing "How Great Thou Art" back into the repertoire offers one concrete answer-a newer member's formative music has become part of the Oaks' continuing story.
Buried Treasures will be available on CD, deluxe gold vinyl and digital services. The group is scheduled to perform at the Grand Ole Opry on October 30 and 31, with its fall tour continuing through December.
Listen to the new music and preorder the album at Buried Treasures. Tour information and tickets are available at oakridgeboys.com.
