Beside the Still Waters is gospel music stripped down to the bare bones --
Mac Wiseman adorns nearly every song with only his mountain tenor voice, an acoustic guitar, and an upright bass. He also whistles on "Did You Stop to Pray This Morning," one of a few newer gospel compositions on the album. "When God Dips His Love in My Heart" and "Whispering Hope" are more typical of the album's offerings.
Wiseman enjoyed the biggest hit of his career in 1959 with the gospel song "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy," and
Beside the Still Waters was likely made in reaction to that (although the song is not included on this album). There is an appealingly honest quality to
Wiseman's unvarnished renderings of sacred songs that will be appreciated by his fans.