Ask and Ye Shall Receive
John Scheideman recently posted a response to a discussion I started in this post. It’s a good read that I mostly agree with. He closed by expressing the wish that I list my favorite iterations of the Cathedral Quartet, in order. Ask and ye shall receive:
- Haase, Payne, Fowler, Younce, Bennett
- Tremble, Payne, Webster, Younce, Cooley
- Talley, Payne, Trammell, Younce, Bennett
- Clark, Payne, Koker, Younce
- (tie with #6) Taunton, Payne, Webster, Younce
- (tie with #5) Funderburk, Payne, Trammell, Younce, Wolfe
- Funderburk, Payne, Trammell, Younce, Bennett
One thing you will notice is that I generally list them by tenor, because the tenors defined their sound far more than most of their baritones did. This does eliminate a few short-lived combinations (such as the Horne and Young eras).
DISCLAIMER: The above is strictly opinion. It is opinion based on having heard nearly everything that every named version recorded, but it remains opinion.
Comment by Horvel (August 10, 2007, 7:22 am)
This is a testament to how differently two pairs of ears can hear things! If you flipped numbers 6 and 7, my list would duplicate yours, except in the reverse order. You’re the aficionado on these Cats, so I’d expect you could discuss at length how you arrived at your ranking, citing examples where necessary. I’d definitely enjoy reading it. Good topic. I miss these guys.
[Reply]
Comment by Inquirer (August 10, 2007, 10:28 am)
Thank you, Daniel, for obliging(notice I didn’t use the non-word “obligating”"-))…now I can sleep tonight!:-)
Now to get you to start referring to the recordings as “albums”(as they’ve always been)instead of “projects”, the transformation will be complete! j/k(sort of)
[Reply]
Comment by Ed Butler (August 10, 2007, 10:34 am)
Thanks for ranking the Tremble / Webster group so high. I loved their full sound when they moved from solo to full quartet. I would love to hear that right now!
JEB
[Reply]
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (August 10, 2007, 4:26 pm)
John, I’m glad you can sleep now!
I often refer to them as albums. I use projects virtually interchangeably. At least I don’t refer to them all as CDs!
[Reply]
Comment by Dean Adkins (August 12, 2007, 8:15 pm)
There’s one Cathedral line-up that you don’t have listed that was one of their better combinations.
Roger Horne (tenor), Payne, Tremble, Cooley.
[Reply]
Comment by Dean Adkins (August 12, 2007, 8:21 pm)
Let me clarify my response above. I meant to add that although you considered the combination I mentioned as short-lived, I would still consider that combo as on of the better ones.
[Reply]
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (August 12, 2007, 8:21 pm)
I have to admit I’m not as familiar with Horne’s voice. I do have one or two albums he did with them, but since I’m not as familiar with it I’m not comfortable ranking it compared to the others.
[Reply]
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (August 12, 2007, 8:22 pm)
Dean, I believe we cross-posted. I shall have to pay closer attention next time I listen through those albums!
[Reply]
Comment by QN (August 13, 2007, 3:20 pm)
I’d put any combination with Danny Funderburk MUCH higher. Second to Tremble,Webster, and Cooley
[Reply]
Comment by Adam Wallace (September 6, 2007, 9:16 am)
I’m not sure why I went all the way back to this page but I was reading it and I have to say that I agree with you on your number one Daniel but I would have put one of the groups with Danny Funderburk closer to the top.
[Reply]