Top 10: Cathedrals Alumni Projects
Recently, John Scheideman encouraged me to post a list of my favorite non-Cathedrals albums by Cathedrals members. I thought it was a good idea, but decided to think it over for a week or two before posting. I decided to focus this list on post-Cathedrals albums; pre-Cathedrals albums would be a list of its own.
- Quartets - Greater Vision. This is, in my opinion, Greater Vision’s finest project. It was a popular project for the group, but had the unfortunate effect for them of whetting everyone’s appetite for them to add a bass singer.
- Stand By Me Live - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The project starts off with “Heavenly Parade”–and they had completely won the audience over before that song was over. Other highlights of the project include an acapella rendition of “Little is Much” and one of Haase’s best versions of “Oh What a Savior.” I rank this project so high since it was made before Signature Sound was fully part of the Homecoming Tour, and proves just what they could do on their own.
- Are You Ready (Gold City) - This was Gold City’s definitive project from their Mark Trammell days. It features songs like “Get Up, Get Ready,” “More Like Jesus,” “He Lives,” “Saved,” and, of course, Jay Parrack’s signature song, “Are You Ready?”
- Once Upon a Cross (Mark Trammell Trio) - I still stand by my initial assessment that this is one of the albums of the decade.
- Live at Music City (Legacy Five) - It was a tossup whether to rank this or London higher, but “I Have Been Changed” gave this the edge.
- Live at First Baptist Atlanta (Greater Vision). This is the definition of a perfectly paced concert, and features, among other songs, “Soon We Shall See” and “A Pile of Crowns.”
- London (Legacy Five) - Legacy Five’s finest studio project from the days Roger was still with them.
- Far Beyond This Place (Greater Vision) - This was their breakout recording, featuring “My Name is Lazarus,” a spellbinding rendition of “Redemption Draweth Nigh,” and a guest vocal from Glen Payne on “I Believe.”
- Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over (Gold City) - This project, coming on the heels of Are You Ready? a year before, cemented Gold City’s position as the Southern Gospel supergroup following the Cathedrals’ retirement.
- Hold Forth the Light (Gerald Wolfe) - This 1988 solo project is one of Southern Gospel’s forgotten gems.
Honorable mention: Beside Still Waters (Mark Trammell Trio), 20th Anniversary Celebration (Gold City), and Feelin’ Fine and Encores (Old Friends Quartet).
This list focuses on projects within the last ten years or so, in part because these are the alumni projects with which I am most familiar, and in part because after all the projects I’ve heard, I still think these ten are the best.
Comment by Chris Unthank (August 25, 2007, 12:15 pm)
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I really fail to see what makes “I’ve Been Changed” such a fantastic song. I don’t dislike it - but I’m not foaming at the mouth because of it either.
Comment by Inquirer (August 25, 2007, 12:55 pm)
I want to apologize to Daniel here, because I did something on his blog that I hate having done on my blog(it’s been done, though)…namely, I posted a comment before I read the entire post carefully.
I posted my first comment here unaware that Daniel’s list was intended to be a post-Cathedral liat rather than a pre-Cathedral one…so my comment, however valid, did not really apply in this thread…sorry about that.
Too bad we posters don’t have the wherewithal to edit our comments…if I could have, I would have.
Anyway…sorry, Daniel…perhaps you can clean up the comment thread here so I don’t look worse than I already do…lol…and maybe you can use my above comment for your “pre” list.
Comment by Bob (August 25, 2007, 5:37 pm)
What?!?!?!?! Far Beyond this place is GV’s BREAKOUT??!?!?!? Obviously you never heard GV when they had a ‘true’ tenor and they were breaking style barriers back in the ’90’s. Come on…..
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (August 25, 2007, 8:30 pm)
Bob, actually I have heard most of their non-table projects from that era, and I’m sticking to my assessment. Look at all the doors “My Name is Lazarus” opened for them. Or try comparing how many SN Fan Awards they won before the album to how many they’ve won since.
Comment by Chris Unthank (August 26, 2007, 1:35 am)
I agree Daniel that Far Beyond This Place was their true “breakout” album in terms of attaining the level of popularity like they have now. They were popular before that album, but it was that album in particular that really took them to the next level.
Comment by Quartet Fan (August 26, 2007, 9:39 pm)
Not a bad list, but it is hard to take it completely seriously since it does not have “It Comes From The Heart” by Perfect Heart in the top 1 or 2. This recording included the #1 Song and Song of the Year “Somebody Touched The Lord”. The first time this was ever done by a group on their very first single release. Other great songs on that one included “They That Sow”, “He’s Coming” and “It’s A Fine, Fine Day”.
I would agree with GV’s Quartets as #1 or 2 though.
Also, with regards to GV’s breakout recording. I agree that “Far Beyond This Place” is the one. Great recording with multiple #1 ’s and a SOTY.
Comment by Aaron Swain (August 28, 2007, 9:06 pm)
Can’t wait to hear L5’s Christmas and Know So Salvation albums!
Comment by Bob (September 1, 2007, 8:20 am)
Wow. Did you ever see in person the Gerald/Mark/Chris group?
There were indeed many good songs on that project - but sheesh. This was the beginning of the soft-pedaling for them. The over orchestrated tracks, the advent of Rodney over-singing his solos, the decrease in SG on the album. I can’t argue the fan awards - however - your assumption would be like saying the Cat’s breakout album was ‘Raise the Roof’ - arguably one of the worst.
Comment by Adam Wallace (September 2, 2007, 2:54 pm)
Daniel.
I don’t have all of those projects but I do agree with you on the ones that I do have.