DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)

In 1997, Bill Gaither released the Dixie Echoes’ entry in the Best of the Jubilee Years series. This was recently re-issued on DVD. As the title suggests, the footage is culled from the Dixie Echoes’ numerous appearances on the Gospel Singing Jubilee TV series. Some of the footage is in (faded)...

CD Review: Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3 (Old Paths)

Since the last two projects I’ve reviewed from the Old Paths—Live in Pigeon Forge (October 2008, here) and Today (April 2008, here)—they have added and then lost a live band, and lost their bass singer. Though they remained on the road constantly, they took a year or longer off from recording to...

CD Review: Heritage Hymn Collection Vol. 1 (The Browns)

After two previous reviews of Browns projects (Hope and A New Day), the Browns need no introduction here. At the risk of being redundant, for any new readers: The Browns are a family group from Iowa that has been on the national scene for several years now, with a steadily growing fan base. Their first...

CD Review: Jubilee (Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Legacy Five)

Since this review is several months after the release of this project, there’s little to say that hasn’t already been said in several excellent reviews. The project came about after Singing News posted a poll on their website asking whether fans would rather have a recording with one or more than...

CD Review: Songs You Know By Heart (Talley Trio)

When an artist records a project of new songs, there is some pressure to select songs and deliver arrangements up to par with their previous work. Artists and their fans alike enjoy it when, every now and then, artists take a break from that yearly cycle to deliver pleasing arrangements of time-tested...

DVD Review: Grand Finale (Crabb Family)

The Crabb Family retired over two years ago; they announced their retirement in August 2006 and came off the road in August 2007. New Haven Records—a label that is probably best known for their compilations of recordings from Southern Gospel legends—recently released a DVD of the Crabb Family’s...

CD Review: Vintage Gospel (Mark Trammell Trio)

Rating: 4.5 stars Average Song Rating: 4.3 stars Executive Producer: Mark Trammell. Associate Producer: Dustin Sweatman. Song list: Leave Your Sorrows and Come Along; Mansion Over the Hilltop; Hold Me; John Saw Me; Standing On the Solid Rock; While Ages Roll; Sweetest Song I Know; Sin Will Take You Farther;...

DVD Review: Nashville Homecoming (Gaither Homecoming Friends)

Rating: 4.5 stars (of 5) * * * About two and a half years ago, Bill Gaither hosted two video tapings on consecutive days. One day was a hymns taping; three DVDs/CDs resulted (Rock of Ages, How Great Thou Art, and the Grammy®-nominated Amazing Grace). The other day featured a more familiar Homecoming mixture...

Classic DVD Review: Celebrating 50 Years (Melody Boys Quartet)

Rating: 4.5 stars (of 5) Members: Mike Franklin (tenor), Jonathan Sawrie (lead), Jeremy Raines (baritone), Gerald Williams (bass). Song List: Give the World a Smile; God is Great, Good, and Merciful; How Great Thou Art; Sing Me A Song About Jesus; Somewhere Someday; Pray; Faith in My Savior; Gonna Get My...

CD Review: When You Look at Me (Kingdom Heirs)

Rating: 4.5 stars (of 5) Average Song Rating: 4.3 stars (of 5) Members: Billy Hodges (tenor), Arthur Rice (lead), Steve French (baritone), Jeff Chapman (bass), Andy Stringfield (piano), Kreis French (baritone), Dennis Murphy (drums). Song List: On the Gloryland Way; Biblically Correct; He Locked the Gates;...