SouthernGospelBlog.com

Rating: 4 (of 5)

Executive Producer: Gary Casto.

Song List: Brother, Don’t Lose the Shout; Good News; In the Shelter Of His Hands; Heaven in Sight; Every Day With Jesus; You’d Better Have a Boat; There is an Eye; Beulah; This I Know; When Those Gates Open Wide; I’m In That Crowd.

Available from: Artist (at least at concerts).

* * *

The summary on the back of this DVD describes it as “the first Live DVD ever recorded on the high seas of a gospel concert!” That may indeed be true; at any rate, it is the first such Southern Gospel DVD I have heard of. This project, Tribute Quartet’s first DVD, was recorded on Templeton Tours’ 2008 Jubilee at Sea to the Bahamas cruise.

The concert was filmed in the Astoria Lounge of the MS Celebration. Probably largely due to this setting, the lighting is quite dark. (A half-point was deducted from the rating due to the lighting.) Other than the lighting, the camera work is solid. Neither the camera work nor the editing dazzle the viewer with special effects (like, for example, on a Signature Sound video), but it serves its purpose well—it fades in the background and does not distract from the concert.

The original lineup of Tribute Quartet was Gary Casto singing lead (and managing the group), Josh Singletary singing baritone and playing piano, Dennis Dugger singing bass, and Jacob Kitson singing tenor. This lineup recorded the group’s debut and sophmore CDs (their only two released to date); this DVD was their final project together before Jacob Kitson left to join Greater Vision. (He has since been replaced by Brian Alvey.)

The program is a mix of ten new songs (from their first two recordings) and a piano solo (”Every Day With Jesus”) from Josh Singletary. There is a good mixture of convention-style songs, ballads, and even a novelty number or two (most particularly “There is an Eye,” sung by Josh Singletary, which Casto introduced as being in a Frank Sinatra style.)

The front cover notes: “Featuring Extended Bonus Footage.” The extras—footage of the ship and scenery, and of the four members playing in the water and taking in the sights—actually form a large part of giving the film a Caribbean feel. The main program could just as easily have been filmed in a moderately dark hotel banquet room somewhere and achieved the same results, but the extras help accentuate the uniqueness of the setting.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.9 stars (of 5)

Producer: Bubba Smith.

Song List: A New Day; It’s a God Thing; I Can’t Forget the Blood; Get On the Boat; Don’t Doubt in the Darkness; You’re My Friend; Running To The Rock; My Heart Has Found a Home; Something Like the Likes of You; He/He Touched Me/He is Lord.

Available from: Artist.

* * *

The Browns’ previous projects were produced by Roger Talley; on A New Day, they use a new producer, Bubba Smith. Smith, a multi-Grammy and Dove-winning producer, is best known for his production efforts in black Gospel and CCM, producing artists as diverse as Shirley Caesar, Helen Baylor, Bruce Carroll, Sandi Patty, Petra, and Point of Grace. He has also produced projects for Karen Peck & New River (Journey of Joy), the McRaes (Perfect Love), and the Crabb Family (Blur the Lines).

Not surprisingly, bringing in someone with a background like Smith’s gives the project a sound quite different than on their previous Talley-produced projects. While the project is still Southern Gospel, certain tracks bring Point of Grace to mind. Smith’s influence is most evident in the little things, like the vocal introduction to “Get on the Boat.” It’s not the sort of thing a typical Southern Gospel producer would do, but it’s a nice touch that just works. And it’s hard to argue with success.

Since their last project, the Browns have not only grown as vocalists, they have also grown as songwriters. Though they have written a few songs for previous projects, they wrote or co-wrote over half the songs on the project—including the project’s three most memorable songs, “Don’t Doubt in the Darkness,” “Running to the Rock,” and “I Can’t Forget the Blood.” Mom Shelly Brown co-wrote the first with Marty Funderburk, Adam Brown, the older of the two boys, co-wrote the other two, also with Marty Funderburk. Michaela Brown and Rebecca Peck contribute “You’re My Friend.”

Jessica Brown and her fianceé Nick Trammell co-wrote two of the tracks: “It’s a God Thing,” the CD’s first single, and a song they sing as a duet, “My Heart Has Found a Home.” Their voices complement each other’s voice nicely, and it’s not hard to imagine the two of them performing together down the road.

With every successive project since hitting the national scene, the Browns have matured vocally and stylistically. A New Day is no exception.

Rating: 4 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 4 (of 5)

Producer: Danny Kramer (assistant producer: Harold Timmons).

Song List: Echoes From the Burning Bush; The Church in the Wildwood; Glory To His Name; I’ll Meet You in the Morning; Turn Your Radio On; I’ll Fly Away; Looking For a City; Jesus, Hold My Hand; Oh Lord, Hasten That Day; I’m Rejoicing; Sweet Beulah Land; Heaven’s Jubilee.

Available from: Artist.

* * *

Despite what I mistakenly indicated in a post a couple of weeks ago, Song Garden is still running. After the departure of the Mike LeFevre Quartet and the disbanding of the Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet, the Chuck Wagon Gang is now probably their best-known artist. The group will be working on a major-label release in a few months; this is a table project in the interim,

This is a collection of twelve familiar songs, most if not all previously recorded by earlier generations of the Chuck Wagon Gang. The style is classic Chuck Wagon Gang: A strum of an acoustic guitar, accompanied by an acoustic bass if anything.

Since most of the songs are instantly recognizable to the average Southern Gospel fan, and the rest are recognizable to Chuck Wagon Gang fans, the main point of interest in the project is to hear how today’s Chuck Wagon Gang sounds on these classics. Though today’s lineup isn’t necessarily seeking to capture every arrangement and voice placement precisely like the classic lineup of the group, they come remarkably close.

The Chuck Wagon Gang is one of the rare groups identified more by a distinctive group sound than by any individual vocalists or personalities. Today’s Chuck Wagon Gang captures that distinctive sound well enough to leave no doubt that they are worthy of carrying the name.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.9 stars (of 5)

Song List: Walking the Sea; Look On the Brighter Side; The Love of God; Friends of Mine; Gonna Keep Holding On; Heaven Will Be Worth it All; Safe Now; A New Life; That Third Day; Love Lifted Me; I’ve Never Been This Homesick.

Available from: Label.

* * *

Crossroads / Horizon Records recently reissued this classic Kingsmen project digitally as part of their discounted digital classics series (selling for $7.99 instead of the standard $9.99). This project was originally released in 1994 and featured a lineup of tenor Chris Collins, lead Jim Hamill, baritone Parker Jonathan, bass Ray Dean Reese, and a band consisting of Tim Surrett (who also sang vocals), pianist Randy Matthews, drummer Greg Fox, and Randy Miller.

Owner / manager Eldridge Fox also made an appearance, singing the familiar song “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth it All.” He brought a Kingsmen flair to the rendition, capping it with an acapella last chorus and strong ending. The album has other Big and Live moments, to be sure, particularly in the opening and closing songs.

The song closes with “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before”; members of the Perry Sisters came out on the encore. The interesting combination worked, and the audience seemed to come alive for a strong closing to the project.

Live From the Alabama Theatre doesn’t have quite the same edge that made the Kingsmen’s best-remembered live albums classics. But it is an enjoyable project, and as good as any live project being released today.

Rating: 4 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Producer: Lari Goss.

Song List: I Want To Know That You Know; You Were Faithful Yesterday; Meet Him At Calvary; It Pays to Pray; Share It With Jesus; He is Loved; I’ve Been to the Bottom; Born to Serve the Lord; The Source of My Song; You’re Not Forsaken.

Available from: Artist, ChristianBook.com.

* * *

Virtually all groups care about both the lyrics and the music of their songs. But close observation of group’s song and arrangement choices suggests that some groups (Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band) focus particularly on how a song works musically, while others (Perrys, Inspirations) focus particularly on how it works lyrically. Lyrically dominant groups will occasionally select a lyrically strong song that might not be as musically memorable, and vice versa for musically dominant groups.

Greater Vision’s appeal to their dedicated fan base is partially explained in light of the fact that they are a lyrically dominant group and tend to attract lyrically dominant fans. That is to say, if they release an album with several lyrically strong songs, they can get away with realising an album that (like Not Alone) has only one fast song (”I Want You to Know That You Know”) and only one big ballad (”You’re Not Forsaken”). The rest of the songs on the project are recorded at slow or medium tempo.

The concept of lyrically dominant song selection is well illustrated by two of the songs on the project, “He is Loved” and “It Pays to Pray.” On first listen, a casual listener might think the tracks were among the weakest on the CD. But a careful listener particularly attuned to unique lyric ideas would be grabbed by the message of “He is Loved.” Word is that “It Pays to Pray” is getting some of the strongest responses that any of the songs on the project are getting before live audiences. The story behind the song—how Rodney Griffin wrote it about his father-in-law’s conversion two months before his father-in-law finally softened to the Gospel and came into the Kingdom—connects with audiences and perhaps leaves them more receptive to the song. But the appeal of both songs is predominantly in their lyrics.

This is Jacob Kitson’s first recording with the group; he is featured on three songs, “You Were Faithful Yesterday,” “He is Loved,” and “The Source of My Song.” He does well on all three, and “He is Loved” seems to do particularly well at bringing out some nice tones in his voice. This is despite the fact that the tracks were actually recorded before Jason was hired. (Thus, Kitson’s second project with the group will be the first to feature songs picked for his voice.)

Though Not Alone has several songs that should do well on radio, and several that should go over well in live concerts, the project is unlikely to turn the world of Southern Gospel upside down. But Greater Vision doesn’t need such a project; they have several concert programs’ worth of hit songs and favorites that didn’t get sent to radio. All they need is a song or two for radio, and enough good new material to keep their concert programs from getting stale. Not Alone hits that mark.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.7 stars (of 5)

Song List: I Know What Lies Ahead; He Sought Me Again; The Rose; Another Chance for God to Move; We Are Not Home Yet; How Great it Is; He’s Still Settin’ My Place; I’m Safe; Come Spring; Amazing Grace.

Available from: Crossroads.

***

The Inspirations know what their fans want. Inspirations fans aren’t looking for “stylistic progression,” “artist development,” or other signs that the artist has changed from project to project. The group knows their fans want ten or twelve new and cover songs in the same style as the previous albums, and that is what they do.

As always, this album includes several covers. Jack Laws is featured on “Come Spring”; bass Mike Holcomb and tenor Archie Watkins are featured on the song “I Know What Lies Ahead” (most prominently recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys). Watkins is also featured on an acapella rendition of “Amazing Grace”; his fans will probably point to the track as one of the project’s highlights, while those who do not like his voice will probably view it as their least favorite track.

“The Rose,” penned by Joseph Habedank and Matthew Holt, was a good pick for their first single. While perhaps the most Inspiration-styled of the songs Habedank and Holt have published, it also contains enough of the style they typically write to make it an interesting mix.

“We are Not Home Yet,” featuring Mike Holcomb, is another strong ballad. (Seeing the song’s name on the song list got me to wondering what it would sound like if the Inspirations covered Steven Curtis Chapman’s hit song “Not Home Yet.” It would be interesting, to say the least.)

One highlight of Inspirations projects for many Southern Gospel fans is that the Inspirations always include several convention songs. This project does not disappoint, with “I Know What Lies Ahead,” “Another Chance for God to Move,” and “I’m Safe.”

Since the Inspirations maintain a very consistent style from project to project, the relative strength of their albums basically comes down to the quality of the song selection. If you didn’t like their style before this project, you will find nothing changed, but if you enjoy their brand of Appalachian Gospel, you will find this a quality addition to their discography.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5)

Producer: Mike Bowling.

Song List: Your Cries Have Awoken the Master; It’s Alright; I’ve Never Walked Alone; God’s Not Through With You; Oh How Sweet is the Victory; Notified; A Miracle Today; I Never Shall Forget the Day; I Have Faith; The Only One; Keep Breathing; We Have a Savior.

Available from: Artist, Label, Amazon, CBD.

* * *

Mike Bowling got his start in Southern Gospel in 1995, singing with the New Hinsons. He moved to the Perrys and sang there for several years before becoming a soloist and touring with the Crabb Family. During the Crabb Family’s final year or two, he started his own group, the Mike Bowling Group, and went through several iterations of that group before the Crabbs disbanded and his wife Kelly (Crabb) Bowling joined the group. Though they are a trio (with Jeff Snyder as the third vocalist), they decided to re-brand the group as Mike & Kelly Bowling. This is their first release since re-branding the group.

The album has already done well for the group, producing two #1 hits, “We Have a Savior” (December 2007) and “Your Cries Have Awoken the Master” (August 2008).

The songs come from a strong list of contributors: Marcia Henry (”God’s Not Through With You”), Carrol McGruder (”We Have a Savior”), Rebecca Isaacs Bowman and Sonya Isaacs (”Your Cries Have Awoken the Master” and “A Miracle Today”), Sue Smith, and several others. Mike & Kelly Bowling co-wrote one of the tracks (with Sue Smith as a third contributor), “I Have Faith.”

Mike Bowling produced and arranged this project. One gets the impression this is exactly the album he wanted to make; with an artistic vision and capability this strong at the helm of the group, don’t be surprised to see the Mike Bowling Group at the forefront of country / progressive Southern Gospel for years to come.

Average Song Rating: 3.8 stars

Rating: 4 stars

Producer: Gordon Mote & Marshall Hall

Songlist: I’m Gonna Take That Mountain; In Everything Give Thanks; No One Knows My Heart Better Than You; You Are Here With Me; Bridges Over Blue; My Father’s Angels; I’ve Got Joy; Nothing Keeps You From His Love; What Love Has Grown; Sometimes I Picture You That Way.

Artist Website: www.charlotteritchiemusic.com.

Available from: Label, artist.

***

In 2006, Charlotte Ritchie released her debut solo project, Closer, with RSI Music Group. At the time, she was still a member of Jeff & Sheri Easter; Bridges over Blue is her first release as a full-time soloist.

Ritchie’s debut project had several hits on Southern Gospel radio and a top 10 hit on Inspirational radio. This project continues in a similar vein. The Southern Gospel element is unquestionably still there, especially on songs where Jeff & Sheri Easter or the Isaacs provide background vocals. On the other hand, when I was listening to “You Are Here with Me,” I could have closed my eyes and almost convinced myself I was hearing Twila Paris.

This project has the one indispensable element of any good project going for it–good song selection. Even with some stylistic variety, all of the songs fit Ritchie’s voice and combine well to make a unified whole. The project definitely has its catchy songs, too; “I’ve Got Joy,” the current radio single, would have been at home on a recent Karen Peck & New River project, while “You are Here With Me,” “Bridges Over Blue,” and “What Love Has Grown” are other memorable mid to uptempo tunes.

The project doesn’t have any hanky-waving, get-the-crowd-on-their-feet-and-keep-them-there-for-an-encore big ballads. Its slower songs, such as “No One Knows My Heart Better than You,” “Sometimes I Picture God That Way,” and “Nothing Keeps You From His Love” are more meditative numbers. But while this might normally be a minus, this project seems to have the coherence and self-confidence of an artist who knows what direction she wants to take the project and cooperative producers who don’t try to push the project in eight different directions to make everyone happy.

The packaging is professional quality. Songwriter and studio musician vocalists are included. The only discordant note is in the photography: Not only did Ritchie appear to wear the same outfit as she did in the photo shoot for her Go Rest High project (here) but the photo on the inside of the back CD cover appears to be the exact same photo as Go Rest High’s cover photo.

Even though it may be less true than thirty years ago, Southern Gospel is still a group-driven genre. On a personal level, like many other Southern Gospel fans, I admit to being partial to groups. And I tend to prefer the traditional end of the spectrum. But despite the fact that this project is a slightly progressive project by a soloist, it is nonetheless one of the best projects I’ve reviewed this year.

Rating: **** (of 5)

Average Song Rating: *** 1/2 (of 5)

Producers: Bill Gaither, Guy Penrod, Marshall Hall, Wes Hampton

Song List: I’m Forgiven; Build an Ark; Jesus and John Wayne; Go Ask; Home of Your Dreams; Search Me Lord; Lonely Mile; There’s Always a Place at the Table; The Diff’rence Is In Me; I’m Loving Life; When I Cry; Prisoner of Hope; Then He Bowed His Head and Died

Available from: Gaither.com, Springside, Amazon, Christianbook.com.

***

Lovin’ Life is the second project with the group’s current lineup (third if you count Together). Group members Wes Hampton (tenor), Guy Penrod (lead), Marshall Hall (baritone), and Bill Gaither (bass) made the somewhat unusual move of jointly co-producing the project; each group member is listed as a producer, and there was no outside producer.

The project, par for the course of GVB projects, features a fairly even mixture of new songs, recycled songs, and covers. Two tracks, “Lonely Mile,” and “I’m Forgiven,” come from the Imperials repertoire (though from two vastly different stylistic eras, 1964 and 1980, respectively). Several familiar Gaither tracks are brought back, most notably “Then He Bowed His Head and Died,” the project-closing big ballad, and “Go Ask,” superbly arranged and featuring Bill Gaither on the verses.

A few of the project’s tracks were previously recorded by the Gaither Vocal Band. “Search Me, Lord,” previously recorded on their Testify Southern Classics project, appears to use the same soundtrack and arrangement. “Build an Ark” is the same song previously recorded by the GVB and the Cathedrals. This rendition doesn’t have quite the same energy of the 1984 Cathedrals rendition; this is probably partly since Bill Gaither doesn’t sing George Younce’s bass answer-back part on the chorus.

This project’s real gems are its five new songs. I have long been of the opinion that with one of the greatest songwriters in Christian music in the group (plus several others in his family), it would be foolish to under-utilize or under-emphasize his contributions. Bill and Gloria Gaither co-wrote three of the five new songs (”Jesus and John Wayne,” “There’s Always a Place at the Table,” and “Home Of Your Dreams”), two of them with their son Benjamin. Interestingly, the other two new songs (”I’m Lovin’ Life” and “Prisoner of Hope”) were songs Benjamin co-wrote with other contributors.

“There is Always a Place at the Table,” Wes Hampton’s feature song, is perhaps the project’s most memorable track (and certainly is one of its best). “Home of Your Dreams” has an almost cinematic feel, accented by the long (mostly) instrumental ending. It would seem more at home in a movie soundtrack than on a top 40 SG radio station.

The Gaither Vocal Band’s last major release, Give it Away, was their first since Russ Taff and David Phelps left the group. That project started the process of defining the new lineup’s sound. Roughly two more years on the road have given this lineup time to establish its own identity.

Now more free from the pressure to fill another lineup’s shoes, Lovin’ Life shows the current Gaither Vocal Band quite comfortable in its own.

Rating: **** (of 5)

Producer: Wayne Haun

Song List: O Worship the King; Mysterious Ways; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus; I See a Crimson Stream; Near the Cross; Surely God is Able; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Be Still My Soul; Let the Lower Lights Be Burning; When God Dips His Love in MY Heart; The Savior is Waiting; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

Available from: Janet Paschal, Vine Records, Springside, Amazon, ChristianBook.com.

***

In 2005, Janet Paschal walked through the valley of the shadow of death, fighting cancer. During that time, the hymns she memorized as a child came back to her and took on new meaning. She had never recorded a hymns project before, and decided to do one that was both “authentic and really different.”

The album’s twelve tracks are diverse and innovatively arranged. The first four songs serve as a preview for the styles on the rest of the album; a majestic, classical arrangement of “O Worship the King” (accompanied by the Prague Philharmonic) is followed by the black Gospel song “Mysterious Ways,” a simple piano-based arrangement of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” and the Appalachian-flavored “I See a Crimson Stream.” The latter song is one of the project’s highlights; the backing vocals were originally performed by Paschal herself. A new vocal arrangement of the song replacing these vocals with a trio consisting of Paschal, Charlotte Ritchie, and Sheri Easter is the project’s current single.

These four styles are interwoven throughout the rest of the project. The fully orchestrated classical feel is most evident on a majestic rendition of “Be Still, My Soul.” Black Gospel influences are evident on “Surely God is Able,” “When God Dips His Love in My Heart,” and “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is arranged in an Appalachian style.

The project’s closing song, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” was recorded live with an organ and choir at Belle Mead United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

This project’s selections range from the familiar to the forgotten, from the fast to the slow. But it manages to do this in a way that doesn’t seem forced; the diversity becomes a sweeping and inclusive celebration of faith.