SouthernGospelBlog.com

This is a joint review with Adam Edwards of Southern Gospel Critique.

1. “What Will My Cross Testify”
Adam: Ron Martin’s power vocals on this Kyla Rowland tune really kick this project off. Ron is one of the best vocalists in Southern Gospel music that chooses to remain in the ministry instead of the limelight. “What Will My Cross Testify” is a powerful song to kick off this new project from The Rowlands.

Daniel: Of course, the ministry and the limelight aren’t mutually exclusive, but I do understand what you’re saying.

2. “Did I Mention”
Adam: Tenor Wes Green sings the lead vocals on this new Kyla Rowland tune and cranks out a great vocal offering. This was my first exposure to the song, but The Perrys have also recorded it on their upcoming release featuring Libby Perry. This should be a great radio release. Awesome song.

Daniel: The lyrics on the verses are, at least in my opinion, the most memorable part of the song. The verses have some powerful thoughts.

3. “Back To Me”
Daniel: This song, which was recorded by Triumphant Quartet in 2005, is one of only two songs on the project not penned by Kyla Rowland. (The other is “Resting in His Grace.”) Yet this song, written by Marty Allen and Robert Arthur, does fit the feel of the rest of the project well.

Adam: Ron Martin once again shows his vocal prowess on this tune. This song was originally released to radio in 2007 by Eighth Day. It reached #26 on the October, 2007 Singing News Top 80. It is basically a tune written about the Prodigal Son and is a great setup song for an invitation in a church service.

4. “A Table In The Wilderness”
Adam: The Mike Bowling Group originally cut this Kyla Rowland song in 2006. The Rowlands have upped the tempo just a bit from their version and have made it much more appealing to the ears. Baritone Kenneth Stepp takes the melody on the verses with Ron Martin finishing the melody on the chorus. This song is one of the highlights for me on this project.

5. “Safe Thus Far”
Daniel: This is the same song the Hoskins Family cut several years ago. For those who don’t particularly care for vocal embellishments, this is a much more straight-ahead version of the song. This rendition has less, both in the way of instrumentation and vocal embellishments, to distract from the lyric, and the lyric comes through with a new power.

Adam: This simplified version of the tune made popular by The Hoskins Family is much more appealing than the over-embellished original.

Daniel: Precisely.

6. “He Crossed Out My Sin And Shame”
Adam: This ballad sung by Ron Martin is a fairly mellow tune. I really like the imagery of Christ ‘crossing’ out my sin and shame on the cross of Calvary.

7. “Moving the Hand of God.”
Daniel: The Mark Trammell Trio released the best-known version of this cut on their 2007 project Once Upon a Cross. Both the Mark Trammell Trio version and the Rowlands’ version sound like a quartet song waiting to happen, just lacking a bass singer. It is not too hard to imagine a group like the Kingdom Heirs or the Perrys turning this into a barn-burner that audiences beg to be encored.

Adam: I’ll agree with Daniel. A bass singer on this song would be awesome!

8. “One Scarred Hand”
Daniel: Unlike the classic Gold City rendition, this Rowlands rendition stays in the same key throughout the whole song. Unlike the classic Gold City rendition which modulates up a fourth into each chorus, and manages to cover the keys of A, D, B-flat, and E-flat before the final bars, the Rowland start in A and stay in the key of A throughout.

Adam: The Rowlands have sang this song for years and have finally recorded it. This is a calmer version than Gold City’s, but that’s is not a bad thing. Wes Green is very comfortable with the song and it shows in the recording.

9. “We’ll Go Down Standing Up”
Daniel: The Rowlands have access to Kyla Rowland’s songs, oftentimes before the major groups get them. This song is a major group’s hit song just waiting to happen. It addresses a theme (persecution) many Southern Gospel songs avoid addressing this directly.

Just as a side note, speaking as a songwriter, “Lord” and “God” are two words that don’t rhyme easily. This song comes up with a pretty unique rhyme combination in the chorus: “We may be run through with a sword / But we’ll keep standing for the Lord / We may go down, but we’ll go down standing up.”

Adam: This is probably the most unique song on the project due to the theme of the song.

Daniel: Other than the already-classics, this is definitely the song that stuck out the most in my mind, one that kept playing through my mind after the last notes of the CD faded off. If I was a group manager and was sent a demo CD of all the new songs on this project, this is the one I would definitely jump to place a hold on.

10. “Resting In His Grace”
Adam: Kenneth Stepp penned this song that he also sings the melody on. It’s a good song and to me, there is nothing like a songwriter singing their own songs. I can’t wait to hear this one live!

11. “How Blessed”
Adam: At first, this song would not have been my choice to close out a project, but after hearing Ron’s powerful voice tell us just how blessed we are, you can’t help but close the project reflecting on the goodness and grace of our Savior. “How blessed is the one who died for me” is a lyric that really sticks to you. We are indeed blessed and this song turned out to be one of my favorite from the new release.

Final Rating:
Adam: 3.8 star song average / 4 stars overall
Daniel: 3.4 star song average / 3.5 stars overall

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Available from: Cracker Barrel.

* * *

Perhaps unfortuately, the Homecoming phenemonon is a primarily visual experience.

It all started with a video. The appeal of the video was more in seeing the legends singing together than hearing the choir. And ever since, though Gaither has released a CD version of each Homecoming release, the videos are what he’s known for. (Even Steve Green, speaking to a largely CCM audience, can get a laugh by merely referring to Gaither taping—surprise—another video.)

I say “perhaps unfortuately” only because every attempt to transfer the energy of a Gaither video to a CD seems to come a little short. A video version of these same twelve songs would get a rating a full star higher (4.5 stars of 5).

That out of the way, there are several tracks that shine even if it’s just the audio. “Rock of Ages,” “He Leadeth Me,” and “Yes, I Know” come over particularly well on the CD.

Even if it may not quite beat what a DVD could have done, this opportunity to introduce Southern Gospel to a new audience sure beats nothing. There is certainly a decent possibility that someone with a church background could pick it up in a Cracker Barrel and be interested enough to check out a video. There, more likely than not, is where they’d really get into the music.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.4 stars (of 5)

Song List: Family of God (Squire Parsons); Then Came the Morning (Won By One); Get All Excited (Talley Trio); The Longer I Serve Him (Perry Sisters); I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen (Isaacs); Because He Lives (Kingdom Heirs); I Will Serve Thee (Kirk Talley); Something Beautiful (The Trio); He Touched Me (Kingsmen); God Gave the Song (Anthony Burger).

Available from: Crossroads.

* * *

A Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither was originally released in 1999. It was recently re-issued as part of Crossroads’ initiative to reissue out-of-print recordings digitally.

The project features artists from a fairly wide spectrum within Southern Gospel, with several soloists, male quartets, family groups, and trios. Probably the two strongest songs on the project are Won By One’s “Then Came the Morning,” featuring Clayton Inman, and the Kingdom Heirs’ “Because He Lives” (featuring Arthur Rice).

The Talley Trio and The Trio (Anthony, Kirk and Ivan) turn in smooth harmonies on “Get All Excited” and “Something Beautiful,” respectively.

Three soloists appear: Anthony Burger does an instrumental rendition of “God Gave the Song,” Squite Parsons sings “Family of God,” and Kirk Talley sings “I Will Serve Thee.” (Oddly, “I Will Serve Thee” is placed right before The Trio’s “Something Beautiful.”)

Though this project will not likely go down as the best collection of Gaither songs ever released (there have been several), it does have several strong performances and is an enjoyable project.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Producer: none listed on pre-release.

Song List: In the Sweet By and By; In the Garden; Since Jesus Came Into My Heart; Blessed Assurance; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms; Oh How I Love Jesus; When the Roll is Called Up Yonder; Without Him; Are You Washed in the Blood; Farther Along; Softly and Tenderly.

Available from: Artist.

* * *

The Chigger Hill Boys & Terri was founded in 2001. Shortly thereafter, they were signed to Thoroughbred Records, a division of Daywind. This six-member bluegrass ensemble includes five musicians (two of whom also do background vocals) and lead singer Terri Argot Gore.

This project is a collection of eleven hymns arranged in a bluegrass style. Lead singer Terri Gore sings the lead (melody) on nine of the eleven songs. (”Blessed Assurance” and “Without Him” are both led by male vocalists.) Though common in other genres, someone used to the Southern Gospel practice of different group members having solos on different songs may find it a little repetitive.

The instrumentals are folk-influenced bluegrass. (Since these are hymns, and many of the hymns are slower tempo, there are few of the driving uptempo bluegrass licks that distinguish other bluegrass projects.) This mellow collection is a good choice to play during quiet times of reflection.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.4 (of 5)

Song List: O Holy Night (Happy Goodman Family); O Little Town of Bethlehem (Mercy River Boys); Christmas (Lewis Family); Forgive Me Santa (Jimmie Davis); The First Noel (Rex Nelon Singers); God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Cathedral Quartet); Away in a Manger (Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters); Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem (Florida Boys); Silent Night (B.J. Thomas); What Child is This? (Inspirations).

Available from: iTunes, Amazon MP3.

* * *

When Word Records announced that it was returning to Southern Gospel by bringing back the Canaan label, observers who remembered the label’s glory days (as well as those who have heard the stories) hoped for two major things: First, that the group would make a serious effort towards releasing top-quality new releases worthy of the Canaan name, and second, that Canaan would open its massive vault and re-issue remastered versions of some of its greatest albums from the past.

Earlier this year, Canaan released several new recordings (by Kim Hopper, the Mike LeFevre Quartet, and Mike & Kelly Bowling) that were generally deemed to have accomplished the first of the two major priorities. A few weeks ago, Canaan delighted many fans by announcing that they would indeed open their vault and reissue remastered classic albums digitally.

A Classic Canaan Christmas, the first in this series, was released in mid-September, the week after the National Quartet Convention. The sound quality is excellent, CD quality. Sound clips can be heard here.

The album itself is an interesting juxtaposition of styles. Where else besides a compilation would you find the Rex Nelon Singers, the Inspirations, and the Lewis Family all on the same project? Speaking of the Inspirations, their song (”What Child is This?”) is one of the project’s most memorable. Mike Holcomb takes the lead, but the vocals are not as noticeable as the soundtrack; it has, among other things, drums and strings—things you don’t find too often on Inspirations projects. The song is a rare chance to catch the Inspirations outside of their typical musical comfort zone.

Most of the songs are new renditions of classic Christmas carols, but there are two new tracks, Jimmie Davis’ narration “Forgive Me Santa,” and the Lewis Family’s “Christmas.”

The Cathedrals’ rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is with instruments, a different rendition than the acapella version they recorded several years later on A Cathedral Christmas Acapella. This rendition has an orchestral accompaniment and is from the Cathedrals’ Kirk Talley era.

The project doesn’t really have any tracks that blow the listener away. Perhaps the contributing groups saved their best performances for their own Christmas projects. Whether that is so or not, the project is solidly enjoyable, a nice collection of Christmas tracks from artists showing how diverse the Southern Gospel spectrum can be. And the audio quality is exceptional, giving fans reason to hope that the series is successful enough that Canaan will eventually remaster and release their entire catalog.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.46 stars (of 5)

Executive Producer: Ken Harding.

Song List: Still Feelin’ Fine (Booth Brothers); Please Forgive Me (Crabb Family); I’m Not Giving Up (Gold City); Grace (Martins), For God So Loved (Brian Free & Assurance); Sweetest Song I Know (J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet); He Looked Beyond My Fault (The Rambos); What a Beautiful Day (The Goodmans); Is That the Old Ship of Zion (Kingsmen); I Lean On You Lord (Florida Boys); God Walks the Dark Hills (Vestal Goodman); Through it All (Oak Ridge Boys); I Wish I Could Have Been There (Perrys); Praise His Name (Jeff & Sheri Easter); Redeemer (Ivan Parker).

Available from: Artist, CBD.

* * *

A review of a project of new songs focuses on the quality of the songs and the strength of the instrumental and vocal arrangements. But other than a brief look at audio quality, the bulk of the review of a compilation must focus on the song selection. (Speaking of audio quality, it is excellent. New Haven Records did a great job remastering old songs to the point that they don’t sound out of place next to today’s songs.

First—to get this out of the way up front—I find it a little odd that an All-Time Favorites collection is done without any songs from the Statesmen, Blackwood Brothers, or Cathedrals, arguably the three most popular Southern Gospel groups of all time. Volume 1 of this series did include a Cathedrals song (”Step Into the Water”), but no Blackwoods or Statesmen songs are on either.

This is probably in part because even though the title says “all-time,” both volumes use songs from the 70s through today. From this time period, a wide range of artists are included. New Haven’s term “eclectic collection” is on target—this CD includes everyone from the Crabb Family to the Kingsmen, from Ivan Parker to the Martins, and from the Booth Brothers to the Florida Boys.

The project does a fairly decent job of using one of a group’s most recognizable songs. The only song that jumped out as a seemingly odd choice was the Florida Boys’ “I Lean On You Lord.” Granted, the song did come from Timeless (1987), possibly the best album the Florida Boys ever released…but even for that particular era, the group is best remembered for “When He Was On the Cross (I Was On His Mind).”

New Haven releases a Southern Gospel Legacy Series, an excellent compilation series for some of Southern Gospel’s top groups. All of the pre-1990 songs on this CD (except possibly the Stamps song) have appeared on CDs in that series. So this CD would be most valuable to someone new to Southern Gospel, or a Southern Gospel fan who did not have earlier titles in that series.

For someone who has a decent collection of Southern Gospel music, this CD would have little new. But it would provide a good introduction for someone new to the genre.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Producer: Harold Timmons.

Song List: Getting Ready to Leave This World; Echoes From the Burning Bush; Jesus, Hold My Hand; If We Never Meet Again; This World is Not My Home; Heaven’s Jubilee; The Joy of Heaven; I’ll Meet You in the Morning; When I Walk on the Streets of Gold; I’m Gonna See Heaven; He Said it All For Me; Oh, Lord, Hasten That Day; I Have a Prayer; I’m Rejoicing; Sweet Beulah Land; Looking For a City; It’s An Unfriendly World; It is Well With My Soul; Glory To His Name; I’ll Fly Away; Radio Show (The Son Hath Made Me Free / Come Unto Me / The Church in the Wildwood / A Beautiful Life); Heaven’s Really Gonna Shine.

Available from: Artist.

* * *

The current generation of the Chuck Wagon Gang is co-owned by bass singer / guitarist / emcee Dave Emery and Shaye Smith. Smith, the grand-daughter of Chuck Wagon Gang alto Anna (Carter) Davis, sang with the group for several years, coming off the road last year to spend more time with her children. She currently teaches music at Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

This concert was recorded at Kings Mountain High School in January 2008; the choirs Smith leads joined the Chuck Wagon Gang on several songs.

The concert is longer than usual; it includes nearly thirty songs and was released on a two-DVD set. Since the group uses entirely live accompaniment, there are no extended intros and turnarounds like most Gospel groups today use, but even so the program is longer than the typical DVD.

One highlight of the concert is the Chuck Wagon Gang’s re-creation of a classic radio program like the Chuck Wagon Gang’s programs from years back (down to singing the Bewley Mills flour jingle). Apparently the Chuck Wagon Gang often does this segment in their concerts; this particular program was highlighted by an interruption by Shaye Smith in character as Willie Mae, the radio studio cleaning lady.

The concert was excellent; an audio-only version of the concert would have received 4.5 or 5 stars. However, a star was deducted from the rating due to the slightly distracting visuals, particularly the shaky close-ups. (It requires special talent to hold a camera still!)

Fans of classic Southern Gospel will enjoy this Chuck Wagon Gang concert.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Producer: None credited.

Song List: It Won’t Be Long; Coming Thru For You; Heaven’s Headlines; Answer For the Lost; Lay Them Down; A Beautiful Life; Following In Their Footsteps; I’ve Been Saved; Never Too Far; Coming Home (Dan’s Testimony).

Available from: Artist.

* * *

Before joining the Dixie Melody Boys, Dan Keeton led a trio with his wife, Nancy, singing alto, and Rick Grey singing bass. Keeton left the Dixie Melody Boys last year and launched the Dan Keeton Quartet, with Nancy and Rick, joined by baritone Chris Little. This group recorded a live album of classic songs. Earlier this year, Chris Little left the group. Since they were back to the same lineup they used before Dan’s Dixie Melody Boys stint, Dan brought the Keetons name back.

This project is the group’s first recording of new songs since bringing the name back. There are ten tracks; one is the classic “A Beautiful Life,” featuring Rick Grey. Another, “Coming Home,” is Dan Keeton’s (spoken) testimony.

The other eight tracks are new songs, all penned by Dan Keeton. There are several good uptempo songs (”It Won’t Be Long,” “Lay Them Down,” “I’ve Been Saved.”) “Following in Their Footsteps” and the title track are lyrically strong slower songs.

Rick Grey’s only has one extended feature (”A Beautiful Life”), along with a few solo lines here and there. Generally speaking, the solo lines seem to be keyed a little too low for his range. However, I have heard the group live, and his low notes work perfectly in a live setting, where the vocal spread on big endings would make the Parrack / Riley Gold City jealous.

This debut (or, more precisely, re-debut) recording wasn’t backed by a major-label budget, but it certainly shows promise of what the group can become.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Producer: The Ball Brothers.

Song List: He’s a Personal Savior; Dig a Little Deeper; Near to the Heart of God; Where Could I Go But To the Lord; There is a River; I Never Shall Forget the Day; My Lord and I; Going Home; He Set Me Free; I Surrender All.

Artist Website: http://www.theballbrothers.com/.

***

Since starting their group in about 2005, the Ball Brothers have released three projects: A self-titled debut with new songs, an a capella release (Vocalized), and this project, Simplified. As the title suggests, this collection of classic Southern Gospel songs uses simple arrangements. In fact, there were only two studio musicians—Roy Webb on piano and Greg Hagan on bass and rhythm guitar.

Several slower-paced hymns on the project (”Near to the Heart of God,” “Going Home,” and “I Surrender All”) help to create a slow-paced, relaxing mood. The project also has several convention songs, with harmonies much tighter than a typical male quartet would sing, and one a capella song (”My Lord and I”).

The project’s standout track is “There is A River.” It’s not a fast-paced rendition (clocking in at over six minutes!), but the tempo is comparable to normal for the song. All four brother’s voices are similar enough that it can be rather hard to discern which brother has each solo. However, even in the three or four years the group has been on the road, lead singer Daniel Ball’s voice has matured noticeably, and I suspect it is his voice on this track. Though the rendition might not top Gerald Wolfe’s definitive version, it shows an incipient range and command that promises to make Ball one of Southern Gospel’s best lead singers.

This project showcases a different side of the group than previous recordings have brought out, a more traditional side. It also provides them with traditional numbers for concerts where the audiences seems to respond best to traditional selections. When I saw them a few weeks ago—reviewed here—they made ample use of this project’s songs, staging several of the numbers in their set.

This is not the sort of project that blows the listener away—but then, it wasn’t meant to be. It is more the sort of project that provides an enjoyable, relaxing listen. Sometimes, whether or not they realize it, every Southern Gospel fan wearies of over-compressed, highly produced music, and this is a perfect fit for such times.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.2 (of 5)

Producer: Jason Webb.

Song List: Let Me Tell You ‘Bout Jesus; Didn’t It Rain; Take My Life; Glorious; Big Mighty God; Last One Worthy; You Thought of Us; Nothin’ But Good; It’s Time to Sing; You’re Never Too Far Away; Jesus Saves.

Available from: Artist, Label, CBD.

***

After performing with the Alphus LeFevre Singers, the Singing Americans, and Gold City, and winning three Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone, Mike LeFevre took a hiatus from the forefront of the Southern Gospel scene for several years.

Several years ago, he returned to the Southern Gospel scene with the Mike LeFevre Quartet. The group spent several years with the Song Garden Music Group label, during the years when Robbie Hiner and Nick Bruno were at the helm and the label showed promise of establishing a foothold in the genre. The group’s lead singer, David Staton, even worked there on days the group wasn’t on the road. However, after changes at the label that involved Hiner, Bruno, and several of the nationally known artists departing, the quartet found themselves looking for a label. They ended up signing with Canaan earlier this year; this is their first release on the label.

This was one of three albums released by Canaan this fall; attention was on all three to see what level of detail and care Canaan would put into their releases. Kim Hopper’s solo CD, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, was the only one of the three where Canaan executive Dave Clark had a day-to-day role in the album production. Though he’s an “executive producer” here (as I understand it, it’s more of a veto power, removed from the day to day recording process), Jason Webb produced this album.

The album has several good songs. “Glorious” is an uptempo song with praise and worship lyrics reminiscent of their hit cover of “Days of Elijah.” Traditional Southern Gospel gets several nods with the opening tracks, “Let Me Tell You About Jesus” and “Didn’t it Rain.”

The project’s strongest song is probably its final track, “Jesus Saves.” It is a new song, not the hymn, the Cathedrals song, the Talley Trio song, or the Hoppers song, all of which have the same name. This anthem will have many listeners hitting the repeat button. My only complaint with the track is that the choir—which is not in and of itself appropriate addition given the anthemic nature of the track—all but overpowers the quartet’s vocals by the end. I would love to hear a remix of this song with the choir track pulled, and the quartet’s vocals more in evidence.

The album has several good songs, and one or two great songs that will keep listeners returning time and again.