SouthernGospelBlog.com

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.

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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.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3.8 (of 5)

Song List: I Know, I Know; Help is On the Way; Eternity Has Two; One of These Days; Truly God is Love; Land of the Dying; I Won’t Have to Worry Anymore; When the Hand of God Comes Down; The Black Sheep Returns to the Fold; I’m the Clay in Your Hands; Press On, O Pilgrim, There is Joy Ahead; What Shall I Do With Jesus; He Made it All Right; Keep Your Eyes on Jesus.

Available From: Artist, Crossroads, Amazon, CBD.

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Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver is a rare example of a group that manages to enjoy success concurrently in Southern Gospel and another genre without alienating many fans in either genre. They alternate Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel releases, releasing their Bluegrass Gospel releases to the Southern Gospel via Crossroads Records.

This project gained some notice when its title track went to #1 on the September 2008 Singing News radio airplay charts (subscribers-only link here). Oddly enough, with the song being the group’s first #1, it’s not even the best track on the project. “One of These Days,” “When the Hand of God Comes Down,” and “Press On, O Pilgrim, There is Joy Ahead” are outstanding uptempo numbers that would be termed “convention songs” under different arrangements. “Press On, O Pilgrim, There is Joy Ahead,” in particular, is a song that a traditional group like the Dixie Echoes, Inspirations, or the Blackwood Brothers could adapt easily to their style.

Among the project’s slower tracks, the most memorable lyric comes from “Eternity Has Two”: “Life has many options / Eternity has two.” It’s the sort of lyric and melody that stick in your mind for days, even after only hearing the song once or twice.

This album is an enjoyable mixture of new and classic Gospel songs performed in a Bluegrass style. Despite posts like these two, I see no reason why fans of traditional convention-song quartet singing would dislike Quicksilver. In fact, their vocal arrangements are much closer that style than many of today’s top groups.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Producer: Gordon Mote & Phil Johnson.

Songlist: Adoration; I Know Somebody Who Does; Wake Up Dancin’; Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory; Maplewood Methodist Church; Get Up in Jesus’ Name; Mercy Walked In; All That Noise; I Can’t Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand); Ain’t Gonna Give Up on God; My Redeemer is Faithful and True; The Other Side of Time; This Life.

Artist Website: www.gordonmote.com

Available from: Amazon, CBD, label, artist.

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Gordon Mote, though blind since birth, started planning piano at age three. He studied music at Belmont University in Nashville; two days after graduation, he joined country singer Lee Greenwood’s band, and played piano for Greenwood for three years (until Greenwood left the road). Mote then went into studio work and focused on being a session pianist until 2006, when he released his debut project, There’s No Place Love Can’t Reach.

After hearing that project, as well as his contributions as a studio musician to various Gaither productions, Bill Gaither hired him as Homecoming Tour pianist after Anthony Burger’s sudden death. Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory is Mote’s first solo project since.

Mote’s website bio lists some of the artists he has collaborated with:

He’s performed on stage with Lee Greenwood, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Bill Gaither and Grand Ole Opry legend Porter Wagoner among others. In the studio, a “who’s who of country and Christian artists” have benefited from Gordon’s gifts, among them Rascal Flatts, Randy Travis, The Martins, Mark Lowry, Trace Adkins, The Gaither Vocal Band and Kenny Chesney.

This variety of influences shows on his project. While it has its Southern Gospel-influenced tracks, its overall musical feel is more eclectic. It includes the Southern Gospel classic “I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand,” but it also includes the Steven Curtis Chapman song “My Redeemer is Faithful and True.”

The latter, incidentally, is a song which is well arranged to fit Mote’s style. Mote sings it as a duet with his wife Kimberly, who is an excellent vocalist in her own right.

The project features several other guest vocalists–Allison Krauss (on “Maplewood Methodist Church”), the Gaither Vocal Band (on “Get Up in Jesus’ Name”), the Isaacs (on “I Know Somebody Who Does,”) and the Voices of Lee (on “Adoration.”)

Much like I said in my recent review of Charlotte Ritchie’s latest effort, Mote’s project strikes me as being one where the artist chose the songs he wanted to do and the style he wanted to do them without being particularly fastidious about ensuring that it fits the mold of what a Southern Gospel (or Christian Country, or contemporary) project is supposed to sound like.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 2.9 (of 5)

Producer: Michael Sykes & Daniel Riley

Songlist: Don’t Get Me Started; What Children Believe; I Cast My Bread Upon the Water; For the Sake of My Heart; Walkin’ and Talkin’ With My Lord; I Love This Land; I’ll Walk On; When Jesus Saves; By Your Grace, For Your Glory; Turn Your Back.

Available from: CBD, Amazon, Gold City.

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Gold City has had two golden eras. Their First Golden Era was in the late 80s and early 90s, with Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Tim Riley, and Garry Jones being that era’s most recognizable names. After some major personnel turnover, their Second Golden Era was in the late 90s and early 00s, with Jay Parrack, Jonathan Wilburn, Mark Trammell, Tim Riley, and the Band of Gold.

Jonathan Wilburn’s departure several months ago removed the group’s last link to that era. Moment of Truth is Bruce Taliaferro’s first project with Gold City, as well as the group’s first project with no personnel from either of their first two golden eras.

The jury is still out as to whether this lineup will be another golden era for the group. Of course, part of the answer will depend on how long this lineup stays together; it has been several years since the group released two consecutive albums with the same lineup.

For the last few years, Gold City has been experimenting with different styles while keeping several tracks on each CD in traditional Gold City styles. This project continues that. It has its traditional quartet numbers (”Turn Your Back,” “Walkin’ and Talkin’ With My Lord”), a big ballad (”For the Sake of My Heart”), and a brass-led arrangement (”Don’t Get Me Started.”)

But it also pushes the edge on several numbers. “When Jesus Saves” has a progressive arrangement and a somewhat repetitive chorus. “What Children Believe,” which, as Brandon Coomer notes, is a cover of a 2000 song by the country group Shenendoah, does not have an explicitly Christian lyric. But, as Kyle Boering suggests, the song’s positive message might do well on country radio.

Previous reviewers have suggested that the project’s lone big ballad, “For the Sake of My Heart,” is good but not the greatest Gold City has ever released. Compared to the likes of “Midnight Cry” and “There Rose a Lamb,” I would agree–but this is still a powerful track worthy of taking a place in Gold City’s strong catalog of ballads.

Steve Ladd was introduced to Gold City fans as a Brian Free-style tenor (which he is, and a good one). On Revival and now Moment of Truth, he has been moving towards a power tenor style. Kyle Boering compared him to Danny Funderburk. A fairly accurate picture of the direction Gold City’s arrangements seem to be taking Ladd would be to picture Brian Free emulating Danny Funderburk.

Fans of progressive Southern Gospel will find this project one of the highlights of the year’s releases. But the CD has something for everyone. Even fans whose tastes lean more towards the traditional end will find themselves returning to several of the tracks time and again.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Produced By: Wayne Haun.

Song List: On the Way Up; The Grave Can’t Hold Me; The Miracle Man; Out of His Way; Through Every Storm; Our Highest Praise; Because of the Blood; Joy in My Heart; I Still Have it All; The Things That Won’t Be There; That’s When God Steps In; I Don’t Regret.

Available from: HisSong, Vine, Crossroads, Springside, Amazon, Christianbook.com.

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The main adjective that this project brings to mind is “ambitious.” Given a larger-than-average budget and a master producer, what can a second-tier group achieve?

This project gives us a pretty good idea.

It contains mostly new songs, though it includes three covers, a Walt Mills / Tanya Goodman collaboration, “Joy in My Heart,” and two Hemphills covers, “On My Way Up” and “The Miracle Man.” Song selection is good, a decent selection of ballads, mid-tempo numbers, and fast songs, though mid-tempo songs seem to be predominant.

The group has a good vocal blend; probably its most distinctive voice is Adam Elrod’s tenor part. Elrod is a power tenor in the Danny Funderburk tradition.

The album isn’t exactly traditional, but it’s not really fully progressive either. It incorporates elements as diverse as Black Gospel arrangements, orchestral ballads, and a session band with some familiar names in the (small) Southern Gospel session player universe–Gordon Mote, Ricky Free, Craig Nelson, Randy Miller, and others.

No song jumps out as a likely breakout hit for the group. But the project is quite listenable and shows promise of a group that has strong potential to be top-tier material.

Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)

Average Song Rating: 3 stars (of 5)

Producers: Jeff Collins, Roger Fortner.

Song List: Oh How Precious Is the Flow; Remember the Mountain; Oh What a Trade; How Deep the Father’s Love For Us; Without Him; I Believe; Look How Big My God Is; Something More; I’ve Made Up My Mind; I’ll Keep Trusting You; Between Twelve and Thirty-Three; I Thought You Ought to Know.

Available from: McKameys.

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The McKameys know what their fans want, and they are smart enough to stick to it. Something More offers twelve (mostly) new songs, including contributions by Larry Petree, Rodney Griffin, Rusty Golden, Jerry Salley, and several from former group member Sheryl Farris.

The album contains few surprises. Probably the biggest surprise is their cover of the modern praise song “How Deep the Father’s Love.” The arrangement does a superb job of adapting the song to the McKameys’ style–so well, in fact, that most McKameys fans would probably assume the song had its origins in Southern Gospel and was original to the group.

“Between Twelve and Thirty-three” is a contribution from the authors of the Signature Sound hit song “John in the Jordan,” Rusty Golden and Jerry Salley (joined here by Jim McBride). While this blog’s subject matter doesn’t really extend to doctrinal analysis of specific lyrics, the chorus might raise the eyebrows of members of some denominations:

Eighteen years are a mystery
His last three years He made history
Became the Savior He was sent to be
Between twelve and thirty-three

The rest of the album contains an enjoyable mix of up-tempo songs and ballads in the McKamey’s signature style of fairly current accomaniment to traditional Appalchian vocals. This album follows the old adage, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” and will not disappoint fans of the McKamey’s style of Southern Gospel.

Rating: ***1/2

Producer: E.T. Everett.

Song List: I’ll Tell it Wherever I Go; Consider the Lilies; His Hand in Mine; In the Garden; Little is Much; ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus; Jesus Loves Me; Rock of Ages; I’d Rather Have Jesus; Praise to the Lord.

Website: www.mattsministry.com

Available from: The artist

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Before I get into the review itself, a word about my rating system. My involvement in the Southern Gospel Albums project has involved using the five-level star system there (ten-level if you count half-stars). I’ve decided to switch over to it on this blog to make interfacing with the SGA project a little easier.

Matt Throgmorton got introduced to Southern Gospel Music through singing with the Florida Melody Boys. He joined the group in 1996 and sang with them for several years. The group won Favorite Horizon Group in the 1998 Singing News Fan Awards and evidently disappeared shortly thereafter. Throgmorton now sings solo, as well as doing some trio dates with a regional Illinois-based trio named “One Voice.”

Throgmorton released his debut solo project recently. It consists of ten familiar Southern Gospel songs and hymns. Most of the songs are mid to slow tempo numbers, but the slow tracks are interspersed among the medium tempo tracks well enough that the project doesn’t really drag.

Highlights include strong renditions of “His Hand in Mine,” “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” and “His Hand in Mine.” Two highlights deserve special mention:

• “Little is Much” builds to the big ending that Signature Sound’s Ernie Haase and several Gaither Vocal Band tenors have been known to close the song with. Throgmorton builds it to a big finish without the assistance of massive production. He avoided the temptation (which sometimes even legends of Larry Ford’s caliber fall for) to key the song too high in the verses to have power left for the big ending.
• “Praise to the Lord,” the project’s closing song, is the project’s strongest track. It carves out new stylistic ground with an innovative, energetic arrangement. You can listen to a sound clip here.

Rarely do I come across a project by a soloist that I like enough to listen to repeatedly. This is one of those rare projects. It was a tossup whether I would rate it at 3 1/2 or 4. I selected 3 1/2,  but it is a strong 3 1/2; a project with original material this strong would easily get a 4-star or higher rating.

Southern Gospel solo projects, especially those of cover songs, often fill the gaps between groups in a singer’s career. My initial thought on hearing this project was that Throgmorton wouldn’t disappoint Greater Vision fans. (Of course, Jacob Kitson got that position…but that does leave an open spot in Tribute.) But while this project is good enough to convince me that Throgmorton would be a good find for a major group, it’s also good enough to stand on its own as an enjoyable collection of classics.

Several weeks ago, I reviewed the Diplomats Quartet’s most recent release, Live in West Virginia. This is a solo project from the most recognizable voice in the group, alto Rita Pearson. Pearson is often compared to Vestal Goodman; as I commented in the Diplomats review, Pearson’s voice captures the raw energy of Vestal Goodman’s younger days, while Libbi Stuffle of the Perrys–the other singer on the Southern Gospel scene most frequently compared to Goodman–captures more of the polish of Vestal in her later years.

Pearson’s energy and enthusiasm shine clearly on this project. It includes several classic Happy Goodmans numbers (”God Walks the Dark Hills,” “What Heaven Means to Me,” and “I Hold a Clear Title”) and several other Southern Gospel classics

The project’s highlights include “What Heaven Means to Me,” a laid-back rendition of “Where the Roses Never Fade,” and the song “Place Called Heaven.”

The rest of the group provides background vocals on the tracks, but does not have any solos. While the project covers little new ground stylistically or in song selection, it is a solid collection of songs performed well by Pearson and the Diplomats.

Available from: The Diplomats.

Rating: Enjoyable. (Updated to 5-star system: 3.5 stars)