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7 November 2008

CD Review: Reminiscing (Chuck Wagon Gang)

Posted in: 4 star, CD Reviews — Daniel J. Mount @ 7:30 am

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.

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DVD Review: Live in Concert Kings Mountain, NC (Chuck Wagon Gang)

Posted in: 3.5 star, DVD Reviews — Daniel J. Mount @ 7:29 am

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.

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