Behind The Music: “What You Can Never Get Over”

As I noted in my review of The Kingdom Heirs new recording, “I Feel A Good Day Coming On”, one of my favorite songs on the project was “What You Can Never Get Over”. This song, written by Rodney Griffin, features the groups new tenor vocalist, Jacob Ellison.

Rodney is one of Southern Gospel’s most prolific writers. While many of his songs have been recorded by his group, Greater Vision, The Kingdom Heirs have also recorded many of his finest songs, including “He Lifted Me”, “I’ve Been Rescued”, “The Depths of The Father’s Love”, “He Locked The Gates”, “As Many Times” and many more. But I believe this is one of the best songs Rodney has ever written.

When asked about the inspiration behind the song, Rodney shared the following with me. “

“I felt this would be a special song from the beginning.  A couple of years ago, a Canadian friend of ours lost his father.  I texted my condolences to he and his family.  His response caused this song to be written.  He wrote back,

 “Rodney, we’ll never get over this, but God will get us through.”

“I knew there was a song there.  I didn’t have any group in mind, but I wrote the song.  I felt like we could all relate to “It all was well…suddenly you’re walking toward a storm”.  Many storms come suddenly and unexpectedly to us.  But, we know God will get us through them.”

“I was thrilled when we worked with the Kingdom Heirs one night and Arthur Rice told me they were still searching for a song for Jacob.  When I sent them the song, Jacob identified with it immediately.  I love his interpretation of it on their new recording.”

“It’s precious to know that the death of my friend’s father will forever be commemorated by the lyrics of this song.  God be praised.”

Jacob Ellison, the featured vocalist and tenor for The Kingdom Heirs added, “When I first joined the Kingdom Heirs, Arthur was finishing up his song selections for the upcoming album. He gave me the choice between two songs Rodney had sent for my final song on the album. When I heard “What You Could Never Get Over,” the words gripped me. Being a victim of sexual abuse, a fatherless male, and growing up impoverished, my life felt like a constant “what the crap God?” This song perfectly tells the honesty of being in a trial and then the beauty of what the other side can be if we persevere.”

In my review, I shared that the song had a black Gospel/soulful feel to me. Jacob elaborated, ‘When I first heard the song, Rodney had composed it like a James Taylor song. I thought the words needed a more dramatic feel. I rearranged the song, sat in with the instrumentalists at the studio and made it into what I felt fit the lyrics better. I feared it would offend Rodney because of how different it was, but upon asking him, he said he loved it. I love black gospel and always make it a goal to bring it into my music, so I’m very honored that that was your takeaway.”

When asked about the response the song is receiving live, Jacob shared, “I have been surprised over the responses we have gotten to the song. On several occasions people have shared with me about the loss of their children, getting cancer, among other things. My own grandmother told me after her breast cancer diagnosis a few months ago that it has become her fight song! I pray it to be an anthem for hurt people push to make it through with God by their side. Regardless, this song is helping people, mostly me. Getting to sing this song has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

After publishing my review, Greg Bentley of Crossroads/Sonlite (The Kingdom Heirs record label) commented that this song will be sent to radio as the new single. I believe the message is so timely and powerful for the times in which we live. I would like to thank both Rodney and Jacob for sharing the story behind the writing and creative process that brought this song to be. Listen to the words of this song and the heart behind the performance, I know it will bless you just like it has me.

WHAT YOU COULD NEVER GET OVER

Verse 1
It all was well in your life
All was calm at least for a little while
But then the curtain opened
Suddenly you’re walking toward a storm
As the pain comes rushing in
You say, “I’ll never get over this”

CHORUS
What you could never get over
God will get you through
When what you’d never imagined
Has now somehow happened to you
He knew your journey would bring you this way
So He will enlighten your view
What you could never get over
God will get you through

Verse 2
Just say, “Go on ahead, you temporary trial”
“Try your best to try and take my smile”
“You will not defeat me”
“Though I may be grieving for a day”
“The hurt I can’t dispute”
“But, this promise I’ve learned is true”

Tag
Friend, the One Who is worthy, sovereign and Holy
Is right here standing with you
What you could never get over, God will get you..
What you could never see over, God will see you..
What you could never get over, God will get you through

Words and Music by Rodney Griffin, ©Songs of Greater Vision, BMI.

Album Review: “I Feel A Good Day Coming On” by The Kingdom Heirs

Southern Gospel Music has no greater ambassador than The Kingdom Heirs. They have introduced thousands to their music through their daily shows at Dollywood for the past 36 years. The group has been excellent over those years, with minimal personnel changes.

The current nucleus of Lead singer Arthur Rice, Bass vocalist Jeff Chapman, and Loren Harris on Baritone added Tenor Vocalist Jacob Ellison last Year and I believe this is their best lineup to date.

The project kicks off with the title cut, which is the first single. The group takes the first verse and chorus and are joined by The 3 Heath Brothers on the second verse and chorus. The song gets up and goes, with some nice horns on the arrangement. Next is up is a nice mid tempo number, “The Gospel Truth“, which features Chapman on the verses and Ellison and Chapman on the chorus. Ellison is a newcomer to SG, and I love his tones on this song, very similar to Kirk Talley in certain tones, especially the last key change after the bridge.

The pace picks up on “He’s Making Good”, which features Rice. It’s hard to believe that Arthur has been the lead singer of the KH for 27 Years! But believe me when I say he sounds better than ever, and he absolutely crushes this song. Things slow down a bit for “A Heaven Frame of Mind”, which features Harris. I really enjoyed this bluesy song, penned by the late great Dianne Wilkinson, and the first of 4 songs she penned that you’ll find on the project.

Next up is another Wilkinson song, “God Knows How Much Mercy I Need”, which features Rice. Some fans may remember this one from when Mark Trammell Quartet recorded it back in 2010, but this is a great cut that the group changed up a bit, and I love the ending they put on this with Ellison. Speaking of Jacob, he’s featured on the next song, the up-tempo “Jesus Is Enough”, written by the groups drummer Dennis Murphy. Jacob takes the verses while Chapman leads the chorus.

“Tell Me Again” is a mid tempo tune, that features Rice. Harris is featured again on the uptempo “Never Changing God” and what a great song. Loren has been a home run for the KH, an awesome addition who gives has given the group another dimension vocally. Things slow down for the next cut, “What You Could Never Get Over”, which features Ellison. When I initially heard this song, I thought the group was covering a Black Gospel/CCM song. When I got my physical copy, I was shocked and amazed to see the song was written by Rodney Griffin. There is so much I want to say about this song, in fact I have another post dedicated to this song that I will post this weekend, but I want to include my thoughts here as well. Jacob Ellison is a breath of fresh air to SG Industry, this guy is awesome. He’s got the power to sing high but he also can sing a lyric like this with the tenderness the arrangement calls for. I mentioned earlier that some of his tones reminded me of Kirk Talley, while on this song his tones reminded me of the great Steve Perry from Journey. He put so much soul into this performance and it shows. Both the lyrics of the song and the performance are MUST HEAR! I really hope Crossroads sends this song to radio, it’s a message that will connect to folks. Stay tuned for my next post, you won’t want to miss it. Now, back to the review.

The pace picks up a bit with a shuffling mid tempo quartet tune, “He Worked It Out”, which features Chapman and Ellison. I cannot go any further in this review without complimenting Jeff. It’s also hard to believe Chapman has been with the KH for 20 Years, singing bass. Jeff is without a doubt in my mind, the best bass singer in our business. He can sing lower than anybody you can think of, past or present, in the history of our Genre, but he can also sing in his upper register as good as anyone too. He may not win the fan awards, but there is no doubt in our industry that Jeff Chapman is THE Best bass singer in our industry. The project comes to a close with a great energetic song, “What My God Can Do”, which features Ellison. It’s an enjoyable song, but then the encore comes in, and Jacob goes into the stratosphere. All I could say is, “wow”. I write this review, letting my “worldly musical influences” come out a bit, but I can only compare the high note Jacob hits to one song I’ve heard in my life, “The Great Gig In The Sky” by Pink Floyd. If you know, you know.

The Kingdom Heirs are one of the most solid and dependable groups in our genre, you know when you listen to their music you will hear a great quartet recording. As always, the song selection, vocals, and performances captured on this project displays what I as a Gospel Music fan love about the KH and what keeps me listening. I believe they are the strongest they’ve ever been vocally, this lineup has no weak links. One of the most refreshing things about this project, in my opinion, is to have a group of the stature of The Kingdom Heirs, bring in a guy that is fresh blood, a new name and face in our industry, who is obviously talented. THIS is what we need in SG! We’ve got too many groups bringing back the best guy they know that retired 2-3 years ago and keeping the pool of talent small and relative to a few names. But getting some young people who are talented, excited about this music, and want to minister in this capacity is what SG needs and I’m glad to see it in Jacob and The Kingdom Heirs.

In closing, I really enjoyed listening to “I Feel A Good Day Coming On” and believe it to be the best album released in 2021. Please be sure to pick up a physical copy of the cd, stream it or download it, whatever you do. If you’ve heard this project already, share your thoughts with me, I’d love to hear from you!

A review copy was not provided.

Mark Five Records Releases Classic Catalog on Digital And Streaming Platforms

In the early 1990’s, Mark Five Records had a roster of young artists that would prove to be some of Gospel Music’s most popular groups. Groups like The Anchormen, The Martins, The Rochesters, recorded for the label. The label experienced their greatest success with Perfect Heart, whose debut single “Somebody Touched The Lord” raced up the charts to Number 1 and was the song of the year in 1991.

With the Perfect Heart Reunion that took place at the Memphis Quartet Show earlier this year, Mark Five owner Rick Sandidge had remastered some of the groups most popular songs and released them on a compilation cd, entitled Remastered. Recently, Sandidge has released many of the label’s recordings to digital sales outlets, such as iTunes and Amazon Music, as well as streaming services (Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora), including Perfect Heart’s first 5 albums (2 of which were never available on cd), as well as music from the artists I mentioned previously as well as solo recordings from Jeff Stice, Mark Lanier and Willie Wynn.

As someone who loves the history of our genre, one of my pet peeves is that much of the great music that was recorded by these artists has been unavailable/out of print for much too long. Thankfully, the release of the Mark Five Catalog is a great benefit to many fans who have desired to have a better quality product. It’s also beneficial to fans who totally missed out of this era of SG and they can now enjoy it.

Although there are currently no plans to release any of these recordings on cd, the Remastered cd is available to order by clicking here.

Album Review: “Everything In Between” by The Kingdom Heirs

When it comes to quartet singing in Gospel Music, The Kingdom Heirs have been the standard bearers of excellence for our industry many years. The nucleus of lead singer Arthur Rice, bass vocalist Jeff Chapman, and tenor singer Jerry Martin have done nothing but benefit from the addition of baritone Loren Harris in 2016. This lineup is arguably the best ever been in the history of the KH. They’ve virtually done it all, but their latest project “Everything In Between“, released on Sonlite Records/Crossroads, presents a new concept the group has never tried before on a mainline project. This time around, the group decided to try a different approach with 6 songs recorded with studio musicians, 3 songs recorded acapella, and 3 instrumentals performed by the Award Winning Kingdom Heirs band of pianist Andy Stringfield, bass player Kreis French, and drummer Dennis Murphy.

The project kicks off with an acapella song, Just Drink The Water, which is a new song, that has a great tempo and is done well. Next up is an uptempo song, “Come To The Well, which is the first radio single and features Rice. These songs are straight up Arthur’s alley and he knocks it out of the park as always. Chapman is featured on the next track, “Everything In Between“, which is a wonderful straight up, quartet tune. The band makes their first instrumental appearance on the Elvis favorite, “Cryin In The Chapel“. Loren Harris steps up to take his first feature on “I Have Overcome“, which is the first of four songs written/co-written by Dianne Wilkinson. One of my favorite songs on the project, it’s a great lyric written from the perspective of Jesus that tells the believer there is nothing we can’t overcome because of the finished work of Calvary.

Another Wilkinson track and the second acapella tune “Nothin’s Gonna Keep Me Down“, features Chapman. Jeff Chapman is not just one of the best bass singers going today, but he’s one of the most versatile singers in Gospel Music today, he can sing as low as anyone but also has the range to sing like a baritone. His features are always one of the highlights of a Kingdom Heirs recording and this song is no exception.

Ready For Glory is another great new song with the old time sounding quartet sound done to perfection. The band is featured on another instrumental, a red back classic, “He Set Me Free“. Harris featured on another song, “I’ll Never Get Over The Blood That I’m Under“, which was co-written by Dennis Murphy. The group brings another acapella song, “Holy, Holy Is What The Angels Sing“. The project comes to a close with another Wilkinson song, “High On Zion’s Mountain“, which features Jerry Martin. This songs reminds me of something the Blackwood Brothers of the 60’s & 70’s would have recorded, I can easily hear Bill Shaw or Pat Hoffmaster in my mind singing this song. Martin does a fine job and with only piano and orchestration, the arrangement fits this songs to a tee. The perfect closing track for the project.

When I first heard the concept of this recording, I was skeptical that it would work and I had my doubts. But the Kingdom Heirs know what their audience likes and they deliver, every time. This project is no exception Normally, I cannot listen to a cd all the way through, but I have listened to Everything In Between multiple times without skipping a song. That is the mark of a quality recording. Everything In Between truly does offer everything that Gospel Music fans have come to expect from the Kingdom Heirs, and more. This was one of my favorite recordings of 2019 and if you don’t own it yet, I would highly recommend downloading/purchasing this cd!

Review copy provided by Crossroads Music, a positive review was not required. 

MEGA Album Review: “Pure Love” by Legacy Five

Pure Love, released on Daywind Records, is one of the most anticipated releases of 2019. It is the first Legacy Five release to feature baritone Bryan Walker and tenor vocalist Lee Black (who replaced long time baritone & founding member Scott Howard and tenor Josh Feemster) have joined lead vocalist & group founder Scott Fowler, bass singer Matt Fouch and pianist Josh Townsend. This project received a lot of hype from the group and generated quite a bit of anticipation so I thought we would do a review to match that. Joining me in this MEGA Review are my friends Brandon Coomer of Coomer Cove and Wes Burke of Burke’s Brainwork.

• What A Day

Brian: Right off the bat, this song really lets the listener know what they are in for. Definitely one of the most progressive things I’ve ever heard the group do and very well done.

Wes: This midtempo new-grass song reveals immediately that this isn’t the same old Legacy 5. Scott Fowler uses a bit of a hushed tone and almost speak-sings the verses. It’s a solid start.

Brandon:  Echoing Brian and Wes, but this is a great opening song, letting the listener know that this is a new era for Legacy Five.

 

• What Kind Of Man

Brian: This song is the first radio single off Pure Love and it is without a doubt, the most powerful song on the project. Walker, Fowler, and Black are featured on the verses and do a fantastic job of building the song. Just like I Stand Redeemed and I Found Grace, What Kind of Man may very well become a signature song for L5.

Wes:  This is the pick of the project for me. Tremendous lyrics that are structured well.  The verses are somewhat different than you expect, it almost seems like there’s structurally line missing, but it gets you into that great chorus quickly.  I love the way they trade the leads building up the vocal parts. This is a great song that could be a landmark song for the group.

Brandon:  Talk about this song reminded me of the buildup before the 2016 release of another Legacy Five song,  “In The Hands Of The Carpenter,” a song I didn’t feel lived up to the hype. I was honestly expecting the same thing with “What Kind Of Man,” but I am glad to say I was wrong. Not only does it give the listener a chance to hear both of the new vocalists, it also lets you hear the new energy and freshness that Scott Fowler’s voice seems to have found.

 

• What Makes Believers Believe

Brian: This is another great song that I can hear as a concert opener. Well written and sang with great feeling, it’s got a great feel and one of my favorites on the project.

Wes: This is a nice contrast from the previous cut and is a solid message song.  The focus is more on the lyrics than the vocals.

Brandon: This song is a good reminder that even with the group’s new sound and members, they still have the blend to deliver a nice, smooth song with a good message.

 

• Love, Pure Love

Brian: When Lee Black was announced as the group’s tenor, it was unknown what he would bring to the group vocally but he has certainly done an exceptional job. He has a very pleasing tone, more natural than Feemster that reminds me somewhat of Chris Allman in certain tones, but also unlike anyone else in SG. Black wrote Love, Pure Love, and does a fantastic job on the song

Wes: I agree with Brian, Lee Black is a pleasant surprise in the tenor slot.  He’s been a top tier songwriter in SG for a while now, but he’s got a great tenor voice.  This song illustrates what he brings to the table: great songwriting coupled with great tenor vocals. Another pick of the project for me.

Brandon: This is one of my favorite songs on the project. This song grabbed my attention as soon as I heard it on the announcement video that introduced Black and Walker to the group. I love the energy that Black brings to the song and the tenor vocalist spot.

 

• I Believe The Book

Brian: I really love this song, featuring Walker on the verses. A very well written song about the Bible and fits Bryan like a glove.

Wes: I’m a big fan of Bryan Walker, and he’s a perfect choice to replace Scott Howard.  Still as solid a baritone as you’ll find anywhere, but totally different from Howard. This song really fits his voice well.

Brandon: Along with the previous track, this is my favorite on the project, even though it is more in line with the group’s previous sound. I’ve always been a fan of Walker’s voice and was excited to hear him showcased on a great song with powerful message.

 

• The Greatest Wonder

Brian: This is another song that is outside the box for L5, but done very well.

Wes: This is a nice uptempo tune with some light brass backing. Fowler does a great job on the verses, but the majority of the song is quartet vocals that show off the blend of this lineup.

 

• Begging For Change

Brian: Originally recorded by Joseph Habedank on his debut solo project, this arrangement features bass vocalist Matt Fouch. The horns give it a nice feel, reminiscent to me of the Cathedrals “He Made A Change”. I almost expected them to bring the chorus in at the end.

Wes: Matt Fouch is one of the best bass singers in SG. He does a wonderful job on this song that has a bit of a soul feel to it.

Brandon: Brian mentioned this, but I want to express appreciation to the group and the producer for not taking the easy and now cliched route of inserting a chorus of a previous hit into a newer song as a bridge or tag. The horn arrangement on the kick off is enough of a call back to “He Made A Change”.

 

• Love Always Finds A Way

Brian: Another one of my favorite cuts, featuring Fowler on the verses. This song has a Brian Free & Assurance vibe to it, but L5 nails it. Scott Fowler really sounds energized on this project and it’s a pleasure to hear.

Wes:  Brian is right on, this sounds like a Brian Free and Assurance tune, but Legacy 5 kills it, which shows the versatility of this lineup.  I love this song too, and I hope to hear more songs in this style from L5, as it fits their current voices perfectly.

 

• Middle Man

Brian: Another Great Lee Black feature. Has a Beatles-esque vibe musically to me in some spots. It’s not really a group song, but it is well done.

Wes:  This is a catchy tune featuring Lee Black.  This song will remind listeners a bit of the Imperials’ huge hit, Sail On. It has a similar feel, including the prominent “old, rare, black Angus cowbell.” I really enjoy this song, and the lyrics are really clever.

Brandon: This is the second cover of a song previously recorded by Joseph Habedank on the CD.  It is a fun feature for Black and his more natural sounding tenor vocal. The only negative on this track is that it would fit just as much on a Lee Black solo project as a group project. I would have liked an updated arrangement that sounded more like a quartet featuring the tenor instead of a solo song with background vocals.

 

• Not Just Another Day

Wes:  A bouncy, mid-tempo song that features Scott Fowler, whose vocals sound like he has a fresh energy behind his singing. Another solid cut.

Brian: I really like the vocals on this song, it’s great evidence of what this lineup can do vocally.

• Only Passing Through

Wes: This song is reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield’s classic “People Get Ready” and features Fouch and Black. Lee shows a little bit of soul chops. It’s a good easy song to close the disc.

Brandon: I love Fouch and Black’s vocals here. Fouch, Fowler, and Walker make a good trio on the first chorus before Black comes in for the second verse.

 

Conclusion:

Brian: Like most of the Cathedrals Legacy Groups, L5 has always had a very distinctive sound ever since their formation. However, the departure of Scott Howard was a huge change that affected the groups blend. Pure Love is the PERFECT project for this lineup, it is without a doubt the most progressive thing the groups has ever done and I applaud Scott Fowler for being brave enough to try something different. I must also give Wayne Haun & Trey Ivey credit for bringing a fresh sound to the production of this project. In an age where too many groups are sounding alike, it’s nice to hear a recording that is outside of the box stylistically. Fowler has something great going here, I am hopeful that this lineup will stay together long enough to produce to some more great music. Pure Love is without a doubt, the best recording of 2019 I’ve heard. This project is a MUST have, congrats to Legacy Five!

Wes:  I was at the debut concert of the new lineup, and I came away that night anxiously awaiting this CD. The group has a new energy that permeated the entire concert. Lee Black is the highest tenor since Frank Seamans, and the higher range has really opened up the sound of the group.  Bryan Walker has a more pop/soul sounding voice that again lends itself to the higher energy behind the group’s sound. This album primarily features Black of the two new guys, so I’ll be waiting to hear how they continue to take advantage of Walker’s vocals on subsequent albums. Fowler sounds like someone has lifted a huge weight off of his shoulders, with several of his vocals sounding like they could have been lifted off of a Cathedrals album of 20+ years ago.  Fouch really impressed me at the concert and continues to do so here. A nice smooth bass sound without trying to see how low he can go (which is still really low). This CD shows a lot of promise for the new Legacy Five, and they should all be extremely proud of their efforts. It’s a fantastic listen!

Brandon: To be honest, I thought that Legacy Five’s sound, like A LOT of southern gospel groups, had gotten bland and boring over the years. That’s understandable – most southern gospel fans (and industry insiders) tend to like the status quo and reward groups that don’t change their members or their sound. With two vocalists changing before this project, I was in the chorus with others wondering if Scott Fowler should hire a lead and move to baritone himself to freshen up the group’s sound. Fowler ignored us by hiring Walker, but this project demonstrates that he knows what he’s doing. I love the new Legacy Five and this project that introduces them. A new energy permeates every song on the CD and Fowler sounds just as good now as he did with the Sound and the Cathedrals. The group has a fresher sound but Fowler didn’t need to move to baritone to establish it and they still show that they can do songs in their traditional style as well. Scott Fowler and the other members of Legacy Five should be extremely proud of this project. I’m excited to hear how the group continues in the future.

Review copy NOT provided. 

Album Review: “Vintage” by Master’s Voice

I’ve made no secret in the last few years that Oklahoma based quartet Master’s Voice has been releasing some of the finest recordings in Southern Gospel. Their last two mainline releases, Undivided & Walk Worthy, were both 5 Star recordings that I believe are essentials for the Gospel Music lovers musical library. Their latest release, Vintage, is a collection of hymns, classics, as well as some quartet gems from days gone by. The group, comprised of tenor/manager RIcky Capps, lead singer T.J. Evans, bass Jerry Pilgrim, pianist Theron Perry and their newest member in baritone David Folenius. This is Folenius second recording with the group, they released a Christmas project last year.

The project kicks off with a classic, “The Sweetest Song I Know“, which features Folenius on the second verse. Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that if you don’t care for over-singing or singing out of ones range, you’re gonna want to skip or not purchase any song Folenius is featured on. The guy apparently wants to prove that he is a lead singer singing baritone and he’s not interested in being a baritone. Now, believe me when I tell you that I have no problem with a singer putting his own style on a song; BUT when it becomes an every song occurrence, it gets old quickly. Things slow down a bit with the great hymn, “Just As I Am“, which features Pilgrim & Evans on the verses. Next up is a great quartet song, “You Must Make Up Your Mind“, which features Evans. This has always been one of my favorites, recorded by The Prophets Quartet of the early 60’s, and this arrangement is equally fantastic.

Next up is another great quartet song, “Come In The Prayer Room“, which features Folenius. This has long been one of my favorite spirituals, but after hearing this track once, I simply can’t listen to it again. Too much over-singing and it just comes off as cheesy.  When singing is truly soulful and authentic, like it was when Dale Shelnut recorded this back in the 60’s with the Dixie Echoes, its undeniable. But this is far from that in my opinion, without a doubt my least favorite cut on the cd. The project gets back on track with another song that will be a fan favorite, “I Thirst“, featuring PIlgrim. Jerry Pilgrim is without a doubt one of the, if not the very best bass singers in Gospel Music. With high’s like a baritone/lead and as low as any bass singer out there, his range makes him a pleasure to listen to (A cross between Mike Presnell & Tim Riley). I also love the fact that the group changed up the arrangement on this song with some very nice touches.  Capps tackles Over The Moon, which is a standard tenor song these days, but he does a nice job on it.

The second half of the project starts with No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, featuring Evans. Now if you listen to this, TJ does a masterful job on this song and really showcases his versatility. It leads to an acapella arrangement of Jesus Paid It All/There Is A Fountain. From the opening notes, I heard a Glad influence in this arrangement. It’s phenomenal singing and one of my absolute favorites on the project. The pace picks up with When God Dips His Love In My Heart, featuring Evans & Capps. The guys go back to the hymn book for “It Is Well With My Soul“, which features Capps as well

I loved the selection of “City Coming Down“, a great Speers song the guys brought back and Jerry Pilgrim crushes this one. Again, great arrangement and fabulous job on the vocals as well. The project comes to a close with the classic “In The Garden“, featuring Evans with just an acoustic guitar. Its a great arrangement and features some really nice moments in the final chorus with some great vocal touches, perfect way to close out the project.

Now if you’ve read my reviews for any length of time, you probably can’t remember me souding this critical or harsh in a review. That’s because I haven’t.  But as much as I love Master’s Voice, I honestly am not a fan of the 2 lead singer setup as opposed to having a true natural baritone. And thats not just me picking on them, thats my opinion of any group that would go this route. Folenius is a lead singing baritone. In my opinion, Evans has the range Folenius lacks plus a more pleasing tone overall. When you can do all the things that Evans does and its in your range and it sounds natural to do so, its pleasing to the ear. When its not in a singers range and they are over-singing, it’s nails on a chalkboard to me. What keeps this project from being a 5 star recording in my opinion is Folenius over-singing. Sometimes, less is more. The sooner the group adapts this with Folenius, the better. Hopefully the producer of their next project will do a better job of reining him in. Call me old fashioned, but I just am more traditional in what I expect out of a baritone in a quartet. 

Regardless of my critique, Vintage is a good project that has a great mix classic quartet songs and beloved hymns. Once again, the Crossroads band knocked it out of the park. Kudos to Jeff Collins and the guys on the arrangements. Pick up a copy yourself and let me know what you think, be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.

Rating 4 out 5 Stars

Favorites: You Must Make Up Your Mind, No One Ever Cared For Me, Just As I Am, I Thirst, City Coming Down.

Review copy not provided. 

Album Review: “It’s Real” by The Old Paths

One of the most exciting news items of 2019 has been the return of The Old Paths to a full time touring schedule. The group has just released a new project, “It’s Real“, their second recording since the addition of tenor vocalist Steve Ladd. The nucleus of the group remains the long trio of, lead singer Tim Rackley, baritone Douglas Roark and bass singer Daniel Ashmore.

The project kicks off with “I Need Jesus To Walk On The Water“, a great song that features both Rackley and Ladd on the verses. The horns on this song are a great touch and really drive the song. Ladd is also featured on another great up tempo song, “The Truth Comes Shining Through“. The third cut is a great bass feature for Daniel Ashmore, “Lord Knows“. It is also the first radio single from the project. Daniel Ashmore has consistently been developing into one of the finest bass singers in Southern Gospel and his vocal quality continues to impress me.

Tim is featured on a great ballad, “The God I Know“. This may be one of Tim’s finest performances to date, it’s a great lyric and he sings it with great conviction and delivers it powerfully. The title cut, “It’s Real” features Roark, and is a bit different stylistically than what you’re used to hearing from The Old Paths. The song has a really bright, poppy, almost-Beatlesesque feel; but it’s a great lyric that talks about salvation and the difference it makes in our lives.

Next up is “When It Comes To Jesus”, which features Rackley. The project comes to a close with another powerful song, “Come Sunday Morning” which featured Ladd. You can’t say enough about Steve Ladd, he is one of the finest singers around and has proven himself to be a great fit for The Old Paths.

All 7 songs on It’s Real are good, and feature a nice variety. I like this project as much as I did Long Run, however my chief critique remains the same, 7 songs just don’t seem to be enough from this group just as the 6 songs on Long Run didn’t satisfy me. The Old Paths are one of the top quartets on the road today and I’m hopeful their next project will be 10 plus songs. One point I would like to make is the project’s producer, Jeff Collins, deserves a lot of credit for helping the group transition in their style musically without truly losing their identity. Not too many groups can pull that off well, but TOP have. I thoroughly enjoyed It’s Real, and I know you will as well. Make sure you pick up your copy today!

Review copy provided, a positive review was not required. 

United Quartet to Release Debut Project

Four Members of the Retired Crossmen Quartet of Kentucky have come together to form a new group. United consists of tenor vocalist Scott Flener, lead singer Darren Doyle, baritone Darren Lawrence, and bass singer Jason Brooks. Many will also remember Brooks from his time with Palmetto State & The Journeymen and Doyle from his time with Perfect Heart.

United L-R Scott Flener, Darren Lawrence, Jason Brooks, Darren Doyle

All 4 men were members of The Crossmen throughout the group’s history. The Crossmen retired in 2016 with the passing of their lead singer and Scott’s brother, Boyce Flener. 

The group will be releasing their debut project June 8th and will hold a Album Release Concert that night at Crossland Community Church in Bowling Green, KY.

The group posted some samples of their cd on their Facebook page which is posted below. Be sure to like their Facebook page and check out their website, www.unitedqt.com, and of course keep an eye out here for our review of their cd.

CD Review: “Take A Stand” by Justified Quartet

Happy New Year, friends!

My first Album Review of 2019 features one of my favorite quartets on the road today. Take A Stand  is the brand new recording from Michigan’s Justified Quartet. The groups lineup, comprised of Dave Potts on tenor, lead singer Carl Ledford, Mark Jacoby on baritone, and bass vocalist Tim Caldwell have been putting out some of the best recordings in Southern Gospel in the last 6 years, while building a fan base across the Wolverine State and other states in the Midwest.  Produced by respected Southern Gospel veteran Bob Caldwell (Kingdom Heirs, Brian Free & Assurance, Statesmen & Won By One), Take A Stand features a mix of great new songs and some familiar tunes that SG fans will recognize. 

The project kicks off with the title cut, “Take A Stand”, written by Daryl Williams and Scotty Inman. It took me a while to listen past this song. I love this song, and it definitely will be a tune Gospel Music radio will love. “ Next up is a new Dianne WIlkinson song, “Even So Come Lord Jesus“, which features Ledford on the verses. This is a great song, with a funky, groovy, soulful vibe and Carl sings it. Things slow down a bit for “Don’t Be Caught Dead Without Jesus“, which features Caldwell. Next up is another song that will be familiar to many fans, “We’ve Got Our Ways”. Originally recorded by Won By One, I always loved this song and am so glad Justified has brought it back. Things slow down a bit for the ballad, “It Should Have Rained“. The Kingsmen recorded this song a couple years ago on their acclaimed Battle Cry project, but Justified’s arrangement is markedly different, featuring the tenor rather than lead. Potts does a great job on this song. 

The second half of the project starts with a great song, “We’re In The Same Boat“, which features Jacoby on the verses. Written by Rebecca Peck, this is a really good song with a great lyric, that tells the listener they have nothing to fear when the Lord is in your boat. Next up is “Heaven Is The Place Where Dreams Come True“, which features some good four part harmony. “Can’t Wait To Hear The Sound“, is a great song about the rapture that features Ledford. The guys tackle another great song Won By One fans will remember, “It Took A Lamb”, which features Jacoby. An excellent song that paints The project comes to a close with a great ballad “I Still Cling To The Old Rugged Cross” which features Potts.

When we talk about the top quartets in Southern Gospel, we mention Triumphant, The Kingdom Heirs, Tribute and others. In this writers opinion, another name should be added to the list, Justified Quartet and you’ll hear the proof for yourself on Take A Stand. In an industry where multiple groups are produced by the same producers and everyone sounds alike, Justified stands out. Not only are they talented singers individually, but they have a blend that is second to none, coupled with superb song selection and innovative arrangements to boot. Producer Bob Caldwell is one of the best kept secrets in our genre, I would put his arranging and production talent on the same level as Wayne Haun or Jeff Collins. When you combine all of these elements, you have one of the finest quartets on the road today. If you’ve never heard Justified, this would be a great introduction. I guarantee you will love this project!

Take A Stand releases on January 20th, and if you’re in the Michigan area you won’t want to miss the group’s CD Release Concert that night in Flint, MI at Central Church of The Nazarene. To find out more details about the concert or learn more about Justified, visit their website or Facebook page.

Review copy provided. 

Album Review; “One Day In The Past” by Down East Boys

One Day In The Past is the latest project by The Down East Boys that releases on August 24th on Sonlite Records. Long time members lead singer/manager Ricky Carden and baritone Daryl Paschal are joined by two new members tenor Doug Pittman, formerly of the Dixie Melody Boys, and bass Zac Barham.

The project kicks off with a nice mid tempo number, “That Would Be Amazing”, that is a perfect opening number to start out the project and I’m sure would be a great to start a concert too. The pace picks up a bit “Somebody Is Me“, which features lead singer Ricky Carden. I first became familiar with this song when it was recorded by Master’s Voice and it was not my favorite. However, I really enjoyed the DEB’s arrangement and performance. Next up is another mid tempo tune,”I’d Like To Tell It Again“, featuring Pittman. This song was not my favorite, I just could not get into it due to a repetitive chorus and some over-singing on the second verse by Pittman.

Things slow down a bit with “Beat Up Bible“, which features Carden and is the first radio single from the project. Originally recorded by Country artists Little Big Town, the arrangement and performance of the song both translate very well. “Lord I Need You To Show Up” features Paschal and is one of my favorite songs on the project. It’s a great lyric, with the first verses recalling the account of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and our present day need for God to show up in our lives in a mighty way. Another uptempo tune “Testimony Time” keeps things moving along. Written by  the great Sandy Knight, the song features Barham, Paschal, and Carden on the verses respectively and is another one of my favorites on the project.

Zac gets his feature on “Jesus Have Mercy On Me“. This great Joel Hemphill song (not Roger Horne as the liner notes mistakenly list) has long been a favorite of mine. The most well known cut of it was by George Younce and The Cathedrals on their Land Of Living project in 1987. Thankfully, unlike most bass singers in SG, Barham does not try to emulate Younce in his performance, but sings the song with his own style and interpretation, which I appreciated tremendously. I also enjoyed how the group changed up the harmonies on the second chorus opposed to the original. Every SG group needs to take notes, originality and infusing your own style on cover songs like this is very refreshing to the listener.

Next up is “Beautiful Shining Happy Golden Shore“, another song that I’ve heard several groups do, yet the DEB do a good job on this. Pittman steps forward to sing a ballad “The Blood Remains“. “Just What I Needed” is another up tempo and gives us the title of the project from a line in the second verse “he took care of my future one day in the past”. The project comes to a close with a cover of the group’s signature song “Beautiful Valley” which also features Pittman”

The Down East Boys have consistently been releasing great projects throughout the last decade and the trend continues on “One Day In The Past“. I’ve seen a couple 5 star reviews for this project and although it’s a good recording,  I was not as impressed with a few songs on this project as opposed to their last cd, Ransomed, which was exceptional. However, its a solid project that both long time listeners or new fans will enjoy.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Favorite Cuts: That Would Be Amazing, Somebody Is Me,  Lord I Need You To Show Up, Jesus Have Mercy On Me, 

Review copy provided by Crossroads Music.