You Tube user rpmelford has several videos posted from a Cathedrals concert recorded during Gerald Wolfe’s second weekend with the group.  The video description dates the concert to December 31, 1986.  Songs include standards like “We Shall See Jesus”, “Can He, Could He, Would He”, and “Somebody Touched Me” along with a couple songs that videos of seem to be harder to find, “Into His Presence” and “Rivers Of Joy”.

Below is the now classic song that the Cathedrals imported from the Dumplin Valley Boys along with Gerald, “Land Of Living.”

(My apologies if these videos have been posted before.  I do not recall seeing them before stumbling across them a couple of days ago.)

The Old Paths – Right Now

Right Now - The Old Paths

• Battle Stand ***** - The project opens with an energetic up-tempo song recorded by the Roy Knight Singers last year.   The song features one of the most unheralded lead singers in the industry, Tim Rackley.  Tim carries the lead through most of the song, including a solo on the second verse. Tenor Jeremy Peace takes the lead on the final chorus.  The music track, featuring a banjo, establishes a touch of bluegrass that is present on a lot tracks on the project.

• He’s My Song **** - This beautiful slow song features Jeremy Peace and could serve as a testimony for all full time ministries.  The lyrics of the opening verse sound like something that must go through the minds of a lot of singers while lying in their bunks before a service – “And though it seems I have no stress, it’d be nice to get just a little rest, but I can’t say no, for He is my song.”

• Woke Up This Morning **** -   Young bass singer Daniel Ashmore handles the verses on this catchy fast song, while Tim and Jeremy lead the choruses.  Although Daniel doesn’t really bottom out any notes on the song, it lets you hear that he has a great voice to handle solos.  As I mentioned above, this song is very catchy, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming or singing it to yourself after hearing it a few times.

• Everlasting Yes *** - This is a ballad that features Tim Rackley.  This isn’t one of the ballads that starts soft and keeps building and building until it goes way up for the big ending.  It starts and stays close to the same level, although the music during the verses is a little more laid back than during the choruses.  This isn’t a bad song; it is very pretty with a wonderful message, but coming between two fast songs, the lack of energy in the song is a little jarring.

• I Know That God Can Do It ***** - This cover of an old Heaven Bound song is the stand out track on the project and has a ton of energy.  The second verse is probably my favorite part of the entire CD.  Tim, who has the lead throughout the song, sings the first line by himself and then other members come in on each successive line – a duo with Doug, a trio with Jeremy, then the full quartet.  Finally, Daniel solos the last line and hits an incredible note on the end of the verse.  My only complaint with this track is that it doesn’t last long enough, so I have to keep hitting the replay button over and over.

• I’m Saved **** - This medium tempo song is baritone Doug Roark’s only feature on the recording as he sings both verses and has the lead on the first two choruses.  Doug is a solid baritone and while he may not have the dynamic range of a Mark Trammell, he sings songs with a message concerning salvation that he communicates so effectively that they become a highlight of each recording.  The song is arranged in typical southern gospel fashion with a key change and the tenor taking the lead on the final chorus.  While that arrangement is common, it fits this song and should go over very well at all the Baptist pastor conferences that the Old Paths are a part of.

• When It All Starts Happening **** - The Hoppers aren’t the only group mining Mercy’s Mark’s excellent final recording for material!  This cover replaces the brass section of the original with a harmonica and lead guitar, giving it a more country flavor.  The vocal parts are switched around a bit as well, but not so much that the song is all that different from the original.  While I have to say I prefer the original music track to this one, it is a great song and the country feel fits in with the rest of this project.

• The Blood On My Hands ***** - Upon first listening to this project, this was my pick for the best song on the recording.  Although a couple faster songs have overtaken it, it is still a great, powerful ballad featuring Jeremy and it demonstrates just a little of his range on the tag.  I love the steel guitar work in the music track.  It isn’t a country-style “crying” sound, but a very pleasing sound that adds to the song.  Also, Daniel’s voice really shines on this track as he supplies the low end for the group.

• God’s Great **** - I mentioned earlier that several music tracks have a hint of bluegrass flavor to them.  This song also goes in that direction with the vocal arrangement.  Tim Rackely is featured on the verses and has the lead on the chorus, with Doug getting a few quick step out lines.  I love the hook of this song.  The lyrics speak of how good God is, but then stops and say, “no – God’s great!”

• Right Now **** -  This song is absolutely blistering – think “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” with southern gospel lyrics.  A banjo, fiddle, and and some nice piano licks are prevalent in the music track.  Tim is featured here, along with Daniel who repeats the verse.  Daniel’s phrasing on his verse reminds me of a young Tim Riley or Jeff Chapman.  An instrumental encore fades out and closes out the CD.

Average Song Rating:  4.2 stars

CD Rating:  4.5 stars

Pre-release review copy provided

You Tube user DLPollard65 has posted several videos from the Dove Brothers Homecoming event.  One video is of the new song, “They Wouldn’t Forgive.”  Other videos of this song have been posted before, but I love this song.  The message and performance of this song are incredible.

 

Another video worth watching is of former Dove Brothers’ tenor Jonathan Price singing with the group at a lunch event during the homecoming.

 

The other videos, some featuring the Florida Boys and the Anchormen, can be seen by going to DLPollard65’s You Tube channel.

 Phil Cross has reformed Poet Voices with former member Donny Henderson and tenor Dan Callahan.  The full press release announcing their return can be read here.

Poet Voices was one of my favorite groups during the group’s first run, especially the line up with Dale Brock, Phil, Donny, and Tim Duncan on bass.  I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the direction the group took a few years ago during their second run, which included Phil, Mark Lanier, and Greg Crowe.

 This third iteration of the group sounds to be getting off to a solid start judging from this video of the group singing “Grace And Glory.”  The song seems to be a focus or theme for the group as it is the song the group is using to announce their return and the song title is featured in the group’s website header.  It is also the title song of a six song recording that is already available for download in the group’s online store.

 Also, I’m impressed by the group’s roll out.  In addition to a full website and a digital EP, the group has a you tube page with the music video mentioned above, individual testimonies from each of the group members, an event promo, and an electronic press kit, which I’ve embedded below.

 

I received the new Springside Marketing catalog in the mail yesterday.  Two upcoming releases featured on the cover (EDIT:  I looked at the cover again… only the EH&SS release is on the cover.) caught my attention, especially since the catalog included the tracklist for each project.

The first was Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s new CD, Here We Are Again.  About a week ago, Daniel Mount posted a video of the group staging a song from the CD.  The song was described in comments as being a “southern rocker.”  Although I’m not usually a big fan of EH&SS, the video has got me looking forward to the project.  I’m thinking that “I Believe” is the song that will feature new bass Ian Owens.  It is a song that he recorded with the Imperials.  Hopefully, this will showcase what Ian can do more than what little that has been released since he’s joined the group.

The second project is the Crabb Family reunion recording, Together Again.  When the Crabb Family “retired,” their final project, Letting Go, let me down.  I hated to see their incredible run end with such a disappointing project.  I’m hoping the new project will make up for that.  You can listen to samples from three songs on Jason Crabb’s online store.  All three songs feature a softer country approach than the driving, rocky sound that I remember from their last recording.

Below are the track song lists for each project:

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Here We Are Again

• I’ve Been Here Before
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Singing in The Midnight Hour
• I Believe
• Here We Are Again
• Thankful To You
• Any Other Man
• Every Time
• Stand By Me
• Love Carried The Cross
• Sometimes I Wonder
• You Are Welcome Here (EDIT)

The Crabb Family – Together Again

1. You Can’t Do That Anymore
2. Come Home
3. If There Ever Was A Time
4. Say A Prayer
5. Life Meets Grace
6. This Is You and Me
7. Back To The Front Porch
8. God Has A Plan
9. No Problems
10. I Love You This Much

The Old Paths – Simplicity Too

Simplicity Too

The Old Paths recently released the follow up to their table project from earlier this year.  Keeping with the first recording, the CD contains a dozen older songs, recorded primarily with piano, bass, and drum instrumentation with pretty standard arrangements.  The first recording featured almost exclusively songs that most groups have recorded at one time or another.  This time the Old Paths have worked in a few forgotten songs along with southern gospel standards like “Midnight Cry,” “I Hold A Clear Title,” “He’s Still In The Fire,” and “Jesus I Love You.”  

The project includes four songs originally recorded by Gold City, including “Midnight Cry.”  The second Gold City cover is “Come On In,” which is one of my favorite “forgotten” Gold City songs as I don’t know of any covers of the song until now.  It isn’t a drastic departure from the original arrangement, but it is really great to hear the song again.  “Do It By The Book” features a drastic change.  Musically, the blistering piano work is still present, but instead of featuring the tenor, the verses serve as the introduction to the group’s new 21 year old bass singer, Daniel Ashmore.  Daniel is also featured on the final Gold City cover, “He’ll Never Let Go of My Hand.” While Daniel isn’t dropping Tim Riley low notes (yet), his voice is big and solid and being only 21 years old, he has ton of potential.  I can’t wait to hear Daniel sing this song after he’s been singing full time longer than three months.

As I mentioned, the group has pulled out some non-standard fare.  This includes two songs I don’t believe I’d ever heard before, “Holy Ghost Revival” and “Keep It Simple.”  Both songs feature lead Tim Rackley, who I think is one of the industry’s most unheralded lead singers.  The former song is a fun barn burner while the latter is a medium tempo song that calls for us to remember how simple the plan of salvation is and to keep it that way.  And obviously on this recording, it can also serve almost as a theme song of sorts.

Before I talk about my top two songs from the project, I have to mention the one song I could have done without.  Baritone Doug Roark is featured on a song made popular by Roger Bennett, “I’ve Read the Back of the Book.”  I’ve never been a huge fan of this song, and again, the song follows the typical arrangement used by the Cathedrals and Legacy Five.  I enjoy Doug’s other feature, “I Hold A Clear Title,” much more than this track.

The two songs that stand out above the rest on this project are both slower songs.  The first, “He Gave Me The Well,” is a Greater Vision cover.  This is the first time I’ve heard the song arranged to feature the lead (typically, the baritone has had the lead) and it gives the song much more power and effect than any other version of the song.  Tim’s version of the song is the best I’ve heard.  The other song is a beautiful rendition of “If That Isn’t Love.”  Daniel has the solo on the first verse and the lead on the first chorus, with harmony from Tim and Doug, before tenor Jeremy Peace takes the second verse and holds the lead through the end of the song.  “If That Isn’t Love” has been done by most groups, but this is one of the prettiest versions I’ve heard.

1. I Hold A Clear Title – ****
2. Come On In – ****
3. Do It By The Book – ****
4. He Gave Me The Well – *****
5. Holy Ghost Revival – ****
6. I’ve Read The Back of The Book – ***
7. If That Isn’t Love – *****
8. Jesus, I Love You – ****
9. Keep It Simple – ****
10. Midnight Cry – ****
11. He’ll Never Let Go Of My Hand – ****
12. He’s Still In The Fire – ****

Song Average:  4.1 stars
CD Rating:  4.5 stars

Available from The Old Paths
Review copy provided

Merry Christmas to anyone still reading this blog!  LOL  I pray everyone has a blessed and safe Christmas.

Next week, I hope to post a review of the The Old Paths‘ new CD, Simplicity Too, featuring their new, young bass singer, Daniel Ashmore.  Until I can post that, I want to point out that the group added Daniel to their latest Christmas project, which was originally recorded as a trio.  The project is available on their website in their mp3 downloads section.

Daniel is featured on the re-cut title song, “His Name Is Jesus.”  I heard Daniel sing several sets at Dollywood during October and heard some of the premixes from Simplicity Too, and while really impressed with those performances, his vocal on the verses of “His Name Is Jesus” blew me away.  The addition of Daniel’s vocal to the project has a whole added a fullness to the sound that I never realized I missed until I heard the new release.  Daniel’s development in the few short months he’s been with the group makes me very excited about his (and the group’s) future.

My condolences and prayers go out to the family of Charles Burke.  The long time industry leader passed away this morning after suffering a brain aneurysm on Thursday night.  I most associate Charles with being the owner of the Singing Americans, the group that helped introduce singers such as Danny Funderburk, Ivan Parker, Michael English, Dwayne Burke, Clayton Inman, and David Sutton to the industry.

On a side note, on Saturday at last week’s NQC, I saw someone who I thought was Charles sitting in on a showcase.  Several times while he was watching the groups on stage, I started to go over and thank him for all his contributions to the music I love.  However, I failed to work up the nerve.  One, I wasn’t sure it was him, and two, I didn’t think he’d want to be bothered while listening to the groups.  Sadly, that will be added to my list of missed opportunities…

I hope no one was expecting daily NQC updates from me.  I could barely find time to eat (one night, I didn’t even find time for that) or sleep, much less time to post.

Here are my quick NQC highlights for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:

• FINALLY meeting Diana!
• The Collingsworth Family… how did I go this long without ever hearing them?  Both of their sets were excellent!
• The Booth Brothers are in a class of their own.
• I honestly wasn’t looking forward to hearing the Dove Brothers minus David Hester.  I have to say, I sold Burman Porter short.  The two sets by the Dove Brothers I saw were great.  And I enjoyed seeing my friend Joe Lane playing piano on the main stage for the Doves.
• Gerald Wolfe’s scrap iron quartet singing “Looking For A Tenor”… if I subscribed to the Singing News, I’d give him my vote for song writer of the year
•  The Perrys set on Friday was solid, but the dedication to their young fan in Texas put it over the top for me.  Super nice touch.
• I got a kick out of seeing the male members of the Perrys going crazy over Tim Riley burying notes during Gold City’s set.  I got a (blurry) picture of Tracy Stuffle’s tongue literally hanging out of his mouth!
• During an afternoon showcase, Marshall Hall blew me away with a beautiful piano-only rendition of “There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace,” which is found on his new Daywind project.
• I passed up the “Freedom Hall” showcases on Saturday so I could see a few groups that were not appearing on the mainstage, but I did make sure I caught Channing Eleton opening up “Song Of A Lifetime”  with his song, “Up On This Ridge.”  I was expecting him to be at the piano, but he sung and played the accordion.  Channing has always been one of my favorite people in SGM, so I was happy I got to see him perform.

One more thing… I bought 28 CDs and 8 DVDs, including projects by the usual suspects (Legacy 5, Mark Trammell QT, Greater Vision, Triumphant, Dove Brothers, etc.), new to me groups (Collingsworth Family, Rambo-Mcguire), and up and coming artists (Promise, High Road, Omega, Paul’s Journey).

Jerry Pelfrey of Chattanooga, TN will join Gold City as lead following the departure of Craig West.  I have confirmed this through multiple industry contacts and Jerry’s own facebook page.  MJF commented here that Jerry should be appearing at NQC on Thursday.

UPDATE:  I got my hands on a couple of songs by Jerry’s family group.  WOW. He does sound like a young Ivan Parker.  He is awesome.  I honestly didn’t think Gold City could maintain their current talent level after Craig left, but I was wrong.  Jerry is phenomenal!

God’s Word Will Stand

I Shall Return