3.5 star
CD Review: The Good Old Days (Joel Lance)
A couple years ago, I came across a website for a man by the name of Joel Lance. There was something about the look and the “feel” of his website that I was curious and requested one of his CDs. I was impressed. For someone who’s not well-known, Mr. Lance has released a quality recording.
Joel has a pure country voice with pure country music accompanying him. I’m not a fan of background vocalists but the one on this recording adds to the sound instead of detracting.
The CD begins with the title song, “The Good Old Days.” The title is self-explanatory and is one those my age and older will appreciate reminiscing with. It also points out that these are no longer “the good old days.”
“Jesus Picked Me Up” is Joel’s testimony of the day Jesus found him.
“Mama Go Home” is a song from Jesus’ perspective talking to his mama from the cross.
“The Potter’s Wheel” is about a homeless man who finds Jesus.
“Don’t Give Up on Me” is the one song on this recording not written by Joel. It talks about how often we fail God but asks God not to “give up on me.”
Next is the uptempo song, “Dead Raising, Life Changing Savior.” The first verse talks about the demons Jesus cast into the swine. The second verse tells the story of Lazarus. We still serve a Savior who sets people free.
“My Name is Mercy” is a ballad talking about how hopeless we were until God’s mercy rescued us.
“I’ll Keep the Key” talks about Jesus’ crucifixion and how, although satan thought he won the battle, Jesus kept the key!
“Holiness for Me” talks about the importance of living a holy life.
“Reap What You Sowed” is a thought-provoking song, challenging us to be careful how we live for we will reap what we sow.
CD Review: The Journey (River City Quartet)
This CD from River City Ministries features 11 original songs from group manager and baritone Greg Lindsey. With musicians like Tim Parton, Adam Borden and Jeremy Medkiff, you know this is going to be a good project.
“The One Who Wears the Crown” is a great reminder that the King of the Ages knows my name. I am so blessed by the truth of that song.
“Who Wouldn’t Want to Tell the World” focuses on the goodness of God and how He’s worth bragging on.
“I Am Still Standing” tells about how, regardless of what’s going on around me, I’m still standing on the solid Rock. Why fear when the Rock never moves?
“Don’t Let Satan Steal Heaven” is a creative song, reminding us that satan is a liar. Give your life to Jesus and don’t look back.
“Just to Praise Him” is a mid-tempo song of praise.
I love the song, “I’m Going Home.” This great tune is sung with feeling and deepens my longing to go Home. “Troubles I’ve been knowin’ soon will all be gone.” Do I hear an Amen?!
“I am Ready to Go” is a toe-tapper.
“Lord, I Will Trust You” talks about the importance of trusting God even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We don’t need to understand but we know God has a purpose in everything.
“Ten Thousand Angels Singing” is a mid-tempo typical southern gospel song about Heaven.
“A Made Up Mind” talks about the resolve to make it to Heaven. A great song sung by bass singer Jamie Layton.
In closing, we are reminded that “Only One could arise again in three days, holding the keys to death, hell and the grave.” He is the One we worship, the One we adore. In Him, we live and move and have our being. Praise His name! (My ending.) 🙂
CD Review: Singing the Classics (Ed O’Neal and the Dixie Melody Boys)
From here on out, when I review CDs, you’ll notice I’ve added categories to classify the CDs. Within the southern gospel genre, there’s variety. Most groups or artists considered southern gospel seem to be what I would classify as inspirational, country, bluegrass or traditional. This CD definitely falls into the latter category.
The Dixie Melody Boys recently put out another CD of timeless classics. Songs included are: “Saved to the Uttermost,” “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “The Longer I Serve Him,” “10,000 Years,” “That’s What Jesus Means to Me,” “Rise Again,” “He Looked Beyond My Fault,” “Through it All,” “The Night Before Easter,” and “There is a River.” Each song has the same familiar arrangements but is unmistakeably DMB.
My favorite songs on the project are “He Looked Beyond My Fault” and “Rise Again” which surprised me that I would like this last song so well. Dallas Holm is not a southern gospel singer but Ed O’Neal and the boys brought the song to life.
CD Review: For This Time (Tribute Quartet)
Tribute Quartet is another group I’ve been hearing about for a couple years but haven’t heard much from them. Recently, I decided I need to get more familiar with them.
“I Love Living in Grace” is a moderate tempo song which you would expect from a traditional southern gospel quartet. “That’s What Makes Grace Amazing” is a beautiful ballad with a great message. They do a beautiful job on “Who Am I?” I also like “His Tomb is Empty.” “I Am Healed” is a message of hope for those who need a touch from God. The CD also includes the catchy “I Heard It, I Believe It.”
Other songs include “I’ve Been Blessed,” “That’s Why I Love Him So,” “Calvary Wins Again,” “Helpless Not Hopeless,” “He Said That,” and “He Was in Charge.”
CD Review: Whiter Than Snow (Sweetwater Revival)
This recording from Sweetwater Revival is the first Christmas CD I’ve ever heard which contains primarily original songs. Cathie Paxson wrote ten of the 14 songs. Katharine Paull of the group wrote 2. Traditional carols included were “O Holy Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Original song titles are: “Let’s Have a Christ-Filled Christmas,” “I Know the Maker of the Snow,” “The Merry in Christmas is Jesus,” “A Minnesota Christmas,” “Not Just for Auld Lang Syne,” “His Name Shall Be Called,” “Victory in a Baby,” “More Than Just a Man,” “The Treasure of Heaven,” and “Whiter Than Snow.” There are also 2 tracks where Katie Paull reads Scripture: Luke 2:7-11 and Isaiah 1:18.
Musically, some of the songs have that “Christmasy” feel and some sound like any song you’d hear on a Sweetwater Revival project. I love it that the focus is on the Christ of CHRISTmas. He’s the Reason we celebrate anyway.
CD Review: My Offering (Lauren King)
Lauren King has a country tone to her voice and style to her music. Her voice reminds me a bit of Misty Freeman. Lauren wrote four of the eleven songs on her latest recording.
The recording starts with the first radio single off this project, an uptempo song titled “All to Him.”
“Thankful” is one of the songs Lauren wrote with her husband Shane and is a perfect song to listen to this time of year.
“It Would Have Been Easy” talks about how Christ’s life could have been different but He didn’t choose the easy path; He chose the hard one.
“Hallelujah Offering” could be a Christmas song but songs of Christ’s birth are really relevant all year long and they chose to include this song on this recording. He truly is worthy of our praise.
I like the guitar on “Smoky Mountain Song.” As the title suggests, it is about the Smoky Mountains and is a song people who enjoy the mountains will appreciate.
Songs you’ll be familiar with include an uptempo version of “Jesus Saves,” “Hallelujah! What a Savior!,” and “What Child is This.”
Other songs are “Come to Jesus,” “Praises to the King” and “When I Think About the Lord.”
CD Review: Driven (Driven Quartet)
Many of you may remember Jason Funderburk from his days with Mercy’s Way or the Anchormen. Well, today he has his own quartet called Driven and, after observing him and the other men in his group a couple months ago, I was pleased that their focus seems to be on serving God and His people.
“I’m Pressing On” is a song of dedication and determination to press on regardless of what life holds. “Let Me Live” has an old-time feel. It starts out with a moderate tempo and then picks up on the last chorus. Geron & Rebecca Davis wrote the encouraging “Mercy Saw Me.” “In God We Still Trust” makes a declaration that, regardless what others do, “here in America, in God we still trust.” The last song on the project is titled “The Story of My Life” and will quickly usher you into praise and worship of a God that we cannot live without. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t want to try.
Uptempo songs on the project are “Between the Rock and a Hard Place,” “Keep Drinking Water From the Well,” “Lost and Found,” and “I Can Feel My Mountains Move.”
CD Review: Remind Me of the Blood (Curtis Pruett)
Curtis Pruett is a country gospel artist that I just became aware of but am enjoying. I’m really not sure who to compare him to but most of the CD is upbeat musically with all the songs being written by Curtis. I will say I like the uptempo songs or the really slow ones. The mid-tempo ones aren’t my favorites stylistically but that’s just my preference.
The titles are: “At the Foot of the Throne,” “You and Me Lord,” “Cornerstone,” “Children of Light,” “Set Sail,” “Standing on God’s Word,” “It Had to be This Way,” “The First Time and Forever,” “Do You Know Who I Am,” and “Remind Me of the Blood.”
CD Review: God’s Been Very Good (Patsy Bellington)
About a year ago, I came across the website for a lady named Patsy Bellington. I didn’t know anything about her but I emailed her and we ended up dialoging. I found her to be a delightful lady with a great sense of humor. I then met her at the National Quartet Convention and picked up a copy of her latest CD.
It’s hard to know what genre to place Patsy in. If there were an Inspirational category, some of her songs would fall into that but she fits well into Southern Gospel as well.
Although I tend to be partial to fast songs, on this CD I prefer the heartfelt way Patsy sings slow song. My favorite songs on the project are “He Knows,” “In the Garden,” “I’ve Been There,” “When I Start My Day With You,” and “Give Him Glory.” I think that covers all the slow songs on the project. 🙂
Other songs are “I Came to Get My Blessing,” “God’s Been Very Good to Me,” “Not the Great I Was,” “He Will Do the Rest,” and “I Saw the Light.”
CD Review: Sing It Again (Perfect Heart)
In 1990, a new group took the world by storm. Their first single “Somebody Touched the Lord” hit #1 on the Singing News Chart. After a few years’ sabbatical, Perfect Heart is back and now consists of Jimmy Dunn, Wesley Anders, Tommy Smith, with original member Mike Presnell still singing bass.
Their Sing It Again recording was produced by Johnathan Presnell and Arthur Rice and features “Land of the Living,” “In the Sweet Forever,” “Forever Changed,” “Long Black Train,” “Midnight Cry,” “I Know I’m Going There,” “Stand Upon the Rock,” “I Stand Redeemed,” “The Ground Is Level,” and “Glory Road.”
If you prefer recordings with original material, you may not like this CD; however, if you liked Perfect Heart before, you should really give the new group a try.
