CD Reviews
CD Review: Love Came Calling (Triumphant Quartet)
The latest CD from Triumphant Quartet begins with a song I remember listening to the McGruders sing: “Saved by Grace.” Being a Priscilla McGruder fan, I wasn’t sure what I’d think of another group recording the song but Scott Inman does a great job, keeping the feel of the original version. I love turning it on and cranking it up. Then I start it over.
“Love Came Calling” is another song on which Scott’s featured. It’s a mid-tempo ballad with a great message. Triumphant Quartet posted on Facebook today that this song is going number 1 on the Singing News chart. Congratulations, Guys! Keep God at the center of what you’re doing and He will reward you.
“I Can Take You to the Place” is an uptempo quartet song written by Scott Inman and Dianne Wilkinson.
David Sutton sings “Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.” As he so often does, David puts feeling into a meaningful song, making it easy to focus on the lyrics.
Eric Bennett sings “The Undertaker,” which was written by McCray Dove.
Rodney Griffin wrote “Holy Hands,” sung by Clayton Inman. It’s hard to pick a favorite song on this project but this would definitely be up there. This could partly be due to the fact that I often think about the fact that God’s arms are holding me. I rely on those arms, and this song talks about how the great, powerful God who set the stars in place takes the time to hold me and lead me in the way I should go.
The final song, “You’ll Find Me There,” was written by Scott Inman and Joseph Habedank and is a toe tapper that will excite you if you listen to the words. Maybe I should have reviewed this in the morning instead of when it’s getting close to my bedtime. 🙂
Other songs which will be familiar to long-time southern gospel fans are: “Movin’ Up to Gloryland,” “Jesus is Your Ticket to Heaven,” and “We Shall Overcome.”
CD Review: Angels in the Room (The Bradford Trio)
The Bradford Trio is an acapella group consisting of two sisters and their cousin. Need I say more? 🙂 Tight family harmony singing hymns and other favorites pretty much sums up this recording.
The CD begins with the uptempo “The Lord is My Rock.” My personal favorite is “Safe in Your Fold.” Very beautiful. “Wings of Joy” is next, followed by “Angels in the Room,” “Whispering Hope,” “I Go to the Rock,” “He Will Carry You,” (I love their rendition of this song except they dragged out the chorus a bit too long; other than that, it’s beautiful) “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Just Sing It,” and “Amazing Grace.”
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: Unshakeable (Dove Brothers)
The Dove Brothers continue their traditional style of singing in their latest release, Unshakeable.
It begins with the toe-tapping “Good Ole Gospel Song,” followed by “Hey Lazarus.” David Hester sings the old Happy Goodman song, “How About You?” “If I Knew Then” talks about the importance of making each moment count so you have no regrets at life’s end.
Next is another uptempo number: “I Recall.” The thing that jumps out at me with this song is how high Jerry Martin can sing. “King Jesus” has never been my favorite song but it’s next in the lineup. Jerry Martin is featured on “My Soul Has Been Set Free.” McCray Dove sings the old Imperial’s song, “Oh Buddha.”
The last two songs are “Preachin’ in Prison” and “Unstoppable.”
CD Review: Sojourner Quartet
The Sojourner Quartet out of Ohio put out a self-titled CD a few years ago which includes a great mixture of ballads and uptempo quartet songs. If you like four-part male harmony, you will like this CD.
From the first notes of “Get Up, Get Ready” to the end of “Will I See You Over Yonder” this recording is top notch. Bass singer Dave Barker went Home to be with Jesus last year but I loved listening to him sing. He was a quality singer who, although I only met him briefly, seemed to have a love for God and a love for God’s people.
Other songs on this recording are “Just Got to Praise Him,” “Precious Love of Jesus,” “The Lighthouse,” “Happy Time in Heaven,” “Just One Hope,” “Where the Light Comes from the Son,” “Lean on Me,” and “I’m a Whosoever.”
CD Review: Changing World … Unchanging Christ … Changeless Sound (Dave, Duane & Neil)
I first heard the Couriers as a teenager in the mid-1980s. Our local radio station would have an artist spotlight segment once a week and one week the DJ chose a live recording from the Couriers which I really enjoyed. (I still have that recording somewhere.) Now the group that I remember as the Couriers goes by Dave, Duane and Neil but it’s the same three men and their sound hasn’t changed.
Neil Enloe wrote 5 of the 15 songs on the project including, “I Stand Before Your Majesty,” which notes the various postures one assumes when coming into the presence of Jesus. I love songs which usher you into His presence and this song does just that.
“Happiness is Following Jesus” was recorded previously but they still include it in their concerts.
I love the sound of “Euroclydon.” It’s the story of Paul and the storm he encountered while sailing to Rome. It then goes on to talk about the storms of life and how, like Paul, we have nothing to fear if we let Jesus steer the ship.
Neil Enloe also wrote “When It Hurts So Bad,” a great song to lift the spirit of anyone who’s hurting.
Dave Kyllonen wrote and sang “Jochebed.”
My favorite song on the project is their arrangement of “Dear Jesus, Abide in Me.”
Other songs include “It’s Such a Good Feelin,” “He’ll Be There,” “I Am the Word,” “Still Good News Today,” “The Next Time I Get Married,” and “Christ in Me.”
CD Review: Sunday Morning Feeling (The Copenhavers)
I met the Copenhavers about three years ago and I love seeing their smiling faces each time our paths cross. Their new CD is a collection of both old and new songs.
The CD starts with the title song which was written by Karen Copenhaver and sung by Jim Copenhaver. Next is “He Set Me Free,” followed by Josh Copenhaver singing, “If I Can Help Somebody.”
Karen Copenhaver sang a song she wrote titled “Everlasting Love” which was based around Jeremiah 31:3. Then they sing “Love is Like a River.” I have a hurt foot but I find myself tapping my other foot when this song comes on. 🙂
Next is “What a Meeting” and “Glad Reunion Day,” followed by Karen’s uptempo song “Restore Unto Me” and ending with “Give Them All to Jesus” featuring Angela Copenhaver. I haven’t heard anyone record that in about 20 years but it’s a needed reminder today as it was then.
CD Review: The Ultimate Collection (The Paynes)
Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, there was a rash of my favorite groups that disbanded. First, the Happy Goodmans. Then the Hinsons, the Hemphills and, finally, the Paynes. I used to love listening to them on the radio and I wished I had more of their music.
About a year or so ago, I discovered that the Paynes put together what they call “The Ultimate Collection,” and it is exactly that. Three CDs containing over 60 of your favorite Payne family songs. It’s been so fun to go down memory lane as I play each CD with over an hour of music on it. Some songs I didn’t remember but a lot I did. There are live versions to some of their songs such as “Angels Step Back,” “Rise and Walk,” “The King of Glory,” “If God Be For Us,” and “Holy of Holies.”
For a complete listing of their songs, visit their store on the web. These CDs are definitely worth the investment.
CD Review: Jesus Use Me (Stewart Varnado)
I never used to like instrumental CDs. I don’t know if I’m getting old or if CDs are getting better but I’ve come across a couple lately that I actually enjoy. This CD from Stewart Varnado is one of those. It’s not a background CD but one you can actually get into. It covers the gamut of toe-tapping to worshipful to just melodic such as “Tell My Friends.” I love that song anyway and, as I listen, I can sway back and forth pretending I’m Lily Weatherford singing, “For I will be there too.” 🙂
Maybe that’s the reason I love this CD. I know most of the songs and, although the arrangements are creative, they are recognizable so I can sing along. The songs included are:
“Count Your Blessings,” “Come and Dine,” “I’ve Come Too Far,” “There’s a Light Guiding Me,” “Jesus Use Me,” “Jesus Hold My Hand,” “Tell My Friends,” “God on the Mountain,” “Unworthy,” and “I’ve Got That Old Time Religion.”
CD Review: Encore (The LeFevre Quartet)
The LeFevre Quartet recently put together a recording of songs that you will remember from years gone by but which continue to be favorites of young and old alike. I love the arrangements which are personal to the quartet and yet is reminiscent of eras gone by.
When writing a review, I generally try to pick out at least a few songs to specifically mention and say something about but it’s hard with this recording as I love them all. The songs they chose are:
“I Wouldn’t Take Nothing for my Journey Now,” “New Shoes,” “When the Gates Swing Open,” “Hold On,” “Then I Met the Master,” “Living in the Light of God,” “The Coming of the Lord,” “I Don’t Know Why,” “I Wanna Be Just Like My Lord,” and “Robe of White.” As a Brian Free fan, I’m not sure I would like another group’s rendition of this last song but I’m very glad the LeFevre Quartet included it on this recording. A great job from a first-class quartet.
