Youtube Video Of The Day (The Isaacs “Walk On”)

I have always liked the Isaacs brand of “BlueGrass” and this song is no exception. Their harmony is tighter than maybe any group traveling today. And their musicians are top notch. I also have a tremendous amount of respect for Sonya Isaacs singing ability, she never ceases to amaze me.

All being said after going through several videos on youtube today, this one was to good not to post as the video of the day.

Legacy Five Posts Sound Clips of Just Stand And Jubilee! On Their Website

Last night Legacy Five posted clips of their upcoming September 15 release “Just Stand” on their website. And I will say that it sounds like this may be their best album they have ever done. The song Statement of Faith with the Hoppers, Greater Vision and The Booth Brothers Is a very powerful stirring song. and they have posted it in its entirety. The masterful touch of Lari Goss is very evident at least on the sound clips. The vocal mix is very good on this album from what I can tell. That was something that on their last major release was lacking a little. I have to say I cannot wait till September 15 for this one. They also have posted clips of Jubilee if you wish to check that out as well.

Jubilee! CD Review (Booth Brothers,Greater Vision, Legacy Five)

About a year ago Scott Fowler got together with Michael Booth and Gerald Wolfe, and started discussions on doing a project with their three respective groups together. So they got started and after almost a year they have released the “fruit” of their idea. It was a wonderful Idea that I was very excited about when I first heard about it back in February. The three groups are Legacy Five (Frank Seamans- Tenor) (Scott Fowler- Lead) (Scott Howard- Baritone) (Glenn Dustin- Bass) and (Tim Parton-Piano) Greater Vision (Gerald Wolfe- Lead) (Rodney Griffin- Baritone) (Jacob Kitson-Tenor) and The Booth Brothers (Michael Booth -Tenor) (Ronnie Booth -Lead) (Jim Brady-Baritone) So with no further ado here is the individual review each song will be rated In my opinion with a number on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being really horrible and 10 being very good so let us begin.

1. The Happy Jubilee(GV BB‘s L5)- This song is a cheerful number that features all three groups, it is arranged so that it sounds like a mens choir. I love how the Tenors will sing one part and the “Lower Parts” will repeat. Also I like on the second verse The Booth Brothers sing the first stanza then L5 sings the second stanza then the chorus starts again. It is a song that really gets stuck in your head and you will find yourself loving it. 9.5/10

2. Come Unto Me(Booth Brothers with Scott and Gerald)- The Booth Brothers are featured on this classic song they were joined by Scott Fowler and Gerald Wolfe. Michael sang the first part of the second verse and was joined by Scott and Gerald on the second part to make for a great sounding trio. 8/10

3. He Pilots My Ship(Just Greater Vision)- This incredible song from the pen of Ronnie Hinson is sung by just Greater Vision. It features Gerald Wolfe on the verses and he proves why he is one of the best singers in the business today. I love their cut on this song, Gerald sings it with so much passion and makes it his own. I want to hear this one live sometime. They made a great choice for a song for Greater Vision to sing as their solo song. 10/10

4. I Can Hardly Wait(Legacy Five and Greater Vision)- This song featuring Legacy Five and Greater Vision. Is a great song that has a nice beat to it. Glenn Dustin steps out for the lead on this one and he does a great job he has some nice low notes throughout the song. It has a catchy tune that you will find yourself tapping your foot to. 9/10

5. In The Sweet By And By (Booth Brothers)- This is the solo from the Booth Brothers, it is a old classic hymn that has been re-arranged by Jim Brady and I love it. It has a acoustic guitar driven track with a little drum rhythm and piano. The vocal harmony is stunning. It would have been right at home on their “Harmony Project”. Like Greater Visions Solo it was a great pick for the Booth Brothers sound. 10/10

6. Someone Who Cares (Legacy Five)- When these groups went to pick out their solo songs they each picked one that was arranged to their strength’s and this one that Legacy Five sings is no exception. It is a slower lightly orchestrated song that has a wonderful message to it that features Legacy Fives strength and that is ensemble single. Scott Fowler steps out for a nice lead on the second verse. This is a song that takes a few spins to really like a lot and that I do. 9.5/10

7. Better Hurry Up ( Greater Vision With Jim Brady and Scott Fowler)- I actually got to hear just Greater Vision stage this song back in April, I had no idea that it would be on this project. This song is another one that fits Greater Vision very well Jim and Scott are featured for a couple of quick lines. This is a great song  that should do well on the video. 7.5/10

8. Jesus Is Coming (Booth Brothers with Glenn Dustin)- This is a great song that has the Booth Brothers singing as a quartet with Glenn as the bass singer and man is it wonderful. Glenn sings the first verse and I will have to say that it is the smoothest and best I have ever heard him sing. The way Glenn blends with the Booth Brothers would make you think he has always sang with them. Ronnie does wonderful as always on the second verse. It is a great song that I hope to see sung live someday. 10/10

9. Life Will Be Sweeter- (Legacy Five With The Booth Brothers)- Legacy does a great job covering this old Cathedrals classic. I did not think anyone could come to close to the Cats on this one but Legacy Five does a wonderful job on it. Tim on the piano amazes me once again, his solo in the middle is terrific. And Scott does his best Glen Payne impersonation coming out of that Piano Solo. The Booth Brothers can be heard slightly in the mix but this one is owned by Legacy Five. 10/10

10 Jesus Will Hear Me When I Pray- (All Three Groups) this is the other song that features all three groups and it like “The Happy Jubilee” is a winner. I really like the vocal arrangements on this one as well, these guys make a great Mens choir. This song will make a great closer for their “Jubilee Concerts”. If I was them I would have built in a turnaround for the ending of this song. That is just my opinion overall I love this song. 9.5/10

Overall 9.5/10- I would have given this project a ten out of ten but I had to dock a half point for the typos in the artwork. That might sound picky,but to me when you do a project like this you cross every t and dot every i. The problem with the artwork was the fact that the song “Jesus Is Coming” is listed by  a completely different name on the back of the CD case. And they spelled Glenn Dustin’s name wrong. But overall this is a wonderful album that I will recommend to anyone that loves good ole’ Southern Gospel singing. These three groups are arguably three of the best in the business.  I am looking forward to seeing a “Jubilee” concert that will hopefully be reminiscent of a “KingsGold” concert of the 90’s. You can order this project off of the artists websites.

News and Notes

• Legacy Five to release “Just Stand”- According to their latest E-letter Legacy Five announced the release date for their highly anticipated Lari Goss produced and arranged album “Just Stand” it will be released on September 15 at NQC. One song in particular they listed is a song brought to them by Lari Goss in which they take the “Jubilee” idea a step further. Its a song called “Statement Of Faith” featuring L5 the Hoppers, Greater Vision and The Booth Brothers Have to say I am looking forward to that one. This could very well be the “True” breakthrough album for L5 in their 10th year not unlike Greater Vision in their 10th year or the Booth Brothers, Gold City etc…
• Frank Seamans Jr. Update- On another L5 related note, their tenor Frank Seamans has a son that has been in the hospital for around a month, undergoing stem cell transplants for his Lymphoma cancer. According to an update from L5 he is doing better and could be out of the hospital by next weekend.
• Tony and Taranda Greene update- According to singing news the kidney transplant went well for Tony Greene yesterday. This is good news for Southern Gospel and for the Greene Family, I love the Greenes and it seems like they cannot catch a break lately. Keep the Greenes in your prayers still, Tony is still in ICU and will be kep in Isolation as his body gets used to his new kidney.
• This is a new addition- Mike and Kelly Bowling Annouce New Name and Member- Following the departure of Tenor Chris Whitaker, Mike and Kelly Bowling have brought in Terah Crabb Penhollow to complete the “Bowling” family. Their new name is now the “Bowling Family” I am excited about this addition and I look forward to a album with Terah.  I will be hearing them at NQC during their main stage appearance I will report on the new sound then. Here is the link to the full press release.

The Kingsmen Missing People Album Review

This lineup is the best the Kingsmen have had for awhile, they are not the Kingsmen of yesteryear. But they are carving out their own niche in the Southern Gospel world with a newer style, while still giving tribute to their wonderful heritage.This is the latest album from the Kingsmen, their lineup stays the same as it was on their “When God Ran” album with Harold Reed on Tenor, Bryan Hutson on Baritone, Phillip Hughes on Lead and Ray Reese singing Bass.

Song list and individual song review.

1. Missing People- The title cut is a tender song sung in a style that the Kingsmen pull off really well. The Voices at the end of the song were a nice addition to the song. Bryan Hutson is a excellent singer that can communicate a song very effectively and that is very evident on this song.10/10

2. Someday- This song penned by Woody Wright hearkens back to “old Kingsmen Style, that will have you tapping your foot the moment the track begins. This is a track that is enjoyable, but not something that blows me away on CD I would love to hear it live.8/10

3. They Went To Pray- This song has a swing feel to it that I really enjoy, I really like the switching of lead parts throughout the chorus. Ray Reese has the lead on the second verse. This is a song that fits this lineup very well, and also one that people should enjoy live.7.5

4. Mountain Of Grace- This is the first Traditional “Power Ballad” on the album, it is one that I could definitely see getting released to radio. It has a great message and is sung very well by the group. I was very impressed by Phillip Hughes on the solo lines of this song, he added a tenderness to it that I was not sure he could convey. This is a great song that I hope gets some radio airplay.10/10

5. When It’s All Said And Done- Written by Dustin Sweatman and Scotty Inman, this song  is a traditional Kingsmen 3 chords and a cloud of dust type song that I would love to hear them close a set with at NQC on this one.  Ray Reese sings some bass solo lines in a style that I think is his strongest suit as a Bass singer.  Fans of the Classic Kingsmen will really love this track.10/10

6. Cheer The Weary Traveler-This classic Kingsmen song shows that this group can pull off the “Old Style” maybe not as well as the lineups of yesteryear but they still do a very good job on this style song. I will say I was not expecting super high tenor note from Harold Reed towards the end. It was a nice albeit suprising addition to that part of the song. 7/10

7. God Saw A Cross- This song from the pen of Rodney Griffin is without a doubt the most powerful song on the album in my opinion. The verses are sung extremely well by Harold Reed, this song has really moved up my most played list very quickly. The message to the song is just so incredible, it is amazing to think that God did see the cross from eden to calvary and still sees it today. What a lyric maybe Griffins best for awhile.10/10

8. He Picks Up A Begger On The Way- This song is a great example of why Bryan Hutson is one of my favorite Baritone singers. He can sing in any style he wants and still sound great. This is a hard driving song that has a great message to it. 7.5/10

9. God Knows- This slower ballad country flavored song is sung very well by Phillip Hughes. This song also is a great “Message” song that tells the listener that no matter what you are going through God Knows what is going on and that he cares. 9/10

10. He Is The Only One- This is slower piano driven track, that did not really stick out to me on first listen but the more I hear it. The more it speaks to me, it has a simple message that is very true. Bryan Hutson once again steps up and delivers for the Kingsmen on this one. There is also some good harmony thourought the song.7/10

11. Someday (Reprise)- Nothing really here that was not covered in the description of the song originally. Other than it ends with Ray hitting a very nice low note.

Overall 9.5/10 This is a very strong album that I would suggest to anyone that is a fan of Southern Gospel to add to their collection. This group if it stays together with its current lineup could do some really good things. They took a huge step up with “When God Ran” and they have continued in that vein with “Missing People”. I could definetly see if released to radio “God Saw A Cross” being their second 1 song in a year. This group shows with this album that they are very versatile as they can sing mutiple styles. And that should help them going forward to reach new fans and also keep their past and present fans happy. You can get  the album here or here.

End Of Week News and Notes

• Perry’s Renew recording contract with “Daywind” I think this is a great move for both parties, the Perrys have been a big part of Daywind these last 12 years and I was happy to hear that they extended their contract.
• Joseph Habedank gets engaged to Lindsay Bowman, I am very happy for Joseph and Lindsay. I remember I was at a Perry’s concert last fall and Tracy was taking applications for Joseph since he was single.
• Pray for the Greenes as Tony and Taranda go in for a Kidney Transplant on Ausgust 25th.
• “Sisters” in the studio again, they have really been putting alot of time into the studio here lately. Now they are in the studio working on a hymns project with just the piano. I am looking forward to this one as well.

Upcoming Reviews.

1. Kingsmen- “Missing People” August 25
2. L5 GV BB’s- “Jubilee”- August 28
3. Dove Brothers-Hold On- Sep 3
4. Driven Quartet- Self-titled- Sep 10th
5. Talley Trio- “Songs You Know By Heart”- Sep 15

*These Review dates are tenative they are subject to change at my discretion and the order could change as well.

Youtube Video of The Day Crabb Family (Through The Fire)

This is without a doubt a very powerful moving performance, that I am sure that most of you have seen on Youtube before. But I just had to post this video mostly because it is too good not to post as part of my video of the day series. The Crabb Family was without a doubt one of the best family groups to come along in a long time and I was very sad to see them retire. They were masters at communicating and performing a lyric. Jason was without a doubt the best at this and he still is.

I know there are re-incarnations of the Crabb Family (Mike And Kelly Bowling, Aaron And Amanda Crabb, Jason Crabb, and The Crabb Revival) and they are all very good… But I don’t think in my opinion can touch the on stage magic and powerful performances that this lineup provided. This song in particular is my favorite Crabb song and is probably the best example of the magic and power I was reffering to…

Guy Penrod Launches Website Splash Page New Album Available

Guy Penrod former Gaither Vocal Band Leadsinger has launched a splash page, for his website with a countdown to the launch of his actual website. You can also order his new Album “Just Breathe” which after listening to the clips it sounds like an Inspirational country album. I always enjoyed Guy’s power singing with the GVB and I am looking forward to following his solo career whether it is a country career or gospel or both… So go on over and sign up for his E-letter and order his new CD here

Youtube Video Of The Day Booth Brothers (This Love Is Mine)

This video featuring the Booth Brother most notably Michael Booth, was taken from their Louisville Live DVD (Daniel Mount gives it a deserving 5 stars in his Review) Which was filmed at the 2008 NQC. This is the most moving and powerful moment on the whole DVD IMO. This song does not stand out as much on CD as it does on a Live Video. “The Secret Place” gets its high marks as the best song on Michael’s Solo CD but I feel this song is actually the better of the two and I love “The Secret Place”.

I would highly reccomend buying the “Louisville Live” DVD, it gives you a taste of what you might hear at a Booth Brothers concert while at the same time giving you a feel for NQC. I am looking forward to seeing the Booth Brothers at NQC this year as they are by far my favorite Trio.

Aaron Mcune Leaves Gold City

According to a press release sent from Gold City, Aaron Mcune who has been the  bass singer for Gold City the past three years, is leaving the award winning quartet. Here is the link to the press release.

I for one am a little sad to see him go, I don’t know why he left and honestly I don’t care why he left. I have heard all the rumors but won’t mention them here, as it is hard find truth in damaging rumors. Now for replacements there are several good young Bass singers out there that I think could fit the bill…

1. Jeff Chapman- I don’t think he would leave the gig he has at the Kingdom Heirs, but he would be perfect for Gold City.

2. Christian Davis- Christian is probably one the best and most underrated young Bass singers on the road today… He would fit Gold Citys new sound and direction perfectly.

3. Chris West- This is Swains choice for a replacement and he would fit perfectly as well.

4. Tim Riley- It would be awesome to see Tim return for one more tour and all the while be grooming a young man to take his place!!!

5. Glenn Dustin- For reasons mentioned with Chapman I could not see him leaving L5, but I think he would also a make a good fit for Gold City.

Out of Left Field Pick number 1. Will Lane- Will sings for Driven and can really rock the low end of the spectrum and can also sing a solo like Tim Riley.

Out Of Left Field Pick Number 2. Trent Adams- he sings for the Ron Blacwood Quartet and I feel he could handle the part as well..

I will be praying that Danny Riley finds just the right man for the job!!!