Signature Sound's new DVD is Gaither-riffic

I admit I was a little harsh in my last writing about EHSSQ's new CD. Listening in a car, even my Acura's Sony stereo, didn't give me the full depth of the CD. Needless to say, I like it much better and there is harmony on there. Mea Culpa.

The DVD is wonderful. Great stage presence is the name of the game and EHSSQ has it. Just for fun in the wee hours of the morning today, I watched the DVD and compared it with a recent release by Gold City. GC stands and sings and you wonder sometimes if they are having a good time. You never have a doubt with EHSSQ.

The video starts with a fake locker room episode where Bill Gaither is the coach and the group are the players (playing up that basketball theme that is getting old). Pretty clever and done in muted color. Then the boys come out and sing what I thought was a Christmas song, "Glory to God." Done well. A lot of upbeat numbers are sung, and the usual lame comedy from Roy, the pianist. Finally, they do the big songs (as in "wall of sound") from the CD--the two Gaither songs and bring down the house. And a good time was had by all.

This is one of the better videos to come from Gaither in awhile. They even included a tribute to George Younce in case someone didn't buy his memorial video from Gaither (call 1-800-BUYGAITHER) and are shown by a campfire singing "Father Along" with only Kevin Williams' accompaniment. Russ Taff solos and sings a verse with EHSSQ and the Gaither Vocal Band, Wesley Pritchard gets a verse of "Gospel Boogie," and Linda Randle sings. Most of your favorite Homecoming Friends.

It's worth buying and seeing these guys. They may fizzle out with their dancing, spiked hair and short ties, but they may be the next Statesmen. You owe it to yourselves to see them and make your decision.

Two new Southern Gospel Projects

I recently picked up a couple of new southern gospel projects as they are called from two of the genre's most popular artists--Greater Vision and Signature Sound Quartet (now known as Ernie Haase and Signature Sound). Both are slick and well done and both very similar in concept and delivery.

The first is Signature sounds self-titled debut album for Gaither Music Company. All the Gaither magic is at work here. Big orchestra backgrounds, top studio players and a new Gaither song (2 if you count the song Gloria and son Benjy wrote).

The album starts out kind of forgetfully enough with a unison song titled "Shout, Brother, Shout," which reminds me of the things we did in Glee Club in high school. It probably was included because producer Lari Goss wrote it. They move on to what I consider a big mistake. Covering a legend's hit even when it's your father-in-law you're covering is dangerous. Tim Duncan is a wonderful bass, but when the multitudes have heard George Younce sing "Trying to Get a Glimpse," it's fruitless for you to try. It's a disaster.

Next, the gang goes into "Godspeed," a nice little ditty that sounds like something from the 70's from a rock musical. Finally, we get to the Gaither song, a new composition from Bill and Gloria called "Then Came the Morning." It's a typical song they would write and is very emotional. I often think Gloria (the lyricist) has a "thing" for Easter. It seems that all she writes these days. It is, however, the gem so far and well done. It'll go over like gangbusters on the Homecoming tour.

Then comes the 70's again with "Do You Want to be Forgiven," sung mostly in unison (why have a four-part quartet, if you're going to sing in unison? Churches seem to have forgotten harmony these days and it must be a trend). Following that is "This Old Place, " a Diane Wilkinson song, and the morbid, "If This is What God Wants." So far, the "project" is not as remarkable as any of their non-Gaither releases.

Then, it hits you between the eyes. The last three songs are dynamite. "Pray for Me," features Ryan Seaton, a kid who I never thought much of, but maybe Gaither's tutoring has helped. He soars on this song and the group backs him tremendously. A winner. A bluesy song with just the right feel. Following that comes "Goodbye Egypt," featuring Haase and Duncan--a neat little ditty that is infectious. Finally we get the other Gaither song, this time written by Gloria and her son. This is the prize of the whole project. "Forgiven Again" is big in sound and featured one of the best baritones in the business, Doug Anderson. The melody is traditional and the lyrics hit home. This should have been their opening single. The end the thing with a faded in-faded out reprise of "Godspeed." Sort of late-sixties Beatleesque, if you ask me.

Great Vision's new project is also produced by Lari Goss and has songs by some of the same writers, mostly the same studio players, and in the same studio. Of course, with Greater Vision, you get lots of Rodney Griffin (who wrote a couple on SSQ's album, too). This time, Rodney has collaborated with Phil Cross, the writer of "Champion of Love," that standard for the Cathedrals. The songs are predictable and not really notable. In fact, a lot of unison goes on here, too. Gerald Wolfe, the bonafide star of the group, takes sort of a back seat on this album for some reason. There is no purpose going over this song by song, but using the Prague Symphony was a nice touch (something I guess he learned from the Cathedrals using the London Symphony on thier great album "Symphony of Praise." Neither group can get away from the Cats and that's both good and bad), and they are their usual professional selves.

Both of these will sell gobs of CDs, but they still don't cover any new ground, which is good for old fogies like me, but not good for the industry. I liked both, but left wanting more. Better songwriters would help the projects (and GV should let Rodney write maybe two songs per project) and guys, let's sing a little harmony (something I noticed again on the Boothe Brother's new CD--mostly unison).

I also have the EHSSQ DVD, which is wonderful, but I'll get to that later...