Gaither Vocal Band CD is Beyond Belief
I know I said I'd have some video review up, but I finally cracked the seal on the new Gaither Vocal Band CD, Give it Away, and I was blown away. I just had to tell somebody although I know no one reads this but me.
I always forget how good this group is no matter who is in it. It was great when Jonathan Pierce was the tenor and was great when David Phelps replaced him. It was great when Mark Lowry left and Russ Taff came in at baritone. When Marsh Hall replaced Russ it was great. When David Phelps left there was a howl from GVB fans because no one could replace David at tenor. Well, guess what? They're still great and Phelps' replacement just might be better at that position than Phelps was. Well, almost.
Gaither gives us our money's worth on this CD - 15 songs and not a clunker in the bunch. A lot of it has to do with production and arrangements, but a lot of it has to do with talent and good taste, which Gaither has in abundance.
Bill starts us off with Bread Upon the Water, an evergreen covered by lots of folks, but it sounds fresher here than the last time I heard it. Not my favorite, though, and we go to track two. Here we're treated to a Benjy Gaither song (Benjy is Bill and Gloria's son--does every Gaither child write songs?) called, I Catch 'Em God Cleans 'Em, which sounds corny on the surface, but the rockabilly beat and enthusiastic singing by Guy Penrod and Bill himself, along with an almost Cajun sound, makes this a rip-roaring, toe tapping winner.
Next we head off into the old Sunday School song, Jesus Loves Me, sung by Marsh Hall. Once again, not horrible, but forgettable. As you continue to listen, if you pay attention, the arrangements (at least the horns and strings) by Russell Mauldin, make every little song sound better.
That's obvious in the old Jordaniares song, I'll Tell It Wherever I Go. Featuring the new guy, Wes Hampton--David Phelps' replacement--and using a 50's style feel, Hampton may make everyone forget Phelps in short order. He doesn't have the vocal gymnastics of a Phelps, but he's good. So good, that I was almost glad Phelps left for the self-inflicted Siberia of music called solo work.
The rest of the album follows a pattern. Old song followed by new song, including a new Bill-Gloria composition (copyrighted 2005, btw) and at least one other new song by son Benjy. In fact, the title cut was co-authored by Benjy and Gloria. Yeah, we have to endure the 10,000th cover of Kris Kristofferson's Why Me, Lord, and a couple of other Gaither evergreens (copyrighted 1979 and 1974), but it sounds so doggone good, all you notice is the professionalism of the singers and backup players.
Gaither found the "formula" to making his product, whether it be CD or video, sound gads better than the competition years ago. He most recently used it on Signature Sound's self-titled album with mixed results. Nothing is mixed here, though. From the blend of the singers to the Mauldin arrangements, this sounds like a million bucks. Roughly what the thing will sell in units, by the way.
If you like your gospel music southern (well, almost) style and you appreciate good musicianship and classy packaging, pick this one up. You won't regret it.
I always forget how good this group is no matter who is in it. It was great when Jonathan Pierce was the tenor and was great when David Phelps replaced him. It was great when Mark Lowry left and Russ Taff came in at baritone. When Marsh Hall replaced Russ it was great. When David Phelps left there was a howl from GVB fans because no one could replace David at tenor. Well, guess what? They're still great and Phelps' replacement just might be better at that position than Phelps was. Well, almost.
Gaither gives us our money's worth on this CD - 15 songs and not a clunker in the bunch. A lot of it has to do with production and arrangements, but a lot of it has to do with talent and good taste, which Gaither has in abundance.
Bill starts us off with Bread Upon the Water, an evergreen covered by lots of folks, but it sounds fresher here than the last time I heard it. Not my favorite, though, and we go to track two. Here we're treated to a Benjy Gaither song (Benjy is Bill and Gloria's son--does every Gaither child write songs?) called, I Catch 'Em God Cleans 'Em, which sounds corny on the surface, but the rockabilly beat and enthusiastic singing by Guy Penrod and Bill himself, along with an almost Cajun sound, makes this a rip-roaring, toe tapping winner.
Next we head off into the old Sunday School song, Jesus Loves Me, sung by Marsh Hall. Once again, not horrible, but forgettable. As you continue to listen, if you pay attention, the arrangements (at least the horns and strings) by Russell Mauldin, make every little song sound better.
That's obvious in the old Jordaniares song, I'll Tell It Wherever I Go. Featuring the new guy, Wes Hampton--David Phelps' replacement--and using a 50's style feel, Hampton may make everyone forget Phelps in short order. He doesn't have the vocal gymnastics of a Phelps, but he's good. So good, that I was almost glad Phelps left for the self-inflicted Siberia of music called solo work.
The rest of the album follows a pattern. Old song followed by new song, including a new Bill-Gloria composition (copyrighted 2005, btw) and at least one other new song by son Benjy. In fact, the title cut was co-authored by Benjy and Gloria. Yeah, we have to endure the 10,000th cover of Kris Kristofferson's Why Me, Lord, and a couple of other Gaither evergreens (copyrighted 1979 and 1974), but it sounds so doggone good, all you notice is the professionalism of the singers and backup players.
Gaither found the "formula" to making his product, whether it be CD or video, sound gads better than the competition years ago. He most recently used it on Signature Sound's self-titled album with mixed results. Nothing is mixed here, though. From the blend of the singers to the Mauldin arrangements, this sounds like a million bucks. Roughly what the thing will sell in units, by the way.
If you like your gospel music southern (well, almost) style and you appreciate good musicianship and classy packaging, pick this one up. You won't regret it.
posted by Ronnie Flamingo at 8:43 PM
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