Gold City's Revival
Danny Riley, the new leader of Gold City, the legendary quartet from Alabama, promised a new sound from the group when this album was in it's early stages. In fact, we are told that Doug Riley, Danny's brother who perished earlier this year in an auto accident was committed to this also. somehow the boys pulled together this album, but did they accomplish what they set out to do?
Gold City has gone through a lot of changes since 2003. So many that it's really not the same group anymore. Mark Trammel left as baritone in 2003 to be replaced by Danny Riley. In 2004, long-time tenor Jay Parrack left to be replaced by Steve Ladd and group owner and founder Tim Riley was replaced by Bill Lawrence. Only Jonathan Wilburn remained of the group that took the stage through most of 2003. How has Gold City faired?
As much as I admire Mark Trammell, the group didn't miss a beat when he left and was replaced by the owner's son. In fact, the new group produced one of the best recordings of 2003-2004 with "Walk the Talk." Exciting new songs and great production produced a great album. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there.
Shortly thereafter, Jay Parrack quit to stay closer to home and Tim Riley, facing health problems, retired. Bill Lawrence replaced Riley. This was a very big error, in my opinion. No matter what you think about Tim Riley, his voice was Gold City. Yes, Jonathan Wilburn is the lead singer, but Tim was the lower than low voice that made Gold City what it was. and to tell the truth, Parrack was the other extreme. Ladd was a better fit to replace Parrack than Lawrence was to replace Riley. The union didn't last long. Lawrence left the group to spend more time with his trucking business.
Lawrence's voice was raw and lacked intonation. Tim Riley thought he was getting a similar bass singer so that Gold City's sound wouldn't suffer, but the smoothness just wasn't there. I don't know all the particulars about Lawrence leaving, but the album that followed "Walk the Talk" was simply two or three steps below the standard set by the earlier album. Many thought the songs were meant for Tim Riley and that was the reason, but a table project called "Heaven," obviously not devised for Riley was not much better.
When Lawrence left and Doug Riley passed away, many of us feared the demise of Gold City, but Aaron McCune, a former neighbor of mine (in a neighboring town) was plucked from Palmetto State Quartet to replace Lawrence after the retired Tim Riley filled in for some time at concerts. This has proven to be a stroke of genius.
When you put the CD in your player, prepare for some changes. My son, a big country music fan, heard the first bars of the first song, "Ain't That What It's All About," and thought it was the new George Strait album. It's that country. It's an old song, but the addition of McCune makes a difference. His rhythmic bass takes this song to higher ground. "Preach the Word" is a Steve Ladd vehicle and it shows how much Ladd has improved since his start with Gold City. The first time I heard him on the NQC DVD, I thought his voice was thin in the Brian Free and Jeremy Peace vein, but his voice is fuller here and he does an outstanding job. Two down and a couple of winners, to be sure.
The third song, "Look Who Just Checked In," is a new song by Gaitherites Stephen Hill and Daryl Williams that has an edge and features Jonathan Wilburn. Once again McCune improvises and makes the song special. It's in the vein of "This Little Baby" on the "Walk the Talk" album with a bluesy sound (which Wilburn always shines on) and will be a show stopper. "Truth Is Marching On," is a song recently recorded by Legacy 5, but listen to this version. With an arrangement by Steve Mauldin, this one is the best of the two.
Marcella Garrett's "That's What I'm Talking About," once again features Wilburn with a bluesy feel and once again featurs some fine bass work by McCune. With a rock and roll beat that reminds one of a lot of former Gold City songs. My son thought it sounded like Signature Sound.
David Bruce Murray thought the old Stuart Hamblen song, "Teach Me Lord to Wait," was out of place on this album. Calling McCune's voice choppy, he dropped it a half star in his rating of the album. If you listen to his reading of this song, i will only refer you to his recent work on the latest Palmetto State album in which he did some solo work. There is no comparison. The production crew did something and McCune just shines. Backed by a string section that recalls the old Ernie Freeman Dean Martin arrangements, it's a joy. You might say it's Gold City's attempt to appeal to its longtime fans.
"Not Anymore," a song penned by The Perry's Joseph Habedank and Matthew Holt, it's a tradtional Gold City Song led by Ladd and Wilburn. Old fans will be pleased. "Mercy Came Running" starts out with a Signature Sound beginning (or a Booth Brother's, for that matter). It's almost a CCM song (in the vein of what SSQ does) led by Danny Riley. It's a great preformance and a good bridge song between the old Gold City and the new.
The album ends with the old song that Jessy Dixon has trademarked on the Gaither videos, "I'm Rich." I'll just say one thing. Jessy should be envious. I can just hear Tim Riley beaking lose on this one. Of course, it's McCune who is singing bass, but Jonathan Wilburn shines. And McCune show his obvious talent at singing that rhythmic bass he does so well.
Did Danny succeed in moving Gold City in a new direction? Yes and no. Yes, this is a different Gold City, but a better one from a vocal standpoint. Ladd is improving so much that many may forget Jay Parrack. McCune is probably going to become the premiere bass in the industry with his adlibs while singing and his enormous stage presence. On the other hand, the album is pure Gold City. It's a worth comeback album (and they needed one) that is listenable and musically pleasant at the same time. If only they had concentrated on more new material, but this material is fine. Was it the breakthrough album the group needed? Yes. Attaboys all around.
Gold City has gone through a lot of changes since 2003. So many that it's really not the same group anymore. Mark Trammel left as baritone in 2003 to be replaced by Danny Riley. In 2004, long-time tenor Jay Parrack left to be replaced by Steve Ladd and group owner and founder Tim Riley was replaced by Bill Lawrence. Only Jonathan Wilburn remained of the group that took the stage through most of 2003. How has Gold City faired?
As much as I admire Mark Trammell, the group didn't miss a beat when he left and was replaced by the owner's son. In fact, the new group produced one of the best recordings of 2003-2004 with "Walk the Talk." Exciting new songs and great production produced a great album. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there.
Shortly thereafter, Jay Parrack quit to stay closer to home and Tim Riley, facing health problems, retired. Bill Lawrence replaced Riley. This was a very big error, in my opinion. No matter what you think about Tim Riley, his voice was Gold City. Yes, Jonathan Wilburn is the lead singer, but Tim was the lower than low voice that made Gold City what it was. and to tell the truth, Parrack was the other extreme. Ladd was a better fit to replace Parrack than Lawrence was to replace Riley. The union didn't last long. Lawrence left the group to spend more time with his trucking business.
Lawrence's voice was raw and lacked intonation. Tim Riley thought he was getting a similar bass singer so that Gold City's sound wouldn't suffer, but the smoothness just wasn't there. I don't know all the particulars about Lawrence leaving, but the album that followed "Walk the Talk" was simply two or three steps below the standard set by the earlier album. Many thought the songs were meant for Tim Riley and that was the reason, but a table project called "Heaven," obviously not devised for Riley was not much better.
When Lawrence left and Doug Riley passed away, many of us feared the demise of Gold City, but Aaron McCune, a former neighbor of mine (in a neighboring town) was plucked from Palmetto State Quartet to replace Lawrence after the retired Tim Riley filled in for some time at concerts. This has proven to be a stroke of genius.
When you put the CD in your player, prepare for some changes. My son, a big country music fan, heard the first bars of the first song, "Ain't That What It's All About," and thought it was the new George Strait album. It's that country. It's an old song, but the addition of McCune makes a difference. His rhythmic bass takes this song to higher ground. "Preach the Word" is a Steve Ladd vehicle and it shows how much Ladd has improved since his start with Gold City. The first time I heard him on the NQC DVD, I thought his voice was thin in the Brian Free and Jeremy Peace vein, but his voice is fuller here and he does an outstanding job. Two down and a couple of winners, to be sure.
The third song, "Look Who Just Checked In," is a new song by Gaitherites Stephen Hill and Daryl Williams that has an edge and features Jonathan Wilburn. Once again McCune improvises and makes the song special. It's in the vein of "This Little Baby" on the "Walk the Talk" album with a bluesy sound (which Wilburn always shines on) and will be a show stopper. "Truth Is Marching On," is a song recently recorded by Legacy 5, but listen to this version. With an arrangement by Steve Mauldin, this one is the best of the two.
Marcella Garrett's "That's What I'm Talking About," once again features Wilburn with a bluesy feel and once again featurs some fine bass work by McCune. With a rock and roll beat that reminds one of a lot of former Gold City songs. My son thought it sounded like Signature Sound.
David Bruce Murray thought the old Stuart Hamblen song, "Teach Me Lord to Wait," was out of place on this album. Calling McCune's voice choppy, he dropped it a half star in his rating of the album. If you listen to his reading of this song, i will only refer you to his recent work on the latest Palmetto State album in which he did some solo work. There is no comparison. The production crew did something and McCune just shines. Backed by a string section that recalls the old Ernie Freeman Dean Martin arrangements, it's a joy. You might say it's Gold City's attempt to appeal to its longtime fans.
"Not Anymore," a song penned by The Perry's Joseph Habedank and Matthew Holt, it's a tradtional Gold City Song led by Ladd and Wilburn. Old fans will be pleased. "Mercy Came Running" starts out with a Signature Sound beginning (or a Booth Brother's, for that matter). It's almost a CCM song (in the vein of what SSQ does) led by Danny Riley. It's a great preformance and a good bridge song between the old Gold City and the new.
The album ends with the old song that Jessy Dixon has trademarked on the Gaither videos, "I'm Rich." I'll just say one thing. Jessy should be envious. I can just hear Tim Riley beaking lose on this one. Of course, it's McCune who is singing bass, but Jonathan Wilburn shines. And McCune show his obvious talent at singing that rhythmic bass he does so well.
Did Danny succeed in moving Gold City in a new direction? Yes and no. Yes, this is a different Gold City, but a better one from a vocal standpoint. Ladd is improving so much that many may forget Jay Parrack. McCune is probably going to become the premiere bass in the industry with his adlibs while singing and his enormous stage presence. On the other hand, the album is pure Gold City. It's a worth comeback album (and they needed one) that is listenable and musically pleasant at the same time. If only they had concentrated on more new material, but this material is fine. Was it the breakthrough album the group needed? Yes. Attaboys all around.
posted by Ronnie Flamingo at 9:33 PM
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