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Dave's Top Eight
1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars) Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.
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Most Recent Articles
Why blog? (Three years and counting)
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-----------June 30, 2006John Darin Rowsey in the newsLINK>>Newspaper article on John Darin Rowsey, writer of Singing with the Saints and former member of Karen Peck & New River.
June 29, 2006SG coming to SiriusSirius (that other satelite radio company) will begin hosting three hours of Bill Gaither's Homecoming Radio each Sunday. The program can be heard on Channel 62 (The Roadhouse) beginning on June 9 at 9:00 AM EDT.
Regarding the new outlet for his radio broadcast, Gaither said, ""I am very excited for this opportunity to team up with SIRIUS to take encouraging, positive music to their many listeners on a weekly basis. It is always rewarding when our programming finds its way into new places, but in this case it is particularly thrilling to be a part of the rapidly-expanding world of satellite radio." It's not a 24/7 channel like XM's enLighten, but it's a start. Sirius is also available via the Dish satelite TV network. I say the more the merrier when it comes to quality SG programming on nationally distributed networks. June 26, 2006That 'Signature Sound' ... in the dark! UPDATE>> Pictures posted-click here... Friday night was the Atlanta stop on the Summer Spectacular tour of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The doors opened at Roswell Street Baptist in Marietta, GA at 6:30. Then, at about 6:32, a super storm hit with wind (strong enough to blow a porta-potty across the parking lot) and then the lights went out. Funny thing is how the lights went completely out in the auditorium itself, while the lights stayed on in the hallway. Then, fire alarms went off with a voice on a loudspeaker declaring an emergency and to find an exit. Thankfully, no one freaked or even left the building because, also thankfully, there was no emergency. So, from 6:30 until about 8:45, there was no power or lights in the sanctuary. Ernie and the guys started singing shortly after 7:30 (when the concert was supposed to start), but did so most of that time in the dark and a cappella. It gave Roy great opportunity to use his comedy and rib Ernie a lot. Funny stuff. I have taken pictures and even a video clip - but because the lights were out, the pictures are not very clear (click here to view). The air conditioning in the church never really did come on, so it was like an oven there... where, just before the storm, my car's temperature gauge read 105 degrees! Where some artists would cancel or delay the show (and frankly, after about 45 minutes of winging it with no power, I expected the group to take a break or wait it out... ), Signature Sound kept on singing and talking throughout the whole ordeal with no signs of stopping. For part of the time they somehow managed to power a portion of their lighting and sound systems. (Ernie at one point was working on connecting the bus generator to the sound and lights). The minimum setup was short-lived (not sure why), because during one song, at the end of a verse, it all went dark again. Somebody used a flashlight as a spotlight to provide an eerie kind of glow onto Ernie and the guys. But, they were determined to sing their way through the mess and, eventually, it paid off as the power company had everything restored and the show continued on. As one other reviewer put it: It was the night the lights went out in Georgia! -Daniel Britt Labels: Concert Review June 24, 2006Concert Review: Whisnants, Greenes, KingsmenI had the opportunity to wander up to Morganton, NC earlier tonight to a concert sponsored by the Whisnants. This event was to celebrate their 35th year singing gospel music. On the bill for the evening were the Whisnants, Greenes, and Kingsmen Quartet. The Greenes got the ball rolling with a 45-minute set mixed with good singing by the group, plus comedy and inspirational words from Tony Greene. I thought the highlights of their first set were "March Through The Water" from their new CD and Taranda Greene's solo "Sky Full Of Angels." The Kingsmen came out next with guns blazing...very little talking...just lots of singing. Ray Reese is sounding better than ever, and Tony Peace adds an excitement to the stage as the emcee and designated "guy who calls out the songs." Jeremy Peace and Phillip Hughes sing with a great sense of confidence, but I think they have a bit of a disadvantage. The Kingsmen style doesn't come naturally to them, but they do a great job, nonetheless. The band is sounding great. Nick Succi was featured along with the band on this blazingly fast jazz arrangement that was very impressive. Jason Selph also did a great job singing "Wish You Were Here." The overall mix of the group was a bit muddy. In fact, when they left the stage, there was some noticeable noise in the speakers until they muted their board...not sure what was up with that. It wasn't so bad that it was annoying or distracting, but it did hurt the overall sound a bit. The Whisnants sounded very, very smooth in front of their home crowd. I really like "New Day Dawning," which was a recent number one song for the group. Jeff Whisnant's brother John was the emcee for this event, and he did a great job getting the groups on and off the stage with minimal delays. Like the other two groups, the Whisnants performed a 45 minute set, which was great. After the intermission, each group was supposed to do two songs. The Greenes sang three including a long closing medley and Tony talked quite a bit between each one. The Kingsmen did as they were told and sang two songs, which left us Kingsmen fans feeling a bit cheated...not too much though...they probably sang twice as many songs on the first round as the other groups since they did a lot of upbeat stuff and didn't talk very much. Me and my buddies got a head start on the crowd by ducking out as the Whisnants were taking the stage. All in all, it was money well spent. Each group had the chance to work the crowd effectively, sell their products during intermission, and meet the folks. I wish all concerts were handled with this level of professionalism. Now I have a few words for the people of Burke County, NC...shame on you for not filling the building for this event. By my estimate, there were less than 400 people in attendance. Tickets were a mere $15 or $25 if you planned to attend both Friday and Saturday. This concert was well advertised. The place holds more than 1000 and it should have been full, especially for a nationally known, hometown group's reunion event. Oh well...I guess that scripture about a prophet being without honor in his own town applies to Morganton, NC. Labels: Concert Review June 22, 2006Good newspaper writeup on Southern Gospel MusicLINK>> The Shreveport Times
Here's a good writeup on a group known as the Glory Down Singers. If you watch local newspapers, usually they simply report event details or a pre-written press release. But this article has some accurate quotes and facts about Southern Gospel Music worth reading. -Daniel Britt June 17, 2006CD Review: Talley Trio (Rise Above) BUY THIS CD! RATING: 4 Stars Label: Horizon Records Producer: Roger Talley Website: www.talleytrio.com Song Titles: "I Cannot Tell It All," "Red Letter Day," "Truth Is Marching On," "His Hand In Mine," "He Came Through," "My Help/My Tribute," "Speak The Word, Claim The Name, Plead The Blood," "That's Why I Believe," "Orphans Of God," "A Promise Made," "I Will Sing Of Your Faithfulness," and "Moutain Mover" Don't let the blah cover art fool you...peeling the cellophane wrapper off Rise Above by the Talley Trio reveals a nice twelve-page booklet, complete with excellent photos shot on location at the Grove Arcade in Asheville, NC. Older fans should especially appreciate the included lyrics which are printed in a simple all-caps font that's large enough to actually read. The black gospel intro of "I Cannot Tell It All" entices you to spend some time in the Talley Trio's musical world. It quickly settles into an easy pop groove, punctuating the praise oriented lyrics with layered and overlapping vocal phrases, especially near the end of the cut. "Red Letter Day" has a driving Country feel. "Truth Is Marching On" is a slower anthem featuring Debra on the first verse and Lauren on the second. The song builds to a big climax at the end. Mosie Lister's classic "His Hand In Mind" hearkens back to the Big Band era with a Jason Webb orchestra arrangement featuring Debra. It's my favorite cut on Rise Above...simple and nostalgic in delivery, yet very effective. The pace quickly changes with the next selection, an upbeat cover of Russ Taff's "He Came Through." Lauren does a good job with it, but falls shy of the energy level found in either the original Taff solo version or the Taff/Gaither Vocal Band version. "My Help/My Tribute" is a slower worship song blending Andrae Crouch's classic chorus from "My Tribute" with more recently written lyrics by Jackie Farris. It should go over well in a concert setting. "Speak The Word, Claim The Name, Plead The Blood" is the first track on the CD to feature Roger...by the second verse, Debra takes over. The lyric is a bit generic on this one, relying on phrases that have been used often in the past. "That's Why I Believe" returns to the driving feel of "Red Letter Day," which helps tie the CD together stylistically. "Orphans Of God" is a well written anthem by Joel Lindsey and Twila Labar. "A Promise Made" features Roger and has a modern pop feel. "I Will Sing Of Your Faithfulness" opens with the second movement from Beethoven's Sonata #8...a simple piano with a bit of string orchestra support. The Talley Trio wrote this song along with Rebecca Peck. I like the way the sonata is incorporated throughout the song rather than just being used for an intro. It may be outside the scope of Southern Gospel radio in terms of style, but this is an excellent arrangement. The NSync inspired "Mountain Mover" is a bit more aggressive than the other pop styled tracks on Rise Above. It catches you off guard after the relaxing "I Will Sing Of Your Faithfulness" with a "put the mic in a paper cup" vocal effect on the intro. "I Cannot Tell It All" combines with "Mountain Mover" to provide effective, memorable bookends to the CD. I'm glad to see that some thought went into the order of songs on Rise Above. Talley Trio fans will enjoy Rise Above, especially if their favorite group member is Lauren. Roger and Debra get a few featured spots and provide background vocals. Rise Above has some great moments that stand out. It's possible that the CD could have been strengthened further if one or two of the weaker cuts had been removed. On the other hand, the Talley Trio appeals to a variety of fans both old and young, so including all twelve tracks was probably the best decision. Labels: CD Review CD Review: Palmetto State Quartet (Sweet Land Of Rest) RATING: 4 Stars Label: Sonlite Records Producer: Jeff Collins Website: www.palmettostatequartet.com Song Titles: "I'm Gonna Pray," "No Doubt Salvation," "Land Of Rest," "Old Fashioned Altar Call," "In The Palm Of His Hand," "Only By The Blood," "The Life You've Always Wanted," "Behold The Lamb," "What A Wonderful Lord," and "I Am Sailing Away" Sweet Land Of Rest kicks off with an excellent Dianne Wilkinson song featuring recently departed Palmetto State Quartet bass singer Aaron McCune and lead singer Kerry Beatty. Tenor John Rulapaugh makes his presence known at the end of the song in a big way, as well. "No Doubt Salvation" follows in a similar upbeat traditional vein. The title track is a song previously recorded in 2005 by the Kingsmen Quartet. PSQ's version is slightly slower and delivered in a more subdued manner. Rulapaugh puts a little more vibrato in his tone than I prefer, so if forced to choose, I'd pick the Kingsmen version. Overall though, he does a good job delivering another great lyric by Dianne Wilkinson. Rick Fair steps up next with the upbeat "Old Fashioned Altar Call," sung boldly in a true baritone range. McCune demonstrates his ability to deliver a slow lyric with "In The Palm Of His Hand," and Beatty does the same with "Only By The Blood." Milton Smith's orchestrations give "Only By The Blood" a classy touch and I like the surprise a cappella bit with the orchestra fading back in at the very end. The intro to "The Life You've Always Wanted" sounds like the theme from a 1970s era TV game show. "Behold The Lamb" is an anthem featuring Rick Fair written by Jimmy Dooley and Steven Cheney. A mid-tempo "What A Wonderful Lord" with some classic close chord progressions and a traditional four part harmony cut called "I'm Sailing Away" close out Sweet Land Of Rest. Palmetto State Quartet's vocal arrangements tend to be pitched a little lower than other male quartets. This is because they have a true baritone in Rick Fair. It's refreshing to hear notes an octave plus a note or two below middle C as the bottom notes of a solo. I suspect with Burman Porter taking over the bass position from McCune, PSQ's future recordings will be even tighter in vocal range. This move should force them to develop a unique vocal sound that will hopefully stand out from other groups on the market. Aaron McCune fans will want to get a copy of his final recording with PSQ. The song selection on Sweet Land Of Rest is particularly good. A bit more creativity on the music tracks and detail in the liner notes would have been welcomed, but overall, this is a very solid male quartet release. Labels: CD Review June 16, 2006Upcoming ReviewsOver the next few weeks, I'm planning to review the latest CD releases by the following artists:
Mark Bishop Doyle Lawson And Quicksilver Palmetto State Quartet Talley Trio Inspirations Greenes Three Bridges Jeff Treece Band The Collingsworth Family If you have a CD you'd like to me review, look HERE. June 15, 2006Just lookin' - Homecoming Radio Website Looks like things are changing at the Homecoming Radio website. First off, I noticed that it says "Coming in July...Homecoming Radio On-Line." I can only guess that this is maybe a way to download or listen to each week's show on the web (via podcast?). Will this be one of the first music-intensive podcasts in Southern Gospel? With copyright issues so prevalent these days, most podcasters are afraid to include a lot of music in those downloads. I guess Gaither owns so much of the music he features, he's willing to cut himself a deal. Another thing that I notice is a free gift you can receive if you click the banner "Christmas in June & July." I've entered my name and address and when I receive said (or unsaid in this case) gift, I will report back to you what it is. Thirdly, the registration page is under an entirely different domain name, "www.homecomingmusic.net." I'll be interested to see if that becomes a full-fledged website or just a mirror image of the current Gaither Store. -Daniel Britt June 14, 2006Southern Gospel History update
The Southern Gospel History site which launched in May 2006 is beginning to take shape.
-----------We now have more than fifty articles, meticulously researched, and of course, 100% correct in every aspect...well...maybe not QUITE 100%, but I'm very proud of the work our writers have done thus far. I've spent the last two or three days installing and learning to use new software. The site has a considerably different look now, and I have a lot more flexibility in administrative areas. As always, we are open to fresh ideas. We have a long To Do List, so you can see where we're trying to ultimately go with this thing. I am somewhat annoyed when I read Southern Gospel biographies on sites like "All Music Guide." I referred to their horrendous entry on the Kingsmen Quartet in a post a few weeks ago. Wikipedia could provide a solution if it wasn't so open for abuse by self promoters and/or people who have a personal motivation for revising their own history. It's my desire for www.sghistory.com to become a place where people can view detailed, well written, and accurate information about the top groups in Southern Gospel music. I believe we are off to a good start, and I welcome all suggestions for making it even better. Labels: History June 13, 2006AUDIO>> Jimmy Jones Jimmy Jones passed away on Monday, June 12, 2006 in Marietta, Georgia. Jimmy was very recently diagnosed with untreatable cancer. Jimmy had one of the smoothest baritone/bass voices in the industry and was probably most well known, especially recently, for his recitations. His professional resume included the LeFevres and the Sunshine Boys. In 2003, Jimmy and Eva Mae LeFevre joined Mark Fuller and me in the studio in Atlanta's Buckhead district for an evening of remembering. We went to dinner at the OK Cafe beforehand, and then, once in the recording studio, the stories and laughter flowed. Here's a clip of Jimmy talking about his recitations as well as the original recording by the LeFevres of "Lord, It's Me Again." AUDIO>> Lord, It's Me Again (2.44MB) I have the full unedited, raw studio session of the time with Eva Mae and Jimmy, and I'll be sharing more audio in the coming days. -Daniel Britt Updated link for funeral details and biographical sketch: click here. June 10, 2006Does XM's enLighten "rule?"enLighten has been on XM's satelite feed for several weeks now, so it's probably a good time to examine their performance. I believe the results are mixed at this point.
A thread on the message boards at Sogospelnews.com about quality in modern Southern Gospel vs. quality from years gone by prompted one poster to say XM Radio's enLighten channel "rules." It was a tongue-in-cheek comment accompanied by a smiley. The poster said he made this conclusion because enLighten has been playing a song recorded by his group. It's actually a good quality recording, and I think it's great that enLighten is playing it. Unfortunately, enLighten also plays a lot of poor quality recordings. Their request policy is likely the reason for this. They've said on the air that they'll play any requested song within four days or so if it's already in their library, and they'll also add songs to their library based on requests. It's essentially an anything goes approach to programming...just ask, and it will be played. A station that honors any and all requests doesn't exactly "rule" in my book. This is wide open for abuse by artists (including their associates, family, fan clubs, radio promoters, record labels) who request their own songs. It generates more air play for artists who take advantage of the station's generous request policy, and it turns off potential new fans of Southern Gospel when they hear a low quality recording. This policy may serve the greater good of keeping enLighten on the satelite feed. They need some way to demonstrate to the powers that be at XM that they have a lot of people listening. Promising to honor all requests whenever possible helps accomplish that. I think a more limited request policy would be preferable, though. "We will play songs in our library when requested" is fine if the library only contains good quality recordings and poor quality recordings aren't added. On a positive note, I have to say that enLighten has shown creativity by airing specials, having days where a specific artist is recognized at the top of each hour, etc. That's good stuff, and I hope they expand this type of programming. I've heard some rumblings of future programming they have planned that sounds exciting as well. Don't think for a minute that I'm writing them off. I had just hoped enLighten would be the standard by which other Southern Gospel radio would be measured. Honoring requests for inferior quality music prevents them from raising that standard. enLighten has the potential to reach more listeners than any other SG station in the USA. In fact, they may already be doing that. So why isn't their playlist limited to the best quality recordings? Until that happens, they won't "rule." June 8, 2006Jimmy Jones needs your prayersI just received news that Jimmy Jones (bass singer, formerly of the LeFevres and featured Gaither Homecoming Friend) has a serious and rare form of cancer. It may be down to months for Jimmy. A press release is forthcoming. Please keep Jimmy in your prayers. UPDATE: The press release is available at the Singing News website, for which you may have to have a password to view. Here's the link.
-Daniel Britt June 6, 2006Bush Branded "Rebel" After Asking GVB To Dinner Fred Barnes (editor of The Weekly Standard and former writer for The New Republic) has written a book titled Rebel in Chief: How George W. Bush Is Redefining the Conservative Movement and Transforming America. The book has been available since January 2006.I'm mentioning this here, because the book mentions an encounter the president had with the Gaither Vocal Band. Here's the excerpt with a preceding paragraph for context: REBEL President Bush operates in Washington like the head of a small occupying army of insurgents, an elected band of brothers (and quite a few sisters) on a mission. He's an alien in the realm of the governing class, given a green card by voters. He's a different kind of president in style and substance. He'd rather invite his first envoy to Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, and his wife, Francie, to a quiet evening at the White House than appear at a Washington gala or social event. The night before the White House Salute to Gospel Music, Bush encountered the Gaither Vocal Band rehearsing in the East Room. He invited them to dinner. Instead of consulting "experts" on Third World development, Bush tapped U2 singer Bono as an adviser and ally on aiding sub-Saharan Africa.  By the way, the word "rebel" is being used in the book as a complimentary term for President Bush. I just found these particular examples amusing. Bush would rather stay at the White House and take his meals with normal people than get all dressed up and wine and dine with the Washington elite. He even asked a famous gospel group to have dinner with him on the spur of the moment. Whoooa...he's a "rebel." CD Review: Perrys (Come Thirsty) BUY THIS CD! RATING: 4 Stars Label: Daywind Producer: Wayne Haun Website: www.perrysministries.com Song Titles: "Until The Last One Is Home," "Still Thrilled," "A Day That Never Ends," "He Will Hide Me," "Walk Away Free," "When Jesus Prays," "Come Thirsty," "They Sang A Hymn," "Why Trouble The Master," "He Forgot," and "Mary For A While" The Perrys are back with another Daywind release. Come Thirsty begins with a bass feature titled "Until The Last One Is Home." The intensity could have built a bit more before the end, but overall, it's a decent opening track. Kyla Rowland's "Still Thrilled" is next with two steel guitar punctuated chords on the intro that evoke a Happy Goodmans feel. Libbi Perry Stuffle does an excellent job selling the lyric on this track. "A Day That Never Ends" is a straight ahead, upbeat quartet number. The first slow ballad on Come Thirsty is "He Will Hide Me," an orchestrated track featuring Loren Harris that includes a quote from the hymn "He Hideth My Soul" at the climax. This selection has concert showstopper written all over it. "Walk Away Free" has a good arrangement featuring Libbi, who turns in another excellent performance. However, the lyrics aren't as memorable as some of the other songs on the CD. "When Jesus Prays" is another slow selection, this time with piano heavy in the accompaniment at the beginning, stopping just one note shy of showcasing two octaves of baritone Joseph Habedank's range. The title track is a mid-tempo number that blends steel guitar with piano fills and features bass singer Tracy Stuffle. Like "Walk Away Free," the arrangement and vocal delivery are fine on "Come Thirsty," but the lyrics are somewhat generic. "They Sang A Hymn" is my favorite track on the CD. It includes a memorable hook, accompaniment emphasized by fancy fills from a variety of instruments, an unpredictable rhythm in the vein of "I Wish I Could Have Been There," and a great vocal performance. Well done, all the way around. "Why Trouble The Master" is another nice ballad, although it contains an awkward chord progression going into the key change. An exciting original song titled "He Forgot" written by Habedank and pianist Matthew Holt is up next. The melody on the verses sounds similar to "Since Jesus Touched Me" (Gold City). Come Thirsty concludes with "Mary For A While," featuring Libbi and an excellent story lyric. "I know I could be Martha all day; Let my chance to be with you slip away. I want to be Mary for a while. In all that I do, Close the door to everything that keeps my heart from you. Lord, I want to rest here and feel heaven smile. I want to be Mary for a while." (written by Sue C. Smith and Barbara Huffman) If you compare Come Thirsty to previous Perrys releases such as This Is The Day and Life Of Love, you can hear the impact recording and touring the songs from Remembering The Happy Goodmans has had on the group's vocal style. This has been a positive thing. The group now sings with a greater sense of confidence and...dare I say...emotion, while avoiding the snares that such singing usually sets. They've learned to bend notes together while developing a "hard singing" style at every vocal position. Fortunately, they stop short of sounding like they're screaming or out of control, so you get the best of both worlds. In this respect, Come Thirsty falls somewhere between a CD you might play out of sheer admiration for production quality/creativity/vocal talent and one that thrives on stirring up your emotions with little regard for musical quality. Labels: CD Review June 5, 2006CD Review: Chuck Wagon Gang (70th Anniversary) BUY THIS CD! RATING: 3 1/2 Stars Label: Song Garden Producers: Bobby All, Nick Bruno, and Robbie Hiner Website: www.thechuckwagongang.net Song Titles: "Daddy Sang Bass" (with the Oak Ridge Boys), "Life's Railway To Heaven" (with Ricky Skaggs), "I Saw The Light" (with John Conlee), "Turn Your Radio On" (with George Jones), "Down The Road" (with the Jordanaires), "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus" (with Bill Anderson), "Grandma's Feather Bed" (with the Brooks Brothers), "Looking For A City" (with Lulu Roman), "Heaven's Jubilee" (with the Gatlin Brothers), "When The Wagon Was New" (with Billy Walker), "He Walks With The Wild And The Lonely" (with the Sons Of The Pioneers), and "Family Bible" (with Jack Greene) The Chuck Wagon Gang celebrates 70 years with a collection of 12 songs produced in their classic style. Each track also features a country artist, giving the sound of 70th Anniversary a contrast to other Gang recordings. Familiar titles like "Daddy Sang Bass," "Life's Railway To Heaven" and "I Saw The Light" are joined by lesser known titles like "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus," "Down The Road," "When The Wagon Was New," and the humorous "Grandma's Feather Bed." If you've ever heard the Gang sing, you know what to expect. Before hearing this CD for the first time, I wondered how much the guests might affect the overall sound. The answer is...not much. Eleven of the twelve songs are arranged strictly in the traditional Chuck Wagon Gang style. Acoustic and bass provide the primary accompaniment with a bit of piano to fill out the mix. On most tracks, the Gang sings the first verse and chorus, the guest artist sings the second verse, and they conclude the song together. Some guests appear to be holding back vocally in order to stay within the context of the Chuck Wagon Gang style. On the opening song, "Daddy Sang Bass," Richard Sterban resists the temptation to drop the bottom out while Joe Bonsall strains to reach the B over middle C. It would have sounded a lot better if it had been pitched a minor third or so lower. Ricky Skaggs stays in baritone range for his verse on "Life's Railway To Heaven," only coloring the melody slightly with a few bluegrass style passing tones. At least you can identify Skaggs and the Oaks, though, unlike the Gatlin Brothers, whose verse on "Heaven's Jubilee" lacks any of their distinctive vocal traits. Other artists are more aggressive in putting their own vocal stamp on 70th Anniversary. His vocal tone would have probably been enough, but John Conlee takes additional liberties with his verse on "I Saw The Light" to let you know it's really him. The same can be said for George Jones on "Turn Your Radio On." Bill Anderson adds one of his trademark whispering narrations to "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus." "Grandma's Feather Bed" is positioned at track seven, featuring the Brooks Brothers and providing a lighthearted contrast to the more serious tunes. On "Looking For A City," Lulu Roman only stands out from the group when she delays a rhythm slightly or modifies the melody line. This isn't due to her holding back, though. Her style and tone quality are similar enough that she could actually be a Chuck Wagon Gang alto if she sang rhythms more strictly. "When The Wagon Was New" features Billy Walker, who died in an automobile accident in May 2006. "He Walks With The Wild And The Lonely" is the one song on 70th Anniversary that sounds like it was selected and arranged with the traditional style of the guest artist in mind more than traditional style of the Chuck Wagon Gang. The Sons Of The Pioneers sound right at home on musical phrases that emphasize minor chords with a wailing accordian providing fills. 70th Anniversary comes with an attractive booklet. A collection of photographs dating back to the original group is included (courtesy of former member Harold Timmons). Each guest participant has also written a few of their impressions about the Gang. Former member Ronnie Page wrote the introduction. Unfortunately, the project does not credit the songwriters or include copyright dates in the liner notes, so I couldn't satisfy my curiosity regarding whether or not the songs I didn't recognize as classics were recently written or if all the songs on this CD were from days gone by Overall, 70th Anniversary makes a handsome addition to the legacy of the Chuck Wagon Gang. A few aspects could have been improved. Finding more middle ground on arrangements rather than trying to bring the guest artists entirely into the Gang's musical world would have been nice. Starting the CD with three songs in the same key (G) perpetrates the notion that all the group's songs sound just alike. On a positive note, the historical significance of the group's contributions to gospel music have been adequately emphasized, and that was, after all, the primary point of putting this project on the market. Including easily recognizable guest artists on a project with such historical significance is probably a wise marketing move. Labels: CD Review 
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