David Bruce Murray
Dec 12, 2009
CD Review
CD Review: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound-Every Light That Shines At Christmas
RATING: 4 Stars
Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Gaither Music Group
Website: www.ehssq.com
Song Titles: “He Started The Whole World Singing”/”O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Marshmellow World,” “Every Light That Shines At Christmas,” “Redeeming Love,” “Changed By A Baby Boy,” “Mr. Heat Miser,” “Thank God For Kids,” “Christmas Is Christmas (Wherever You Are),” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “What Child Is This?,” “If It Doesn’t Snow On Christmas,” “All I Want Is You,” “Christmas In Indiana,” “Silent Night,” “Light A Candle” and “Amen”
This is an Instant Reaction Review. I’m listening to the CD for the first time and typing my reaction to each song.
1. “He Started The Whole World Singing”/”O Come All Ye Faithful” – The opening track starts off like a sappy show tune. Pretty soon a choir of children chimes in. It builds to a leg kicking chorus line finish.
2. “Marshmellow World” – EH&SS continues the Broadway influenced theme with this 1940s era song popularized by Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. It’s a rollicking adventure.
3. “Every Light That Shines At Christmas” – This has a “Glory To God In The Highest” feel that’s upbeat and Southern with some thick brass parts thrown in for good measure. Everyone gets featured on a line or two. This is my favorite cut so far on the CD.
4. “Redeeming Love” – Light piano and string orchestra at the beginning make me suspect “Redeeming Love” will follow the big ballad formula. Yep, the bass guitar and drums kick in on the second verse. I’m hearing the first chorus now, and it just got a little bigger. Now, here comes the key change and the harmonies invert. It’s just going to be a tag, though. Nice. I’m glad they didn’t stretch it out through a bridge and another full chorus.
5. “Changed By A Baby Boy” – Jamaican rhythms should be left to Jamaicans. Actually, it’s not really that bad, as island songs go.
6. “Mr. Heat Miser” – This is a novelty song in the same vein as “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Silly stuff for the kiddies. At 4 minutes and 28 seconds, it feels a little long.
7. “Thank God For Kids” – I love this classic song originally popularized by the Oak Ridge Boys. The EH&SS version has a rich, acoustic guitar driven arrangement with a heavy bass guitar. Their vocals sound classy on this track…not overblown or different just for the sake of being different.
8. “Christmas Is Christmas” – This new song by Wayne Haun, Shelby Haun, and Joel Lindsey has spoken testimonials sprinkled throughout. The lyric reminds us that “Christmas is Christmas wherever you are.”
9. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – A cappella with an unexpected pause and dynamic adjustment. Hums that are heavy on the “h.” Good strong harmony from beginning to end.
10. “What Child Is This?” – Unison vocals with string orchestra on the first verse. The vocal harmony comes in on the chorus, and I believe that’s Doug Anderson who sings the second verse. New words, or at least words I haven’t heard before, are added on the second chorus. Ernie sings the third verse. The orchestration continues to build. The pace is ponderously slow, but the arrangement is interesting. Rather than ending big, the last tones fade away.
11. “If It Doesn’t Snow On Christmas” – The mood jumps back to silliness with this Gene Autry song.
12. “All I Want Is You” – The next song is a cappella. The a cappella songs have been the highlight of the CD. This one is a finger snapper.
13. “Christmas In Indiana” – This particular song strikes me as weird. Isn’t Ernie based in Ohio? Why would he sing a song pledging allegiance to Indiana? Because Gloria Gaither wrote it, that’s why.
Reader Paul points out that two or three of the guys including Ernie have Indiana roots, so it’s not as weird as I originally thought. So much for instant reactions!)
14. “Silent Night” – This third a cappella selection makes me wish EH&SS had just recorded an entire CD of a cappella songs and forgot about the silly songs. Some light strings come in at the end to segue into “Light A Candle.”
15. “Light A Candle” – This song suggests we light a candle for people who typically go forgotten at Christmas time, and for me and for you, too. This is one of the better orchestrated arrangements on the CD. I wish the lyric went a little further to emphasize that lighting candles is symbolic. Actually reaching into your wallet and doing something worthwhile for someone else at Christmas is what is needed.
16. “Amen” – This classic has been recorded hundreds of times, but I haven’t heard that many quartet versions in the past. EH&SS hit all the usual points to make it effective. They tack on a nice rallentando at the conclusion.
Summary: EH&SS give you your money’s worth with sixteen tracks and fifty-two minutes of music. It’s very much a variety show, so if you’re like me, you’ll hit the skip button for certain songs and enjoy the others.
