Dave's Review

Rating: 5 Stars
Label: Daywind Records
Producer: Wayne Haun
Website: www.cumberlandquartet.com
Song Titles: "I Sing Glory," "Labor Of Love," "It'll Be Worth Every Mile Of The Trip," "One More Chance," "My Treasure, My Crown," "Rags To Riches," "Fire By Night, Cloud By Day," "I Am Because He Is," "The Darkest Hour," "For Your Love Alone," "Stranger Things Have Happened," "Mine For The Asking," "There Is Still Forgiveness At The Cross"

Unlike some record producers who have a unique identifiable "sound," Wayne Haun isn't nearly as predictable. He might "stack" vocals six inches thick on one project and do a single pass approach on the next. He might use orchestra heavily for one group and use the group's own musicians for another.

For the Cumberland Quartet's latest offering, Worth Every Mile, Haun has gone for a slick, classy sound. The first cut sounds a lot like the work he has done for Greater Vision in recent years, complete with an orchestration performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic. Titled "I Sing Glory," I half expected to see Rodney Griffin's name as the priniciple songwriter, but was pleasantly surprised to see former Palmetto State Quartet pianist Jerry Kelso listed instead. The orchestra is also featured on a big dramatic arrangement titled "I Am Because He Is" and an up-tempo "My Name Is Lazarus" sound-alike called "Stranger Things Have Happened." Also, it might be good to mention that they really do use a Rodney Griffin song called "Mine For The Asking" near the end of the recording.

The rest of the project features more traditional arrangements with plenty of acoustic, electric and steel guitars, piano, and drums. There's even a bit of banjo on "Rags To Riches." That's not to say everything else is at a "normal" or "par" musical level, though. This is a rather unique project, all things considered. I particularly enjoyed the minor key sections on "The Darkest Hour." It has a mysterious quality you don't hear often in Southern Gospel.

The songs themselves are very well written, drawing from talented and recognized writers like Joel Lindsey, Joel Hemphill, Sue Smith, and Dave Clark. Tenor singer Depp Britt holds his own with this distinguished group of writers, contributing four songs, including "I Am Because He Is." The bridge of the song is quoted below:

He is the King of Glory.
He is God's only son.
He is my perfect healer.
He is the chosen one.
He is my hope and refuge.
He is the Great I Am.
He is the lion of Judah.
He is the risen lamb.

The Cumberland Quartet is tucked away, performing at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO most of the year. It may be difficult for you to get to see them in concert, but you'll be doing yourself a favor if you check out this fine recording. The vocal arrangements are similar to some of the other groups Haun has produced, particularly Greater Vision and the Southern Brothers, but the project really shines in the areas of production and song selection. I don't give compliments lightly, but in this case I have to say that the production quality on Worth Every Mile is TOP NOTCH and the lyrics are EXCELLENT!

by David Bruce Murray