by Brandon Coomer
Gold City's Having Fun released between Standing In the Gap and Preparing the Way. It is the best recording by Gold City you've never heard of. The only place I have seen it offered is at a Gold City concert. The selections on the project are just good, old-fashioned southern gospel music. Produced by Mark Trammell, the songs take you back to the sounds of the Cathedrals of the mid-1980's. Many of these songs can also be found on Cathedral recordings of that time frame.
"I Thank My Savior For It All," featuring lead vocalist David Hill, gets the project off to a somewhat weak start, but it's all up hill from here. (This song will be on the new video recorded on May 24.) My favorite song on the CD is "Until He Comes." It features baritone Mark Trammell on the first verse and tenor Jay Parrack on an outstanding second verse. In a great arrangement of "While Ages Roll," bass Tim Riley delivers a great performance on the second verse while Jay is awesome on the chorus. Jay is featured on the campmeeting style "Beyond the Sunset." A Cathedrals song from the 1980's, "The Rocks Shall Not Cry Out" features Jay and Mark on the verses and is a solid performance by everyone. Jay is featured again on the best version of "When I Stand In the Presence" I have ever heard. If there were any doubts before, this proves that Jay is the best young tenor in gospel music. "Reunion In Heaven" features David Hill and Jay on the first and second verses and choruses respectively. Tim is featured on the verses while David leads the chorus of "On the Sunny Banks." On another song from the "Sold Out" video, Jay gives a magnificent performance on "Over In the Gloryland." Jay really ends the project on a high note, figuratively and literally.
Having Fun is one of the best Gold City recordings released in quite some time. Lord Do It Again has already been reduced to a two for one package at concerts, while Having Fun should be selling out for years to come. If the newest recording Preparing the Way earns a 9 out of 10 rating, Having Fun earns at least an 8 out of 10.