Dave's Review

	Length: 37:06 Producers: Mark Trammell and Tim Parton Cuts: He Lifted My Burdens Away Mercy Rescues Me In Time, On Time, Every Time The Lamb Upon The Throne Longing For Beulah Land Gonna Take It And Leave It Isn't He Wonderful When He Touched Me Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah When He Knocked On The Door Of My Heart
	Length: 44:10 Producers: Roger Bennett and Bill Gaither Cuts: Trying To Get A Glimpse He Made A Change Healing That Day At Calvary Because Jesus Said It When They Call Me Home Saved, Saved * He Didn't Throw The Clay Away Heaven't Joy Awaits Where The Milk And Honey Flow I Want To See Jesus * Come Out Of The Wilderness

When two of the top tier quartets in Southern Gospel music release brand new recordings in the same month, contrasts and comparisons are in order. Gold City's most recent release is Within The Rock while The Cathedrals have just shipped Faithful. To eliminate your suspense, the "winner" of this comparison is The Cathedrals' Faithful. Offering 2 more tracks and pushing the musical envelope with greater intensity tips the scale in their favor. In theory, longer isn't always better. More is only better if the quality is equal to or greater than what is being compared, as is the case here. There's no reason for Gold City to apologize for a 37 minute project, though. Many groups give you less material than that on their full length, top dollar CDs.

Both of these recordings are paced in such a way that there is a variety of tempos and instrumentation. All the tunes on Within The Rock are medium to upbeat with the exceptions of "The Lamb Upon The Throne" and "When He Touched Me." Most accompaniments mix country elements and/or orchestral string arrangements. "Longing For Beulah" has a hint of Dixieland jazz with clarinet and horn lines that pop in and out. Gold City's majestic rendition of the classic hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" is interpersed with stirring horn fanfares.

Several accompaniments on Faithful mix big band style horns with country instrumentation ("He Made a Change" and "That Day At Calvary"). All the vocal arrangements are fresh and unpredictable. Producers Roger Bennett and Bill Gaither have managed to make the accompaniments up front and noticable without diminishing elements like lyrics or blend. The Gaither Vocal Band joins them for "Heaven's Joy Awaits," an arrangement of doubled parts in the "King's Gold" style. The recording closes with two tunes containing Black Gospel elements. "I Want To See Jesus" is in a slow 12/8 meter and "Come Out Of The Wilderness" features a call and response arrangement led by Glen Payne.

For the last 20 years Gold City and The Cathedrals have been the most decorated and highly acclaimed male quartets in the business. Both groups are as solid as ever. Neither group has experienced significant personel changes in recent years, the most recent for either group being in 1996 when Jonathan Wilburn became Gold City's lead vocalist. Although Within The Rock lacks the variety and punch of Gold City's last two releases (Preparing The Way and What a Great Lifestyle), it's still a top quartet recording that can only add to the quality of a Southern Gospel radio playlist or private library. Faithful may very well represent the best effort ever from the Haase, Payne, Fowler, Younce, and Bennett line up. It's a must buy for any Southern Gospel quartet afficiando.