Colors Oak Ridge Boys
by David Bruce Murray
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
--- David Bruce Murray
Label: Spring Hill Music Group
Producers: Michael Sykes and Duane Allen
Song Titles: "Colors," "The Absence Of Love," "The Home Stretch," "American Beauty," "This Is America," "An American Family," "Let It Ride," "Sincerely, I Remain," "G.I. Joe And Lillie," "Glory Bound," "Thank God For Kids," and "The Star Spangled Banner"
The Oak Ridge Boys are back with their third release on the Spring Hill label. Each release has had a specific theme. 2001's From The Heart saw the Boys returning to their gospel roots. Then in the fall of 2002, we were treated to a Christmas project called An Inconvenient Christmas. Now we can add a patriotic CD to our collections. Titled Colors, this new CD contains ten tunes that are either new or relatively unfamiliar, with two classics concluding the CD.
In addition to the CD, tenor Joe Bonsall is promoting a new book to go along with the biographical song "G.I. Joe And Lillie." It's tells the story of Bonsall's parents; his father, a G.I. who saw action in Normandy on D-Day and his mother, a WAC who met his father when she was taking care of wounded soldiers. The book has been endorsed by Barbara Bush and Tom Brokaw.
Lyrically, Colors goes above and beyond mere flag waving. One aspect that should make this project particularly appealing to Southern Gospel fans is that an image of the Christian faith is included in almost every song. . . white crosses on a soldier's grave, a lament about churches being empty, a Mama not afraid of dying because she knows Heaven comes next, a statement that simply says "We trust in God," a picture of Jesus on the wall, a charge not to sit around "waitin' for the path to Glory," and church bells. In "G.I. Joe And Lillie," Bonsall anticipates the day when his parents will be "safe in the arms of Jesus." Of course, "Thank God For Kids" is a remake of an Oaks classic that has gained greater meaning over time. William Lee Golden inserts the afterthought "for grandkids too" at the end, as he's been doing in concerts for years. "Glory Bound" is another number that's probably more gospel in nature than patriotic, but the nostalgic imagery is consistent with the rest of the CD. "The Star Spangled Banner" is not the slickest rendition you'll ever hear, but like the "Hallelujah Chorus" on their Christmas CD, it's a little out of the ordinary and interesting in that respect.
Speaking of nostalgia, the song "American Beauty" is simply dripping with it. Who can forget the '57 Chevy, Zebco fishing poles, Geronimo, the Enterprise or Earnhardt? Many songs could be and have been written about many of these items, but "American Beauty" collects them all together.
The Oaks have always mixed a degree of performance energy with interesting lyrics. Their sound is one that's built more around "power harmony" than blend, and this element seems to be increasing as the group members get older. Whatever they may lack in polish is more than redeemed by their passion and sincerity. Above that, they've developed a unique sound that's immediately identifiable when you hear them on the radio.