One of the most anticipated releases of 2011 is Greater Vision’s first mainstream label release because of the return of the group’s original tenor vocalist, Chris Allman. 20+ years ago, Southern Gospel fans were introduced to an upcoming trio featuring 2 established artists, powerhouse vocalist, Gerald Wolfe and ‘Quartet-man’, Mark Trammell, along with newcomer, Chris Allman. Trammell was soon replaced by songwriter extraordinaire, Rodney Griffin in 1993 and then Allman left in 1995. Now Allman rejoins Wolfe and Griffin to bring us this new project from the Daywind label, The Only Way.
1. He Didn’t When He Could’ve Passed By (Rodney Griffin)
Adam: This song opens the project with a feel similar to their hit “Paid In Full Through Jesus, Amen”. To me the first song on a project sets the tone for the remainder of the tracks. Gerald Wolfe & Chris Allman alternate the lead vocals on this uptempo track telling us the story of how that Jesus could have passed by so many people that He performed miracles on. But instead of walking on past those in need, “He Didn’t When He Could’ve Passed By”. I can imagine that this will be a good Top 10 radio single, although probably not #1 material. This was an excellent kick-off to a really good project.
Brian: To me, the obvious comparison here is “He’d Still Been God”. I don’t think this is quite as good as that Greater Vision classic, but it is a good, energetic start to the CD. I like the concept and the well-executed lyric.
2. Safe Within His Hand (Chris Allman)
Brian: This is a typical Chris Allman composition, with a simple mid-tempo country style and a pleasing melody that lets the lyrics shine. It reminds me most of an Allman-written Greater Vision song from an earlier era in “Lay Them Down and Leave Them”, only a little slower. The trio sings the first verse and chorus together, and Chris takes the second verse after a modulation. As you might expect, that second verse is the highlight of the song. I like the placing of this song: right between a blazing tongue-twister and a highly contemplative lyric is this soothing and enjoyable number.
Adam: To me, songs like this are what come to mind when I think of Greater Vision. These mid-tempo, powerful songs are Greater Vision’s bread and butter and you’d be hard pressed to find another group of singers who can deliver a song like this.
3. No Longer Chained (Rodney Griffin)
Adam: Rodney Griffin leads this mid-tempo tune which I believe that he penned. Honestly, this track was one of the highlights of the project for me. Griffin often goes into story-telling mode with his songs taking visual journeys and expanding on biblical stories. Like “My Name Is Lazarus” where Griffin imagines those carrying the bed of the lame man as people whom Jesus had healed through the scriptures, “No Longer Chained” tells the story of soldiers being chained to the Apostle Paul. This song is just beautiful as we are told of how the soldier is just doing his job being chained to a prisoner (Paul) and how the soldier is released from both physical and spiritual chains. I imagine that this will be a popular song for Greater Vision.
Brian: This is just tremendous songwriting on the part of Rodney Griffin…an absolute lyrical delight. This song gets better every time I hear it.
4. I Know A Man Who Can (Jack Campbell/Jimmie Davis)
Brian: Two words: Chris Allman. It’s like he stepped out of a time machine from 1995. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard another tenor that sounded better at 42 than 25. We’ve all heard many versions of this song, but this is easily my favorite. The organ gives it a black gospel feel, and it does not drag like some versions. Chris blows away the second verse. Gerald and Rodney are there in the background somewhere in the chorus, but you probably won’t really notice. This got a standing ovation when I saw Greater Vision a while back, and will probably get one just about every time they sing it.
Adam: When I used to think of this song, my mind would go back to the classic version that Kirk Talley sang and recorded. Wow….does Allman deliver here. This is Southern Gospel at it’s best. This was the highlight of the project for me.
5. He’s The Only Way (Rodney Griffin/Chris Allman)
Adam: Although the message behind this song is great, being that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven, I just didn’t jive with this track at my first couple of listens. The trio sing the 1st verse and then Griffin and Allman split leading the next 2 verses. Most people will enjoy the uptempo beat to the song and country flavor of it. After about the 4th spin, this track really clicked with me and sometimes the simplicity of a lyric is what can make a song. Part of the 1st verse says that “many will try to pardon their souls by the deeds that they have done.” Isn’t this something that we can see on a daily basis, the world in general often rely on the ‘goodness’ of themselves, but if you are familiar at all with Romans 3, you know that no one is good or righteous, save through the blood of Christ. Don’t discard this song at first listen because of the fast pace; there is a strong message behind it.
Brian: This has been my favorite track on the project from the first listen. I love the message, and the tempo and style are right up my alley. This toe-tapper should be a concert favorite and could be a radio hit.
6. Like I Wish I’d Lived (Rodney Griffin)
Brian: If the previous song was a burner with a distinct doctrinal message, then this song is pretty much the opposite. It is a soft and poignant melody, with no big notes or fancy modulations. There’s no heavy theology here, but an honest reflection on the Christian life. The chorus serves as a prayer (“Lord, help me to live like I wish I’d lived in the past”), and Chris delivers the tender Griffin-penned lyric capably. We all sometimes deal with the regret of the way we have lived, before salvation, and often even after salvation. This song expresses that feeling perfectly. This also happens to be the first single from the new recording.
Adam: After hearing all of the other songs on this project, I was and am still surprised that this song was released to radio, especially first. Maybe I am different from most people, but if this was the first impression I got from the new project, I may not even buy the CD….or maybe my problem is that I heard this song thrown in with all of the other great tracks on the new project. I am just not a fan of SG easy-listening, but that’s just me.
7. But God (Rodney Griffin/Twila Labar)
Adam: Gerald Wolfe takes the lead on this ballad. Lari Goss provided the instrumentation on this song, but in a subtle fashion. Often we hear these orchestrations overdone, but the result on “But God” was a complementary track and overall smooth, polished feel. Roger Bennett introduces us to this Griffin tune on Legacy Five’s project, Live In Music City. L5’s version was a touch more upbeat, but their version can’t hold a light to what Greater Vision has given us here. Although it’s a song that’s much too long for radio (clocking in at almost 5 minutes and a half), this will be a great song in a concert setting. Aren’t you glad that in all of our situations, troubles and cares, that “God sees it so clearly from His throne” and we “have a Father who’s watching over” us, and when all others have forsaken us, “I need no other but God!” This was a great encouraging song and Wolfe’s interpretation of it is a treat to listen to.
Brian: Once again, (are you sensing a theme?) I love the lyric here. It is not exactly my cup of tea musically, but it is a strong, even if relatively subdued, performance by Wolfe. I agree with Adam that this song should be a great encouragement.
8.We Still Have To Pray (Rodney Griffin)
Brian: This is where I think Rodney Griffin is at his best as a songwriter. Along the sames lines as “No Longer Chained” above, he can take a Biblical passage, long or short, think about it in a way most of us never have, and put in a song we can apply to our lives. (I know he draws a lot of these ideas from sermons he hears.) In this case, it’s a single verse (Genesis 25:21) about how Isaac, the very son of promise, intreated the Lord over his barren wife, whom God then blessed with two sons, Jacob and Esau. The point is that though he was in a period of doubt, Isaac was not out of the will of God or in sin. Bringing it to our level, just because we are unsure about our path, or everything doesn’t seem to be going well, doesn’t mean we aren’t where God wants us, and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take time to pray and seek His direction. The chorus should strike a chord with any believer: “Even when we’re in God’s will we still must pray/Even while we hold His hand we still must wait/In time He will show the perfect way/Even when we’re in God’s will we still have to pray.” The music and Rodney’s singing in this one takes a back seat to the lyric, and that’s perfectly appropriate.
Adam: I completely agree, Brian. I don’t usually like slower paced songs, but the pace on this one lets you actually hear the lyrics and they are so powerful.
9. Eternity’s About To Begin (Chris Allman)
Adam: Give me a B-3 organ, Chris Allman belting out a soulful, spiritual number and I’m in musical paradise. Allman has been one of my favorite tenors since his debut with Greater Vision. He takes the lead vocals on the first verse and chorus before relinquishing those duties to Griffin for the remainder of the song. From then on, it’s solid Southern Gospel at it’s best. Rodney Griffin really shines vocally on this album as well, and I attribute that to the fact with Allman back, the group can key songs higher than with previous tenors and this allows Griffin to explore his range more. Maybe I am wrong, but I think this is one of Griffin’s strongest albums and this song is evidence to that.
Brian: This is a really infectious tune and another delightful dip into the black gospel style. I love the arrangement, starting with rubato chorus from Allman, and then getting things moving in the verses. Lots of fun.
10. Heaven Can’t Be Far Away (Steve Hurst)
Brian: The arrangement here is exactly the same as the last Greater Vision recording of this song on 1993’s The King Came Down. I’ve always loved Gerald Wolfe’s rendition from then, and he performs it very well again 18 years later. Perhaps because of the nearly two decades between recordings, I do think this version lacks just a little bit of the punch of the first one, but it is still an outstanding performance from the “little giant”. If you’re looking for a few big power notes from Wolfe, this is the only place on this project that you’ll find them.
Adam: I loved this song when they released it on their much earlier project and I still love it. This is a powerful track, not my favorite, but still good.
11. Another Child’s Coming Home (Chris Allman)
Adam: This song gives us a look at the prodigal son’s father. This is a mellow ballad led by Chris Allman and the lyrics contained within are simply beautiful. We get a glimpse in the 1st verse of the prodigal’s father making preparations for his son’s impending return to his household. The real meat of this song is found in the 2nd verse and on. We can hear a conversation between the father and son after the son has returned home. Without giving too much away from this song, let me just say that to me this is one of the most powerful songs I’ve heard from Greater Vision. This was a fitting finale to a fine project.
Brian: Lyrically, this song really goes places I’ve never heard before on the prodigal son story. This is another song that is not my cup of tea musically, but the message is powerful.
SUMMARY:
Adam: Chris Allman’s return to Greater Vision is undoubtedly the best lineup change to benefit a SG group in recent history. This project is evidence of that. The Only Way is the first mainstream release since Allman’s return and it is a treat. Rodney Griffin really shines vocally on this album, in part to what I attribute to more freedom because of Allman’s higher range than GV’s previous tenors. Gerald Wolfe, as always, delivers strong vocals; he isn’t called the “little giant” for no reason. There are several tracks on this new project that are simply awesome. However, a few tracks are so intense and deep, that they can only be taken in small doses. I find it odd that they singled “Like I Wished I Had Lived” first, but maybe I don’t really understand what ‘radio’ really wants. Greater Vision fans will be more than happy with the groups efforts on this project. It is the best project from them in recent years.
Brian: This is my favorite Greater Vision project since Quartets, from 2003. Chris Allman’s return to major-label recording was obviously the biggest reason for anticipation for this release, and he delivers in a big way, both with his vocals and his songwriting. Speaking of songwriting, Chris and Rodney Griffin really outdid themselves writing 9 of these 11 songs combined. I don’t remember listening to an album recently that was this impressive lyrically, from top to bottom. Musically, it definitely stretched the boundaries for the trio in a few spots. Most listeners will love that. For a staunch traditionalist like me, those songs were relative weak spots. I’ll admit that I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t a new power ballad for Gerald Wolfe, or an old-school convention song. That’s not to say the musical and vocal performances weren’t tremendous; it’s purely a style preference. Lyrically, I give the album 5+ stars. Musically I give it 4. Overall, I’ll meet in the middle.
Adam’s Final Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Brian’s Final Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Scheduled release date for this project is 7/5/11
CD will be available to purchase from www.GreaterVisionMusic.com and www.DaywindRecords.com
Review copy provided
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