Jul 29

CD REVIEW: Primitive Quartet – 35th Anniversary


The Primitive Quartet
35th Anniversary

The Primitive Quartet are a mainstay in SG/Bluegrass gospel culture.? Their latest project is a celebration of 35 years in gospel music.? The group has basically consisted of the same core quartet for over 30 years with brothers Reagan (Lead), Mike (Baritone)? & Larry Riddle (Bass) and Norman Wilson (Tenor).? Randy Fox and Jeff Tolbert both have served long terms with the groups, 20+ years and 8+ years respectively.? Consistency is one of the traits attributed to this quartet, both with their personnel and their music.? Having been nominated numerous times for Band of the Year in the Singing News awards, The Primitive Quartet have proven time and again that they are among the top instrumentalists in their field.?

The first track is a new cut of the old song “John Knew”, originally recorded on their Fallen Leaves album roughly 30 years ago.? The 2 cuts are so different in comparison that you can’t really put the 2 in the same category.? Lets just say that the Primitive Quartet has made great strides in their music quality in the past 35 years. The rest of the song list is:

  1. John Knew
  2. The Precious One
  3. Reaping From Fields I’ve Never Sown
  4. Didn’t He Shine
  5. Dear Jesus, I Love You
  6. Someday
  7. I Love To Walk With Jesus
  8. He’s Still Been A Good God To Me
  9. He Didn’t Stay Dead
  10. Grace Is There

Highlights from this project? include “Didn’t He Shine”, “Dear Jesus, I Love You” & “John Knew”.? Overall, this project is much stronger than the last few released by The Primitive Quartet.? This project is unique because Reagan Riddle only penned one of the tracks (“Didn’t He Shine”).? I did not say that to imply that this album is better because of that, but typically an album from this quartet includes mostly songs written by the lead singer.?

There’s nothing cutting edge about this project.? However, this project should please any fan of the Primitive Quartet because they stay true to form with their quality and sound, which is far and above most any other “mountain” music group on the road today.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jul 25

Tim Parton leaves Legacy Five

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2008
Nashville, TN

Tim Parton, pianist for Legacy Five, has announced his plans to leave the group to pursue other interests.

According to Tim… “I enjoyed filling in for Roger Bennett during his illness and was glad to stay on board after his death. I have had to try and balance other musical opportunities that have come my way and it is time for me to do one or the other. I cannot continue to do both the road work with Legacy Five and the additional musical endeavors that I enjoy. I want to say thank you to Scott Fowler, Scott Howard, Glenn Dustin, Frank Seamans and our bus driver Gary Buckner for being so understanding. And to all the Legacy Five friends out there, thank you for welcoming me and accepting me into the Legacy Five family. I will always remember you and appreciate you all for being so kind and gracious to me.”

Scott Fowler, manager of Legacy Five states, “Tim has been an incredible blessing to Legacy Five. He really helped us through a very rough transition and he did it with his typical humility and class. There isn’t an unkind bone in Tim’s body. He’s one of my favorite people and all the guys will miss him but we wish him all the best.”

Tim will remain with Legacy Five until a replacement is named.

Pianists wishing to inquire about auditioning for the position should contact Scott Fowler at scottfowler@legacyfive.com.

Website: www.legacyfive.com

Jul 16

ebay gem .::. 07/16/08

You’ll have to act quick for this one, but there’s no telling what you may find in this lot.

Jul 15

Bootleg CDs: A question from Brandon Coomer

Brandon at Coomer Cove asked a question that was really good.? I started to post a reply in his comments section, but my response was getting way too long, so I’ll do it here.

I too have noticed that many older SG projects on eBay are bootlegs.? They are typically advertised as reissues or some similar nomenclature, but in actuality, they are usually bootlegs.? I’ve contacted several sellers and some still insist that they are legit because they bought them from a “reputable” seller.?

A year or so ago, I actually tracked several projects to a distributing company, which shall remain nameless.? They claim they bought the rights to distribute these “copies” but I question their sincerity because they were more than happy to talk with me when they thought I was going to buy their product.? I got a cold shoulder really quick when I started questioning these CDs.?

In my local grocery store, there is a rack of gospel music for sale that has obviously been manufactured in someone’s basement or office.? Among these were several Hinsons projects, along with several other prominent SG groups.? There were/are perforations along the artwork edges, which is an obvious clue that these aren’t on the up and up.? I mean, come on….if you are going to steal these artists projects, do it with some class and at least get some decent paper for the artwork (or buy something better than a $50 inkjet printer for your counterfeiting company to print these with).? Or better yet, stop yer blame stealing before someone presses charges and has you locked up on piracy charges……idiots!

Jul 14

ebay gem .::. 07/14/08

Jun 27

CD REVIEW: Allison Lynn – Real Big Fan


ALLISON LYNN
Real Big Fan

Allison Lynn‘s debut project, Real Big Fan, is atypical for Southern Gospel.? This project has more of a New Orleans, dixieland jazz feel to it.? Because I played in a jazz band in high school, I wanted to listen to this project several times before posting my thoughts. I love jazz, so I wanted to keep an open mind about this new soloist.

This Canadian-born soprano puts a new spin on the Cathedrals’ hit “Movin’ Up To Gloryland”, completely changing the tempo and jazzing up the instrumentation.? What’s really cool is that it totally works for her.? Her voice fits this type of music.? Allison Lynn brings a unique voice to our genre.

Her first single, “Shepherd Of The Hills”, is a soft ballad that suits her voice well.? Although her voice can seem thin and somewhat nasal at times, it is still enjoyable and pleasing to the ear.? If I were to offer any advice, I would recommend adding a few songs that move.? It seems every song was mid-tempo at best, which tended to make the songs run together.? I would have liked to have heard at least one “barn-burner” from Allison Lynn.

My personal favorite tracks were “Wedding At Cana” & “Shepherd Of The Hills”.? Overall the album was enjoyable…not one that will make my most played list, but this was a solid debut effort.

Final Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

Jun 23

A Service With The Rowlands

I went to be in service with The Rowlands last night at Trinity Baptist in Asheville, NC.? This was a church service, so they were to sing 3 songs and let Bro. Ralph Sexton preach, but God decided to move through and bless using the group.

Ron Martin proved again last night why he is one of the best vocalists in Southern Gospel music today.? Not only does he have “power to burn” (if I may borrow a quote from George Younce), he also has amazing control to sound so soft and smooth.? Even though Ron is starting to get a few years on him, he can still hold his own when it comes to singing songs like their opening number, “Field Of Grace”.? This song was just outstanding!

Their tenor, JW, recently was hospitalized with salmonella, most likely from the tomatoe scare that’s hit the nation.? He was still weak last night, but did an excellent job on Kyla Rowland’s “Safe Thus Far”.? Kenneth, the baritone & pianist, sang “Will Grace Be Enough” after the story was told of how he had lost half of his right hand in an accident & had it reattached, enduring 13 major operations.? God really moved on these 2 songs.? They sang an additional song and Ron Martin gave the story behind a new song that you may be hearing soon. It was titled something like “You’ll Always Be My Son” or something similar.? Since it was a brand new song, I’m not 100% sure of the title, but I’m sure I’ll get to hear it again in a month when The Rowlands come to my house for a photo session and meeting about the artwork for their new project.? They will also be singing in a couple of churches in Spruce Pine, NC.

Check out The Rowland’s schedule to see if they are going to be anywhere close to you.? Go and see them if you can.

UPDATE:? Scott Robinson of Eighth Day has contacted me about the “new” song by The Rowlands.? It’s actually a previously released song entitled “Back To Me” and it was originally released to radio last year by Eighth Day.? It reached #26 on the October, 2007 Singing News Top 80.? The song was new to me…I don’t think I had heard it before.? Thanks for the update, Scott!