Label – Daywind
This first recording since the major group change was a big question mark in my mind, because I really liked the last combination of singers. My mind was quickly set at ease as listening to this group of young guys is sheer joy.
“On Damascus Road” has a real message in it for today, as we all are facing troubles and trials. Bill Shivers does a fantastic job on the feature. This would be a nice radio release. “Greater Still” has a message of comfort to all of us for where our sin may be great His grace is always greater still.
Another radio release that would be great is “I Don’t Mind My Journey”, featuring Brian Free. The track has a really nice rhythm to it and will settle the nerves of any rush hour driver. New Baritone Derrick Self shines on a beautiful ballad called “As If The Cross Was Not Enough” You can get blessed listening to this song. New Bass singer Keith Plott, has a young George Younce sound on “God Has A Plan”. This young man has a great future in SGM.
These guys do a tremendous job on “southernizing” the Babbie Mason song “Jesus, The One And Only”. This one will give you those “glory bumps”. “I Feel A Change In The Wind” is just a good ole quartet song that is fun to listen to. My foot was tapping before the end of the first verse.
I know that Brian has recorded this song several times, but until another song with this strong of a message comes out, I say good for Assurance by continuing with the heart-wrenching song about abortion “Only God Knows.”
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 09/01/2003
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 29
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Sounds like a great project. Thanks for the great review & endorsement, Deon. I can hardly wait to get my copy.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
I received a pre release of this project a few weeks ago and was blown away by the great sound. Bill Shivers has got to be one of the finest lead singers I've ever heard, in fact the man could sing tenor if he wanted to. Also dont forget the producer Wayne Haun, he just keeps turning out great music, the man is awesome. I recommend this project to anyone who loves great quartet singing.
I just got my prelease copy and liked it very much. I'd heard them once since the personnel change, and the thing about this recording that stuck out to me was to bass part. Doing material that was arranged for the present group gave Kieth a chance to shine without trying to sing parts that Bill Lawrence had done...as was the case when I saw them live.
I agree with your comparison to George's sound.
With the turnover, and with Brian front and center on the cover, I figured this would be a project where he did the bulk of the lead work....not so! This is a balanced release with everyone getting a chance to shine. As usual for Brian & Assurance-both great performance and strong material.
I finally got my copy of GREATER STILL & love it. I had been concerned that with the change in producers there would be a change in style. If there was a change it was for the good.
The new guys sound great & Bill is really blossoming into a terrific lead singer. He compliments Brian very well. It was a project worth waiting for.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
I don't know if anyone else agrees or cares...but if I sang in a group, traveled the same miles, lifted the same equipment , and got less pay....I would want to be seen on the cover! I know Brian is the draw and "star" however if you want to have a "quartet" maybe you should not bwe 11 times larger on the cover! ( *note* the 11 times larger is a guess....not meant to be taken literal. I did not do an actual measurment! JOKE) Hving said that, I like... BRIAN FREE & assurance.... very much
I agree with Mark very much. On past covers...I think it's called Mary Knew. Antway, it had that song on it, Brian has brouhg thimself to the front of the cover. If you look at some of JD Sumners photos, he is right with the quartet. Even though it was JD Sumner and the Stamps. I'm not here to critisize Brian because I LOVE his work. Just trying to make a point. I also don't think that this should be made a big deal. Remember, we are all brothers in Christ. We all need to get along. SO PLEASE don't make this all about the CD.
I would like to correct myself on the album cover. It is Timeless Hymnes and Classics.
I picked up the album last weekend. I think its a fine album. For those that have been clamoring to hear more of Bill Shivers(like me), this is a step in that direction as Bill gets quite a few solos on this one.
Greater Still is my favorite song on the cd.
The larger Brian is probably due to the high turnover in most SGM groups. Tony Gore also used this technique...at least one of his albums only had Tony on the cover. Each group suffers some when a member leaves and has to be replaced. He is probably protecting himself as well as marketing himself. Not many will recognize the names or faces of Bill, Derek, Keith, or Ricky. But, that may change with a little longevity.
I somewhat agree with James. Although, if the group totally relied on God, they wouldn't worry about how famous this person is and if they'll recognize this person. So there are two sides that are in it. I'm going to now end this conversation on my part. this is not what it is all about. The songs are great, and I like the new bass vocalist. Derek is awesome baritone. I used to see him all the time with the Dixie Melody Boys. Which I believe is the most solid quartet in SGM!
I think they are marketing the group visually to coincide with how the group is perceived by fans and by how they present themselves in concert. If you've ever seen them, it's very much BRIAN FREE and assurance. I'm not criticizing that . . . he's obviously very successful using this technique.
As for the J D Sumner comparison . . . he didn't have the problem of turnover in group members, so it wasn't a big deal how he was pictured on the cover. Yes, he was the star, but since chances were always strong that the two Eds would still be with him on the next project there was no need for him to be larger on the cover.
"if the group totally relied on God, they wouldn't..." I'm astonished. They travel all over the country (except to Utah) incurring massive expenses for a love offering that includes more one dollar bills than 5's, 10's, or 20's. They sacrifice time with family and friends, seldom at their home church, for a job that will not get them rich. Maybe it was God that selected the cover. Every member of the group woke up one morning and knew that this was the cover that was to be used. If I'm a record executive and I have a group that has possibly the most beautiful tenor voice that has ever been heard by the ears of man and he is the namesake of the group, I'm going to make him front and center, whether he thinks I should or not. It was asinine to even bring this up. What BFA do simply can't be done without total reliance upon God. There are artists who I'm sure have motives that are other than the glory of God. If you have ever met, talked to, or have seen Brian Free and Assurance in concert, listened to their testimony and you are saved then you have felt the presence of God in their ministry. Everytime I hear Brian sing in person I feel the blessings of God. This CD is a gift and a blessing from God to people that are starving for the Word with an insatiable desire to worship. A starving man does not send back food because he does not like the package it is prepared in or the plate it is served upon.
Now for my review. There is alway one song on each BFA CD that I center on when I first get the CD. On 4 God So Loved it was "I Just Want to Please the Lord." On Timeless... it was "Oh What a Savior." Every single album has one. I will listen to that song until my wife is threatening to shoot me, then another song catches my attention, then another until I'm captivated by the entire collection. On this CD "Crown of Thorns" drew my attention and my tears first, then "As If The Cross Was Not Enough." I am again being woven throughout this collection as if God created it for me. I will admit to missing the previous combination of singers, but at the same time I miss Gold City with Brian and Ivan. The new quartet has the harmony and blending that we have come to expect and has existed since BFA was formed. This CD is destined to become part of my "must have" list.
"incurring massive expenses for a love offering that includes more one dollar bills than 5's, 10's, or 20's" I don't personally know about every group in the industry, but I can tell you my dad and I had to get out of the S.G. promotion business because the groups have gotten so expensive to book. Most would'nt even consider coming for a love offering, if a love offering is taken its usually by choice of the promoter but the group is getting their money regardless. We never promoted for any other reason but to uplift Christ, but when you book one group, book a venue and advertise and your in the hole $5000, well lets just say its getting a little crazy. As far as Brians new cover goes it personally doesnt bother me, the CD is fantastic and is worth every penny.
**edited by Moderator**
Thank you, BFA Fan for your comments. Brian is completely sold out for the Lord & for anyone to suggest anything else is ridiculous. I purposely stayed away from commenting because I did not want to appear condemning of anyone. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. However, this is a group fully committed to serving the Lord with their considerable talents. Brian takes his ministry very seriously & while he does make a nice living out of it (yes, he does get a flat fee not just love offerings) he is far from rich & never will be. That's not why he sings SGM & is on the road 250 days a year. He sings to 'preach' the gospel & minister to the saved & unsaved. Praise the Lord for men like Brian Free. If he had his way his name would not be on the group anymore & he wouldn't be 'front & center' so much but that's what people want so that's what they get. I'd better get off my soapbox now before I say more than I should.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
With group changes being so common in Southern Gospel (but that's another subject!) putting a familiar face at the forefront of the cover is not a bad marketing idea.
I agree there is nothing wrong with the cover! If any of they guys have a problem with the cover they can also work their fingers to the bone for years and start their own group and name is after themselves and put whatever picture that they choose on any of the product!! Plain and simple! I love this group and it is not because of vanity that Brian would put himself on the cover larger...... it is because HE HAS EARNED IT!!!!!
Great vocals and the song selection was very good. Nobody can sing tenor like Brian and that new bass is awesome. Overall, the project was really good although greatly over produced. Looking for mor southern gospel from Brina and the boys.
Just recieved this CD from my father who got it for me at NQC! What a variety of songs. I read an article from Brian once and called the music he sang as "gospel". While not a full "southern" gospel CD all of the songs are of the quality I'd expect from Brian if he sits in the front or the back of the group.
:offtopic: WE NEED TO FOCOUS ON THE CD NOW. NOT THE PICTURE ON IT. WHAT DOES THE REVIEW TELL YOU? DO YOU LIKE THE CD? TA;L ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT AND LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE BEHIND!
:thumbsup: I agree with Marc.
By the way, that was a thumbs up Marc. it doesn't show it for some reason.
First I would like to say that this cd is I think one of the best he"s put out since the change in 2 singers. for being in front on cd whats the issue heremits the way he planned it nobody really pays that much attention to pictures its whats inside the cd that counts with listeners and this is a quality cd a 10 plus, great material and annointed one that will bless people, Ive got to know brian f. these last five years he is a class act and all ministry from head to toe. Keep up the great work, look forward to seeing you soon.
:thumbsup: Have to agree with Mr. Crews. I saw him shortly before he changed to a quartet (long time ago) and was nothing but impressed! He sang at a local church for a love offering and to help a with radio station promo. Class act then and a class act now.
Check out the remarks about cover photos in the Recording Tips column at: http://sogospelnews.com/recording/recording_more.php?id=P1398_0_19_0
I wouldn't criticize a discussion of the cover photo at all. As that article says, the cover photo is the first thing people see. If I picked up this project when browsing in Wal-mart, and I'd never heard of BF&A before, I'd probably think it was a solo singer with several musicians in his backup band. When someone reviews a CD, every element of that CD . . . songwriting, vocal ability, production quality, graphic design, marketing technique, etc. is worthy of comment.
David, I have to agree with you!
I finally got me this CD and I am extremely impressed. I am a renewed fan of BFA. This recording sounds more like a concentrated group effort...not Brian and the backup quartet.
I was impressed with the song selection and the arrangements. I must say, Bill Shivers shines bright on this recording. Some of his best singing to date.
Keep this formula going Brian...you got a real winner here. One of the best releases for 2003!
I would have given it 4 1/2 stars, maybe even 5.
I got my copy of this CD as a gift from Brian Free! My uncle works with different singing groups (creating websites and such) and he told Brian that I am a huge fan of his. So Brian sent an extra copy of the CD just for me! I love it!
In my personal opinion I really don't think that the way a group presents the cover of a new cd is important. The only thing that really matters is how they spread the word of God through their songs. With Brian Free and Assurance, I know for a fact (because I know Brian personally) that he is not trying to promote himself and make himself more "popular" by making himself appear larger on cd's. That's not who he is. The only thing that is important to him and Bill, Derrick, Keith, Ricky, and Scott, is not perfecting there image but making their message and job here on earth known to others. I have every cd assurance ever made and I can honestly say that they have done there job with each one.
I also wanted to say that if people were a real brian free and assurance fan they would not be interested in the way that the pictures are on the cover of the cd but it the way the music is and the way the songs are!
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