DVD Produced by: Bill Gaither & Barry Jennings
CD Produced by: Ernie Haase, Lari Goss & Michael English
Website: http://www.erniesigsound.com
From the first moment of this video you can feel the energy in the Paducah, KY theatre. Ernie Haase and his cohorts burst onto the stage with smiles as big as Texas and smoothly guide their mic stands from their resting place on the floor to an upright position perfect for singing, using not their hands, but their FEET! “Someday” is a great concert opener, showing off the guy’s tight vocals as well as the live horn section, “Revelation Horns.” Signature Sound has a reputation for having a great sound as well as an entertaining performance. In fact the performance part has gotten them some not so positive feedback at times. In secular music, people are after one thing, entertainment. In Christian music we often expect to be ministered to AND be entertained, or at least not bored. These guys are doing all they can to keep you entertained and choosing songs like, “It Is Done,” to minister to your heart as well.
I listened to the CD first, which includes most of the songs off the DVD as well as “Beyond the Blues” and a live version of “The Plan of Salvation.” Listening to the record, I would easily give them a 5 star rating. Producers Lari Goss and Michael English have their fingerprints all over this album. What a team! It is a delight to listen to. Signature Sound is a modern day quartet, and that doesn’t imply that they are anything but SG. They stay true to the traditional quartet styles and sounds but are obviously living in the year 2007. Without the added complication of visually seeing these guys perform, I doubt any bad word could be said about them.
Getting back to the video, the first half is very entertaining. I marvel at how the guys remember words, sing, BREATHE and hop around stage in choreographed motion as they do! I think the boys are just having fun! I’ve seen many a happy song sung as if it were a sad one. I’m glad to see some life being portrayed for the sake of the Gospel. My only criticism would be that when they’re jumping around, they seem to lose the connection with the audience that they have on the other tunes. They are interacting a lot with each other, which is fine, and they are looking and smiling at the audience. What I think some people may have a problem with is that they seem disconnected from the lyrics of the song in that moment. I don’t believe for one moment that the Signature Sound guys are insincere, but I see how some might take them that way, especially if you haven’t seen an entire concert. This video is a great way to get to know the group and see the stories behind what they sing.
There’s never a dull moment in Get Away, Jordan. Touching moments with Ernie, Bill Gaither and the guys add poignancy, a surprise appearance by the Gaither Vocal Band and newcomers the Ball Brothers are very enjoyable, and oodles of confetti being poured on the audience make you wish you had been there. A music video of the guys singing “John in the Jordan” was a little hokey, but it almost came across like that was intentional. Humorous banter between Ernie and piano man Roy Webb keep things moving along and stellar vocal performances from all make this a video worth owning. About mid way through, the GVB and Sig Sound join forces. Announcing their upcoming release of a special project they’ve just done together. I suppose this makes them an “octet?” This is when it gets really good! Moving performances by Signature Sound follow, and you have NO doubt these guys know what they’re singing about. It’s almost as if having the GVB guys out there caused them to raise their game a little. They seem to be a different group the second half of the video than the first.
A patriotic section including, “I Pledge my Allegiance, The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America,” is where the magic happens. “Fly Away,” my personal favorite, is a powerful vocal and visual display with it’s Titanic like instrumentation and sweeping camera shots. A sea of miniature lights being held high by fans, provide quite a moment. This one song is worth the price of the video. A beautiful piano solo and a soft version of “Softly and Tenderly,” bring everyone together in harmony. The guys leave us with one more burst of high energy in a reprise of the title song, “Get Away Jordan.” I would say they successfully delivered ministry AND entertainment. I left half a star up for grabs for the next video in which I hope to see them capture the same spirit of the last half of this one, for an entire NEW video.
Signature Sound song list
DVD
Someday
He’s My Guide
Our Debt’s Will be Paid
Lovest Thou Me (More Than These?)
Dem Bones
He Made a Change
Happy Birthday, Anniversary Too
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
It is Done
Pray for Me
Get Away, Jordan
Search Me Lord
Home
He Touched Me
John in the Jordan
I Pledge My Allegiance
The Star-Spangled Banner
God Bless America
What God Says
Until We Fly Away
Softly and Tenderly
Oh What a Savior
CD
Someday
He’s My Guide
Lovest Thou Me ( More Than These?)
John in the Jordan
He Made a Change
Until We Fly Away
Beyond the Blues
It Is Done
Our Debts Will Be Paid
Get Away, Jordan
Happy Birthday, Anniversary Too
I Pledge My Allegiance
The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh What A Savior
The Plan of Salvation (Live)
Get Away, Jordan (Live)
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 06/01/2007
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 15
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Hmmm...Did i miss it or why did you not give the CD/DVD combo 5 stars? You said you would easily give it 5 stars but then gave it 4.5 ?
I am confused - did i miss the explanation - hat is TOTALLY possible since it IS 1:30 AM and im STILL AWAKE!!! HAHA!
good review!
The last sentence explains why the half star was missing:
"I left half a star up for grabs for the next video in which I hope to see them capture the same spirit of the last half of this one, for an entire NEW video."
I watched the DVD first and liked it better than the CD, so I would have given the DVD 5 stars taken away a half star with the CD. I guess it just depends on what you hear or saw first. When Ernie stops after "Get Away Jordan" and makes it personal, I had to grab the Kleenex box. Great review.
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog
Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown
this thing STILL deserved 5 stars...imo - it's the best thing to hit the market in a while...
im really in shock that kp&nr; (while deserving) got 5 but ehss did not garner a 5...
I agree with the scores on both projects.
Not every album is a 5 star recording.
You also have to remember that a review is just one person's opinion. You're going to find some reviews you agree with and some you don't. That's just the way reviews are.
I know I will find some that I agree with and I don't, duh 
However - for production quality and talent and lyric content of the songs ALONE, this CD/DVD deserves 5 stars
I think that the CD/DVD is just awesome!
The entire night was energetic and heart stirring.
Top notch!!
I give it 5 stars!!
I love live concert DVDs & this one was no exception. Of course, EH&SSQ; make every concert an experience. I do wish I could have been there but this is almost the same! LOL
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
I have the cd. I have not seen the DVD yet. Would like to just to see GVB if nothing else. Overrall I liked the CD. Didn't think it was their best, but still good. However, I could do without the song Happy Birthday, I Pledge My Allegiance is not even in the same league as the GVB arrangement.
I would say 3 1/2 stars for me. Sorry just didn't think it was a Home Run.
Will have to agree with Andy in his 'review'. While it is a good CD, was not one of there better efforts. Maybe a little to slick for me. Does qualify for 3 1/2 stars
I liked this CD/DVD alot, the comment about the kleenex box when Ernie made it "personal" I just kinda laughed at,were you being sarcastic? To me what I saw from it and felt was it wasn't that personal it seemed fake to me to be honest. Not what he was saying, but how he said it. But yeah great CD & DVD, my fav. is He's My Guide. Great song Sonya Isaacs!
As a matter of fact, I was dead serious. When Ernie started talking seriously about death and how the song is fun but really has a message, my heart was blessed, and I was worshipping with tears in my eyes. I listen to a lot of CDs, more than most people do, (not you AJ)and there seems to be some Ernie bashers that aren't going to like it just because it's Ernie Haase. I saw and heard nothing that looked fake when Ernie was taking time to minister with this song. I said in a previous post that I thought the DVD was better than the studio mix on the CD.
Im my opinion this is a great DVD and CD and comments like giving it 3 1/2 stars are ridiculous.
If this DVD didn't minister to anyone else, it ministered to me.
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog
Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown
well I am glad it did minister to you, I am not trying to be an "Ernie basher", I am just stating my honest opinion infront of God and everybody about how I discerned that it was well rehearsed and it seemed as if it was an act, yes I do think he was trying to be personal, but when he started to sound like black preacher he lost me. Yes, I listen to alot of Cds myself, I make a hobbie out of it, I love this music, but I understand what Ernie was trying to imply. Glad it did something for you. Not bashing him, this was a great DVD and CD.
I was quite moved by the DVD. I love their energy and love of spreading His spirit and the Good News. There's hardly such a thing as a "perfect" group or album from anyone. I loved the DVD, I guess it was just what I was looking for. Now I have a hard time adjusting to others' styles. I really enjoy selected songs off the cd. I'm just already ready for another album........
Gaither is getting rich and making this group too showy! They were doing fine without him! The Cathedrals did not need Bill!
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