Brian Free & Assurance – Live in New York City, ReviewsCD Review

Mar

2005

Brian Free & Assurance – Live in New York City

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Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Daywind Records
Website: www.brianfreeandassurance.com
Song Titles: “The Foundation Medley,” “Why Not Make It Now,” “He's All That,” “Goodness And Mercy,” “Only By The Blood,” “We'll Say Goodbye,” “Knock No More,” “Healed,” “For God So Loved,” and “Long As I Got King Jesus”

James Hales (JH): David Murray and myself will be doing a joint review of this latest effort from one of Southern Gospel's most popular male quartets, Brian Free & Assurance. Recorded live at Christ Tabernacle in New York City , the recording is both exciting but yet somewhat ordinary for me. While there are several outstanding songs on this recording, there isn't a lot that really reaches out and grabs me and screams, “LISTEN TO ME!” I really wanted to love this new recording, as the group's last one, Greater Still, was the best recording I felt they had ever done and therefore, I had extremely high hopes for this one. But quite honestly, the recording lacks the luster I think it could have had. Don't get me wrong, it really is a great recording, but in my opinion, it just didn't live up to the hype maybe, that I had generated in my mind. With a long 4-minute acapella arrangement of hymns called “The Foundation Medley” starting things off , it takes a few minutes for the recording to really get off the ground for me. I just don't think it was smart to start the recording off the way they did. The group really shines though when they do get off the ground with the uptempo, “Why not Make it Now.” David, what are your thoughts?

David Bruce Murray (DBM): I actually thought the slow a cappella number was a good way to set the stage for the rest of the recording. It was a bit unusual that two rounds of group intros were included, though. The first time, Free quickly introduces each musician and singer. Three songs later, Free goes back and gives an extended intro for each performer along with some humorous comments. It's pretty entertaining until Bill Shivers introduces Free and trots out the tired old joke about them having a man who sings like a full grown woman. It went over well with the crowd in New York , though. I guess they'd never heard it before.

Musically speaking, this is a great CD that effectively captures the live element of the audience. The up-tempo numbers involved the audience and the tunes with the choir are especially nice.

JH: I noticed the double intro as well and I also thought it was kind of odd. I will agree with you though that the crowd really seems to be “into” the group, as it was a very exciting crowd, which is something you desperately need to have a successful live recording.

Now there are several bright spots on this recording for me. The songs, “Goodness and Mercy” and “Only By the Blood” are both very good songs, though they both run very similar, musically. “We'll Say Goodbye” is a very cool uptempo tune that I enjoy very much. I also love the re-make of Brian's former #1 song, “For God So Loved” with the Christ Tabernacle Choir and I have to say, that despite my utter distaste for “Long as I Got King Jesus,” I very much enjoy the group's rendition of the song, which also features the group with the Christ Tabernacle Choir. The group really kicks on “Long as I Got King Jesus”… got to give them kudos on that. As I said, despite my original feelings towards the song, I am quite impressed with their arrangement of this James Cleveland classic.

DBM: Well, you know what they say . . . there's no accounting for taste!

Seriously, though, it's easy to see why “Long As I Got King Jesus” is a favorite for fans. Not many Southern Gospel quartets would be able to switch into a black gospel choral mode so comfortably as Brian Free and Assurance. I agree regarding “For God So Loved.” That's a tune that has been in the Assurance notebook for several years now, but adding the choir gives it a fresh twist.

JH: Another song that at least bears mentioning, as a departure from the average is the song, “Knock No More” written by Patti Hawkins.

As far as the group sound, they sound great and are very polished. Brian Free and the gang have always boasted a polished, classy sound. So, I can't find any flaws in the vocal quality of the group or in the music tracks; the tracks are great. I guess the one thing that detracts things for me is that with the tracks done in the studio beforehand, the spontaneity of a “LIVE” recording tends to get lost with me. I felt the exact same way with the Perrys recording, Absolutely, Positively Live from back a few years ago. With a lot of things being done in the studio beforehand like this, it loses a lot of what makes a great live recording, great for me. I have always been a big fan of live recordings, which is why I was really looking forward to this one. But it just lacks that special “something” in it for me. The crowd was definitely into what the group was doing, but it's just missing something. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think I would love this album more if it were just a studio album. But, I suppose weighing in on everything and considering all things; I would have to give this recording 4 stars.

DBM: I'm going to go half a notch higher with 4 ½ stars. I believe this recording has just about everything you'd expect from a good live CD . . . great crowd participation, a nice level of interaction between the artist and the crowd, and a fairly energetic performance overall. They also have a Top 5 hit from this project, which is not common for a live recording. This CD should please current fans while attracting some who weren't previously fans.

Written by David Bruce Murray and James Hales

Reader Comments

I've listened to this recording a few times, and I'm with James. I can't find anything on this project to get very excited about. James may be on to something when he mentioned using studio tracks instead of a live band, but I can't quite put my finger on whether that's it or not. They do a nice job on "Long as I Got King Jesus”, but it's not on my list of favorite songs, either.

Again, like James, I usually REALLY like live projects. I typically enjoy them more than those recorded in the studio, but after listening to this one three times over the course of a month I haven't really had the desire to reach for it again.

I would have probably given it 3-1/2 stars.

Good review, guys.

Scot Eaves

Commented by On 03/16/2005

I love everything the guys do so I think this is a great project. I love LONG AS I GOT KING JESUS, HEALED, KNOCK NO MORE, & the remake of FOR GOD SO LOVED. It's not as exciting as some live projects are, I will admit but the guys give it their all & that comes across.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good.

Elaine Harcourt

Commented by On 03/18/2005

I have been reading these little comment pages for a while now and have seen the "star" ratting on most all of your reviews. Without a doubt Brian Free & Assurance is one of the top quartets in southern gospel. I was surprised to see such disappointment in the reviews posted. I have seen you all talk up and give "four stars" to groups that I would never buy or listen to. Even if you felt they were not at their best (which I feel they were) there is no way you can give them the same amount of stars as some of the other projects you have listed right now. Either the star ratting needs to be revised or someone needs to be honest about some of the groups that are not as good as Brian Free & Assurance.

Commented by Andrew Ball On 03/22/2005

Andrew,
I'm having a difficult time understanding why you felt a 4 1/2 star rating was not enough. Please list some examples of some projects that I rated equal or higher that you felt were not as good as Brian Free's.

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 03/22/2005

4 1/2 stars is a good rating for this project. But as others have suggested 4 or even 3 1/2 stars is unreal when there are other projects listed right now, and on any given month, with the same or better rating. That's not to say the other artist are not good people or they don't have good songs, they are not in the same league. I have seen too many reviews where it seemed the person doing the review could write anything bad about the project when the fact is they couldn't stand toe to toe with some of southern gospels best. I'm not for project bashing, I don't think that will help anyone but I am for being honest even if some people don't like it. In my opinion there is no way you can give 4 stars to a group with lesser talent and four stars to one of Southern Gospels best. So either give the lesser group less stars or the better groups more stars.

Commented by Andrew Ball On 03/22/2005

I had a typo I meant to type:
I have seen too many reviews where it seemed the person doing the review "Couldn't" write anything bad about the project when the fact is they couldn't stand toe to toe with some of southern gospels best.

Not "could"

Sorry for the confusion

Commented by Andrew Ball On 03/22/2005

I stated in my part of the review that the group and music were superb and that Brian Free & Assurance have always boasted a classy sound. My big gripe was that for being a live recording, it wasn't near as exciting as it could be. If this was a studio album, I probably would have given it a 4 1/2 or possibly even a 5 star, but it lacks the great excitement (for ME anyway) that a live album should contain. Granted, the crowd was into it, but for some reason (and really can't put my finger on it), it just didn't blow me away like I thought and had anticipated that it might.

I went into this fully expecting this recording to just absolutely blow me away, but it didn't.

Commented by On 03/23/2005

Andrew,

I understand the point you're making, but I'll ask again if can you provide some examples? I've often been accused of being too harsh on projects, but never for being too kind.

Which reviewers at SGNews do what you're saying? One of us? All of us? If you think I'm rating inferior projects too high, I'd definitely like to know. We dish out criticism, so we can certainly take it! :o)

For reference: almost every review I've ever written is archived at: http://www.musicscribe.com/vault.html

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 03/23/2005

I agree with Andrew on this one regarding the rating system. I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written, in my humble opinion.

Fact is, the best thing to do is go out and purchase the CD yourself, or listen to sound clips on a group's website. You can get a pretty good feel for whether or not your money will be wasted on poorly produced material or if it's money well spent.

I personally think this CD and DVD are 100% top notch. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

For God So Loved, the remake... is worth the price of the CD in itself.

Commented by Brian Klinger On 03/27/2005

I have to laugh at these people complaining about the rating system about a CD that got 4-4 1/2 stars out of a possible 5. That's hilarious. "I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written, in my humble opinion" sounds more like sour grapes to me.

Commented by On 03/27/2005

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