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Producer: Johnny Minick/Aaron Minick
Label: Independent Release
Website: http://www.allisondurhamspeer.com

I will admit that while I have followed the music of Allison Durham-Speer from a distance, (I only own one other recording of hers, and it’s her self titled release that Phil Cross produced back about in 1989 for Homeland Music) I have enjoyed the music I do catch on rare occasion. Allison is a very commanding singer (any singer who can pull off “He’s Worthy” with absolute authority is what I call commanding!), and can be quite dramatic, but yet she still has a certain warmth and emotion to her voice that is easy on the ears and heart. Since that first recording, Allison’s voice has changed and evolved quite a bit; by comparison she sounds like a totally different singer. Either age, wear and tear on the vocals or simply just growing as a singer has given Allison a thicker, more robust voice (her voice was much thinner back then) and she seems to sing with much more feeling and emotion.

This unique recording is filled with classics, hits and favorites from the recent and distant past. Allison starts off with the Dad Speer classic, “THE DEAREST FRIEND I EVER HAD”. This song really was never written for a soloist, but Allison manages to pull it off pretty good, though going from falsetto to her true voice is somewhat distracting. Things quickly move to the Phil Cross penned hit, “NO SUCH THING” (and Allison does a great job here) and the Oak Ridge Boys classic from the early 70’s, “KING JESUS”.

Allison turns in a laid back, almost haunting rendition of the highly favored, “THIS OLE’ HOUSE” before turning in a magnificent performance on two great tunes blended together, “I’M BOUND FOR THAT CITY/HEAVEN WILL SURELY BE WORTH IT ALL”. Known for years as classic “Dad” Speer songs from the 1950s and 1960s, it’s great hearing new life breathed into these lyrical icons.

Almost 20 years ago, Joel Hemphill penned “HOLY GHOST REVIVAL”, and Allison breathed new life into the song before moving on to “LIFE’S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN”, which has a slight bluegrass tinge to it.

Allison turns in an excellent performance on the emotional “TEARS WILL NEVER STAIN” before she kicks it into high gear with the soulful “ONE DAY”, blended with “WE’LL SOON BE DONE WITH TROUBLES AND TRIALS”

The recording closes with three familiar tunes “LORD, FEED YOUR CHILDREN”, “SWEET BEULAH LAND” and “HAD IT NOT BEEN” (featuring a great arrangement with Johnny Minick playing piano and singing harmony).

Allison is such a remarkable talent and is one I think is grossly underrated. Allison managed to take songs that we have all heard at one time or other, and eloquently and respectfully breathed new life into these tunes. For the most part, I really enjoyed these arrangements and the production work is truly outstanding, all the way down to the cover work. I have found that I enjoy Allison most when she stays out of her falsetto voice. But truthfully, no matter what my opinion is of her talent, she is truly a remarkable talent and I am glad to hear her again. If you’ve not taken the time to listen to her in a while, it’s time to listen again.

Personal Favs: NO SUCH THING; KING JESUS; I’M BOUND FOR THAT CITY; TEARS WILL NEVER STAIN; LORD FEED YOUR CHILDREN; HAD IT NOT BEEN

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