Carolina Boys - Ready, CD Review

Dec

2003

Carolina Boys - Ready

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Artist: The Carolina Boys
Label: Horizon Records
Producer: Danny Crawford
Website: [url=http://www.carolinaboys.com]http://www.carolinaboys.com[/url] and [url=http://www.crossroadsmusic.com]http://www.crossroadsmusic.com[/url]
Song Titles: “Strong Hand Of Love,” “More Than Enough,” “I’m Ready To Go,” “He’s The Anchor Of My Soul,” “If You Died Tonight,” “You Gotta Go And Tell,” “I’m Going There,” “Things Looked Different From The Cross,” “I Call On Jesus,” “Standing By The River,” and “Land Of The Free”

Three former members of the Kingsmen are still traveling with the Carolina Boys and a fourth has now rejoined them for Ready, their latest CD on Horizon Records. Ray Reese sings bass and owns the group, his son Brandon Reese plays drums, Jason Selph plays bass and sings lead, and Tim Surrett returns to sing baritone. You’ll also hear the voice of Randy Crawford who left the group just before this project was released, even though his picture isn’t on the cover. Rounding out the group is Derrick Boyd on tenor and Nick Succi on keys. (Actually, you don’t hear Succi, Reese, or Selph playing any of the instruments on the recording, but you’ll hear them if you go to a concert.)

Jason Selph kicks off the recording singing “Strong Hand Of Love,” a new uptempo tune written by Phil Cross. The recording ends with a patriotic song written by Cross called “The Land Of The Free” that features Tim Surrett. In between we find eight other new songs. There’s also one old classic, “Standing By The River,” that features a piano-only accompaniment on the first verse and some melody work by Ray Reese on the second verse. Of the new tunes, the standout upbeat numbers are “I’m Ready To Go” and “I’m Going There.” Boyd hits some high pitches on the second verse of “I’m Ready To Go” while Crawford really cuts through on “I’m Going There.” The key inspirational tune on Ready is “Things Looked Different From The Cross,” a look at Christ’s perspective from Calvary.

While none of these songs immediately grabbed me like “God Sits On High” and “Resurrection Morning” did on Good News, Ready is still is a good project from the Carolina Boys. The songs are well written, the music tracks are adequate, and the vocal performances are reasonably impressive. Fans of traditional male quartet music should want to add this recording to their collection.

Reader Comments

I haven't heard the album yet. Somewhat surprised to hear they used all studio musicians. The Kingsmen/Carolina Boys bands always maintained a tradition of being original. Nic is certainly a quality quartet pianist. I guess it's a sign of the true changing of the guard from Kingsmen to Carolina Boys. Sing on Boys!!

Commented by On 01/21/2004

well Ivory.....it's been a very long time since The Kingsmen/Carolina boys have used their own band in the studio. just look at their CD inserts from the past. hardly any group that has a live band uses them in the studio anymore. why?.....i have no idea. but still....the CBQ, are my friends, and they will always be my favorite. LOVE YA GUYS!

Commented by Shayne Mathena On 01/21/2004

It's the whole "Union" thing. If you're not a member of the Music Guild, none of the other studio musicians will even think about playing on your project.

Commented by Bryan Glenn On 01/22/2004

There is somewhat of a monopoly on studio recordings by studio musicians. In many cases, studio musicians can get the job done more accurately with fewer takes, saving money on the recording process. Still, I think it would be nice to hear some contributions from the group's musicians, at least a few token fills by the piano player or something.

For example, when Jeff Stice played a little jazz interlude on the last project he did with the Kingdom Heirs, I could tell it was Stice the moment I heard it. I knew it went beyond what a studio musician would have done, because it stood out in the mix and demanded my attention, and it sounded like Stice.

I think by and large, studio musicians provide a great service in getting the basic tracks down. I'd just like to see a little more involvement by group musicians so each project would have a more unique sound. Anyone who says touring musicians can't maintain the necessary accuracy to be part of the recording process needs to listen to Gold City's _Walk The Talk_. Doug Riley and Channing Eleton are very much responsible for how that recording sounds, not only playing their instruments, but doing the arrangements as well.

Commented by On 01/23/2004

Right on David. I can't figure out why a group's musicians usually don't play ANY on a gospel music studio album!

Commented by On 01/23/2004

i agree......i would much rather hear gorup musicians over studio musicians. it allows them more freedom to jam alittle bit. studio bands sound way too canned alot of times. especially studio drummers....unless they're John Hammond, Shannnon Forrest, or Steve Brewster. now those guys can really play.

Commented by Shayne Mathena On 01/23/2004

Ditto David. I know it's been said before but there's a lot of musicians out there that can fill the gap when it comes to their instrument. And whenever I see a project from a group with a jammin' band, it still surprises me to see that studio musicians were used. I agree that they should be allowed to have some input on a project, even if it's a couple of bars or lines.

On the flip side, what happens when a piano player or group musicians tries to duplicate the exact arrangement done by the project musicians and can't? To me it equally takes away from the overall impact just as much as them not being used in the first place. I guess that question should have been asked in one of the forums but I have always wondered that.

Commented by Bryan Glenn On 01/23/2004

I expect a concert musician to get out there and push things a little bit . . . a little more over the top than you'd hear on the recording in most cases, with not necessarily as much precision. I don't expect them to duplicate what the studio musicians did note for note . . . if they capture a compatible spirit in their fills or if they take it in a different direction completely, either is fine with me.

Commented by On 01/24/2004

i just feel that more albums should be recorded with more of a "LIVE" feeling to them. usually when i go to a concert and hear an awesome song, then i buy the CD....i'm always somewhat disappointed; because it was recorded with that same punch that i just heard at the concert. i think group musicians should be more involved, and more groups need to add more "LIVE" type endings to their songs. kind of like how The Carolina Boys put a "LIVE" type ending on track 7, of this latest album. we need more songs, more arrangements, and yes...more endings like that. the way you end a song can be what can make or brake a song sometimes. we need more powerful, punchy, "LIVE" type endings. especially on alot of the more upbeat songs. and id like to see more involvement from more group musicians.

Commented by Shayne Mathena On 01/24/2004

Would groups save money if they used their own musicians?? I agree with the Live issue to. That is why I Like the CBQ/Kingsmen. IMO there is no other group that is as good live. IMO many groups sound the same live as they do in the studio recording...once again IMO.

Commented by On 01/27/2004

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