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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)

Reader Comments

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

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 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

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