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Label: Spring Hill
Producer: Wayne Haun and The Hoppers
Website: http://www.thehoppers.com

Generations is the Hoppers’ 2005 release on the Spring Hill label and it is an excellent project. The album started out to be an independent table project, but the folks at Spring Hill heard it and wanted to make it an official label release, therefore two versions of this project exist. According to the liner notes, the theme of Generations is to present songs that have inspired and impacted the Hoppers’ ministry over the last 48 years. Three new songs are included, and the group declares that the eleven songs on this album are representative of their past, present and future.

Connie Hopper’s “The King’s Highway” appropriately leads off the project. This uptempo song features Connie on the second verse and chorus before giving way to Kim on the last two choruses, with the obligitory key changes along the way.

“Think On The Good Things” by Bill & Gloria Gaither and Gary McSpadden is another toe-tapper that features Dean. As I listen to this song, I am reminded how underappreciated Dean is as a lead singer. Thinking not only of this song, but reflecting on the body of his work, I am convinced that Dean is probably one of the top 10 lead singers traveling today.

One of the three new songs is next up. Larry Petree contributes the ballad “I Wonder What They’re Thinking Now”, which asks the listener to consider what Jesus’ disciples are thinking now that they are in Heaven seeing countless millions giving glory to the same Man that they walked away from at Calvary. This is Kim’s feature ballad for the this project and she does her usual fantastic job. She sings with such power and soul without overly relying on the vocal hystrionics that seem to be so popular these days.

The next 3 songs are all classics that the Hoppers just flat out nail to the wall. “What A Lovely Name” is most associated with Sister Vestal & the Happy Goodman Family, but the Hoppers don’t have to take a back seat to them with this version. “He Wrote My Name” comes next and features both Connie and Dean. Nancy Harmon’s “I’ve Come Too Far” gets a laid back treatment with Connie singing solo on both verses and Kim taking the lead on the choruses.
Phil Cross contributes “Song Of A Soul” as the second new song which features Dean on lead throughout. Claude is featured next on “Suppertime”, a song most recently associated with George Younce.

The final new song is next. “When Heaven’s Joy Is Mine” was written by one of today’s great songwriters - Rebecca Peck. It is an easy listening, near-ballad that the features sweet harmonies.

The final two songs are both old-time, all-time favorites. “I’m Living In Canaan” is a get-up-and-go song again most associated with the Happy Goodman Family. The Hoppers turn in a great rendition that is more polished than the original without losing the excitement. The group gives the hymn “The Solid Rock” an a capela treatment with the entire family singing. Michael is given a bass solo on the beginning of the third verse. The absence of music lets you hear the amazing family harmony this group possesses.

Generations is different from other recent Hoppers releases. You won’t find a “Jerusalem”, “She Cries”, “I’m Saved” or “But For The Blood” type of big production song on this project. What you will find is fantastic family harmony, first class production, perfect instrumentation and songs that come from the heart. I can tell from listening to this project that the Hoppers put a lot of thought into choosing songs that have meant something to them over the course of their ministry and that they poured their heart into recording them. Initially, I was expecting something akin to their recent albums and kept waiting for the big song. I admit that when I didn’t hear it, I was a little disappointed at first, since no one performs those type of songs better than the Hoppers. But the more I listened to this project, the more I liked it. And given the theme I mentioned at the beginning, these songs fit this album perfectly.

Reader Comments

To me, this recording brings the Hoppers back to their roots and has a more earthy feel to it. It takes you back to the Hoppers sound during most of the 1990's, where they featured GREAT vocal performances, but relied less heavily on musical theatrics.

Awesome project...and am glad that Spring Hill decided to pick it up and carry it on it's own merit.

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