The Kingsmen – "All Time Favorites"

Vestal Goodman – "A Lifetime of Favorites"

Label: New Haven Records

Website: www.newhavenrecords.com

Once again the folks at New Haven Records has released two new CDs, which are a "Greatest Hits" of sorts for the Kingsmen and Vestal Goodman. Like my review of the last two releases in this "Gospel Legacy Series" , I will be reviewing both releases in one review. Funny thing about "Best of" or "Greatest Hits" recordings is that they are always subjective. Most people can agree that there are certain songs MUST be included and then there are songs you think SHOULD be included, such as the case with these two CDs.

No doubt, one of the greatest quartets to ever grace a stage was the Kingsmen Quartet. This group churned out countless of great songs that will always be at the forefront of any "Greatest Hits" recording. Song like "SAINTS WILL RISE", "WISH YOU WERE HERE", "THE GLORY ROAD", "IS THAT THE OLD SHIP OF ZION", "EXCUSES", "THE APPLE TREE SONG" and "STAND UP" are the quintessence of songs that make up the Kingsmen's rich legacy. The remaining songs, "WHEN MAMA PRAYED", "LOVE WILL ROLL THE CLOUDS AWAY", "IT MADE NEWS IN HEAVEN" and "I'LL RISE UP FROM MY GRAVE" could very easily be switched out with songs like "Shake Hands with a Poor Boy", "Beautiful Home", "The Judgement", "Child, Child", "I've Made a Covenant", "Go and Tell Somebody" or "Look for me at Jesus' Feet." All in all though, I am pretty satisfied with the song list for the Kingsmen. My one big complaint was that though there are some vintage pictures of the group through the years, there are no pictures of what could arguably be the most popular version of the Kingsmen with Little Ernie Phillips.

Since the 1960's, Vestal Goodman has been at the forefront of gospel music. Through the years, many songs have found their identity with Vestal. This recording highlights many of those songs, and most of which come from her solo recordings along with a few family songs thrown in. Some songs I scratch my head at, but for the most part, I was pretty pleased with the song selection. A couple of these songs were included on the Happy Goodmans "Gospel Legacy Series" CD released last year, so for variety, a couple of alternate versions were included. Here is a basic rundown: "THAT SOUNDS LIKE HOME TO ME" (2000 version), "WAIT TILL YOU SEE MY BRAND NEW HOME", "GOD WALKS THE DARK HILLS" (1996 version), "I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY NOW" (solo version from 1996), "WHO AM I?", "IF GOD IS DEAD" and "IN THE SWEET BY AND BY" (all from Vestal's first solo recording "Hallelujah" from 1971), "I'M TOO NEAR HOME", "I HOLD A CLEAR TITLE" (1996 version), "MERCY", "GOD BLESS AMERICA" and "JESUS HOLD MY HAND" (from Vestal and Friends 2). There are a few I would have switched out to include such other songs as "Born to Serve the Lord", "Just Any Day Now", "What Heaven Means to Me", "I'm Nearer Home" and "What a Lovely Name" or even the song she recorded with Howard called, "With You."

These twp CDs are very good. It's so hard sometimes to pick just the right combination of songs for "Best of…" compilations. I am glad to see New Haven preserving the rich heritage of Southern Gospel Music and hope to see many more of these recordings released in the future. I personally would love to see New Haven release "Best of" CDs from the Florida Boys, Inspirations, Statesmen, Blackwood Brothers, Downings, Cathedrals and others.

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