SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: STILL- GREATER VISION
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
STILL
GREATER VISION
LABEL: DAYWIND RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 4, 2017
PRODUCER: GERALD WOLFE AND TREY IVEY
MEMBERS: CHRIS ALLMAN (TENOR) RODNEY GRIFFIN (LEAD), JON EPLEY (BARITONE), AND GERALD WOLFE (VOCALS, PIANIST)
SONG LIST /(Author):
There Is Hope (Chris Allman/Rodney Griffin)
Still (Rodney Griffin)
Rolled Back Stone (Lee Black/Dianne Wilkinson)
I Believe It All (Janice Crow)
God Doesn’t Care (Chris Allman)
His Grave Wrote The Song (Rodney Griffin)
Jesus Stood (Rodney Griffin)
Forgiven By The Lord (Chris Allman)
Common Garments (Rodney Griffin)
All The Above (Babbie Mason/Rodney Griffin)
Nothing To See (Rodney Griffin/Marcia Henry)
The Gospel (Chris Allman)
THOUGHTS:
Greater Vision is back with another exciting record entitled Still. This is the first album featuring new baritone vocalist Jon Epley, formerly of the Ball Brothers and The Inspirations. Epley joined the group earlier this year when Gerald Wolfe announced that he would scale back to piano due to vocal issues. With this addition, Rodney Griffin switched up to lead. The classic GV style did not suffer however, as evident on this fantastic CD featuring songs by some of the industry's finest as well as group members Chris Allman and Rodney Griffin.
Chris Allman is featured on the opening track "There Is Hope," which simply says that there is hope, love and forgiveness freely given to all who believe. This is one of many country flavored songs including "Rolled Back Stone," which is a classic GV style tune featuring Allman, "Common Garments," and "His Grave Wrote The Song." The latter features Jon Epley, whose smooth baritone adds a great new dynamic to the group while still maintaining that sound the listeners have come to expect. Chris Allman shines on the beautiful ballad "God Doesn't Care," which reminds us that Christ doesn't care about the sin you've done. No matter what you've done, He still loves you. Another solid feature for Allman is the fun, bouncy "Forgiven By The Lord," which simply says: If you believe and walk in faith, you too can say I've been forgiven. This brings overwhelming joy! "Still," a strong feature for Rodney Griffin, simply says: It may be old fashioned, but I still love to praise the Lord. Griffin is also featured on "Jesus Stood," another powerful ballad that looks toward Heaven and imagines what it will be like to meet Jesus. Gerald Wolfe is featured on a recitation on the track "The Gospel," which serves as his only appearance on the album.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
GREATER VISION REMAINS ONE OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL'S PREMIERE TRIO. THIS ALBUM CONTINUES A LONG TRADITION OF GREAT MUSIC, GREAT LYRICS, AND GREAT HARMONIES. JON EPLEY FITS IN WELL WITH THE GROUP AND HIS SMOOTH BARITONE ADDS A FRESH, YET FAMILIAR DYNAMIC. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY (I KNOW, I'M BEHIND), GO GET THIS CD! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.greatervisionmusic.com