SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: CLOSER TO HOME: OVERHAULED- CAROLINA
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
CLOSER TO HOME: OVERHAULED
CAROLINA
LABEL: MANSION ENTERTAINMENT, BERRY HILL RECORDS
PRODUCER: CHRIS “DOC” ROBERTS, SCOTT WHITENER
RELEASE DATE: JULY 5, 2020, AVAILABLE NOW!
GROUP MEMBERS: SCOTT WHITENER (LEAD), CHRIS ROBERTS (TENOR), RILEY DOTSON (BARITONE), CHRIS PARKER (BASS)
SONG LIST:
CLOSER TO HOME (John Tirro & Tony Wood)
THE JOURNEY (Joe Bonsall)
DID I MAKE A DIFFERENCE (Rob Crosby & Bill Anderson)
OLD FAMILIAR LOVE (Roy Hurt & Tom Fisch)
HEAVEN’S A SMALL TOWN (Byron Hill & Billy Lawsom)
JONAH, JOB & MOSES (Tina Sillers & Bill Anderson)
SINCERELY I REMAIN (Troy Seals & Edie Setser)
A MANSION THERE FOR YOU (Shirley Hutchins)
UNTIL YOU GET THERE (Marty Dodson & Paul Overstreet)
GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN (Vince Gill)
THOUGHTS:
For over a decade, Carolina has been traveling the country delivering their special mix of country and gospel. Lead singer Scott Whitener, tenor Chris Roberts, baritone Riley Dotson, and bass singer Chris Parker have gained national recognition over the past year having performed with Jason Crabb, Chris Golden, and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound among others. This stellar quartet is reminiscent of legendary groups such as the Statler Brothers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Speaking of the Mighty Oaks, Carolina pays tribute to the beloved quartet with this project entitled: Closer To Home:Overhauled. The group previously released this album in 2011 (which featured baritone Roger Burnett and bass Lamar Levi). This exciting album features many classic Oak Ridge Boys tunes as well as Country Gospel standards.
The album opens with the uptempo “Closer To Home,” which tells of the heroes that keep our country safe. Riley Dotson takes the lead on “The Journey,” a mid-tempo tune written by Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joe Bonsall. This great lyric tells of the journey of a saint on his way through life and eventually on to Heaven. Scott Whitener takes the lead on the inspirational “Did I Make A Difference,” which reminds listeners to spread kindness everywhere you go. Bass singer Chris Parker shines on the classic “Old Familiar Love,” which tells the story of a long lasting and beautiful love. Whitener shines once again on the groovy “Heaven’s A Small Town,” which reminds us to cherish the good things in life. Perhaps the best cut on this record is Scott Whitener’s take on the classic “Jonah, Job, And Moses,” which is the first single from the album. Chris Parker and Scott Whitener share the lead on the mid-tempo “Sincerely I Remain,” a beautiful promise of faithfulness in a song. Tenor singer Chris Roberts shines on the groovy, up-tempo “A Mansion There For You,” which reminds us of the mansion that awaits us in Heaven. “Until You Get There” is a beautiful ballad that tells of a cherished life once again featuring the smooth lead vocal of Scott Whitener. This stellar album closes with a powerful rendition of the classic “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I HAD NOT LISTENED TO THIS GROUPS PRIOR TO THIS REVIEW. I MUST SAY THAT I AM QUITE IMPRESSED! CAROLINA’S CLASSIC COUNTRY FOUR PART HARMONY PAIRS PERFECTLY WITH THE SONGS OF THE LEGENDARY OAK RIDGE BOYS. TOP NOTCH VOCALS, PRODUCTION QUALITY, AND INCREDIBLE SONG SELECTION. HIGHLIGHTS: “CLOSE TO HOME,” “JONAH, JOB, AND MOSES,” AND “OLD FAMILIAR LOVE.”
4 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.carolinaquartet.com