SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEWS: CLUB44 RECORDS SPECIAL
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CLUB44 RECORDS SPECIAL REVIEW:
FEATURING : CHARLES BILLINGSLEY AND ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
In addition to Southern Gospel Music, I have always loved classic jazz, Broadway, and the American Songbook. Club44 Records was founded in 2019 to highlight these genres. Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun are a few of the musical geniuses behind the independent label. Charles Billingsley released his first project on this label, entitled The Shadow Of Your Smile, in May of this year.This project features fifteen jazz and Broadway standards. Fellow StowTown recording artists and beloved Southern Gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound also released a project on the label this year called Decades Of Love which features twenty-nine of the most popular love songs of the past one hundred years.
THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE
CHARLES BILLINGSLEY
RELEASE DATE: MAY 13, 2022
SONG LIST:
Perfect
It Had To Be You
A Foggy Day
Bring Him Home
If Ever I Would Leave You
The Very Thought Of You (feat. Taranda Greene)
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Time To Say Goodbye (feat. Adelaide Trombetta)
Since I Fell For You
Danny Boy (feat. Summer Davis)
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Beyond The Sea
Let There Be Peace On Earth
America, The Beautiful (feat. Voctave)
Smile
THOUGHTS:
Charles Billingsley has delivered, in my opinion,a beautiful, inspiring, and heartfelt album with The Shadow Of Your Smile. While not a Christian album, it is still inspiring and a fantastic showcase of God given talent. Billingsley’s smooth and soaring tenor shines on classics such as: “It Had To Be You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Bring Him Home” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” I must admit that this is my first time listening to Billingsley and I am thoroughly impressed. His vocal control and stylings are truly incredible. His duet with opera singer Adelaide Trombetta on the classic “Time To Say Goodbye” was simply brilliant.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
CHARLES BILLINGSLEY DELIVERS A BEAUTIFUL, HEARTWARMING ALBUM FEATURING CLASSIC AMERICAN STANDARDS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH,” “YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE,” “BRING HIM HOME,” AND “TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.”
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.charlesbillingsley.com
DECADES OF LOVE
ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 5, 2022
GROUP MEMBERS: ERNIE HAASE (TENOR), DUSTIN DOYLE (LEAD), DOUG ANDERSON (BARITONE), AND PAUL HARKEY (BASS)
SONG LIST:
L-O-V-E
It Had To Be You
Everybody Loves My Baby
The Very Thought Of You
Love Is Here To Stay
Isn’t It Romantic?
Taking A Chance On Love
I'll Be Seeing You
Blue Moon
Only You
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
Can't Help Falling In Love
Reminiscing
Shower The People You Love
(They Long to Be) Close to You
How Deep Is Your Love?
Were In This Love Together
You're The Inspiration
Even The Nights Are Better
Two Hearts
I Swear
Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
Everything
What Makes You Beautiful
I Won’t Give Up
All Of Me
I Will Always Love You
THOUGHTS:
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound continue to expand their creative boundaries with each new recording. This double album is one of the group's finest to date, Southern Gospel or otherwise. With Decades Of Love, EHSS takes listeners on a journey featuring some of the most popular love songs from the 1920s to the present. Lush arrangements, powerhouse vocals, classic songs, and intricate harmonies make this a truly special album.The quartet breathes new life into timeless classics by some of the greats including: the Bee Gees, the Beatles, Elvis, Michael Bublé, The Marcels, Jason Mraz and more. Ernie Haase’s signature tenor stylings shine on the Platters’ classic “Only You,” the powerful ballad “I Will Always Love You,” the Jason Mraz hit “I Won’t Give Up,” and the classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” among others. Dustin Doyle delivers stellar lead vocals on the Michael Bublé hit “Everything,” the groovy “Blue Moon”(made popular by The Marcels), the classic “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?,” and Little River Band’s “Reminiscing.” Doug Anderson is back in the baritone position bringing his smooth tones to hits such as “How Deep Is Your Love?,” “Two Hearts,” “Shower The People You Love,” “I Won’t Give Up, ”and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” Paul Hrkey’s smooth bass is featured on the groovy “Blue Moon,” the Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the Carpenters’ “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” and John Legend’s “All Of Me,” among others. Harkey’s vocal on “All Of Me” is, in my opinion, one of his best ever. His upper register is simply incredible. Also of note, the group’s cover of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” is fantastic. They really take what is a rather annoying song and elevate it.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
THIS ALBUM IS SIMPLY BRILLIANT! EHSS DELIVERS A FUN, HEARTWARMING JOURNEY THROUGH THE DECADES WITH SOME OF THE MOST BELOVED LOVE STANDARDS. ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS TO DATE. IT IS TRULY DIFFICULT TO PICK HIGHLIGHTS WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY INCREDIBLE TRACKS ON THIS ALBUM. “ALL OF ME,” “ONLY YOU,” “BLUE MOON,” “I WON’T GIVE UP,” AND “EVERYTHING” ARE SOME PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS.
ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR.
5 OUT OF STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.erniehaase.com
STAY TUNED FOR MORE REVIEWS HERE ON SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT!
-JUSTIN GILMORE