Producer: Gerald Wolfe & Mark Trammell
Record Label: Daywind Records
Website: www.daywindrecords.com
Second Half Quartet is a group that was put together during a tour with Greater Vision, The Mark Trammell Quartet, and Pat Barker. They took a couple group members from each group and sang together in the second half of the program, hence the name, Second Half Quartet. It obviously went over so well that they made a whole project, which turned out great.
This project starts off with, “Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler.” I like this old song. It’s a good, upbeat starter song, and everyone starts together. Second up is, “I’m Going Up When I Die.” This is a medium tempo, what I call, “head bobber” song. The group sings this whole song together. They have a very nice blend. I enjoyed how they did the tag line. Campmeeting style song, “Gonna Shout All Over Heaven” is next. This is a good showcase of the harmonies.
“Rivers Of Joy” slows things down with a little to more of a black spiritual sound. The tenor, Chris Allman did a good job with the ad libs on this tune. They follow that up with a slow ballad, “Remind Me Of Calvary.” Mark Trammell has the solo on this song. The blend on it is very smooth and laid back. Things pick back up with medium tempo song, “When I Move.” I call this a feel good song, because when you listen to it, it just makes you smile and feel good. “Wonderful Grace Of Jesus” is a medium tempo song done a cappella. I’m a stickler on a cappella tunes because you have to be right on it to get it right. You can tell these guys have it together. All of the s’s are together, and throughout the song, no one sticks out like a sore thumb. They did a wonderful job on this one.
Next is the upbeat song, “Standing On Holy Ground.” I found it neat how they were singing different lines throughout the entirety of the song. That takes focus and talent. “The Prodigal Son” goes back to the Cathedral days. This is one of my favorite older songs. I use to sing this song with my family as a child. It brought back good memories. The project ends up with the traditional “Going Home.” Chris does a beautiful job on the first verse, and Pat does excellent on the second verse. Personally, Pat Barker is one of my favorite bass singers. To me, he’s the closest sounding bass singer to George Younce that there is, and he (in my opinion) was the best bass singer that Southern Gospel music has ever had. This was a great way to end the CD.
If you like old songs and good, traditional quartet harmonies, you’ll love this CD. I give this project 5 stars. Very rarely do I give a 5 star rating, but these guys did a great job with this project.
Track Listing:
Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler
I’m Going Up (When I Die)
Gonna Shout All Over Heaven
Rivers Of Joy
Remind Me Of Calvary
When I Move
Wonderful Grace Of Jesus
I’m Standing On Holy Ground
The Prodigal Son
Going Home
