When Ontario, Canada’s The Kingsway Quartet released their
album GENERATIONS (2007), their members were Sharon and Terry Whitfield, and
Kelly and Mark McMillan. The album was
recorded at The Music Room in Kerwood, Ontario.
It was produced by Glen Teeple and Mark McLellan. In the CD booklet you will find the following
words among others: “We’d like to dedicate this recording to all of those who
have supported our music ministry since our formation in 1989. This CD includes a collection of songs, old
and new, representing our past, present and future. We pray it will be an encouragement to all
who listen to it”.
’Sing, Shout, Dance’ joyfully anticipates Heaven in an
upbeat Southern Gospel manner: “Some mornin’ when the darkness fades, we’ll all
be goin’ home/Together in the air we’ll meet and never more to roam/Oh what a
happy time t’will be when we gather on that day/The light of Christ will ever
shine and never pass away/We’re gonna sing, shout, dance in the morning
light/We’re gonna walk all over the land where there’s no night/The lion and
the lamb lay down when sun is shining bright”.
‘Precious Memories’ is a sentimental ballad written by J. B. F. Wright
in 1925: “Precious memories, how they linger/How they ever flood my soul/In the
stillness of the midnight/Precious, sacred scenes unfold/Precious father,
loving mother/Fly across the lonely years/And old home scenes of my
childhood/In fond memory appears”.
‘His Name Was John’ is a cheerful Southern Gospel song that
reflects on how John the Baptist fit into God’s plan: “And he was John, his
name was John/He baptized with the water till Jesus came along/Then the Holy
Ghost from Heaven descended like a dove/Like the prophecy was given/By John,
his name was John”. Paula Stefanovich
wrote ‘Jerusalem’ and The Hoppers popularized it. This beautiful anthem is over five minutes
long. It finds the group longing for
Heaven: “John saw the lion lay down by the lamb/I want to know everything about
that land/John saw the day, but he did not see night/The Lamb of God, well,
must be the light/He saw the saints worship the Great I AM/Crying worthy,
worthy is the Lamb/I want to go to that city he saw/New Jerusalem/Jerusalem/I
want to walk your streets that are golden/And I want to run where the angels
have trod/Jerusalem/I want to rest on the banks of your river/In that city,
city of God”.
‘Operator’ is a fun, but cheesy song all around: “Oh,
operator/Give me information/Information, give me Jesus on the line/Operator,
information, give me Jesus on the line/Operator, information/I’d like to speak
to a Friend of mine/Prayer is the number/Faith is the exchange/Heaven is the
city and Jesus is His Name/Now operator, information/Give me Jesus on the
line”. ‘Freedom Band’ penned by John Rowsey
and Daryl Williams, was the happy title track of a 2002 Gaither Homecoming
album. It begins with these words of
invitation: “Come along and join this journey with the freedom band/Sing the
song of Zion as we march to gloryland/Can’t you see the home lights
burning?/Every day my soul is yearning/Come and join us on this journey with
the freedom band”.
‘What a Beautiful Day’ is a lovely country gospel number
that looks forward with gladness to Christ’s return: “I can’t help but keep a
watch toward the Eastern sky/And I wonder if the trumpet will be the next sound
that I hear/What a beautiful day for the Lord to come again/What a beautiful
day for Him to take His children home/How I long to see His face and to touch
His nail-scarred hands/What a beautiful day for the Lord to come again”. ‘I Mean to Be There’ again reflects with glee
on Heaven: “When the names had been announced John looked and found to his
amazement a thunderous sound/Saints in purest garments clad/Singing worthy is
the Lamb/I mean to be there when my name’s called out from the Book of
Life/I’ll rise to shine/Oh glory to the Lamb/Redeemed I’ll stand/I mean to be
there when my name’s called out”.
The Imperials and Gold City are among those who have
recorded the inspirational ballad ‘It’s Still the Cross’. It reminds us what our focus should truly be
on: “It’s not conservative or liberal/However they’re defined/It’s not about
interpretation or the judgment of the mind/It’s the opposite of politics,
power, or prestige/It’s about a simple message and whether we believe/It’s still
the cross/It’s still the blood of Calvary that cleanses sin and sets the
captive free/It’s still the Name/The Name of Jesus that has power to save the
lost/It’s still the cross”. ‘Shouting on
the Hills’ is an all out, fast-paced, Southern Gospel song of celebration: ”There’ll
be shouting on the hills of glory/Shouting on the hills (2X)/When we reach that
land of which we heard the story/There’ll be shouting on the hills of
God/There’s a happy time a-comin’ when we reach our home in Heaven and the
burdens that we bore we’ll wear no more/When old Gabriel sounds his trumpet
calling us to those bright mansions/There’ll be shouting on the everlasting
shore”.
If I had to pick out one central theme on GENERATIONS, it
would quite obviously be Heaven. What
born again believer in Christ doesn’t eagerly look forward to that eternal home
where there is no pain, sorrow, or death?
It is where we will at long last meet our Heavenly Father and all our
questions will fade away. The Kingsway
Quartet deliver their vocals with skill on this mainly Southern Gospel
album. There are several songs here you
will want to listen to over and over.
They will help you forget your troubles and put you in a more content
frame of mind. I’m rating GENERATIONS
95%. For more info visit: www.kingswayquartet.com.
Kingsway Quartet released the album FEELS LIKE HOME in 2013. It was recorded at DePrice Is Right Recording in Fort Gratiot, MI and was
produced by David E. Price and Mark McLellan.
On this album the group’s roster was: Mark and Kelly McLellan, Sue
Hamilton (now married to James Tomen, formerly of The Nations Quartet), and
Charles Earl.
Starting things off is ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ which was written
by George Frideric Handel in 1741. The
version here has a dated praise and worship feel to it and includes these now
so familiar, majestic words: “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom
of our Lord/And of His Christ (2X)/And He shall reign forever and ever/King of
Kings/Hallelujah, hallelujah!/Forever, hallelujah!/And Lord of
Lords/Hallelujah, hallelujah!/Forever, hallelujah!” ‘Keep Coming Back to the Well’ is a cheerful
Southern Gospel song that reminds us where we should draw our strength from: “Jesus
made a well at Calvary/For healing, cleansing, and victory/How its joy
overflows, no tongue can tell/I thank God for the well/I keep coming back to
the well of grace/Great is its power, sweet is its taste/Whenever temptations
and trials I face/I keep coming back to the well”.
‘Tell me the Story’ is a sentimental easy listening tune:
“Tell me the story of Jesus/Write on my heart every word/Tell me the story most
precious/Sweetest that ever was heard/Tell of the cross where they nailed
Him/Writhing in anguish and pain/Tell of the grave where they laid Him/Oh tell
how He liveth again”. ‘Didn’t It Rain’
is a feet-stomping Southern Gospel track.
It recalls a well known Old Testament story: “Listen to me/You know God walked
down by the mighty sea/He beheld the evil of sinful man/Declared that He would
destroy the land/Well, He spoke to Noah, Noah stopped/He said ‘Lookey here
Noah, build me an ark/I want you to build it big and strong/Build it 300 cubits
long, 30 high, and 50 wide/I want it to stand my rain and tide”.
You may be familiar with Gold City’s version of ‘There Rose
A Lamb’. The song has a great,
victorious Easter theme: “He chose the place, He chose the hour/That He would
rise by His own power/A sacrifice three days ago/And now/Praise God the Lamb
arose!/There rose a lamb in Jerusalem/He was the Son of the Great I AM/He
proved to be my victory/There rose a Lamb in Jerusalem”. ‘Good News from the Graveyard’ features a
neat bass lead vocal. It is an Easter song
of celebration: “Good news from the graveyard/Good news from the tomb/What was
His final resting place is now an empty room/Hell is in an uproar/The devil’s
in despair/Good news from the graveyard/He’s not there!”
Karen Peck & New River’s ‘I Wanna Know How It Feels’ is
up next. This nice modern country ballad
finds the group longing for Heaven: “Sometimes I get weary from this life that
I live/It seems that peace is something I’ll never find/I try to lighten my
load when all that I’ve got to show/Is 700 things on my mind/Oh, well I’m
seeing visions of a crystal clear river/Where sin’s forgotten without a
trace/More than I’ve ever dreamed/My soul longs to see/The look of love on my
Savior’s face/I want to know how it feels to make my way down the streets of
gold/I want to know how it feels to have a talk with the saints of old/I want
to know what it’s like to rest my feet by the River of Life/I’ve heard of
Heaven and I know that it’s real/I want to know how it feels”. ‘Unseen Hand’ is all about God’s faithfulness
to us: “There is an unseen hand to me/That leads through ways I cannot
see/While travelling through this world below/This hand still leads me as I
go”.
‘Heaven in the House’ is an upbeat Southern Gospel
track. Pentecostals will appreciate
these lyrics: “Once there was 120 gathered in the upper room/They tarried for
the Holy Spirit/They knew He’d be coming soon/Finally the place was shakin’/No
one in the room stood still/When the count was finally taken/Everybody in the
house was filled”. Eddy Raven penned
‘Thank God For Kids’ in 1972. It is a
pretty, heart-tugging ballad: “If it weren’t for kids have you ever
thought/There wouldn’t be any Santa Claus/Or look what the stork just
brought/Thank God for kids/And we’d all live in a quiet house/Without Big Bird
or Mickey Mouse/And Kool-Aid on the couch/Thank God for kids/Thank God for
kids, there’s magic for a while/A special kind of sunshine in a smile/Do you
ever stop to think or wonder why/The nearest thing to Heaven is a child”.
FEELS LIKE HOME will appeal to fans of Southern Gospel
music, country music, and older praise and worship music. The themes are diverse and include our
relationship with Jesus Christ, the resurrection, and gratitude. Several of the songs are strong and well
performed, while others are of average quality.
The group’s voices go well together and there are some stand-out
solos. The cozy photos of the group
accompanying the CD were taken at Clovermead Bees and Honey in Aylmer,
Ontario. I’m rating FEELS LIKE HOME 86%. The Kingsway Quartet is now retired, but a
website remains at: www.kingswayquartet.com.