Gold City released their debut album FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN in
1981. They went on to become known for
such #1 songs as ‘I Think I’ll Read It Again’, ‘John Saw’, and ‘Midnight
Cry’. In 1989 they released GOIN’ HOME
(RiverSong). At the time, the group’s
roster was: Brian Free (tenor), Ivan Parker (lead), Mike LeFevre (baritone),
Tim Riley (bass), and Garry Jones (piano).
The album opens with ‘What a Glad Day’. It has a ragtime/big band feel to it with
good use of horns, and joyfully anticipates Heaven: “What a glad day when I
started my stay in Heaven/In that bright land with the angel band/I’ll be
singing redeemed/Then I will spend countless ages with Jesus, my Savior/In that
lovely land where often I dreamed”. Kirk
Halbert wrote ‘Forgetfulness Sea’, a nice Southern Gospel ballad that uses
strings. It encourages us not to be
trapped in regret, but to look forward in life: “You don’t have to look back to
the things in your past/There is a door of forgiveness we can walk through at
last/For Jesus died on the cross and created a sea/Where our sins and our
failures are buried eternally/Thank God for forgetfulness sea/Through His grace
I now stand here/Redeemed, whole, and free”.
‘Only one ship of Zion’ is a happy Southern Gospel toe-tapper:
“As the angels are singing, bringing down the golden mast/The Captain of
captains will put Zion to rest/When Jesus drops anchor there will be no
encore/There’s only one ship of Zion, only one Heaven’s shore/Near the
threshold of glory where the angels now dwell/The old ship of Zion’s lifting
anchor to sail/When that ship crosses Jordan, it’ll sail never more/There’s
only one ship of Zion/Only one Heaven’s shore”.
‘So Close to Home’ is a ballad that values spiritual intimacy: “Call me
foolish, call me strange/I just love to speak His Name/On bended knee, then
suddenly I am not alone/When I speak ‘Jesus’/I feel the glory from the
throne/And it makes me feel so close to home/I like to break the bread of
life/His words are such a welcomed sight”.
Luther G. Presley wrote 1937’s ‘Gettin’ Ready to Leave this
World’. It features Terry McMIllan on
harmonica and the talents of the Christ Church Choir here. Gold City took this peppy Southern Gospel
track right to #1. It reminds us this
earthly life is not all there is: “Laying up my treasure in that home
above/Trusting, fully trusting in the Savior’s love/Doing what I can for
Heaven’s Holy Dove/I’m gettin’ ready to leave this world/I’m gettin’ ready to
leave this world of sorrow/I’m gettin’ ready for the gates of pearl/Keeping my
record bright/Watching both day and night/I’m gettin’ ready to leave this
world”. Joe Fowler wrote ‘Look
Around’. Bass vocalist Tim Riley takes
the lead on it. It is another song about
life in Heaven: “Well, I can’t wait to see my Lord/Over on the other side/I
know that He’ll be standing there/With His arms stretched open wide/I’ll shout
up and down the streets of glory/When my feet touch the holy ground/All you
have to do to find me there is/Brother, look around”.
‘Love Went Deeper’ is an inspirational song that reflects on
one of God’s most powerful and defining characteristics: “Love went deeper than
the crown of thorns they placed upon His head/Love went deeper than the stripes
He bore/When the blood ran crimson red/Love went deeper than the hole they
dug/When they dropped that old cross in place/Love went deeper than the depths
of hell/Deep enough to take my place”.
‘That’s What I Am’ is the song of one confident of their true identity
as God’s child: “I have been adopted by the Kingdom most high/Have all the
things I’ll ever need in bountiful supply/And I’ll wear His finest garments/If
I take upon His Name/He’s changed my life completely and I’ll never be the
same/If I sound like a rich man, well, that’s what I am/If I speak with
authority, there’s a reason that I can/My Father has all power/He’s placed it
in my hands/If I seem like royalty/That’s what I am”.
‘Under Control’ is a calming ballad that places full trust
in God’s faithfulness: “The Bible speaks of famines and trials/In the last
days, how they’ll sweep through our land/But we have His assurance that through
all these trials/We’ll be led by His mighty hand/Manna from God will come down
from above/To restore and to nourish our souls/So, through all of your trials and
all of your fears/Remember, God has it under control”. Carroll McGruder wrote ‘I’m Going Home With
Jesus’. It ends the album on an upbeat
note both lyrically and musically: “I’m going home with Jesus in the twinkling
of an eye/I’ve made my reservation for a mansion in the sky/I may not know the
moment or I may not know the day/But I know that I’ll be leaving when He calls
His church away”.
GOIN’ HOME is good Southern Gospel fare that reminds
Christians what God has done for them both in this life and in the next. These ten songs should encourage those who
are doubting or who are going through hardships and having trouble seeing the
Light at the end of the tunnel.
Instruments played skillfully on this project, that also includes strong
vocals, are: piano, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, steel guitar,
fiddle, banjo, drums, and percussion.
I’m recommending GOIN’ HOME to fans of Liberty Quartet and The Torchmen
and giving it an 86% rating. For more
info visit: www.goldcityqt.com.