Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Daywind Records
Website: www.brianfreeandassurance.com
Song Titles: “The Foundation Medley,” “Why Not Make It Now,” “He's All That,” “Goodness And Mercy,” “Only By The Blood,” “We'll Say Goodbye,” “Knock No More,” “Healed,” “For God So Loved,” and “Long As I Got King Jesus”
James Hales (JH): David Murray and myself will be doing a joint review of this latest effort from one of Southern Gospel's most popular male quartets, Brian Free & Assurance. Recorded live at Christ Tabernacle in New York City , the recording is both exciting but yet somewhat ordinary for me. While there are several outstanding songs on this recording, there isn't a lot that really reaches out and grabs me and screams, “LISTEN TO ME!” I really wanted to love this new recording, as the group's last one, Greater Still, was the best recording I felt they had ever done and therefore, I had extremely high hopes for this one. But quite honestly, the recording lacks the luster I think it could have had. Don't get me wrong, it really is a great recording, but in my opinion, it just didn't live up to the hype maybe, that I had generated in my mind. With a long 4-minute acapella arrangement of hymns called “The Foundation Medley” starting things off , it takes a few minutes for the recording to really get off the ground for me. I just don't think it was smart to start the recording off the way they did. The group really shines though when they do get off the ground with the uptempo, “Why not Make it Now.” David, what are your thoughts?
David Bruce Murray (DBM): I actually thought the slow a cappella number was a good way to set the stage for the rest of the recording. It was a bit unusual that two rounds of group intros were included, though. The first time, Free quickly introduces each musician and singer. Three songs later, Free goes back and gives an extended intro for each performer along with some humorous comments. It's pretty entertaining until Bill Shivers introduces Free and trots out the tired old joke about them having a man who sings like a full grown woman. It went over well with the crowd in New York , though. I guess they'd never heard it before.
Musically speaking, this is a great CD that effectively captures the live element of the audience. The up-tempo numbers involved the audience and the tunes with the choir are especially nice.
JH: I noticed the double intro as well and I also thought it was kind of odd. I will agree with you though that the crowd really seems to be “into” the group, as it was a very exciting crowd, which is something you desperately need to have a successful live recording.
Now there are several bright spots on this recording for me. The songs, “Goodness and Mercy” and “Only By the Blood” are both very good songs, though they both run very similar, musically. “We'll Say Goodbye” is a very cool uptempo tune that I enjoy very much. I also love the re-make of Brian's former #1 song, “For God So Loved” with the Christ Tabernacle Choir and I have to say, that despite my utter distaste for “Long as I Got King Jesus,” I very much enjoy the group's rendition of the song, which also features the group with the Christ Tabernacle Choir. The group really kicks on “Long as I Got King Jesus”… got to give them kudos on that. As I said, despite my original feelings towards the song, I am quite impressed with their arrangement of this James Cleveland classic.
DBM: Well, you know what they say . . . there's no accounting for taste!
Seriously, though, it's easy to see why “Long As I Got King Jesus” is a favorite for fans. Not many Southern Gospel quartets would be able to switch into a black gospel choral mode so comfortably as Brian Free and Assurance. I agree regarding “For God So Loved.” That's a tune that has been in the Assurance notebook for several years now, but adding the choir gives it a fresh twist.
JH: Another song that at least bears mentioning, as a departure from the average is the song, “Knock No More” written by Patti Hawkins.
As far as the group sound, they sound great and are very polished. Brian Free and the gang have always boasted a polished, classy sound. So, I can't find any flaws in the vocal quality of the group or in the music tracks; the tracks are great. I guess the one thing that detracts things for me is that with the tracks done in the studio beforehand, the spontaneity of a “LIVE” recording tends to get lost with me. I felt the exact same way with the Perrys recording, Absolutely, Positively Live from back a few years ago. With a lot of things being done in the studio beforehand like this, it loses a lot of what makes a great live recording, great for me. I have always been a big fan of live recordings, which is why I was really looking forward to this one. But it just lacks that special “something” in it for me. The crowd was definitely into what the group was doing, but it's just missing something. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think I would love this album more if it were just a studio album. But, I suppose weighing in on everything and considering all things; I would have to give this recording 4 stars.
DBM: I'm going to go half a notch higher with 4 ½ stars. I believe this recording has just about everything you'd expect from a good live CD . . . great crowd participation, a nice level of interaction between the artist and the crowd, and a fairly energetic performance overall. They also have a Top 5 hit from this project, which is not common for a live recording. This CD should please current fans while attracting some who weren't previously fans.
Written by David Bruce Murray and James Hales
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 03/15/2005
| 
Category: ReviewsCD Reviews
Comments: 26
RSS Feed
| (What's an RSS feed?)
|
Ads Sponsored by Southern Spin
I've listened to this recording a few times, and I'm with James. I can't find anything on this project to get very excited about. James may be on to something when he mentioned using studio tracks instead of a live band, but I can't quite put my finger on whether that's it or not. They do a nice job on "Long as I Got King Jesus”, but it's not on my list of favorite songs, either.
Scot Eaves
I love everything the guys do so I think this is a great project. I love LONG AS I GOT KING JESUS, HEALED, KNOCK NO MORE, & the remake of FOR GOD SO LOVED. It's not as exciting as some live projects are, I will admit but the guys give it their all & that comes across.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
I have been reading these little comment pages for a while now and have seen the "star" ratting on most all of your reviews. Without a doubt Brian Free & Assurance is one of the top quartets in southern gospel. I was surprised to see such disappointment in the reviews posted. I have seen you all talk up and give "four stars" to groups that I would never buy or listen to. Even if you felt they were not at their best (which I feel they were) there is no way you can give them the same amount of stars as some of the other projects you have listed right now. Either the star ratting needs to be revised or someone needs to be honest about some of the groups that are not as good as Brian Free & Assurance.
Andrew,
4 1/2 stars is a good rating for this project. But as others have suggested 4 or even 3 1/2 stars is unreal when there are other projects listed right now, and on any given month, with the same or better rating. That's not to say the other artist are not good people or they don't have good songs, they are not in the same league. I have seen too many reviews where it seemed the person doing the review could write anything bad about the project when the fact is they couldn't stand toe to toe with some of southern gospels best. I'm not for project bashing, I don't think that will help anyone but I am for being honest even if some people don't like it. In my opinion there is no way you can give 4 stars to a group with lesser talent and four stars to one of Southern Gospels best. So either give the lesser group less stars or the better groups more stars.
I had a typo I meant to type:
I stated in my part of the review that the group and music were superb and that Brian Free & Assurance have always boasted a classy sound. My big gripe was that for being a live recording, it wasn't near as exciting as it could be. If this was a studio album, I probably would have given it a 4 1/2 or possibly even a 5 star, but it lacks the great excitement (for ME anyway) that a live album should contain. Granted, the crowd was into it, but for some reason (and really can't put my finger on it), it just didn't blow me away like I thought and had anticipated that it might.
I went into this fully expecting this recording to just absolutely blow me away, but it didn't.
Andrew,
I agree with Andrew on this one regarding the rating system. I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written, in my humble opinion.
I have to laugh at these people complaining about the rating system about a CD that got 4-4 1/2 stars out of a possible 5. That's hilarious. "I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written, in my humble opinion" sounds more like sour grapes to me.
Brian,
Keith,
Hi! I don't really listen to a lot of Southern Gospel, although I have heard some that I really like. I just heard "Long As I Got King Jesus" by Brian Free and Assurance; it was in the #1 position on a Southern Gospel Music countdown. I've become extremely familiar with Vicki Winans' version of this song, and Brian Free and Assurance really rock it, I think. I'm really tickled, so much so that I immediately began looking for it on the Internet, which is how I found you guys. I'm buying the album so I can play "Long As I Got King Jesus" for my sister. I think she'll get as big a kick out of it as I did. And for me to buy an album just for one song, the song would have to be really good! Four stars to them for effort and sheer sass!
Brian,
Er . . . I could have said that next to last sentence better. What I'm trying to say is there are often CDs that I really enjoy on a personal level, but when it comes time to rate the CD, I am honest about the project's flaws. I'm a big fan of everything the Kingdom Heirs record, for example, but it's still pretty obvious which is the more professional recording when you compare _Forever Changed_ to _Sing It Again_. In other words, I don't let my being a fan of the group get in the way of being honest about which of their products are better than others.
Although I have not heard the new live CD by Assurance, I recently heard them sing several of those songs in person. They have one of the tightest sounds I have ever heard and they were awesome. I enjoyed every song and Brian just gets better with age.
Bro. Murray,
Brian,
The thing about project reviews is that you are not only comparing the current album to other artist's projects, but you are also comparing it to their entire body of work.
Well, I wasn't going to comment on this CD, but since it's causing a stir, I will. I was disappointed in this CD. "Long As I Got King Jesus" is getting all the fuss, and I don't think it's the best song on the CD. I much prefer the Southern Harmony version. To me, BF&A just comes off too white. It's like four white guys trying to sing a black song. I LOVE Brian Free and Assurance, but this wasn't one of their best efforts. I declined reviewing it, because I it didn't strike me as their best work. I would have given it 3 1/2 stars.
Brian,
Bro. Murray,
Funny you guys mention the double intro. I believe it was Eddie Lientz(sp?) who use to write a column in the Singing News that was informative for singers. He gave tips and tricks for proper pronunciation and stage program/order/presentation much the way Marti Ledford does with this site. It was in one of his columns that I read his encouragement of a quick intro after the first song with a more detailed intro during the program.
I was more disappointed with it sounding more of a studio album than a live one. The songs are great...music is great...vocals are outstanding...but even with that...it still seemed to lack something with me. There are some really strong songs on here...but even though the crowd seemed to really be into the music, it just didn't come across as exciting and spontaneous as a live recording could be.
I have nothing against the group and as I stated in the review, felt their "Greater Still" recording was one of the best they'd ever done. This would have been a stellar studio album though. I guess I was hoping for more, and it just wasn't there for me. I really wanted to love this recording, but it just wasn't for me. If it was there for everyone else, then that's awesome! 
Brian, Bill, Derrick, Keith, Ricky, and Scott - once again you all have done a superb job; almost as good as being "live" with you in concert! Looking forward to seeing you here in MO once again soon...
The Bryants
I would have to disagree with some of the comments that were made. I dont want to sound predujice but Brian Free and Assurance are my favorite male quartet. I also love the kingsmen and gold city but Brian Free and Assurance are by far my favorite. I love the re-recorded version of For God so Loved! Its Really amazing to me. I also love the version of Long as I got King Jesus. Ive never heard the song before this and i love the way they along with the choir make it sound like a black gospel! They are some of my greatest friends and I will back them up no matter what. I love those guys and the new cd!!! But I have a feeling that there new Christmas cd will be even better!!
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
