CD Reviews

Calvary Calls- Our Heritage

Label- Regal Music Group
Produced by: Eddie Swann
Website: http://www.calvarycallsquartet.com

Calvary Calls’ new record starts off with a nice rendition of “Little is Much.” The high point of which is when the tenor soars at the end of the second verse. I immediately noticed the top quality piano playing and looked forward to hearing more of it on the album. Cut number two features the group’s bass singer and one of the founders of Calvary Calls, Paul Allman singing “The Blood will Never Lose It’s Power.” One of my favorites on the recording was “Everybody will be Happy over There.” The group showed a lot of vocal expression, and with all the different parts going it was quite a treat.

“It is No Secret,” one of my favorite hymns lyrically, was a great pick for this record. This song featured the bass singer once again. I didn’t really feel like the group’s sound came together until the end of the song, which was a little disappointing. “Child of the King” again begins with a bass feature and then the tenor takes over. For a slight moment I thought I heard Johnny Cook singing along with the quartet. This turned out to be the first of several other obvious musical and vocal influences on this record. The tenor has a great tone, though a little heavy on the vibrato at times. “I’ll Live in Glory” was done in what seemed to me to be a Goodman style arrangement, featuring the groups baritone Tom McAllister. Tom defiantly has some Jake Hess moments on this song as well as a few others which I enjoyed.

Other classics like “Sweet Beulah Land,” Bill Gaither’s “He Touched Me,” and “Whiter than Snow” are also on the project. The record ends with one more bass feature, “When I Thank Him.”

I felt the solos were less than impressive, however wiith a few adjustments to their vocal arrangements they could be a stronger quartet. The group sound is defiantly their strength, and I’d like to hear them really focus on that. This record is called Our Heritage and Calvary Calls absolutely got that point across. I felt the song selections were great. The project overall had a good flow to it. These guys look and sound like they are having a great time singing about Jesus and I encourage them to keep doing so.