DVD's - Vol. 1 & 2
CD's - Vol. 1 &2
DVD's - 5 star
The best way to approach this review is to tackle the DVD's first and foremost (as they are really the emphasis of this production) and touch on the CD's as we go along. That being said....
The Gaither Vocal Band was started in 1981 (or 1980, depending on which record you listen to) as a way to work Bill's favorite music into a Gaither Trio concert. Since then, numerous singers (all of amazing talent) have joined and left the ranks of the GVB, each leaving their own mark. Some have gone on to become stars in their own right, while others have settled into life out of the spotlight, but as this video shows - they all deserved to be there!!
Unlike previous reunion concept videos that typically take place in front of a large live audience, Bill opted to go with a closed-set production, which means that the noticably-small audience consists mainly of current and previous GVB members, with a few "Homecoming Friends" added for good measure. I'll admit, I was disappointed when I heard this, as I feel that such an event would've easily produced one of the biggest audiences Gaither had seen in years (as evidenced by the project's chart activity).
In the end, though, I can see why Bill went with the smaller atmosphere. The DVD's themselves play more like a documentary, with an abundance of interviews and history mixed in with the music. This gives the project a unique feel compared to previous efforts; sure, you get to see all your favorite singers together again, but you also get to learn more about them as the show progresses.
As for the music, die hard fans will love hearing the different combinations of Vocal Band members, going back to the beginning. Sure, some of the voices are not quite what they used to be, but that's part of what gives this project it's special feel - they're not there to impress everybody; they're there to relive the magic of such a special group. Are all of the performances flawless? Not by a long shot, but they are still incredibly fun to watch.
Over the course of two DVD's, there are plenty of GVB favorites from years past. The song selection appropriately represents the various time periods and vocal talents from the GVB, giving each member a chance to shine. One of the highlights, though, is when Bill creates a combo of singers that had never previously sang together as a group (Lee Young, Marsh Hall, Buddy Mullins, and David Phelps) to sing the classic Gaither tune, "He Touched Me." Bill's excitement is evident as they nail the chord progressions virtually flawlessly.
Sadly, not all former GVB members were able to attend. Terry Franklin, who had been the Vocal Band's tenor singer from 1993-1994, and Jonathan Pierce, Franklin's successor until 1997, were not present for this collection, forcing Wes Hampton and David Phelps to take turns filling the gaps. Both do a great job in carrying the parts, but I would've loved to hear Terry Franklin's voice on "Home."
The only disappointment I have with this collection is the fact that the accompanying CD's are HEAVILY trunicated compared to the DVD's. Any encores are removed completely, and what you are left with is, essentially, a "preview" of the DVD. Some of the best material from this collection came from these encores, most notably Michael English's emotional performance of "I'm Free"; all of these are absent from the CD versions.
That minor complaint aside, this is the project that Gaither Vocal Band fans have been waiting for for years....and it is well worth the wait!!
Author: Kyle Boreing
| Author's Website: http://www.kyleboreing.com
Written: 03/03/2009
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 5
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These are by far the best 2 videos Bill has ever done! To see and hear all the members that were there was awesome!
We have enjoyed the Gaithers for years and have a lot of their recordings. Just wish they were a little cheaper.
I purchased Volume One at Walmart for 13.88.
I saw the infomercial last nite on GMC and really enjoyed what I saw so far..... I will be buying these DVDs
Well, I'm a big SGQ fan and have been for the last 3 years or so. I haven't always been GVB's biggest fan, but really do like quite a few of their songs. I recently purchased both of these albums in the last month and would say I really enjoy about 10 songs total on both albums. I kind of wish I had ituned them. I found I liked more of the songs while watching it on tv.
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