Gold Harbor started off as an all-male quartet and released one recording prior to It's All Good. The group's owner - Jimmy Richards - took the group in a new direction with the addition of Noel Walters and Darlene Chapman earlier this year. Jimmy, before starting Gold Harbor, had a stint with the Mystery Men Quartet, and Darlene had been developing a strong solo career. Noel had been making his way through the Country market - performing on the Grand Ole Opry and sharing the stage with classic country artists like Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, the Gatlin Brothers, and many more.
It's All Good is an impressive progressive Southern Gospel recording for this incarnation of Gold Harbor. The album kicks off with the classic 80's Gospel sound of "I'll Never Forget" that has an infectious melody and wouldn't be out of characteristic for a group like Karen Peck & New River or The Nelons to record. "I Can See Clearly" (a cover of the Johnny Nash classic) features an amped 80's r&b soul sound. This is a very fun version of the song, and it is surely a concert favorite. (The group also updated the lyrics for a more Christian approach, and it works very well for the trio.)
"A Miracle For You" is much more traditional in it's approach that features a great vocal performance from Chapman. "A Few More Miles," the debut single, is much like "I'll Never Forget" - only it features an updated band sound with a classy horn arrangement. Noel sounds great on this number.
"Let Your Holy Rain Fall" is the centerpiece of the album and is the one that will surely have people coming back to this disc. Darlene's vocals are stellar on this cut, and it's church-music feel is sure to help them get in churches that wouldn't normally be interested in a Southern Gospel trio. The group's use of saxophone on "It's All Good" help to take the song to a new level - adding a fun flair to an otherwise typical Southern/Country sounding song.
"Don't Let Satan Steal Your Time" is a fun, quirky traditional Southern tune - though the stacks feel a bit uneven on this tune. The album closes with the George Beverly Shea classic - "I'd Rather Have Jesus" - and it features another stellar vocal performance from the trio.
Overall, It's All Good is an excellent introduction to this talented trio. Jimmy Richards was smart to put two fantastic vocalists around him to help elevate the sound of this group. He's got stars with Noel and Darlene - and they've picked just the right songs to highlight their vocals. This won't be the last time that we've heard from this group.
Author: Chris D. Unthank
| Author's Website: http://southernspin.com
Written: 10/02/2009
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 1
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