CD Reviews

Roy Knight Singers - Paramount

Producer: Jeff Collins
Label: Crossroads
Website: http://www.royknightsingers.org

One of my favorite songwriters in Southern Gospel Music is Sandy Knight; and though you don't hear much from her group (as far chart action, etc.), they are one of the most solid and consistent singers you'd ever be privileged to hear. Artists from all across the industry have recorded Sandy's tune including the Kingsmen, Dove Brothers Quartet, Inspirations, Gold City, Hoppers, Greenes, Brian Free & Assurance, Ivan Parker, Freemans, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Karen Peck & New River and a host of others. But it's when you couple Sandy's writing skills with the vocals of the Roy Knight Singers, you get something amazingly genuine and extraordinary.

With strong fiddle and guitar accents, the recording starts off with the country feel of "IN THE MIDDLE OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE" (which has already been cut by Ivan Parker) before moving on to the anthem "THE DECLARATION OF THE CHRIST".

The title song, "PARAMOUNT LOVE" is a soothing number that reminds us how great God's love is for us, while the uptempo tune, "KEEP TESTIFYING" is a call to the Christian to "be a testifying witness of the Word.rise with all of God's might and testify."

Inspired by a conversation Sandy had with the legendary preacher/songwriter Charles Wycuff just before he passed on, "I CAN FIND MY WAY HOME FROM HERE" plays off the familiar idea that if we can get to the cross, we can find our way Home. The bluegrass feel of the uptempo "GOD IS IN THE ROOM" plays in complete contrast with the following song, the progressive "LIVIN' WITH THE LIGHT ON", which is one of those great songs you'll be singing all day long.

Following the cute kid song, "GOD MAKES A LOT OF A LITTLE", the remainder of the recording alternates from slow tempo to upbeat for "LIFE IS NOT LIFE WITHOUT YOU", "ON THE GROUNDS OF GRACE", "SIN RED AS SCARLET" and "I DON'T KNOW MY WAY BACK TO EGYPT" (I kept waiting for them to break into "Living in Canaan Now", but it never happened).

I have long enjoyed the music of the Roy Knight Singers. They somehow manage to juggle a potpourri of musical flavors including Praise & Worship, Inspirational, Bluegrass, Country and Southern Gospel into their old fashioned Pentecostal, Campmeeting style. There is a good mix of slow, medium and uptempo tunes and makes for a great listening experience. The neat thing with recordings by the Roy Knight Singers is that it's fun to watch over the course of a couple of years to see what songs get picked up by major groups, because as stated at the beginning, just about everybody sings Sandy Knight tunes. In fact, just from their last recording alone, I find 8 out of the 10 songs have been recorded by another artist. So remember these song titles, you'll more than likely find them on another recording soon enough!

Song titles:
1 - In the Middle of my Everyday Life
2 - The Declaration of the Christ
3 - Paramount Love
4 - Keep Testifying
5 - I Can Find my Way Home from Here
6 - God is in the Room
7 - Livin' with the Light On
8 - God makes a lot of a Little
9 - Life is not Life Without You
10-On the Grounds of Grace
11-Sin Red as Scarlet
12-I Don't Know my Way Back to Egypt