Somebody’s Coming – Gold City

OVERALL RATING:  8.19

CRITERIA:

1. Creativity/Originality = 8
2. Lyrical Content = 9
3. Production = 8.5
4. Song Selection = 7.5
5. My Recommendation = 7.95 (10 song average)

A lot will be said about the new Gold City album over the course of the next several weeks.  Somebody’s Coming landed at online retailers today via digital download and will be available regular retail outlets on 11/15/11.  This album is the first new release for Gold City since 2008′s Moment Of Truth.  Personnel snags have held back the release of this recording on several occasions and the final song list even changed from the original.

The vocal line up found on Somebody’s Coming is Dan Keeton (Tenor), Jerry Pelfrey (Lead), Daniel Riley (Baritone) and Tim Riley (Bass).  So, let’s get to the little nugget of truth everyone wants to know.  Was all the hype surrounding Somebody’s Coming and its final release worth it?

The huge power anthem “Lord Of Life” (Phillip Keveren/Tony Wood) was an instant stand out to this new recording.  Featuring new lead singer Jerry Pelfrey, his power and delivery on this song lands him as someone to watch.  He was an added vocal asset to Gold City.  If this particular line up has some time to gel, I believe Jerry will be ranked among Southern Gospel’s top lead vocalists.

Dan Keeton is not the power tenor that long time Gold City listeners are familiar with.  While missed on certain areas of Somebody’s Coming where that added power punch was needed, Dan turns in a nice smooth tenor feature on “Leave That Burden” (Jim Brady/Barry Weeks/Tony Wood).  This would make a great radio single and should become a favorite of listeners.

Slick production work is expected with a Gold City recording and that is found on Somebody’s Coming.  Musically, Somebody’s Coming picks up where Moment Of Truth left off.  As with Moment Of Truth, Somebody’s Coming has several ‘hard driving’ country melodies most notably on the title track and “Showers Of Blessings”.  The latter is a stand out track and should also be a radio single choice.

“Somebody’s Coming” has a really nice country track with a piano turn around that wasn’t long enough.  This song has already been recorded in the mainstream country music market.  This would make a really enjoyable live concert song.

Somebody’s Coming has some noticeable misses.  The lack of bass and tenor features was recognizable.  Tim gets a small feature on “I Get Down” (Jeff Pearles/Jerry Salley) and Dan on “Leave That Burden”.  Outside of that the listener is left with picking up the tenor and bass in the mix.  I was also surprised with the choice of first single; “Peter, James And John”.  Musically, it fits Gold City but the song is missing something.  ”Showers Of Blessings” would have made a better first single choice.

When something is hyped, the final result can be disappointing.  Somebody’s Coming falls into that category at times.  At other times, the recording really steps it up and shows the potential this new Gold City line up can create.  The second half of the recording is heads above the first half of the recording in terms of song selection and vocal delivery.  When all is said and done, Somebody’s Coming does whet the listener’s appetite for more of what this line-up is capable of musically.  It should fit into Gold City’s discography nicely.

SONG LIST:  1. “Peter, James And John”  2. “I Get Down”  3. “Footprints On The Water”  4. “It Won’t Be Long”  5. “Showers Of Blessings”  6. “Lord Of Life”  7. “Somebody’s Coming”  8. “Leave That Burden”  9. “I Have An Anchor”  10. “Never Too Broken To Belong”

Ten On Ten – Talleys

This week’s ten on ten feature highlights the recording career of the Talleys.  From their debut in 1983 as the Talleys through their modern era recordings under the Talley Trio; the attempt will be made to rank the group’s ten best recordings.  With the experience gained by each member of the Talleys prior to the group’s start, made them an instant hit with audiences.  Their progressive arrangements in the 1980′s were considered ground breaking and the Talleys were also one of the first artists in the Southern Gospel industry to incorporate tracks into their live performances.

The Talleys top ten recordings are:

1. United (1986)
2. Hope For Tomorrow (2002)
3. Love Will (1990)
4. The Message (2003)
5. Rise Above (2006)
6. Typical Day (1989)
7. For Every Generation (1988)
8. Testament (2000)
9. Work Of Heart (1985)
10. Wherever I Am (1984)

• The Talleys recording career started strong.  The group’s first four major label releases all made the top ten list and nearly all the albums released as the Talleys were also among the top ten.
• United from 1986 is the group’s landmark album, sitting a top the list as the group’s best recording.  Not only did this recording feature one of the group’s all time biggest songs “Triumphantly The Church Will Rise”, but also included strong cuts in “I Can Touch Him”, “Worship The Name Of The Lord”, “There’s Still Power In The Blood” and “Yes Lord Yes”.
• The landmark album from the modern era Talley Trio group is the 2002 recording Hope For Tomorrow.  The group landed three #1 songs from this recording including “The Healer”, “The Answer Is Christ” and “I Love The Lord”.
• The follow-up 2003 album The Message ranks #4 among the group’s ten best.  This period was probably the strongest of the group’s entire career.  This album also had major hits with “His Life For Mine” and “Jesus Saves”.
• Love Will from 1990 ranks #3 among the best recordings.  This recording contained the original cut of what is now a classic, “He Is Here”.  In terms of overall song selection, this may be the best in the Talleys discography.
• It is hard to dispute the caliber of songs that have come through the Talleys catalog.  Their biggest recordings contain songs such as “Thinking About Home”, “Sweeter As The Days Go By”, “Hallelujah Praise The Lamb”, “The Broken Ones” and “The Debt” to name a few.
• The Talleys have been able to create their unmistakable sound around very few individuals.  Roger, Debra, Kirk and Lauren have been the only members of this group over the course of the group’s career.  The group moves in a new direction now with the addition of Brian Alvey to the group.
• The forgotten gem in the group’s discography is their 1989 recording Typical Day.  For collectors, copies of this recording are still floating around online auction sites.
• From forgotten gem to the album that should be forgotten.  The group’s recent effort Stories And Songs doesn’t equal the prior successes of the group’s discography.  This could be one of the few album’s by the Talleys that doesn’t contain one stand out track; a song that will go down as a Talleys classic.
• With the group now taking a mixed group approach, it will be interesting to hear the music released by this new configuration and see how it ranks among what has already come from the Talleys.

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  KINGSMEN***