Evidence – Freemans

OVERALL RATING:  8.5

CRITERIA:

1. Creativity/Originality = 8
2. Lyrical Content = 9
3. Production = 8.5
4. Song Selection = 8.5
5. My Recommendation = 8

 

Evidence is the newest recording from the Freemans.  Considering the groups last album, Eyes On The Prize, was released in 2007, it was good to see new material released by the Freemans.  The Freemans have been a mainstay in the Southern Gospel industry since they started back in 1983.  The group is a family band composed of Chris (Lead), Darrell (Baritone/Lead Guitar), Misty (Soprano/Acoustic Guitar), Joe (Tenor, Harmony Vocals/Piano) and Caylon (Drums).

Each member is given a chance to shine on this newest effort as each member has at least one featured vocal.  The Freemans have always had that country sound or I guess you could say that ‘Hinson touch’ to their music.  Their more recent efforts, including Evidence, has had a more mainstream country sound.  But make no mistake the lyrics found on Evidence is all Gospel.

The Freemans are one of those groups that get at least one big song every album.  You could go through their discography and pull out songs like “Always”, “Children Of The Dust”, “Going Back”, ‘He’d Have To Walk Through The Blood”, “Hello In Heaven” and more recently “He Chose Me” and “Three Rugged Crosses”.  The group has got another winner with the song that kicks off this recording, “The Father And The Son”.  This Dianne Wilkinson penned tune is a great selection for the first single and should easily find its way on to the top 10.

Next in line for strongest song on the album is another song featuring Chris titled “I Know My Way”.  Please, please, please release this as a single.  I can’t say enough good things about this song.  The concept used in the song is not a new one but I like the vocal turned in on this song.

Joe Freeman remained in the background of this family group for many years.  He stepped up and began singing with the group after his wife Diane left the group in the mid ’90s.  Joe’s harmony vocals add that touch that really compliments the groups current sound.  Another strong song on this recording features Joe.  “God That Never Changes” is one of his strongest vocal performances to date.

Darrell shines on “Just A Little Light” as Misty steps out on “One Step Farther”.  Caylon also is given his first featured vocal on “Sending Me Angels”.  This song has been previously recorded by country artist Kathy Mattea.  “I Can’t Even Walk”, “Land Of Beulah” and “I Call Him Everything” round out the recording.

This album is a must have for anyone that is already a fan of the Freemans music.  The sound found on Eyes On The Prize is cemented with the release of Evidence.  If you’ve never been introduced to the Freemans music, you would enjoy this recording if you’re a fan of gospel music infused with mainstream country melodies. 

SONG LIST:  1. “The Father And The Son”  2. “Just A Little Light”  3. “God That Never Changes”  4. “I Know My Way”  5. “One Step Farther”  6. “Sending Me Angels”  7. “I Can’t Even Walk”  8. “Land Of Beulah”  9. “I Call Him Everything”

Smack Down!! – “Little David”

I thought it was time to get back to our Smack Down feature.  This week’s Smack Down brings a song that has been recorded by several artists.  You will get three versions of the song.  The song featured this week is “Little David”.  Written by Sandy Knight, her family group the Roy Knight Singers took this song to the top five on the Singing News charts back in the late ’80s.  Although you won’t hear their version you will get three versions that I am sure you will enjoy.

The first cut is, from what I can tell, the original.  Recorded by Gold City on their 1984 recording Walk On.  The unique thing about this song is every version I have heard starts with the chorus.  Baritone Jerry Ritchie takes the lead on the first verse.  Nothing stellar about their arrangement.  Just straight ahead quartet singing.  Gold City will take the first chorus and verse.

I was glad to hear a quartet cover this song recently.  The Dove Brothers recorded the song on their 2009 recording Hold On.  They also start the song with the chorus.  Their arrangement is slightly varied from Gold City’s original version.  Bass singer David Hester takes the lead on the verses.  The Dove Brothers will treat us to the second chorus and verse.

Another group, outside Gold City and the Roy Knight Singers, that recorded this song in the 1980′s was the Freemans.  It was first recorded on their 1985 recording Everything New.  I remember the Freemans version more than any other for the number of times I heard them perform it in concert during this time period.  The Freemans would go on the re-record the song on their 1988 live recording, Have Arrived Live.  The Freemans will treat you to an encore of the song from this live recording.

Smack Down is back.  Who takes the prize this week?