Apparently, I'm not the only missing a steady stream of live albums. Last week, my entry focused on the live album - something of an endagered species nowadays and my request for your thoughts has kept my e-mail in box full of comments. Let's see what some Danny's Diary readers had to say ...
You have expressed a very pertinent concern in my opinion. Some of my fondest memories from Southern Gospel music are from the excitement generated from the live albums of yesteryear. To this day, I still listen to the Kingsmen's "Live Naturally," the greatest live album ever, "Big and Live," and "Chattanooga Live." I also fondly remember the Singing Americans" "Live and Alive," as well as the Happy Goodmans' live projects. As you mentioned, the Cathedrals' "Live in Atlanta" is a classic, as well the more recent "Alive Deep in the Heart of Texas" from a few years ago. Live albums contain spontanaeity that the studio "magic" do not contain. My wife and I have both rently commented that a lot of the sountrack-laden concerts of today are so polished, it can almost become boring. I like to hear a group sound just a little different than their CDs. I am not against soundtracks or studio projects. However, we do not need to forsake the live album experience What a shame that so many groups have chosen to go that route.
Barry S.
I love the live albums! For the past couple of weeks about all I have listened to are live recordings - Kingsmen Georgia Live, KingsGold, Happy Goodmans Live, The Bishops Live, The Greenes Live at LBJ Colisuem on Winston-Salem, etc. I love the raw sound, the comments of the emcee between the songs and like you said, the live band was a huge contributor to their success.
Thom R.
I miss the live music. It was more exciting and when the service really got going, there was no pause for an encore -they just kept going and it kept getting better. New is not always better, maybe just more convenient.
Gene S.
Yes, I'd love some live albums. I've never been to a concert, because in New Zealand we don't have groups like over there, but I do have some of the CDs. None are from the 80s, but on the live band ones you can tell the difference.
We can't get a lot of SG music here, which I hope someone over there can do something about for me, but of the cds I have been able to get, the live ones are best. Those with soundtracks have that little something missing.
Judi A.
I would like to see the live albums/projects make a come back. The lastest live one I have purchased was Brian Free & Assurance, live in NYC. I have to use extreme caution when driving because of that pesky speed limit thing! I enjoy the studio recordings but there is something special about a live recording.
Laura T.
I totally agree with you. Most groups today are only doing studio projects with a thousand stacks...I miss the four strong voices and the live band with a bad note here and there - at least it was the real thing, I really hope the groups singing with tracks now really don't beleive their audience is really that dumb about all those pre-recorded voices. Let's get back to what makes it a live concert, live singing and playing. If I wanted to hear something else, I would just buy the CD.
Jimmy W.
Funny, some friends and I were just talking about this. I know were dating ourselves, BUT, how about "Chattanooga Live-Kingsmen;" "Live Naturally-Kingsmen;" the Kingsmen's live album recorded in Tuscaloosa; JD Sumner & the Stamps'"Live at Murray State University."
I'm sitting at my office looking at all of these albums, on vinyl, and thinking how all of these influenced our group "Blue Ridge." Live albums are probably what we like to do best. Gospel music is about the "song," or message. The live album captures the message and how the message is received by the individual. If I want REVIVAL, all I have to do is put on my Kingsmen album, you know, that real large black CD, onto the turntable, and listen to Hammill remind me that "LOVE LIFTED ME." Wow, I just got goosebumps - I'm ready to sing NOW, and we're not scheduled to sing for seven more hours. As Mr. Younce would say, "If that don't light your fire, your wood's wet."
Many times we, as recording artists, try to get all of the technical things right in the studio, and that is good. However, there is nothing like capturing the moment that Christ uses His music to get everything right in our lives - or more importantly, in the lives of the audience.
It just reminds me that Gospel Music is about the message, not the messenger.
Dwight V.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will always prefer live albums over studio albums anyday. The last great live album I have is Gold City's 20th Anniversary Live. I dare anyone to listen to "When He Calls, I'll Fly Away" including all encores, the big stinger ending from the band, the double high G (actually flips up to an A on the last encore) and the low bass slide to the double low G, and not just about have a fit. I've got numerous speeding tickets because of that live recording. IMO, The Kingsmen owned and wrote the book on live recordings. Would love to see it or another KingsGold recording.
Slade A.
A live album allows us to experience what the concert experience is like. For those who don't live in hotbeds of Southern Gospel, (I live in the Detroit area) the live album allows me to imagine what it would be like to hear a group live that I might not ever get to experience otherwise. "Live In Atlanta" captured the mood that George and the Cathedrals were always able to create. Being from northern Ohio, the Cathedrals came to Detroit several times each year and so I was always a big fan and saw them many times, "Live In Atlanta" was the first Southern Gospel I ever purchased. One of my favorite moments in the album is at the end of "Rivers Of Joy" when George rolls off the end (which he didn't usually do on a studio album).
One of my favorite concert memories was when they played Detroit on their farewell tour in February 1999. George had been sick and as you anticipated the concert you always wondered whether he would be there that particular night. We had no idea that Glen was getting sick. The auditorium was packed, there were no other groups on the bill, and the crowd was ready to go. They took the stage and opened with an upbeat convention style song. Of course, they were great from the first note and very tight. George stayed "up" throughout the first verse and then as they hit the end of that first chorus, George rolled it off with his signature pumping of the mic until he settled onto that low Ab, rattled the sub-woofers, and effectively gave notice that he was in the building, still in good voice, and ready to sing! The place came unglued! Maybe that explains why I treasure the end of "Rivers Of Joy" so much. Go back and listen to it in that context.
Also, their next live album, Travelin' Live, was very good in many respects: feeling, mood, and it produced hits ("Boundless Love").
I always liked it in their later years when they gathered around the piano without tracks. Leaving off the tracks (or singing acapella, for that matter) uncovered the true quality of their sound and voices. "Heavenly Parade" comes to mind as an acapella selection, or "The Plan Of Salvation" with just piano & bass.
Another excellent live album that comes to mind is Gold City Double Take Live. Obviously, the Gold City concert experience was different than the Cats, but Gold City was just hitting their stride with the Free/Parker/LeFevre/Riley super group.
Mike C.
I miss the Live Albums. I would like to see some re-releases of some of the classic live albums. For example, "Chattanooga Live." What an awesome album! How about "The Best of the Happy Goodmans Live" - again a true classic. I have both, by the way - a little scratchy - but still very enjoyable.
To me, Southern gospel quartet music is going through a transition period. With the legendary performers and groups having passed off the scene, there's a noticeable void - the Live album being a prime example.
What I see more than anything is the absence of GREAT emcees. You cannot have a GREAT live album without a GREAT emcee (like Hamill, Younce, and Sumner.) The music itself is as good as ever, but the magic comes from reading an audience and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Larry B.
I'll have more soon. In the meantime, be thinking about your favorite live album.
