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This month we take
the opportunity to introduce you to
Rev. Stanley Amos & The Joyful Heirs.
Their most recent recording is Let Jesus Fix It. The group
is from Union, Mississippi. The group may not be known by many outside of
the state of Mississippi. So what’s so great about this CD and why choose it for
a review? While, the answer is quite simple, fans of gospel quartet music today
want substance in their songs. People want songs that minister to the serious
problems they are experiencing and this CD definitely ministers to you.
Before getting into the songs, let’s introduce the group. This is a group made
up primarily of family members that are all very talented. The group has
three (3) lead singers. The group members are Rev. Stanley Amos, Lorraine
Amos, Jerry Walker, Helen Amos, Natasha Amos-Temple. Rev. Amos, Lorraine Amos
and Jerry Walker are the lead singers. The musicians on this project, along with
Rev. Amos, are Kevin Temple, Antonio Rodgers, Kevin Amos, Terry Keys, and Ricky
Boler.
The CD Let Jesus Fit It is a mix of live and studio recordings.
The songs are all rooted in traditional quartet gospel music. The title
track, "Let Jesus Fix It," is presented in both live and studio
versions.
Several years ago the group released a project titled Stop Shucking &
Jiving. On that CD there were seven (7) songs. On the
project that is the subject of this review there are ten (10) tracks. However,
with the live and studio versions of "Let Jesus Fix It" being on
the project, you actually get only nine (9) songs. None of the songs on
the Let Jesus Fix It project were on the Stop Shucking &
Jiving CD.
The Let Jesus Fix It CD begins with a live version of "Father
I Stretch My Hand To Thee." What a great introductory song.
It will have you wondering (if this song is this good?) how does the rest of the
CD sound. The group’s arrangement of this traditional song, which by the
way have been recorded by many groups and individual singers, is awesome.
Listen carefully and you will hear what seems like a choir in the background.
The other ‘live’ recordings on the CD are "I Never Had It So Good"
and "Let Jesus Fit It." The ‘live’ version of "Let
Jesus Fix It" is over thirteen (13) minutes in length. While the
studio version is only a little over six (6) minutes long.
You will not find a hard hitting drive song on this CD. However, "I
Know The Lord" will have your rocking from side to side, clapping your
hand and tapping your toes.
We must call attention to “When The Gate Swing Open.” This song
showcases all the vocal talents of this group. This is a slow song and
unless you are truly a gifted singer could be difficult to sing with the
arrangement chosen by the group. However, the lead singer masterfully
handles the vocal range required for this song. This song may not get
airplay but you may find yourself playing it over and over. It definitely
has that ‘down home’ feel to it.
“I Will Trust In The Lord” is another great song on this CD.
This is another song that you will find yourself playing over and over.
The background harmony is very tight. This is another song that really
showcases the varied vocal and musical talents of the group.
The final song we will mention is the title track, “Let Jesus Fix It.”
The group makes a true statement to God's goodness and that God will make
everything alright if you let Him fit it. With conviction and powerful
vocals, the group reminds you that they are definitely rooted in traditional
gospel quartet music. The background is clean and really powerful.
And, more importantly, there is a powerful message being conveyed by the song.
We really like the production on this independent CD. For an independent
project, the production is great. Many of the songs on the CD are in the
public domain. Therefore, there are few truly original songs on the CD. At
the same time, all of the songs have original and sometime unique arrangements.
You certainly will want to add this CD to
your collection. It is a good project. We give
Rev. Stanley Amos & The Joyful Heirs'
Let Jesus Fix It
an 8.5 out of 10. Find this CD
and let
Rev. Stanley Amos & The Joyful Heirs
minister to you.
You may not be able to find this CD
in your local record store and you may not be able to find it online. You should be able to purchase it by
contacting the group at (601) 480-2722. Click on the title to hear “Lord
Jesus."
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