Holloway & Drake Singers CD Review

Holloway & Drake Singers

Give Once Again - Camp Hill, Alabama

Run and Tell That

This month we take you to Camp Hill, Alabama and introduce to some and present to others the Holloway & Drake Singers. Their 2006 recording, which is the subject of this review, is titled Live Once Again - Camp Hill, Alabama – Run and Tell That.

The project is aptly titled Live Once Again. To really appreciate the meaning of the title, you need to know that the group’s 2004 CD was also a live recording. That CD was titled I Know He Can. Like the I Know He Can project, the new CD also contains twelve songs.

At the beginning of the I Know He Can CD, the emcee introduces the group by saying that the group “knows how to sing, will sing, and going to sing.” Well, he was right. This group can really sing. It is disappointing to know that a group with so much talent and (as you can feel from the recording) loves to praise God in song has not been signed by a major label.

The label that signs this group will get a group that has all the trappings of Maggie Ingram and The Ingramettes, Margaret Allison, Lucille Pope, and The Caravans. We do not dole out such accolades often, but this group sounds just that good. The more you listen to their recordings, the greater your appreciation will be for the Holloway and Drake Singers.

The Live Once Again project begins with Felicia Johnson encouraging the congregation in “Help Me Praise The Lord.” And just when the song is at its apex, Ms. Johnson calls on Gracie Heard to share in the lead duties. Ms. Johnson also sings lead on “Strengthen Me.” The group’s arrangement of this traditional song is outstanding. It is a ballad that will have you rocking from side to side.

Gracie Heard takes over lead duties on the ballad “Without God.” The song simply says that without God we can do nothing and our life would be in ruins. Ms. Heard also sings lead on “Oh, How I Love Jesus,” Give Him The Praise,” and “Hold To His Hand.” “Give Him The Praise” is an awesome praise and worship song. It is uniquely fitting that this song would be on this project. It summarizes the common theme running through each of the songs on this CD, which is acknowledging and praising God. Just look at the title of each song.

“Hold To His Hand” has that down home feel. There is very little instrumentation. Except for the drums and bass guitar, no other instruments are prominent on this track. At 8 minutes and 10 seconds, it is also the longest song on the project.

“God Is In Charge” is an upbeat song that is lead by Martha Holloway. She also sings lead on “Thank You For All You’ve Done,” “Run and Tell That,” "Grace Brought Me," and “Up There.” All of these songs are mid to up tempo. Ms. Holloway displays the variations in her vocal skills with these songs. She is not trying to sound like anyone, but the style and talent brought to these songs will have you wondering what influence the Caravans and Margaret Allison may have had in the development of her vocals skills.

The bass guitar player, Stanford Holloway, shows his musical versatility by singing lead on the upbeat “You Can Depend On God.” The background harmony is just right. There is not much instrumentation on this song. However, there is definitely enough to have you clapping your hands and tapping your feet.

Not only can the members of this group sing, they are, from the liner notes, also accomplished songwriters and producers. They recorded this CD at New Caanan Baptist Church, Camp Hill, Alabama. The liner notes do not indicate whether a video of this recording is available. Hopefully, there is.

If there are any shortcomings to the recording it is the lack of response from the congregation. In spite of this, you certainly will want to have this CD in your collection. This independently released project may well become one of your favorite CD’s of the year.

On the whole this release from the Holloway & Drake Singers is a great traditional gospel quartet CD. We give the Holloway & Drake Singers' “Live Once Again - Camp Hill, Alabama – Run and Tell That" a 9 out of 10. To purchase your copy of this CD contact the group at (334) 864-8698. Click on the title to hear “Give Him The Praise.”

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