SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
LIVE IN MEMPHIS
ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
LABEL: CLUB44 RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2024
GROUP MEMBERS: ERNIE HAASE (TENOR), DOUG ANDERSON (BARITONE), DUSTIN DOYLE (LEAD), TYLER VESTAL (PIANIST), WES JONES (BASS GUITAR), AND CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR (BASS)
SONG LIST:
- Great Day
- Glory, Glory Clear the Road
- Swingin On The Golden Gate
- Ernie’s Greetings
- Return
- Intro EHSS Vocalists
- He Made A Change (featuring Scott Fowler and Paul Harkey)
- Talking with Scott Fowler & Paul Harkey
- Old Man River (featuring Paul Harkey)
- Ernie Jokes
- Over The Moon
- You’ll Find Him There
- Intro Blackwood Brothers Quartet
- Give The World A Smile (featuring the Blackwood Brothers)
- Put On A Happy Face
- St. Jude’s Plea & Duane Allen Intro
- He Did It All For Me (featuring Duane Allen)
- Prayer for Duane
- Look For The Silver Lining
- God Is So Good
- Ernie’s Final Comments
- 99 ½
BREAKDOWN:
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is back with a highly anticipated live recording. Live In Memphis is another landmark recording for this incredible group. This special concert recorded at the Memphis Quartet Show this past June features the debut of new bass vocalist Christopher Taylor. This phenomenal talent from Miami, Florida is only nineteen years old! This recording also features several special guests including Scott Fowler of Legacy Five, former EHSS bass vocalist Paul Harkey, the legendary Blackwood Brothers, and award winning Hall Of Famer Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys.
This incredible recording features a great mix of classic spirituals, Southern Gospel classics, and Broadway tunes.
This spectacular recording opens with a fun reimagining of the classic “Great Day.” Next, Christopher Taylor takes the lead on a quartet classic that the group previously recorded on The Ground Is Level album released in 2003. Taylor’s smooth bass fits this classic song really well. “Swinging On The Golden Gate” is another fun classic that was previously recorded by the group (on Influenced in 2008). Doug Anderson’s seasoned baritone is back on this concert favorite. “Return” is a beautiful ballad that simply says: Return to the Savior for He loves you and cares for you. Christopher Taylor delivers a very George Younce like recitation in this song as well. Following a quick introduction to the members of EHSS, the quartet brings back the fan favorite “He Made A Change.” Christopher Taylor absolutely blew me away with his impressive low notes on this classic. He is a perfect fit for the group. Scott Fowler joins the group on the second verse while Paul Harkey joins on the reprise. Following a brief chat with Scott and Paul, Paul Harkey sings one of his signature songs “Old Man River.” Harkey left the group at the end of May after serving for twelve years. He is an incredible vocalist and will be missed with the group. EHSS puts their spin on the quartet classic “Over The Moon” featuring Ernie Haase’s new skill: yodeling. EHSS then teams up with the legendary Blackwood Brothers for an incredible rendition of the classic “Give The World A Smile.” Next, Dustin Doyle takes the lead on a great rendition of the Broadway tune “Put On A Happy Face.” The group brings back another classic tune they previously recorded on 2018’s Clear Skies entitled “You’ll Find Him There.” Ernie Haase then takes some time to talk about St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He announces that on behalf of the group and the Memphis Quartet Show a donation to the hospital. He then encourages everyone to donate on behalf of the Memphis Quartet Show. This warms my heart. Ernie Haase is the real deal. His heart for the Lord and people is truly evident both on and off stage. He then brings to the stage a living legend Duane Allen of the incredible Oak Ridge Boys. Allen delivers an incredible performance on his signature song “He Did It All For Me” with EHSS backing him up. This was a truly special and anointed performance. Following a beautiful prayer for Duane, the group sings the 1919 Americana classic “Look For The Silver Lining” and the rousing spiritual “99 ½.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
ONE OF MY FAVORITE RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR. INCREDIBLE SONGS, TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION QUALITY, STELLAR VOCALS, AND TRULY SPECIAL PERFORMANCES. CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR IS A PHENOMENAL ADDITION TO THE GROUP. I LOVE SEEING YOUNG PEOPLE CARRYING ON THE TRADITION OF THIS GREAT MUSIC. AT NINETEEN, HE IS ALREADY AN INCREDIBLE BASS AND HE HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM. THE SPECIAL GUEST WERE INCREDIBLE AS WELL. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “HE MADE A CHANGE,” “HE DID IT ALL FOR ME,” “GIVE THE WORLD A SMILE,” “99 ½,” AND “GLORY, GLORY CLEAR THE ROAD.”
GET THIS CD/DVD ASAP!
5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.erniehaase.com
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