SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: CLASSIC QUARTET SINGIN’- UNITY 4

—

by

justingilmore1992
in

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:

CD REVIEW:

CLASSIC QUARTET SINGIN’ WITH…

UNITY 4

Normal Isn’t Coming Back – 1

PRODUCER: ARTHUR RICE

RELEASE DATE: 2022

GROUP MEMBERS: J.C. JOHNSON JR. (BARITONE), CASEY JOHNSON (LEAD), HEATH PANNELL (TENOR), AND REGGIE FURTICK (BASS)

SONG LIST:

  1. Quartet Singin’ (Jacky Feazell, Samuel Casey Johnson, James C. Johnson Jr.)
  2. I Go To The Rock (Squire Parsons)
  3. Cast Your Cares (James C. Johnson Jr.)
  4. Back To The Well (James C. Johnson Jr.)
  5. Treasures In Heaven (Rebecca J. Peck)
  6. I Thank My Savior For It All (Lee Roy Abernathy)
  7. If Everybody Prays (Charles Matthews)
  8. Meet Him In The Air (Samuel Casey Johnson)
  9. Jesus Is Life (Joel Lindsey, Marcia B. Henry)
  10. Sea Walker (Tim Spencer)
  11. Poor Rich Man (Bud Chambers)
  12. Learning To Lean (John Stallings)

BREAKDOWN:

If you are looking for good old fashioned quartet singing, look no further than Unity 4. Hailing from Iuka, Mississippi, this stellar quartet founded by J.C. Johnson Jr. in 2005 is dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in classic four part harmony. He was the original bass singer for the group, but moved to baritone in 2017. Johnson Jr. is joined by his younger brother and lead singer Casey Johnson, tenor Heath Pannell, and bass singer Reggie Furtick. Though the group has been together a while, this album is, in their own words, a defining album for them. It introduced them to the wider Southern Gospel field. This album features a great mix of classic songs and a few new songs written by J.C. and Casey.

The up-tempo title track “Quartet Singin’” kicks off the album with style. This fun quartet tune features each member and talks about the joy of quartet singing. Next, the group covers the Squire Parsons quartet classic  “I Go To The Rock.” Their arrangement is very similar to the Kingdom Heirs version which I personally love. “Cast Your Cares” is a tender ballad in classic quartet style written by J.C. Johnson Jr. Heath Pannell takes the lead on this song that encourages us to leave our burdens at His Feet. God is in control and can bear our heavy loads. There is no better friend than He. “Back To The Well” is another fun original quartet style tune that features J.C. Johnson Jr., simply says: Go back to the Well of Living Water that will never run dry. Johnson Jr. delivers a stellar vocal on this great song. Reggie Furtick also has some awesome low step-out lines on the chorus.The group also covers the classic “Treasures In Heaven” which features Reggie Furtick’s smooth bass. This arrangement as far as I can tell is the same as that of the Mark Trammell Quartet version. “I Thank My Savior For It All” is a fun tune that praises Christ for all he has done for us. The group’s stellar harmonies are on full display on the jazzy “If Everybody Prays.” “Meet Him In The Air” is a classic style quartet tune, written by Casey Johnson, that simply says: I’m gonna meet Jesus in the middle of the air some happy day! Heath Pannell takes the lead on the beautiful ballad “Jesus Is Life.” This incredible song boldly proclaims that Jesus is Life to me. He is the air that I breathe! He is the heartbeat inside! The group delivers stellar covers of the Statesmen classic “Sea Walker” and the quartet tune “Poor Rich Man.” This album closes with an incredible a cappella version of the Blackwood Brothers classic “Learning To Lean,” dedicated to Heath Pannell’s father.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

UNITY 4 HAS A NEW FAN! GREAT VOCALS, FANTASTIC HARMONIES, CLASSIC QUARTET SONGS. WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR! THIS QUARTET HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “MEET HIM IN THE AIR,” “QUARTET SINGIN,” “BACK TO THE WELL,” “SEA WALKER,” AND LEARNING TO LEAN.”

4.5 OUT 5 STARS!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.unity4quartet.com

Comments

Leave a comment