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Producer: Michael Sykes
Label: Independent Release
Website: http://www.theimperials.com

Back in 1964 when Jake Hess founded the Imperials, who knew the enormous impact that group would have on the entire Gospel Music industry. There are only a few groups who have been successful at crossing the lines between CCM and SGM, and the Imperials were the trailblazers. The Imperials of today (Jason Morales, Shannon Smith, Ian Owens and Jeremie Hudson) have gathered together 11 memorable songs, spanning roughly 15 years of their illustrious 43 year history, to bring us an outstanding montage of songs that we can enjoy not just again, but as if it's for the very first time.

The guys turn out some excellent performances of classic Imperials quartet standards like "YOUR FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN", "I BELIEVE" (Ian sounds like a young Armond Morales on this song), "WE'VE GOT A GREAT BIG WONDERFUL GOD", "HE'S EVERYTHING TO ME" (Excellent performance by Jason) and "I'M GONNA BE THERE" and they sound like seasoned veterans, despite the fact that none of the guys were born when some of these were originally recorded by the Imperials.

Many people regard the 1970s as the golden era for the Imperials and the guys turn in some sharp performances on those classics such as "NO SHORTAGE", the haunting Russ Taff classic, "BE STILL MY SOUL" (superb performance by Shannon), "PRAISE THE LORD", "MY CHILD, WELCOME HOME", "MORE (THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW)", and "WATER GRAVE" (impressive!).

One thing I really enjoyed were the liner notes, as each member of the Imperials shared their thoughts about each song and why they chose to record it. I hope to see them do a Volume 2 because the Imperials have such a rich history of great songs and I'd love to hear them revive such songs as "The Old Gospel Ship", "He Touched Me", "That's Enough", "I've Got Confidence", "Give them All to Jesus", "Then the Answer Came", "He Was a Preachin' Man", "Sail On", "Bread Upon the Water", "The Trumpet of Jesus" and oh so many others.

I said at the beginning that it will be like you are listening to these songs for the very first time, and I say that because the Imperials did much more than just revive these classic tunes, but they breathed new life into them making them all completely their own, but yet, not completely abandoning their original arrangements. And on top of that, this recording really shows their versatility as these guys prove, in complete contrast with their previous self titled release, that they can tackle just about any song and any style and do it with the same dignity and class as their predecessors did; thus holding up the standard that is distinctively "Imperials". Hats off to you guys!

Song titles: Song titles: (stars denote personal favorites)
1 - Your First Day in Heaven
2 - No Shortage**
3 - I Believe**
4 - We've got a Great Big Wonderful God**
5 - Be Still my Soul**
6 - He's Everything to Me**
7 - Praise the Lord
8 - My Child, Welcome Home
9 - More (Than You'll Ever Know)**
10-Water Grave**
11 - I'm Gonna Be There

Reader Comments

This is an amazing CD from an amazing group of guys. I'm proud of you guys!

These guys ARE the Imperials. They have captured the intensity of the previous Imperials recordings. There is not one thing lacking in any of the vocal areas. James said it right when he said that this Imperial recording captures the "classic" part of the music, but also fulfills a fresh new touch which makes each song their own. Great job guys. I would have given this one all five stars. I'm ready for "Back To The Roots 2". Well maybe not just yet, I'm still enjoying this one.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard "Water Grave" for the first time. My taste runs toward old-fashioned traditional SG, so the hard-driving rock style of this song might well have turned me off . . . until I heard the lyrics. Wow! Solid theology in a knock-your-socks-off style that will leave you breathless. Unbelievable!

In my house there's been a mercy-killing
The man I used to be has been crucified
And the death of this man was the final way of revealing
In a spiritual way to live, I had to die…

Now if I let the dead man linger in me
I might get a little bit idle in my ways
So I'm going down to the Celebration River
I'm gonna take this dead man down to a water grave…

I'm going down to the river, my Lord
I'm gonna be buried alive
I gonna show my Heavenly Father
The man I used to be has finally died.

And just one more thing: earlier in the album is "More Than You'll Ever Know". This has got to be the most beautiful song I've ever heard, sung perfectly.

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