Speers - First Family of Gospel Music, CD Review

Jan

2008

Speers - First Family of Gospel Music

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[3] Comments

Label: New Haven Records
Website: http://www.newhavenrecords.com

Known as the "First Family of Gospel Music"; the Speers, as a traveling family unit, had its humble beginnings in 1921. For over 75 years this great family traveled all over the world sharing the gospel in song to anyone who would listen. Who knew the massive impact the Speers would have on gospel music way back in 1921? They were destined to become legends in their own time.

New Haven Records has taken to task the tremendous responsibility of finding a handful of tunes to adequately paint a musical picture of the Speers over the course of their long and illustrious career. While I can't argue with 99% of the songs represented on this recording, and I completely understand the huge undertaking it is to narrow down such a vast list of songs, I think there is something chiefly missing from this recording. 75% of this recording spotlights the group during the 1970s.and they seemingly have completely disregarded the patriarch and matriarch of this great family's heritage, Mom & Dad Speer (Lena & GT Speer, respectively) and did not include anything they recorded (Mom & Dad's tenure equates for over half of the Speers rich 75+ year history).

I know I may be coming down hard in this review, but with a legacy like the Speers, some things are just expected, and I felt let down with this compilation. Nothing against the songs chosen, because for the most part, these are truly great songs that exemplify the colossal contributions this family made to gospel music; I just think some consideration (and there may very well have been) should have been given to some of their earlier history as well. Without them, there would have never been a Speer Family.

Song titles: Song titles:
1 - He's Still in the Fire
2 - Saved to the Uttermost
3 - And He's Ever Interceding
4 - What Sins are you Talkin' About?
5 - I'm Standing on the Solid Rock
6 - Cornerstone
7 - I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen
8 - God Gave the Song
9 - Touring that City
10 - I Never Shall Forget the Day
11 - Here Comes the Bride
12 - The King is Coming

Reader Comments

I hear what you are saying, but in defense of New Haven Records, most people living today remember the later lineup of the Speers. I believe the Speers with Mom & Dad pretty much ended in the 1960s. When most people think of the Speers today, they think of them on the Gospel Singing Jubilee and, later, the Gaither Homecoming series.

Also, just about anything you hear that is pre-1970 sounds pretty dated today instrumentally. The typical heavy organ sounds of the '60s and the echo"y", heavy laden reverb sound does not, for lack of a better word, reverberate with today's listener.

I guess what I'm saying is that the consumer buying this CD will primarily want to hear the Speers they remember, which is the later version.

Commented by On 01/16/2008

I'm still waiting for a decent quantity of released work from Heartwarming records during the 70's and not just a song or two. This still looks like RiverSong and Homeland from the 80s.

http://www.susanjonesonline.com
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Commented by On 01/18/2008

Only the first 2 songs are from the Homeland years. The rest cover from around 1970-1981.

Commented by On 01/19/2008

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