Search - Statler Bros :: Today's Gospel Favorites

Robert L. from HERMAN, MN
Reviewed on 7/18/2013...

AAA

Kris W. from CONCRETE, WA
Reviewed on 9/23/2012...

I traveled this weekend listening to this CD got me through stop and go traffic, singing with the CD to while away the time of 5-10 mph. Some of the hymns I didn't know, and will learn and several were old favorites from the past. I enjoyed this CD very much, with it's catching tunes and great piano accompaniment.

A History in Harmony-35 years of the Statler Bro's.

Michael Hawkins | Redmond, OR USA | 11/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first feel obliged to say that I have not yet purchased this particular album,however I have been listening for many years on various other albums. One thing is for certain, when someone down here plays this record (or other's with songs such as these), Our Savior, with a joyful heart and great big smile, is sure to be listening as well. Among the most impressive attribute's of this phenomenal foursome, is there honesty and integrity. For over 35 years they've shared the stage with one another and, while having need to replace only one of the original member's, the great counter tenor, Mr. Lew DeWitt, who took his last flight home some years back. Even with this vast expanse of time, through it all, there has been precisely nothing to cast a even the faintest of shadow's on themselves both as a group as well as in their own individual lives, their families or their music. As the mellenium was drawing closer and is now steadily on it's way, listeners of everything from the inspiration and hope of Christian & Gospel music, to the overwhelming anger and bitterness of Gangster Rap & Hip-Hop, are finding all too often that even though certain performer's are able to look and act with seeming sincerity the part on stage, the moment they step off, they become virtually unrecognizable. The Statler Brothers on the other hand, along with many other performers from that period, are who they are by the grace of God and nothing more, Sharing with others their simple secret, making no exceptions, changing nothing based on their surroundings or those who incessantly lurk about trying to . There can only be one conclusion when asking how they do it, and that is through their faith and trust in Christ. This faith and trust, coming from God the Father automatically lends itself to the trongly detected in nearly every song they've let the values instilled be Christ to anyone would say that. To end this review, allow me to just present a list of undisputible facts. 1)The Stat. Bro's have been working, virtually non-stop for better than 35 years. 2)Their has never been a member leave the group for any reason other than death. 3)The harmonies they produced in 1965, '68, '71, etc., are today just as crisp and beautiful, perhaps even more so. 4)Through the songs that Don & Harold Ried, and the other charter member Phil Balsley the world has taken posession of some it's most uplifting, tear-jerking and very often side-splittingly funny assets. In short, their is not, and will probably never be a vocal musical group, in any genre to have what these gentlemen have or do what theses gentlemen have done, and certainly not with the grace, style and integrity with which they've done it. This marvelous quartet, in late 2002, took the stage and grabbed their mic's for last time. I was never afforded the opportunity to see them live, but I will most assuradely continue to listen to their records, CD's, cassettes and maybe even an 8-track or two (this is a large, rectangular cartridge, made in much the same way cassettes and used for the same purpose), and maybe, if we all ask really nicely, after they've rested a bit they will again take their place up front to sarenade us once again. Until then, I guess we'll just have to count the flowers on the wall. My recomendation for this album "Todays Gospel Favorites" is that it's nothing short of must-have. Their other albums are quite good as well, try and get the whole collection if you can, you'll never tire of spinning them.Michael N. Hawkins
November 17, 2003"

Great gospel by great group

Jerald E. Mills | Santee, CA, USA | 07/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great gospel album, plain and simple. The four-part harmonies of the Statler Brothers were never better, and this is the kind of music that makes them shine. I must disagree with those who lament the addition of Jimmy Fortune. While I liked the earlier work with tenor Lew DeWitt, I think Jimmy's voice is fantastic and the group's sound, though a little different, is every bit as good. These are all simple, down-to-earth gospel numbers--all good, with my favorite being the live version of "I'll Fly Away", which has a unique change of key in the middle and enough energy to send you off for the remainder of the day. Good stuff!"