Rating: 4.5 stars

Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Stow Town Records
Website: www.erniesigsound.com

Buy Project Here

It’s been said that, in Southern Gospel music, the only thing that is more certain than the Truth that is sung about, is change. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound are not immune to that fact; since their last project of original material (2008′s Dream On), the group has said farewell to longtime lead singer Ryan Seaton and bass singer/founding member Tim Duncan. Devin McGlamery filled the vacancy left by Seaton, and Cumberland Quartet/The Imperials bass Ian Owens came back on the road following Duncan’s departure. Though McGlamery was featured on a table project (Influenced II: Spirituals and Southern Classics) and a mainline release (A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet) in 2010, this is his first “original” project with the group, and Owens’ first effort with them period (unless you count background vocals on George Younce with Ernie Haase and Signature Sound).

With this latest release, fans are hoping to see a return to the creativity and energy that was found with the group’s 2007 hit effort, Get Away Jordan. The follow-up release, the aforementioned Dream On, had several strong songs with lasting value in the group’s repertoire, but was overall just… missing something. I’ve made the observation that it was “sleepy” (pun somewhat intended!).

I am happy to report that Here We Are Again brings back the spark, in spades.

Take, for instance, the opening track. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” starts with the sound of an old projector reel, and then launches into a classic spiritual that EHSS injects with its trademark “SG quartet music with a kick” style, much like they did with “Someday” to open Get Away Jordan, complete with an “instrumental” break in the middle that has the quartet mimicking a band with their voices. This track sets the tone for the rest of the project, and flows nicely into an original upbeat tune, “Singing In The Midnight Hour,” which serves as a vehicle for baritone Doug Anderson to show off some of his soulful vocals. The other most creative tracks undoubtedly come in the form of “Every Time,” a wild Ernie Haase feature in the vein of “Happy Birthday, Anniversary Too” (except more bearable, and twice as hyper), and “Any Other Man,” which adopts a Third Day-esque rock sound and has already piqued interest around various SG blogs and message boards.

The big question is, how are the “new guys” doing in the new group? The answer is, quite well. Lead singer McGlamery takes the feature on the group’s latest single, “I’ve Been Here Before,” as well as solos on “Love Carried The Cross” and “Stand By Me,” the latter of which he absolutely nails his part on. These songs spotlight his development since joining the group, seeming to bridge the gap between his sound as lead for the Dixie Melody Boys and his more modern sound he attained with Karen Peck & New River and brought to EHSS.

Speaking of “Stand By Me,” that is indeed the song that really got EHSS started back in 2003 with a project of the same name, and it was actually the first track I’d heard on the project since I went right to it, wondering if it was actually the same one. Ian Owens is a different type of bass than Tim Duncan; he’s not all about the low notes, and has a smoother higher range that makes for a killer blend. On this particular track, he takes the EHSS signature and effectively makes it his own, giving it a soulful swagger that reminds me of a Black Gospel group like the Fairfield Four. Other highlights for him include his standouts on “I’ve Been Here Before,” which serve to show that his lower range has been brought out and developed nicely in the year since he joined the quartet, and “I Believe,” which he has sung regularly in concert since his Imperials days, and has become his “signature” with this group.

The other vocalists also have a strong showing. A big ballad about Christ’s sacrifice (“Love Carried The Cross”) calls to mind a ballad the Haase-era Cathedrals would do, especially with Haase’s delivery on the last verse. “Sometimes I Wonder” sounds like a song that would have fit seamlessly into Doug Anderson’s solo project, and pianist Wayne Haun even gets a full-fledged feature on “You Are Welcome Here.” The whole group comes together for “Thankful,” a softer, orchestrated tune that I’d imagine would be used near the end of a concert, but doesn’t really jump out on CD.

People who have written the group off since the lineup changes took place are doing themselves a disservice. This lineup can hold its own with any previous iterations of the quartet and has developed very nicely, and has produced a top-notch project. In fact, I will go out on a limb and rank this project as the best collection of songs they have released to date, with Get Away Jordan at a close second. I’d encourage anyone who may have been a fan of the previous lineups to purchase a copy of Here We Are Again; you just may be pleasantly surprised. Here We Are Again receives 4.5 stars.

While working on a review for an upcoming project, I went to Youtube, among other resources, to see if I could find out whether or not some songs were previously recorded by another group. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to an advent of technology like that site, I’m fascinated and usually get a bout of ADD, following a rabbit trail through the “Suggestions” sidebar. Somewhere in all of that, I stumbled across some recent footage taken at an Ernie Haase & Signature Sound concert in Bloomington, Illinois. The videos themselves aren’t as high quality as some out there, but they are still enjoyable, and many of them feature songs I’ve not heard the group do since Ian Owens joined on bass earlier this year. Check them out:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfOxLsZMvT0

Someday – I haven’t heard the group do this opener to their 2007 Get Away Jordan project in quite a while, and Owens is settling quite well into the bass role for the group. For some reason, his backing harmonies on the first chorus remind of London Parris, which would be a high compliment to pay any bass singer.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIoHSi9BBKo

Here We Are Again

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz9BA5NoKX4

Glory To God in the Highest – I really like the change they’ve made to the second verse of this song. The trade-off between Owens and lead singer Devin McGlamery is something I don’t believe I’ve heard utilized in any other rendition of this song, and while I’m sure the bass could carry the verse all the way through as it was originally done with Tim Duncan, the change of vocals make it unique to this lineup.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jx5GZWDn5A

I Pledge My Allegiance

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ukXth-L7gw

The Old Rugged Cross

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4jUdl_AC0Q

Step Into The Water

And finally, on a completely unrelated note, here’s a video of the Melody Boys in one of their best lineups singing a pretty difficult song to pull off (and singing it well!):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMdjMvQ-bUk

By now, it has made the rounds in the Southern Gospel blog: Tim Duncan has left Ernie Haase & Signature Sound after eight years as their bass singer. The press release at Singing News reads:

NASHVILLE, TN (January 17, 2011) - Tim Duncan, bass vocalist of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, is stepping down after eight years with the quartet.

Tim states: “After 8 years of service to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound I have been feeling in my heart that my time has come to an end. I’m sad on one hand yet excited on the other hand. Ernie & the boys are like brothers and always will be. I covet your prayers.”

Ernie Haase states: “I realize changes are inevitable, it always brings a challenge as well as new opportunity. We will always be grateful for Tim’s contribution to the group over these past years. We love Tim and wish him and his family great success.”

Ian Owens will replace Tim Duncan. His first date with the group will be January 21 in Portland OR.

Thankfully, this doesn’t seem to be a situation where the speculation can turn ugly as to what happened to cause the change; the press release features statements from both parties that indicate there is no bad blood. As Haase stated, change is inevitable. Tim Duncan became one of my personal favorite basses in his time with the group, and his sound improved during that tenure. His contributions to the group’s sound leave some big shoes to fill.

That brings me to Ian Owens. You may remember him from his time with the Cumberland Quartet, but most will remember him as the young man who stepped in when Armond Morales, longtime bass singer for The Imperials retired. Indeed, Owens possesses a voice that has the smooth tones of Armond’s, but with a deeper, lower range. It is interesting to note that, in an interview hosted on Daniel Mount’s blog, Ernie Haase was asked to put together a “quartet of tomorrow.” Owens got the bass spot in that group. Owens’ sound differs enough from Duncan’s that it will be intriguing to hear how the group’s sound as a whole changes.

For a preview of Ian Owen’s voice, here’s the Imperials singing “Arise, My Love.”

Rating: 4 stars

Producers: Wayne Haun & Lari Goss
Label: Gaither Music Group
Website: www.erniesigsound.com

Buy The CD Here or Buy The DVD Here.

Track list: “Wedding Music,” “Step Into The Water,” “Boundless Love,” “I Thirst,” “This Ole House,” “Champion Of Love,” “I’m Gonna Live Forever,” “Can He, Could He, Would He,” “Wonderful Grace Of Jesus,” “Sinner Saved By Grace,” “An Old Convention Song,” “Mexico,” “God Delivers Again,” “Life Will Be Sweeter,” “Moving Up To Gloryland,” “Plan Of Salvation,” “We Shall See Jesus,” “Yesterday,” “Gaither Medley,” “He Made A Change,” ”Oh What A Savior”

When Ernie Haase started the Signature Sound Quartet in 2002, it was no secret that the group’s ties to the Cathedral Quartet legacy were strong. After all, Haase’s father-in-law was the Cathedrals’ bass singer, George Younce. Wisely, however, the group set out to make a name for itself, rather than just riding on the coattails of the Cats’ success, although they did throw in the occasional Cathedrals song here and there on their project. Now that the group has established itself as a quartet all its own, it seems like the perfect time to give a salute to the group from which its founder came.

One thing I have always admired about Signature Sound is that whenever they cover a song that has been done previously, they do not simply do the same arrangement that every group has done; they try something new with it. Such is the case with the bulk of this project. Take, for instance, “Boundless Love.” Rather than starting the song with a couple of piano chords like you would expect, the opening “boom boom clap” (think Queen’s “We Will Rock You”) throws the listener for a loop and leads into a high-energy arrangement of the familar quartet number. Several more subtle changes are made as well, with inclusions that will intrigue long-time Cathedrals fans, like when piano player Wayne Haun is featured on “Champion Of Love” in an interesting parallel to piano player Gerald Wolfe’s feature on the same song when it was first recorded.

Final thoughts: Overall, I was very impressed with this body of work. Am I a fan of every song that was selected? No. But there’s really nothing here that has me reaching for the skip button. I’d much rather hear those particular takes on those songs instead of the take that every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a quartet has tried to do. That is one of the main reasons this project is such a good tribute; it’s not just recycled arrangements and lackluster performances. It’s an honest effort to maintain the originality and highlight the harmonies that The Cathedrals were known for.

Bottom line: For fans looking for a fitting tribute to one of the finest quartets Southern Gospel music has known, or a collection of classics that have been given new life, this is the project to turn to.

Ever since it had been let out of the bag that Ernie & crew would be doing “We Shall See Jesus” on their Cathedrals tribute project, speculation ran wild as to what the arrangement would sound like and who would be featured, as Haase did a good job of keeping both under wraps. Since the recent video taping, it was revealed that the featured soloist is none another than lead singer Devin McGlamery, in his first major project with Signature Sound.

Although it’s been said that a video of Glen Payne taking the third verse was shown at the taping, this Youtube clip shows McGlamery taking the song all the way through. This is the first time I’ve heard Devin really let loose with this group, and he does an incredible job of both doing justice to Payne’s performance and making it his own.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6dYH28AkTg

1. Jason Crabb will apparently appear on an upcoming episode of The Price Is Right. After winning the Grammy Award for Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album, he was spotted in the audience and recognized by host Drew Carey. Although he didn’t play, he will still show up on the March 12 airing of the show.

2. The newest lineup of Gold City has continued to gel and improve, and DinanaSN’s latest Youtube videos can attest to this. Check out the group singing “Where Is God,” “It’s Still The Cross,” and “When He Blessed My Soul.”

3. Speaking of new lineups, there are more videos out there now of Devin McGlamery stepping into his role as lead singer of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Check out this one of his first night with the group singing “Then Came The Morning,” and this more recent one of him singing “It’s My Desire.”

4. To wrap things up, here’s a video from Kurt Young’s brief tenure as tenor for The Cathedrals singing “He Left It All.”

Here are a couple of news items from the week:

1. Devin McGlamery’s first concert with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound was last night, and here’s the first video clip from the night. The song is “Climbing Higher & Higher.”

2. In case you’ve been under a rock, the Dixie Echoes are seeking a new bass singer after Pat Barker’s departure to join the Mark Trammell Quartet. Here is the official press release from the Dixie Echoes at the Singing News:

Pensacola, FL – This year marks a milestone in the Dixie Echoes career. We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary in Gospel music. Through the years, many great quartet men have carried a suitcase on the Dixie Echoes bus. It is with a heavy heart that we announce the departure of our bass singer, Pat Barker. Pat joined the Dixie Echoes in September 2007 and has been a vital part of the groups’ sound.
Pat shares, “My years with the Dixie Echoes have been some of the greatest years I’ve known in ministry. I have met some of the most wonderful people on the Planet. No one has shown me more kindness than Randy, Scoot, Stewart, Wesley, and the Gospel Music family as a whole. I am very sad to be leaving, but excited about the new ministry opportunities that await me. My prayer is that God will bless the Dixie Echoes more this coming year than He has in all 50 years combined. I never imagined my time with the Dixie Echoes would have been so short, but I also never imagined almost 3 years ago that I would get back on the road, leave my hometown, and start a new life in Pensacola, Florida. The Lord moves in mysterious ways. I love you all. Continue to lift up the Dixie Echoes in your prayers. And please say a prayer for me and my family as we continue to follow God wherever He leads.”
“Members come and go in every group. This was an unexpected change for us, but I know Pat’s heart, and if there’s one thing that I can tell anyone about him, it is that he lives what he sings about,” shares Stewart. “We will miss Pat, his wife Kesha, son Andy, and daughter Breelyn. They have become our extended family, and I wish him the best. Mark Trammell and I have been friends for many years and I know that Pat will be working with a great guy.”
We appreciate your prayers for both the Dixie Echoes and Pat Barker. We invite serious parties to send their information to auditions@dixieechoes.com or mail to: Dixie Echoes, 481 Ronda Street, Pensacola, FL 32534.

3. This may be old news to some, but speaking of open singing positions, the Toney Brothers are currently seeking a new vocalist as well, following the departure of lead singer Joe Kitson. All serious applicants can send submissions to toneybrothersbooking@gmail.com. The position is open to either lead singers or tenors, because their current tenor, Daniel Childs, can sing either part, and it is a full-time position.

In a blog post from Ernie Haase today, it was announced that long-time lead Ryan Seaton was leaving the group, but also announced that a familiar face in Southern Gospel music would fill the spot:

Dear Friends,

It is with sadness and regret that I announce the departure of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound lead singer, Ryan Seaton.

I thank him from the bottom of my heart for all his contributions. We wish Ryan the very best in his personal and professional pursuits, wherever they may lead him.

While one part of my heart is very heavy, the other half is uplifted by the news that Devin McGlamery, from southern gospel’s Grammy-nominated Karen Peck & New River, is joining EHSS as new lead singer! Devin has been lead/tenor for KPNR for the last five years, following a five-year career with the Dixie Melody Boys.

Devin’s debut with us will be on January 15, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at our “Dream On” concert featuring The Collingsworth Family – our first performance after Christmas break. We’re really thrilled to be headlining our own show throughout next year.

“To say I’m excited is an understatement,” said Devin. “Ernie and I have been great friends for years. I’ve always had a lot of admiration for him as a singer and as a person, and he has always encouraged me. Words cannot express how wonderful I feel about this opportunity for my career and my family.”

A native of Valdosta, Georgia, Devin is 27 and lives in Kinston, North Carolina, with his wife Karen Ham McGlamery and their children, Karlyn and Preston.

“I want to thank Karen Peck so much for everything over the last five years,” said Devin. “She let southern gospel music get to know the real me, and she let me be who I am. For that and many things, I will always be grateful. I’m really looking forward to the next part of my calling and my journey with Ernie and the group.”

I thank God for the opportunity to work with Devin and am grateful to Karen and Susan Peck for their graciousness. Please join me in giving a warm Signature Sound welcome to Devin, and keep Ryan and his dear family in your prayers!

As always, your support and understanding is SO valued and appreciated.

Ernie

Seaton was one of those singers that developed into a better vocalist over his tenure with a group (see Steve Ladd with Gold City). When he started out, he was quiet and content to just blend in the background. He developed confidence over time, though, and he became one of the better leads in the industry today. Here’s hoping the future finds him with another top-tier quartet.

As far as picking Devin McGlamery as the new lead, I say it’s a great fit. Devin’s vocal ability impressed me with KP&NR, although he was never really featured out front all that much. With EH&SS, he will be able to showcase those vocals better, and he definitely has the “modern” image that the group possesses. The change has come at an opportune time, too; since the group is doing a solo tour all of next year, it will be easier for fans who aren’t already familiar with Devin to acquaint themselves.

I’m definitely looking forward to hearing how this new lineup will sound. Prayers and best of luck to Ryan Seaton as well.

Ernie Haase says on his blog that the group did have a live band with them at a recent concert date. I’ll have to check Youtube later to see whether anyone got video footage.

I’d imagine it’d be a similar setup to what they have at their Homecoming dates; split tracks, with instruments like bass guitar and drums being live, as well as piano, of course. Although, I wonder if they throw guitar into the mix like Gold City does on dates when they have the band.

No word on whether the band will become permanent addition to the EHSS concert experience yet. I’d imagine, if not that option, that they’d take Gold City’s route and charge an additional fee for the band. I’m sure the crowd response to the band would encourage the latter at the very least.

Youtube user OaksWarrior posted this video of “Heavenly Parade” from Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s very first live video. The lineup was tenor Ernie Haase, lead Shane Dunlap, baritone Doug Anderson, bass Tim Duncan, and pianist Garry Jones. It was filmed in the same location as their first Gaither video, and is apparently not made or sold anymore and is a rare find. Enjoy.