STYLE: Gospel RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 33467-13413 LABEL: New Haven 027072807429 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2007-10-31 RRP: £9.99
Reviewed by Dave Brassington
For over 50 years the Speer Family have been stalwarts of the American Southern gospel scene, having literally played to countless thousands in venues large and small all across America. They have won numerous gospel awards and still perform today in various family combinations. Over many years they have widely recorded, both as a group and as backing to many other artists, even some of Elvis Presley's early records. This is a very easy on the ear dip into Speer family recorded history. "I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen" is a truly outstanding song, "Touring That City" is also much loved amongst Southern gospel devotees and the last two tracks, "Here Comes The Bride" and Bill Gather's classic, "The King Is Coming", show off the Speers' jaunty harmonies. Having said that, one must observe that the overall sound is very dated and I doubt that it will have much appeal beyond a clique of old time Southern gospel nostalgists.
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Product Description
“First Family of Gospel Music” – It’s both a figurative and fairly literal title. On the literal side, The Speer Family was formed in 1921 by G.T. “Dad” Speer and his wife, Lena “Mom” Speer. On the figurative side, for much of the next 80 years, The Speer Family was firmly planted at the top of the Gospel Music world.
Their travels took them from small churches to performances at the White House to being a part of the Gaither Homecoming phenomenon.
The group and its members received 14 Dove Awards as well as numerous Grammy nominations and many number one songs from a discography of close to 100 albums.
Although the honours and accolades are impressive, what people remember most are simply the songs:- songs that have deeply embedded themselves in the hearts and lives of those who came in contact with the Speer Family.