The King’s Heralds Revisited Part 1
Not too long ago I posted a 3-part series about some changes in the King’s Heralds. I’ve had the chance to hear some of their new stuff now, so we’re going to revisit the subject.
A friend attended a concert and snuck some low-rez video clips which he of course sent to me. Then today I discovered you can listen to nearly their entire new album (Encores) at SouthernGospelNews.com!
Some brief thoughts: I really really like most of their arrangements, very cool. They even go back and redo a couple of tunes on the “It’s Spiritual” recording from 1974, Walk That Milky White Way and Children Keep in the Middle of the Road! They stay pretty true to the original arrangements but make just a few little changes here and there. Pretty cool! Oh yes, and Jerry Patton returns for a lead vocal on Milky White Way.
My main concern earlier was with the addition of Jeff Pearles as very-southern-gospel bass. It turns out that with this first exposure to the latest incarnation of the group, I don’t know that he’s the source of the few issues I have with them. Not to sound negative, overall I really liked what I heard.
With any personnel change in a group, there’s going to be changes. Even if the group is dedicated to remaining on the same musical course they’ve always charted, there will still be a slightly different feel and direction. Not that that’s necessarily bad, often it’s a good thing. But in a group with a track record like the Heralds, I’d think you’d want to be pretty careful about alienating your fan base with too much new direction. On the other side of the coin, they’ve always been astonishingly, unfairly obscure. So who knows, maybe they need to change things up a little.
I’m actually a little impressed with how Jeff seems to be fitting in. This new album is completely a cappella save for one track, so that’s an excellent way to get on my good side! But really, I think he did a pretty good job. However, there are a few other areas my attention and concern were drawn to.
Please understand this is my initial impressions from a quick, lower-quality listen to one album, and some low-rez videoclips from a concert. I’m afraid their musicality has slipped. They’re a little less flexible, more straight dynamically, a little square in spots. They stacked way too much. And unless I’m hearing something incorrectly, they WAY over-tuned this thing. Oh my. Far too much.
More later. I don’t like ending on a negative note, but I have chicken to barbecue!
5 Responses
April 28th, 2006 at 8:15 am
Intersting….
I have heard from a very reliable source that this album is actually not that true. Here is what I mean. They did not redo the whole album. They have this album also available with Jim Ayers. At least the used to, I have both. I have been told that they Jeff went into the studio and layed down only the lead part. Jim is actually on this album with Jeff doing all the multi part bass parts. So in a nut shell they pulled out Jim and put in Jeff for all the lead bass parts etc. Jim is still there enhancing Jeff’s vocal performance. I say the jury is still out on Mr. Pearless.
April 28th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Ohhhh, can I come have some chicken?
April 28th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Well, Kaitlyn, there are some leftovers! Come on over.
Glen, I had heard that Jim Ayers had originally recorded the album. I figured that the Jeff dub would have been complete though! That’s really something. I sure would like to hear the original album with Jim.
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:10 pm
I can assure all of you as a most reliable source close to the King’s Heralds that the new version of Encores is ALL JEFF!
May 31st, 2006 at 7:19 am
Would you give us your source????