The Sleeve:
The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
“Variety in Gospel music is one of the aims of the Singing Edwards Family as we sing old and new, fast and slow including Country Gospel, Southern Gospel and Folk Gospel. This album is typical of our style in singing engagements which have taken us across Canada in the summer holidays and much of Ontario during the other seasons. Our ministry takes us into practically all Churches, Parks, Prisons, Home’s for the Aged, Community Hall’s and School Auditoriums. This is our forth album in three years. Through our record sales and love offerings where we sing, God has supplied our needs. Early in 1975 when I was laid up for several weeks God supplied through His family (the many believers in all branch’s of the Christian church). My wife, Grace and the children: Bonnie, Heather, Mark, April-Joy and Scott carried on with several of our appointments. I praise our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who taught me through His Word, and through experience to live “One Day at a Time.”
Jim (Dad) Edwards
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil there-of.”
– Matthew 6:33-34”
Personal Review:
Once more we start a new year, with lots of records and music to listen to, this time we’re starting with a sort of (fourth) follow up album from the Edwards family of Wooler, Ontario. So, let’s do this!
The album opens with the track “Family of God” – it starts off with some piano playing followed by vocals and steel guitar, the entire family seems to be singing on this one and their group vocals have this really country vibe to it. It’s pretty nice. I’m pretty sure one of the daughters seems to have the solo vocals on this track, and she just has perfect vocals. Next we continue with the title track, and a personal favorite of mine, it seems to be sung by father Jim Edwards, and his voice is pretty great. The backing piano playing is also pretty decent, I’m kind of big on this family and their singing, they definitely have worked really hard on this album. The next track is “Forever is a Long Time” and once more we get vocals from one of the daughters, and she too, has a perfect voice! This is one very talented family, and it’s really great! We continue on with the song “10,000 Years” and it’s sung by one of the younger girls, and well, she is no Becky or Sandy on vocals, but this song is one of my favorites, so, I don’t really want to complain much. You know what, whoever is singing does put her heart and soul into this song, so it’s worth it just for that, because it’s great! The group vocals really make the song. “A Child’s Request” follows next, and it seems to be sung by one of the youngest daughters of the family, this girl does give her best when singing, I’m not really a fan of outstandingly young kids singing, just not my thing. The A-Side closes with the track “Why Me Lord?” and it opens with some spoken part, before we go into Jim Edwards singing and every so often he does a spoken word part, but other than that, the song is really well performed.
“Faith Line” opens the B-Side and it kind of has a bluegrass sound and is performed by one of the younger daughters again, the musicianship is really great on the songs of this album. We go onto the track “Take It All” and the vocals on this track are once again performed by one of the eldest daughters, and her vocals are pretty great. All in all, a great performance. Next up, “I Came Here to Stay” which is sung by one of the youngest sons and father Jim, and you know the son is definitely no Jeff Steinberg (who still holds my own personal favorite version). But father Jim does a very nice rendition. “Bonjour Jesus” comes next, and it’s performed by Bonnie Edwards, who sings Gospel in both English and French. It’s beautiful. We go onto the Medley which starts off with one of the youngest daughters singing “Little Birdie” and that part is okay, but then we go onto one of the older daughters singing “He Saved Me” and it starts getting better, then Jim comes in with “I’ll Fly Away” with the whole family on backing vocals, Jim even begins to yodel! This is intense Gospel music! “Plenty of Time” comes next, and the eldest daughter delivers this one again beautifully, and I can’t get over how great the oldest daughters are! The album closes with the song “Hallelujah Square” and it’s a slower song sung by dad Jim, and he’s good at singing, but I was hoping this album would end with a more upbeat song but this song will suffice, all in all, the album was not that bad!
Interesting Facts:
None.
Track Listing:
A1 – Family of God
A2 – One Day at a Time
A3 – Forever is a Long Time
A4 – 10,000 Years
A5 – A Child’s Request
A6 – Why Me Lord?
B1 – Faith Line
B2 – Take It All
B3 – I Came Here to Stay
B4 – Bonjour Jesus
B5 – Medley
i – Little Birdie
ii – He Saved Me
iii – I’ll Fly Away
B6 – Plenty of Time
B7 – Hallelujah Square
Standout Track:
“10,000 Years”
Label:
Harmony Records
Catalog Number:
HRS 1067
Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Bass, Drums & Piano – The Proverbs
Engineer – Peter Vandertogt
Photography – Webb Photo Service
Steel Guitar – Phil Forsythe
Solo Vocals – Bonnie Edwards
Other Albums I Own by The Edwards Family:
“The Jim Edwards Family Album: Almost Home”
Released:
198?
