Guy & Ralna – “Hymns We Love to Sing”
Back again, this time we’re going back to one of the albums I bought in my early collecting days that has sat many years on my shelf with no spins. It also falls into the category of “Ruined by Value Village” – so we’re also going to see if it’s something to keep or not.
We start the album with “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” and it’s a slower gospel song, the vocals are pretty good. I’m quite partial to Ralna’s vocals. Next up is “Whispering Hope” – and it’s another slower gospel song with Guy at the helm on the lead vocals with Ralna singing back-up. His voice isn’t quite as catching as hers, but Ralna comes in to deliver her own verse in this song, and she has a beautiful voice. “How Great Thou Art” continues this album, and you can’t really go wrong with this song. We’re off to a strong start with Ralna singing the opening verse, as the organ softly hums along with her vocals. Beautiful. So, much like another singing couple, Guy and Ralna got their start singing on the Lawrence Welk show. “Do Lord” comes next, it’s a faster paced song and Guy delivers it on this song, he’s definitely got the chops to do more of the upbeat pop sounding gospel. Just like Jim Roberts & Norma Zimmer, Guy & Ralna also did “Whispering Hope“. “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and there is only one who can really do this song perfectly, and believe is a great song. I don’t think that Guy is the right choice to take the lead on this song. The A-Side closes out with “The Old Rugged Cross” and it’s another slower track, but I feel like Guy has a bit more of the voice for this song.
“Church in the Wildwood” opens the B-Side, it’s a more upbeat song and they each take turns singing verses. So, Ralna is from Lubbock, Texas and growing up in the 50’s, she was in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition against Buddy Holly – and won. “Peace in the Valley” follows next, and Ralna takes the lead on this one, and boy, I could go for an album for just Ralna singing gospel favorites, because she has such a great voice. “In the Garden” comes next, and Ralna helms this one once more. “Everything is Beautiful” comes next, and it’s a good one for Guy’s vocals, Guy used to be part of a singing duo on the CBS House Party, hosted by Art Linkletter. Guy continues the album with “Amazing Grace” and I do hope that Ralna does a verse in this, she does sing some harmony vocals with Guy. The album closes out with Gene MacLellan‘s “Put Your Hand in the Hand” and once more, Guy doing these more upbeat vocals are definitely better than his regular, slower songs. Ralna comes in with her vocals, and she takes it away. Fantastic vocalist she is.
All in all, not a bad album, the duets, Ralna solos and the Guy’s more upbeat songs really make it. Definitely would like to acquire more Ralna solo stuff.
Catalog Number:
R8094
Credits:
Arranged & Conducted by George Cates
Produced by George Cates, Lawrence Welk & Randy Wood
Recorded at Annex Studios
Engineer – Thorne Nogar
Released:
1972
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