When you hear the
name Rev. Andrew Cheairs, you immediately think of one of the hardest
singing minister in gospel music. You also remember the phrase -
"I Belong To The Noisy Crew." Who can forget the Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbrids' classic recording "Move For The Lord."
Well,
Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbirds are back and ready to minister
to you. Their new CD is titled Make Up Your Mind. Scriptures
reference for this exciting project are Joshua 24:15 and I King 18:21. In Joshua we are told “ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to
you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether
the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the LORD." And in I King “Elijah went before
the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If
the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the
people said nothing.”
In other words, it is time to Make Up Your Mind who you
will serve. The Songbirds give us twelve (12) songs that clearly
minister to you in a manner that will have you realizing that there is
only one choice to make and that is choosing to serve our Lord and
Savior. As you listen to this new CD, you will conclude that
“God Will Provde” and that “Living For Jesus” is the right thing to
do.
This is the Songbirds' fourth nationally released project. In 1997,
they released
Live In Mississippi. In 1999, we were treated to more of
the Songbirds with the release of
He Will Provide. In 2003, they
released one of their best recordings to date –
I’ve Been There. And
now in 2006, they bless us with the release of
Make Up Your Mind. This
project, like several of the previous ones, was released on the
group's own label - Emmanuel Records.
One of the first thing you will notice when you put this CD
or DVD into the player is
the energy that the group brings to the project. Secondly, you will notice that the group has stayed true to their roots – Traditional Gospel Quartet Music. And probably more
importantly, you will realize that this project really ministers to you.
This new CD and DVD are bound to place Rev. Andrew
Cheairs and The Songbirds in greater demand for concerts. You do
not want to miss them when they are ministering in a city near you.
Over the next twelve days we will review a different song from the project. Starting
August 1, 2006, a clip from a different song will be added through
August
12, 2006.
The songs -
We begin with “My
Last Time” – a very powerful song and a great song to begin this
live recording. This song immediately lets you know that you are in
for an awesome live recording. The song is everything you would expect
from The Songbirds.
Get ready to clap
your hands and start rocking from side-to-side with the Songbirds as they
remind you that “God
Will Provide.” This is the second track on this
project. It is one of the songs that will cause you to want to ‘see’
Rev. Cheairs and The Songbirds performing it on stage. So, don’t
be surprise if midway through this song you stop the CD and start
playing the DVD.
Randy Polk shares the
lead duties with Rev. Cheairs on
Run On. Rev. Cheairs is
one of the best balladeers in gospel music today. This song, with a
powerful message, showcases that talent.
All Right was written
by Harvey Watkins, Jr. The song simply says no matter what is going on
in your life, it will be All Right. This ballad will have you in tears. This fact is confirmed by seeing many in the congregation wiping their
eyes. What a great song.
The tempo picks
back up with
Down
Through The Years. Rev. Cheairs’ Church choir joins the group in
the singing of this song. The choir adds a heighten dimension to
this song. This is a great example of how a choir can in fact
compliment a gospel quartet group in the rendition of a song.
The title track,
Make Up Your
Mind, is next. The song is actually a challenge to all
nonbelievers and backsliders to do the right thing - make up your
mind to turn your life over to God and serve God now.
Anjelina Cheairs
takes over lead duty on
It’s A Blessing. With much finesse
she rejoice in the knowing that it is a blessing just being in the
service one more time.
No Wrong is divided
into 2 tracks. This is one of those songs in gospel music that
will never grow old. Although previously recorded by The
Songbirds, this live recording has a freshness to it that just
enhances your appreciation for the song. This song also showcases
Rev. Cheairs' storytelling ability.
No Wrong, part 2,
is the culmination of a great song. On the video there is no
part one and two of this song, you hear and see the song, without
interruption, from start to finish. Apparently, the song was
divided on the CD to make it easier for radio airplay.
Living for Jesus
has a unique arrangement to it. Some groups will use the
phase “lets go to folk fellows” for a song that will really have the
congregation moving. The late Willie Neal Johnson was known to do so
often. The only thing missing in this song is Rev. Cheairs
shouting “let’s go to work.” This song will surely have you on
your feet.
Grace Brought Me,
a slow and thought provoking ballad, is a great song to mediate on
while reflecting on all that you have gone through in life. It reminds
you that it was Grace that brought you through many of your trials
and tribulations.
The final song on
the CD is
Wind Beneath My Wings. In the
liner notes it is describe as a “fan tribute.” You will not
find this song on the DVD. In stead, there is a tribute to
Rev. Cheairs’ father that is actually a collection of a verse or two
of some of the songs on the CD.
*****
To purchase your copy of this CD
or DVD contact
Emmanuel Records, 1665 Jason Way City, Byhalia, Mississippi, 38611, or
Maurice Cheairs, VP of Emmanuel Records, at (901)
412-1140, or Ebony Myles, Director of Marketing and Promotions, at (419)
236-3579, or click
Make Up Your Mind.
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