Teddy Cross Family Healing Volume I CD Review

Teddy Cross

Family Healing Vol. I

When you mention the name Teddy Cross immediately you think of The Gospel Keynotes. A mainstay with the Keynotes for many years, Teddy Cross continued the group the New Keynotes after the death of the legendary Willie Neal Johnson. Their project The Legend's Dream Lives continues to be a favorite among gospel quartet fans. Teddy, who by the way is a minister, also for a brief moment had his own group, Teddy Cross & Master’s Choice. Their project was vintage Keynotes.

Now Teddy, who continues to tour with The New Gospel Keynotes, brings us his solo project titled “Family Healing, Volume I.” This project has been in the works for many years. It is now in the marketplace. It was well worth the wait for this project. Therefore, this month we spotlight Family Healing, Volume I.

Teddy has called upon several of the best recording artists in gospel music to appear with him on this project. Bishop Paul Morton joins Teddy in “Through Prayer.” Bishop Neal Robinson joins him on “Lift Jesus.” And the legendary Paul Beasley is called upon to share the lead duties on “Heal The Land.”

Teddy’s daughter Chiquita Cross shares the lead on “I Gave It All To You.” In addition, Beatrice Cross can be heard on “Battle Ax.”

The project begins with the upbeat “Stand Up.” This is a good song and will probably get the most airplay. However, besides Heal The Land, one of the best songs on the project is “My Father Watches Over Me.” This is an upbeat version of Clara Ward and The Ward Singers' “I Trust In God.” Teddy’s version should once again have choirs and others across the country singing this song.

The drive song on the project is “See What The Lord Has Done.” This is one of those songs that have been recorded by many singers. However, Teddy puts his signature to his version of the song. It is really a great song. It is also one of the songs that keep reminding you that this project is really “quartet.” For at times, the style of some of the songs may have you thinking that the project is contemporary.

Well, with songs like “See What The Lord Has Done, My Father Watches Over Me, and Stand Up, you realize that this project is by a very good gospel quartet singer that has given you much more than you expected. For instance the song Hold On, at times, sounds more like a choral in the background instead of the traditional 4-part harmony one may expect. And this is certainly not The Christainaires or Doc McKenzie and The Hi-Lites’ “Hold On.”

There are 15 songs on this project with a lead-in to the song “It’s Good.” Therefore, the project has 16 tracks. The final track is one that married couples should play over and over. The title is “Happy Anniversary.” It is a Christian expression of the love that should exist between married couples. It will probably not get any radio airplay, but the song is definitely one that you will want to listen to each year as you celebrate your anniversary.

This much anticipated project by Minister Teddy Cross is on the whole a great recording. While it does not sound like anything he has done with the Gospel Keynotes, that is a good thing. It is a breath of fresh air to have a solo project from someone that is identified with a group and yet the new project does not sound like the group. The project does at times seem to show two different styles, but the traditional gospel quartet sound is in full effect from track one to sixteen. With that said, we give Teddy Cross "Family Healing, Volume I" a solid 8 out of 10. To order this project click “Family Healing, Volume I." Click on the title to hear the slow, very smooth and thought provoking “Heal The Land.”

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