The Imperials - Back to the Roots

Producer: Michael Sykes
Label: Independent Release
Website: http://www.theimperials.com

Back in 1964 when Jake Hess founded the Imperials, who knew the enormous impact that group would have on the entire Gospel Music industry. There are only a few groups who have been successful at crossing the lines between CCM and SGM, and the Imperials were the trailblazers. The Imperials of today (Jason Morales, Shannon Smith, Ian Owens and Jeremie Hudson) have gathered together 11 memorable songs, spanning roughly 15 years of their illustrious 43 year history, to bring us an outstanding montage of songs that we can enjoy not just again, but as if it’s for the very first time.

The guys turn out some excellent performances of classic Imperials quartet standards like “YOUR FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN”, “I BELIEVE” (Ian sounds like a young Armond Morales on this song), “WE’VE GOT A GREAT BIG WONDERFUL GOD”, “HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME” (Excellent performance by Jason) and “I’M GONNA BE THERE” and they sound like seasoned veterans, despite the fact that none of the guys were born when some of these were originally recorded by the Imperials.

Many people regard the 1970s as the golden era for the Imperials and the guys turn in some sharp performances on those classics such as “NO SHORTAGE”, the haunting Russ Taff classic, “BE STILL MY SOUL” (superb performance by Shannon), “PRAISE THE LORD”, “MY CHILD, WELCOME HOME”, “MORE (THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW)”, and “WATER GRAVE” (impressive!).

One thing I really enjoyed were the liner notes, as each member of the Imperials shared their thoughts about each song and why they chose to record it. I hope to see them do a Volume 2 because the Imperials have such a rich history of great songs and I’d love to hear them revive such songs as “The Old Gospel Ship”, “He Touched Me”, “That’s Enough”, “I’ve Got Confidence”, “Give them All to Jesus”, “Then the Answer Came”, “He Was a Preachin’ Man”, “Sail On”, “Bread Upon the Water”, “The Trumpet of Jesus” and oh so many others.

I said at the beginning that it will be like you are listening to these songs for the very first time, and I say that because the Imperials did much more than just revive these classic tunes, but they breathed new life into them making them all completely their own, but yet, not completely abandoning their original arrangements. And on top of that, this recording really shows their versatility as these guys prove, in complete contrast with their previous self titled release, that they can tackle just about any song and any style and do it with the same dignity and class as their predecessors did; thus holding up the standard that is distinctively “Imperials”. Hats off to you guys!

Special Guest Reviewer:  James Hales (email:  )

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