Gold City - "A Collection of Favorites Volume 1" Review

We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials - This is one of those classics that are sung a lot on the "Hymns" albums that a lot of groups put on.  It's a great song anyway, but Gold City really does a great job with it.  5 stars

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow - This version of the old hymn, is up-tempo, unlike the one produced by Signature Sound with George Younce, or the one that Phil and Kim Collingsworth sang.  The song sounds kind of "modern," with electric guitars and organ.  4.5 stars

There Is a River - This is one of the only slow songs from this CD.  This  one has also been done by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.  The two versions have noteable differences.  The music of this one is heavier, the other lighter.  You probably won't listen to this a lot, as it tends to drag on.  3 stars

Life's Railway to Heaven - Some early versions of this song have a train feel incorporated in the music.  This one doesn't have that sound as noticeably.  But if you listen, you can hear it in the percussion.  The chorus is the best part.  4 stars

Where the Roses Never Fade - Ah, one of those old Cathedral classics.  You've got to love this song.  Medium tempo.  It moves along at a nice clip, but doesn't drag on and on.  4 stars

I'll Have a New Life - Another old Cathedrals song.  This one is good, although I don't know if it beats it's predecessor.  It's not as fast as the version the Cathedrals did, but it's still tremendous.  4.5 stars

Rainbow of Love - While we're on the Cathedral kick, this sounds like a song they'd sing.  And the music even resembles the music from some of their older recordings.  At the end, they sing the chorus again at a slower pace.  The kind of music is classic Southern Gospel.  4 stars

At the Cross - Medium slow tempo, with lots of organ.  4.5 stars
Heaven's Jubilee - Very fast tempo, Legacy Five's version from Know So Salvation is better.  3 stars.

He Hideth My Soul - I absolutely love this old hymn.  And Gold City doesn't disappoint in delivering it.  It has no orchestration, and minimal accompaniment (just the piano)  The soloist sings the first verse and chorus, and then the second verse.  Then the rest of the group comes in on the chorus.  I'm thankful for this, as the version from the Soul'd Out Quartet's album Ain't Nobody had a soloist singing the entire thing.  I think this song would have been better with orchestration, or at least more accompaniment, such as drums.  But they still did a good job.  4 stars

Review:
Gold City did a really good job with this project.  All old songs, with the current group members, and it's definitely a keeper.  Gold City is a very talented group with great songs.  Let's hope that their upcoming project will be as good as this one was.  This is a great CD to buy for those who love quartet music.  4 star rating for the whole album.