Chuck and the Guiding Clouds – Change

Chuck and the Guiding Clouds
Change
J Fam Music, Inc.
http://www.chuckandtheguidingclouds.com/

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

During “God’s Love,” the final selection on their new album Change, Chuck and the Guiding Clouds offer a dose of reality about the gospel highway, and in the process deliver a mini-workshop for aspiring gospel artists.

The Texas quartet sings about performing on programs and not getting paid, but through all the “heartaches and pain…struggles and strife,” they “look to the hills from whence cometh our help.” They trust in God and remember that He is the reason why they sing.  Good counsel.

The Guiding Clouds quartet was organized in 1974 at the Little Bethel Baptist Church and today consists of leader Floyd “Chuck” Bryant, Kenneth Turner, Joe Bailey, Timothy McGee and R.C. Maxey. In 2005, after years of working with a number of other quartets, Bryant reorganized the group. Released last month, Change demonstrates that despite the title and the intervening years, the group remains faithful and true to the hard-singing lead vocals and bass and guitar-driven southern soul arrangement that has defined gospel quartet since the 1970s.

The group showcases its smooth, breezy harmonies on tracks such as “Higher,” “Wait on the Lord” and “Live So God Can Use You,” the latter a song from early in their performance history. “Running for Jesus” is set at an appropriately fast-paced tempo, while “He’ll Set You Free” features impressive falsetto work by Joe Bailey. “We Shall Be Free” is a fiery track with shouting, passionate vocals.

Lyrically, the songs tread common quartet themes of hope, encouragement and faith. 

Change is the musical equivalent of comfort food: conventional and familiar but nevertheless satisfying.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “Live So God Can Use You,” “Running for Jesus.”