He Put The Color In The Rose (Pinecastle, 2006)

This is a delightful CD for anyone who enjoys southern gospel and bluegrass. It's produced by Sonny Osborne with the addition of some fine bluegrass musicians (such as Bobby Osborne and Glen Duncan). The Village Singers are one of the smoothest groups you'll ever hear.

Their music can best be described as the Chuckwagon Gang with a banjo and fiddle (a comparison Sonny also makes in the liner notes), with the fiddle taking the piano part. The foursome includes an excellent bass and is made up of two women and two men (the Goad family plus Shirley Lichtenberg). Their singing is the centerpiece with the instruments providing support - no cut-through-the-mix banjo here. Their harmonies are dead-on, and they will stand comparison to any bluegrass gospel group in the business.

The song selection includes some old favorites such as "This Ole House," "The Lighthouse" and "One Day At A Time." Their music may not stretch any boundaries, but it's like a comfortable old friend you can sit back and enjoy. If you like acoustic instruments and the sounds of old-time southern gospel you won't find a better CD for your collection.