The Talley Trio

Stages
Horizon
Featuring a bonus DVD and several special guests, the new Talley Trio CD has plenty to offer. The attention to detail that went into the song selection, music arrangements and vocals on “Stages” has resulted in an outstanding product.

Three selections give a nod to the past. “Stages” kicks off with a song from the Stamps-Baxter tradition titled “God Is Great, Good and Merciful.” On the DVD, Roger Talley explains this is one of his father’s favorite songs. “That’s Enough” has a fresh music track that was created for a vocal recording Jake Hess had made at the Crossroads studios in Arden, N.C., before his death. Debra Talley is reunited with Marcy Kelsey Beckett for the classic “Too Much to Gain to Lose.” Debra Talley and Beckett sang together when Debra Talley was just getting started in gospel music.

The other seven songs were composed more recently. “The Broken Ones” tells the story of a woman with a compassionate heart. “I Think Too Much of Her” is about the relationship between a mother and a daughter, with Debra Talley and Lauren Talley singing this lyric to each other. Connie Hopper is featured on “Paramount Love,” a lyric that suits Hopper’s vocal style perfectly. “We Who Come Behind” falls into the big anthem category. The closer, “Preach,” has a unique rhythm highlighted by Jason Webb’s piano chords, which often stack up in fourths rather than typical thirds. John Hagee narrates Scripture passages on this track.

This CD’s adventurous tracks are perfectly balanced with traditional fare and the universally appealing vocal blend that is a Talley Trio trademark. Fans will likely consider “Stages” to be among the top releases of 2007.