A cappella gospel is a Southern tradition, and a tradition that has lived on in the music of a number of traditionally minded musicians -- especially bluegrass musicians -- over the years. While groups occasionally specialize in the form, most are satisfied to include an a cappella number to show off their vocal prowess and express their religious faith.
Feel Like My Time Ain't Long collects 15 a cappella gospel favorites from Rebel's vaults and includes both well-known performers like
Ralph Stanley and
Blue Highway along with a number of lesser known ones like
Appalachian Express and
the Marshall Family.
The Forbes Family delivers the fabulous title cut. "Feel Like My Time Ain't Long" has never sounded fresher, with the family taking a complicated four-way arrangement and making it sound simple and beautiful. Several of these cuts go back to the '70s, when
Doyle Lawson -- later to specialize in a cappella singing -- was still a member of
the Country Gentlemen and
Ralph Stanley was still performing with
Keith Whitley. The real revelations here, however, are the names who may be less familiar like the Forbes Family and
the Marshall Family.
Feel Like My Time Ain't Long is a rock-solid collection that will please anyone who loves gospel, bluegrass, and traditional music. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.