As Contemporary Christian Music magazine describes it, "Nearly two decades ago, Glad's elegant vocals helped set them apart from other pioneers of contemporary Christian music. That vocal sound has since evolved into a complex, self-sustaining life form of it's own..." For those of us in the field of a cappella music it is the vocals which the magazine mentions that are the primary interest in Glad. That's not the whole story, however. You see they really are a progressive Christian rock band. They got together on the campus of West Chester State University, near Philadelphia, in the early l970's. Early on the predilection toward complex vocals with classical and jazz overtones began to distinguish the band.
Glad made its first two recordings on the Myrr/Word label between 1978 and 1980. "The Reason" was the first song on which they experimented with an a cappella sound. It was originally on their second album, Beyond A Star (now out of print), but can be found on the Acapella Project CD. From l980 to the watershed album (Acapella Project) in 1988 they would add an a cappella cut to each album. When they recorded an all a cappella album it was released with some trepidation for there really was no track record in the field of Christian music to suggest success. They were amazed by the sale of over 300,000 copies. Since that time, Glad has alternated recording as a band and as an a cappella group with increasing success, which is particularly in evidence when we hear new groups which have obviously been influenced by this important group. Plus, as a band, they must be considered one of the pioneers of the contemporary Christian music scene.
The group made a bold leap into the secular with their release of the fabulous recording A Cappella Gershwin. It not only set the a cappella world buzzing, but found us listening to their religious work.The beauty of their music is the most dynamic ministry that there could be. It has been pouring out of the hearts of these men for over twenty-five years and has been found on twenty recordings. The current members are Ed Nalle (who has always been their producer as well), John Gates, Jim Bullard, Don Pardoe and Chris Davis.
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A Debtor To Mercy Alone All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name O Wondrous Love Blessed Be Your Name O Sacred Head Now Wounded Holy Holy Holy In Christ Alone Receive the Glory Alleluia Be Still My Soul |
One of Contemporary Christian music's most enduring vocal bands, with a 30 year history of recording and concert ministry, all-male quartet Glad gives us the Christmas gift of "Receive the Glory" (A Cappella Project IV), their first a cappella album in 5 years. These ten songs have Glad's trademark impeccable arrangements, layered harmonies and vocal versatility, beginning with the finely-crafted "A Debtor to Mercy Alone," and continuing through covers like "All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name," "O Wondrous Love," "Blessed Be Your Name," "O Sacred Head Now Wounded," "Holy, Holy, Holy," and "Be Still My Soul"—but the arrangements are so fine, it is as if we are hearing these songs for the first time. The title tune and "In Christ Alone" are lovely and inspirational. Since their formation at West Chester State U in the early 70's, Glad has touched millions of people with their musical ministry while creating a wonderful body of work, 11 CDs appreciated by a cappella lovers of all genres. All we can say is, we're glad you're back in the recording studio again, and don't wait again so long!
Listen to "A Debtor To Mercy Alone in Real Audio.
| 3033 CD $15.98 |
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God Is My Redeemer How High And How Wide Oh God, My God Maker of My Heart Mourning Into Dancing We Sing Your Mercies Jesus, Lover Of My Soul Great Is The Lord Give Unto The Lord How Deep The Father's Love For Us |
Following their success with "Worship and Praise," the Glad quartet have returned with ten more songs of inspiration in the contemporary Christian mode. As always, the production and arranging has a modern edge (several of the tracks feature rhythm samples), and, as on "God Is My Redeemer," invites comparisons to Take 6, with the multiple part stacked chords and vocal trills. The quieter ballads, such as "Oh God, My God," are elaborate pop, each melodic embellishment ascending ever higher; similarly, "Maker Of My Heart" weaves its progression with surging intensity and upward motion. The intelligently crafted songs of Glad are always performed with compelling sincerity.
Listen to "Maker of My Heart" in Real Audio.
| 3329 CD $14.98 |
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May The Glory of The Lord Gloria Awesome God Before the Throne of God Above Shout to the Lord He is Exalted The Highest Glory Alas! And did my Savior Bleed He Loves to Hear our Praise I Come by the Blood More of You |
Glad's jubilent style features sacred subject matter, supported by stiring arrangements that use multiple countermelodies and modulations to glorify the Creator. The result is positive and uplifting and this new collection of original songs is memorable. Layer upon layer of harmonies and jazzy chord extensions, on songs such as "Gloria", Awesome God", " He Loves to Hear Our Praise" and "I Come by the Blood" genuflect and express the heartfelt spirit of the season.
Listen to "May The Glory of The Lord" in Real Audio.
| 3409 CD $14.98 |
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You Put This Love In My Heart Easter Song This Is My Father's World / For The Beauty Of The Earth God So Loved The World Prelude 19 In The First Light A Mighty Fortress Hallelujah God Is My Rock For Unto Us Christ The Lord Is Risen Today Be Ye Glad 3408c 14.98 9.98 Glad Collector's Series Vol. 1 God Is My Rock Easter Song Mary, Mary Just As I Am The Solid Rock Praise To The Lord, The Almighty Blessed Assurance The Reason Mighty Fortress Your Love Broke Through For Unto Us One Quiet Moment You Put This Love In My Heart |
This Is My Father's World/ For The Beauty Of The Earth Sing It ACappella Be Thou My Vision Amen Arise, My Soul, Arise Doer Of Your Word Christ The Lord Is Risen Today Love One Another God So Loved The World Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Rock Of Ages Crown Him Be Ye Glad In TheFirst Light |
The contemporary Christian group Glad is one of the most consistently popular groups of the genre. This "Collector's Series," drawn from their eight-CD catalog, shows why: they've developed their own readily-identifiable sound (multi-layered, complex, big) and they do it really well. For example, "Doer of Your Word" has the easy familiarity and sing-along refrain of a pop song, but beyond the surface the arrangement and production is simply stunning. Vocal trills, shifts of meter, countermelody upon countermelody utilizing voice as instrument-this is their standard modus operandi. Listening to the tracks over and over, one hears them differently each time, as if studying the brushstrokes of a painting individually. One new track, "Praise To The Lord" by John Rutter, is an added bonus.
| 3417 2CDs $19.98 |
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I Got Rhythm The Girl I Love Our Love Is Here To Say Embraceable You The Gershwin Medley They All Laughed A Foggy Day Little Jazz Bird But Not For Me They Can't Take That Away From Me Someone To Watch Over Me |
Glad began as a progressive Christian rock band in the early seventies. Rich complex arrangements and lush vocal melodies have been their trademark. Each of their early albums had one a cappella tune included. As an experiment, in 1988, they recorded the A Cappella Project which was relieved with such enthusiasm that they have been alternating instrumental accompaniment with a cappella albums ever since. Glad singing Gershwin is a total treat. All the standards are here "I've Got Rhythm," "The Girl I Love," "Someone To Watch Over Me" etc. To this reviewer "The Gershwin Medley" is nothing short of fabulous!
Listen to Embraceable You in Real Audio.
| 4404 CD $14.98 |
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The Solid Rock Tell It Like It Is Your Love Broke Through Doer Of Your Word Arise, My Soul, Arise That's What The Lonely Is For Stars In The Universe My God I Love You Crown Him With Many Crowns We Gather Together |
"The Solid Rock" starts the recording and is as rich and lush an arrangement as we have heard from the wonderful singers of Glad. Monophonic phrases gradually give way to polyphonic complexity. The voices spread from one note to multi-part harmony. Then we are treated to a gospel/jazz arrangement of "Tell It Like It Is." Because the style was pioneered by Take Six that is our best description of what it sounds like. "Your Love Broke Through" has a touch of percussion added to an arrangement that feels like a ballad. The percussion is marvelously inventive, and almost seems a shame that it's found on only one arrangement, but as a purist, this reviewer is just as glad. All in all, each of the ten songs are different musical views of the gospel field. They vary from the traditional song which builds to cascades of harmonies to jazz with R&B overtones. Once again we are blessed to have Glad in the a cappella field.
Listen to "Tell It Like It Is" in Real Audio.
| 3405 CD $14.98 |
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Crown Him With Many Crowns When I Survey The Wondrous Cross Sing It A Cappella Christ The Lord Is Risen Today You Put This Love In My Heart Just As I Am Sing A New Song God So Loved The World All Glory, Laud And Honor Rejoice, The Lord Is King My Jesus, I Love Thee |
Rich and lush. Did we say that yet? Well let's just get it out of the way, shall we. After the wonderful reception of the first all a cappella album by Glad, a follow-up was demanded by fans everywhere. Not only will you hear the popular, rock, and classical elements in all their glory but a distinct jazz element joins the repertoire which is a portent of things to come (A Cappella Gershwin). Just listen to Ed Nalle and Rob Neal's song "Sing It A Cappella" and you'll no doubt think of Take Six. Immediately following is the introduction to "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today," a wonderful classical/jazz hybrid. The whole recording is a marvelous mix of new material and arrangements of historical tradition, Charles Westley, Isac Watts, Matthew Bridges and even Theodulph of Orleans for real ancient history! Don't forget now, rich and lush!
Listen to "Just As I Am" in Real Audio.
| 3402 CD $14.98 |
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A Mighty Fortress In The First Light O For A Thousand Tongues Depending On Your Love Be Thou My Vision Easter Song Be Ye Glad The Reason Amen And This Is Love And Can It Be God Is my Rock |
This is it! This is the 1988 album that saw a Christian rock group gain meteoric popularity in the a cappella field. Each of their prior albums had included one a cappella tune. It was an experiment to do an entire recording of them. Thank goodness! You might hear elements of Acappella, The Beach Boys, Yes and other virtuoso male vocal rock and popular rhythm groups but one aspect that distinctly differentiates Glad is the fact that they have classical elements in their music which gives them a wider palette of vocal textures and possibilities. You will always read reviewers use the terms rich and lush when describing the multi-layering of the Glad compositions. These terms are not exaggerated. If anything they are understated. Just listen to that vocal horn fanfare! Rich, lush, rich, lush, rich, lush. There!
Listen to "Be Thou My Vision" in Real Audio.
| 3401 CD $14.98 |
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Lead On, O King Eternal Beneath The Cross Medley This Is My Father's World/For The Beauty Of The Earth Rock Of Ages Blessed Assurance All Beauty Speaks Of Thee I Sing The Mighty Power of God Thy Word Medley Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee Fairest Lord Jesus Immortal, Invisible Breathe On Me, Breath Of God Love Divine, All Loves Excelling The Master Has Come/O Worship |
Lacking sufficient superlatives to merely rave, your trusty reviewer will try to give a feeling of the musical arrangements applied to some well known hymns, amidst a bevy of lesser-knowns. The beginning tune is more than just worthy of attention, it rivets one's attention. The hymn is Edward Shurtleff's "Lead On, O King Eternal." It was written in 1887 when his classmates of his seminary graduating class requested that he compose an inspirational call to spiritual battle. Glad embellishes the resulting hymn with an implication of vocal fanfare in the background, four part harmonies, the use of jazz chording and builds to such a crescendo that it is as inspiring as the composer would have ever wished. That is just the first song! Among the fourteen songs are found "Rock of Ages," "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and "Fairest Lord Jesus." They provide a rock of familiarity so that our spirits can soar into the lesser known and still be anchored. An additional little bonus are the notes which give brief histories of the songs. Great!
Listen to "Immortal, Invisible" in Real Audio.
| 3403 CD $15.98 |
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It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Go Tell It On The Mountain Angels From The Realms Of Glory The First Noel Angels We Have Heard On High O Little Town Of Bethlehem All Praise To You God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen What Child Is This All The World Was Waiting |
Glad presents the long awaited Voices Of Christmas featuring: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "Angels From The Realms Of Glory", "The First Noel", "Angels We Have Heard On High", "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", "All Praise To You", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "What Child Is This", and "All The World Was Waiting". Glad is regarded as one of the finest vocal ensembles in the a cappella community bringing new and exciting arrangements to songs of Christmas past. This "humbug repellent" will bring joy to your home and create a harmonious atmosphere to all those who hear.
Listen to Go Tell It On The Mountain in Real Audio.
| 2262 CD $14.98 |
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Glory to God O Come, O Come, Emmauel Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Starlight Joy to the World Rise Up Night, Shepherd, and Follow For Unto Us Starlight O Come, All Ye Faithful One Quiet Moment In the First Light Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav’nly Light |
As one of the best-known and best-selling Contemporary Christian groups, the Glad quintet's tone is warm, full and open. With many arrangements by Bob Kauflin, and other gifted scribes such as Dave Maddux, the traditional holiday carol songlist is infused with added spirit. To a certain extent, as on "Joy to The World," the group re-writes the material, melodically and harmonically, so that it's tantamount to a new composition. Whether one approves of these liberties or not, one cannot argue the creativity, expertise and emotion that pervades everything they lay to tape. An a cappella Christian classic!
Listen to Starlight in Real Audio.
| 3404 CD $14.98 |
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