Lifetime CD Review - Mark Trammell Quartet

The Mark Trammell Quartet releases Lifetime, the group's first project with Nick Trammell as lead singer. It's also Eric Phillip's first project since his return to the group at the end of 2011. Lifetime is a solid project from the first note to the last, and one that you should definitely add to your music collection.

First, I love the concept of this album. All songs were handpicked because of a special meaning in Mark Trammell's life. "Footprints of Jesus" is a song that he can remember singing with his brothers at a revival his dad was preaching. Mark mentions the influence the Couriers had on him at his first National Quartet Convention where he heard them sing "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" and "I Sing The Mighty Power of God" Every song has a story like that that Mark tells in the CD insert.

The album is paced well with alternating the more uptempo songs with slower songs. It's strong from beginning to end. With an album built around the songs of Mark Trammell's Lifetime, these aren't new songs, but the song selection is not your typical table/ hymns project either. Many of the songs are medleys or at least include parts of another song in them. The arrangements flow so well though. "Too Much to Gain to Lose" contains the chorus of "We Shall Behold Him," and "Footprints of Jesus" includes a part of "Where He Leads." There is one new song in the album, "Way Past Ready," which was written by Rodney Griffin. The sound of fits right in with the album though, and if you didn't know better you would think it was an older song.

Lari Goss is the producer of Lifetime along with Mark Trammell. Lari's orchestration and arrangement is very evident, and I think it's some of his best work.

Mark Trammell proves that he's still the best baritone in the business with standout performances on the "The King Is Coming Medley" and "Too Much to Gain to Lose." Their rendition of "The King Is Coming" absolutely blows me away.

While new lead singer Nick Trammell doesn't have a feature on the album, his vocal presence is evident and brings all the parts together. Tenor Eric Phillips does a beautiful job on my favorite hymn, "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus." Pat Barker gets a feature on the "Golden City Medley" with "Touring That City." And one of my favorites on the album is another Pat feature, "Wonderful Time Up There." I love seeing them sing this song live. Pat also tackles "We Shall Behold Him," not your typical bass song, but it works wonderfully.

Lifetime is the quartet's best project to date, in my opinion. It's definitely one of the "must-have" albums that's been released this year!

Song List:
1. "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
2. "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"**
3. "Way Past Ready"
4. "Golden City Tour Medley"**
5. "Wonderful Time Up There"**
6. "Too Much to Gain to Lose"**
7. "Meet Me Over on the Other Side"
8. "Footprints of Jesus"
9. "I Sing the Mighty Power of God"
10. "The King Is Coming Medley"**

** Denotes personal favorites

Review copy provided