The Sons of the Soul Revivers Testify Tradition & Soul On Spirited ‘Songs We’ll Always Sing’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Not just a gospel singing group, The Sons of the Soul Revivers are a bonafide band, its lineup complete with guitar, bass and drums in addition to three main vocalists. This sturdy instrumental backbone only adds to the rousing effect of Songs We’ll Always Sing so that, intentionally or not, the album serves as homage and inspiration to all the stalwart souls bravely enduring the adversity in the world this bizarre year of 2020.

Much like the similarly-conceived and equally stirring work of The Garcia Project on its recent Spirit, A Tribute to The Pilgrim Jubilees exalts through the Sons’ passion and commitment as embodied in songs such as “I Got Jesus.” This opening track commences with tart guitar work ever-so-reminiscent of the late great Chuck Berry, while “It Isn’t Safe” immediately hearkens to the great tradition of soul and r&b songs rooted in gospel music. As such, it should certainly resonate loud and clear in its pertinence to current political-social events around America this summer and, like “Don’t Let Jesus Down,” it may also sound more than a little relevant to the pandemic with which the world is wrestling right now.

That sentiment certainly applies when it comes to communities large and small because both the song and the performance are as infectious as can be. While the vocal trade-offs of Dwayne and James Morgan, the drumming of Ronnie Smith and rhythm guitar work by Walter Morgan Jr. don’t otherwise call attention to themselves, the clarity and stereo expanse of this mix certainly highlight them sufficiently. In addition, the lively percussion presence of D’Mar on “We The People” fully encourages sing-along, so the temptation is well-nigh impossible to resist. 

The altruistic intent at the heart of A Tribute to The Pilgrim Jubilees also manifests itself through The Sons’ alliance with The Little Village Foundation via founder Jim Pugh founder who co-produced this album so skillfully with Kip Anderson. But this forty-five minute LP is nothing if not a well-rounded and eclectic demonstration of roots, as illustrated in the modified blues of “Time to Testify.” With the depth of honest engagement imbuing tracks like  “All Things Are Possible,” Songs We’ll Always Sing ultimately sounds like an overt demonstration of how to celebrate life even when faced with misfortune in multiple forms.