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Take a spin with Golden Graham's choice album reviews

 

 Porter Wagoner Porter Wagoner

18 Grand Old Gospel 2005

Gusto/TeeVee TV-0730-2

 

During a career that stretches back to the late 1940's, Porter Wagoner started out singing on an early morning radio show at the age of 17, sponsored by the butcher's store where he worked as a clerk. Joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and having his own syndicated TV show for an amazing 21 years, Porter Wagoner is one of the primary innovators of post-war country music. Cutting a striking figure in his brightly coloured, rhinestone-studded cowboy suits made by Nudie Cohen, Gospel music has long been a major part of Wagoner's musical heritage. Porter has seen three of his four Grammy Awards presented for his Gospel contributions that remain a part of his early rural upbringing.

The release of the double album "22 Grand Old Gospel 2004" saw Porter at his Grammy winning best, ranking the album as one of the best-selling gospel CDs on the Gusto/King/TeeVee register. Porter's earlier duet singing partner Dolly Parton stated "I wanted to let you know that this is one of the best albums I've ever heard, bar-none!" and went on to say "I'll enjoy this forever…You've never sounded better".

Dubbed as the "King Of Country Gospel", Wagoner's awe-inspiring legacy of gospel work passionately continues in the CD Coverwake of that fine album with 18 Grand Old Gospel 2005. Not only a leading singer, Wagoner proves that he's also a notable songwriter by penning five of the eighteen tracks in the collection, "Satan's Got A River", "Soldiers For The Lord" and "The Bird That Never Flew", "I Found A Man" and "When I Sing For Him". A seasoned performer, the focal point of Porter Wagoner's career and nationwide TV show has been his duets with a fine list of female singing partners over the years. With abiding passion Porter joins his current Grand Ole Opry duet partner Pam Gadd to light up the whole room with the inspirational "Ye Of Little Faith". There is a second duet on "I Believe", though it appears to be Pam Gadd there is no credit as to who the female vocalist might be.

Gospel and New Christian music has been growing steadily over the past few years and has a made its mark in Britain and the European mainland. Porter Wagoner's albums 22 Grand Old Gospel 2004 and the current 18 Grand Old Gospel 2005 will make an indispensable introduction to this spiritual brand of music.