First Call

Review: The Christian a cappella group, First Call, have reinvigorated the familiar Christmas classics with fresh arrangements and sincere renditions of old favorites. Appearances by guest vocalists and multitracking allow for a variety of textures and sounds. 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' will rekindle good will toward all in even the most cynical holiday Grinch. 'The New Twelve Days Of Christmas' replaces the partridge and pear tree with shopping malls and choir rehearsals, and segues brilliantly into 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas.' The shimmering, pure vocal tones are augmented by the crisp, digital production. This is an 'Evening' you won't want to miss!

Songlist: An Evening In December, Medley: Joy To The World/ O Come, All Ye Faithful/ Hark! The Hearald Angels Sing/ O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Starlight, How Great Our Joy!, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, The First Noel, One Small Child, When Jesus Was A Tiny Baby, Lo! How A Rode E're Blooming, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The New Twelve Days Of Christmas/ We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Review: 1987 recording by the inspirational group First Call, who won several Dove Awards during their years together, though unfortunately they are no longer recording. Members Bonnie Keen, Melodie Tunney and Marty McCall, with the assistance of co-producer and arranger by David Maddux, have whipped up a sweet holiday confection. Multi-tracking and studio artistry create tiers upon tiers of delicate harmony, heaping the arrangements full of flavor and texture. 'Caroling, Caroling,' 'Jesu Parvule' and 'It All Began In Bethlehem' are the most resplendent examples; 'Tennessee Christmas' is a backdrop for Bonnie and Melodie's refined and unsullied voices.

Songlist: Caroling, Caroling, Jesu Parvule, Carol Medley:, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Angels We Have Heard On High, Away In a Manger, We Three Kings, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, Tennessee Christmas, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells, White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas, It All Began in Bethlehem, I Heard the Bells

Review: Melodie (or Mel), Marty and Bonnie first got together as studio musicians in Nashville in the 1970s, 'first call' on music producers' lists, a term that fit when they became a much-beloved Christian group. Two Christmas CDs, 'An Evening in December' Volumes I and II, have long been bestsellers in the PAC catalog, but the group stopped recording together in the 1990s. Imagine our joy to see them back in the recording studio to do this powerful collection of a cappella hymns (OK, there's occasional light accompaniment, picky, picky). From the first strains of 'Doxology,' we know we're in for something very special, and 'I Sing the Mighty Power of God,' the richly harmonic 'How Deep the Father's Love for Us,' 'The Solid Rock,' 'O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,' 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,' the title tune, 'O Sifuni Mungu' (All Creatures of Our God and King), 'Untitled Hymn' (Come to Jesus) and 'The Lord Bless You and Keep You' only leave us wanting to hear more. Welcome back, Mel, Marty and Bonnie, thanks for 'Rejoice,' one of the best Gospel collections we've heard, and please send us more!

Songlist: Doxology, I Sing The Mighty Power Of God, How Deep The Father's Love For Us, The Solid Rock, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, Rejoice, O Sinfuni Mungu (All Creatures Of God And King), Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus), The Lord Bless You And Keep You