Melvin Goins & Friends - I Wouldn't Miss It

(Rebel REB-CD-1797) 2004

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This Gospel CD was recorded at River Track Studio, Fort Gay, West Virginia and released 21 Sep 2004. It features the Melvin Goins' band plus guests: Larry Sparks, Dave Evans and Paul Williams. Michael Cleveland also provides fiddle on the majority of the album, with John Rigsby playing on just one track, Voice Of My Savior.

Melvin sings lead on five songs and shares lead on another three, singing on the chorus. He also only plays guitar on two cuts, meaning that he's completely absent from the two songs with Larry Sparks (God Holds It All In His Hands & Shouting On The Hills Of Glory), and one of the two featuring Paul Williams (The Shut-In's Prayer).

On the two songs with Dave Evans, Melvin sings on the chorus to He Took Your Place and lead on Let Me Walk, Lord, By Your Side; Likewise, Voice Of My Savior features Paul Williams on lead during the verses swapping with Melvin on the chorus.

Band members, Billy Rose, & John McNeely also get the spotlight sharing vocals on I'm Ready To Go and John McNeely's Memories Of Mother. The latter had also previously been recorded by The Goins Brothers on their 1995 We'll Carry On CD.

Three of the other songs had also been previously cut by The Goins Brothers, with versions of Carl Story's I Wouldn't Miss It Would You, and Voice Of My Savior appearing on their 1976 LP On The Way Home; and Don Reno's I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap on the 1980 Wandering Soul LP.

The album is pretty average overall, but judging by the number of second hand copies for sale it must have sold quite well at the time. Highlights for me are Tom T. / Dixie Hall's Beautiful River Of Life, Larry Sparks atmospheric version of God Holds It All In His Hands and the Paul Williams' Voice Of My Savior.

James Alan Shelton also wrote the liner notes for this CD, with Ralph adding a recommendation.

• Melvin Goins: guitar, vocals
• Joe Clark: mandolin
• Michael Cleveland: fiddle
• Danny Cripple: bass
• John McNeely: guitar
• Billy Rose: banjo

NB: Main personnel only - see credits for individual / guest musician info.

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