Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band – Don’t Wait For The Hearse To Take You To Church

RODNEY DILLARD & THE DILLARD BAND
FEATURING BEVERLY DILLARD
DON’T WAIT FOR THE HEARSE TO TAKE YOU TO CHURCH
Rural Rhythm
RCH 2010

This recording is a highly-produced, mainstream gospel program featuring top-notch pickers and the singing of Rodney and Beverly Dillard. This is part of their mission, Mayberry Values Ministries, which they are taking on the road across the country to share the values they feel are inherent in the legacy of that television utopia. The music is all very well done with more than a touch of the Nashville pop sounds that fill the country airwaves these days. A strong program of popular sacred numbers makes up the bulk of this recording. “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms,” “Gospel Ship,” featuring Beverly’s clawhammer banjo, “Somebody Touched Me” and “Heaven” all ring with the certainty of faith unfailing.

There are ten sacred numbers here, all with an upbeat message, performed with flawless aplomb. There are four bonus tracks averaging just less than one minute each. Each one makes a simple point about living a good life with an analogous reference to some event in an Andy Griffith Show plot. This recording will appeal to fans of classic gospel music and the old television shows. (Rural Rhythm, P.O. Box 660040, Dept. D, Arcadia, CA 91066, www.ruralrhythm.com.) RCB