Another look at a legend

Sometime back, I made some frank observations about a true gospel music legend, Jim "Big Chief" Wetherington.

Those comments were not universally accepted, nor did I expect them to be. After all, according to some longtime gospel music fans, the Statesmen were the greatest quartet ever(almost beyond reproach), and their long time bass singer, Big Chief, is indisputably the greatest bass singer who ever lived.

I'm still not convinced of either point, but I have to take another look at the Chief based on a gem of an album I heard today.

Mind you, I still believe that with the Statesmen, the Chief was sometimes careless with his enunciation of lyrics, and especially in his later years, his voice was so mannered to the point where it almost bordered on self-parody.

But I have another take on all of that, thanks to a Christmas gift CD I received from a legend in his own right, L. David Young, formerly of the Kingsmen, the Ambassadors, the Prophets, the Sons of Song, and last but not least, the Couriers Quartet...the highlight of Young's career, to the point where when he decided to retire from the road before even reaching the age of 30, he made it clear that he would not play for another group.

Young was the ultimate fill-in for a while after that, substituting on dates for Coy Cook of the Florida Boys, Vestal Goodman(!), and even Hovie Lister with the Statesmen...such was his talent and versatility.

It was about the time of all that that Young went into the studio with the Chief, organist Larry Taylor, and a myriad of harps furnished by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, to accompany the Big Chief on the piano for a solo album Chief was recording for Scripture Records. Young(who has become a good friend)sent me that album on CD for Christmas.

It is an album that fans of the Big Chief point to as an outstanding example of what an excellent singer Chief was...and you know what, they're right!

The album notes say that it is dedicated to Chief's grandfather, S.A. Swett, and recorded in his memory. I suspect that somewhere in heaven, Grandpa Swett was well pleased.

For the album is a collection of gospel standards sung sensitively, and with taste. And unlike a lot of bass singers, Chief does not try to "show out" his voice, or how low he can go...he just sings the songs, and drives home the point of their lyrics. His tone placement here is exquisite, his interpretation of the lyrics flawless, and yes...I can understand each and every word!:-)

Young's piano, Taylor's organ, and all the harps provide a fine musical backdrop for the Chief's renderings, beginning with "Jesus", and continuing through "Beyond The Sunset", "Life's Railway To Heaven", and "Amazing Grace". Then comes perhaps my favorite cut on the album, the moving "Good Night And Good Morning".

Amazingly, Chief's undeniable talents as a writer(over 200 songs to his credit)and arranger(he arranged a lot more of the Statesmen's material than he is commonly given credit for, including their classic version of "Just A Little While")are not spotlighted here at all...just his considerable singing ability. And on this album, that's enough!

Side 2 is equally strong, with versions of "Dwelling In Beulah Land", "Then Jesus Came", "Blessed Assurance", "A New Name Written Down", "There Is A Fountain", "When We All Get To Heaven", and concluding with a fine version of "The Old Rugged Cross".

Now, lots of bass singers can sing the notes that Chief does on this album. But I'm not sure they all can sing the songs with the same musical effectiveness. Chief as a soloist does a very moving job with some of the finest lyrics ever written(maybe that's why he didn't feel the need to share any of his own compositions, perhaps?).

The CD Young sent me contained a "bonus" cut(not included on the LP?), "Gospel Train's A Rollin'", which sounds the most like a Statesmen song than any other on the CD, complete with unnamed background singers. Chief does it in his best Statesmen style.

I own all of London Parris' solo albums(all 5 of them), and most of JD Sumner's...but I can honestly and objectively say, I don't know that I've heard a better bass solo album than "Big Chief Jim Wetherington"(Scripture SR129)...thank you, "Little" David, for a very swell Christmas present!

It's not enough to completely revise my earlier opinion of the work of the Big Chief...but it did force me to listen to him in a new light!

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