Well eventually it arrived. The new CD produced by the Band and Songsters in aid of the corps rebuilding fund finally hit the shelves on Wed 13 December after many missed deadlines and frantic phone calls. I'm pleased to say that it has been selling very well (over 100 ordered by post before it even arrived) and the feedback we have received has been very positive.

As reported in the May / June edition of CCB News the band laid down their tracks for the recording in what felt like the depth of winter at St Andrew's church, the songsters on the other hand had other problems when they recorded their contribution in July.

Firstly the sun! The recording was done in Christchurch, New London Road, their usual recording venue in the middle of July and the first days' recording was going reasonably well until as the evening wore on, the sun got lower and lower in the sky. As a result it was shining directly into the eyes of a large part of the brigade, so they couldn't see the songster leader! During a drinks break, a contraption was made using spare mike stands, flags, piano covers and anything else that could be purloined and used to block out the sun; it seemed to work. The following evening was overcast so we didn't have a problem with the sun but we did with the neighbours. The office next to the church were holding their work barbecue in the evening but agreed to refrain from using their disco until late in the evening. Fortunately we managed to work around this without too much difficulty.

Matt Parkin from B & H Sound was the engineer for the recording, as he was for the band's sessions and again he worked the songsters hard. Two of the tracks are joint efforts where Matt has married the band's playing and the songsters singing together. Some of the tracks the band recorded which weren't used on this CD will be used by the Songsters on their next recording which should be taking place in March.

What of the recording? Following in the style of Lift up the Banner, our first joint recording venture, it's again one that should appeal to all tastes consisting of something old, new, borrowed and .… .

The title track of Go Tell It from the band opens the recording in fine swing style before the songsters join the band for the prayerful Be Still. The arrangement of the tune of French for the next song, How Sweet the Name, will be well known to most SA bandsmen; the organ accompanist for both this and the final track is Bandmaster Michael Clack.

This is followed by Ray Bowes's My Heart's Desire and the songs Hallowed Be and Christ Calls before David and Andrew Wright bring the cornet duet Deliverance.

The band then play Ray Steadman-Allen's arrangement of I vow to Thee before the songsters then bring the golden oldie On the Threshold. 'Mid all the traffic (aka Shenandoah) has become one of Simon Schultz's favourites since it was published a couple of years ago and so it was no surprise when it was included in the recording; it is followed by two recently published songs Reach Out and White as Snow.

The majestic old march , Mighty to Save by George Marshall, another of Simon's favourites, is included next and is followed by two modern arrangements of old songs, Go Down Moses and Holy, Thou art Holy.

The band's final solo contribution is Richard Phillips' arrangement of Blaenwern and then they are joined by the songsters for My Jesus, my Saviour. The final benediction is the songsters singing The King of Love.

If you wish to purchase a copy of "Go Tell It" you can do so by post from me, John Farrar at 30 Glebe Crescent, Chelmsford, CM1 7BJ. The CDs are £13.50 each (including post and packing). We also have a number of the "Lift up the Banner" recording still available. The CDs are £13.50 each and we have some cassette tapes available at £9.50 each, again this includes post and packing.

© Chelmsford Salvation Army Band 2005		Last Updated : 03/04/08