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Producer:  Mike Pillow/James Pearson/Corey Pearson
Label:  Gospel Heritage Records
Website:  www.diplomatsqt.com

I have heard their name over the course of several years, but this was my introduction to the music of the Diplomats.  I consider their music to be a cross between the old Sego Brothers & Naomi and Happy Goodman Family, but with a bit of the Perrys thrown in.  Maybe you could call it the New-Old School sound, with a down home, campmeeting flare.

Starting off with the uptempo, "I BELIEVE", the songs leads very well into the classic, "WON’T IT BE WONDERFUL THERE".  Things slow down for the reflective, "WHEN I LOOK AT THE CROSS" and the Dottie Rambo classic, "THE HOLY HILLS" (which features a nice country feel to it) before the pace picks back up for the energetic title song, "DOWN TO THE RIVER".

It was nice to hear the Rusty Goodman classic "WAIT’LL YOU SEE MY BRAND NEW HOME", which fits the Diplomats like a glove.  This is actually my favorite song on the recording.

The country tinged, "IF I’M STILL HERE" is next before moving on to the old quartet standard, "I’M WINGING MY WAY".  This is probably the weakest song vocally, on this recording, while the jubilant, "WHEN I GOT UP," offers up one of their strongest performances, before things close out with the Goodman favorite, "HALLELUJAH".

Fans, like myself, who do enjoy the "old school sound", will probably really enjoy the Diplomats.  In a way, I felt cheated because though you get the standard 10 songs, the recording runs just a hair over 28 minutes and with half the songs under 3 minutes in length (and two of those under 2 minutes), it does make for a very short recording.  The song selection is good, vocals are good, tracks are good…the overall quality of the whole recording is adequate, but where there may be some thing’s lacking, the group more than makes up for it with their powerful vocals and heartfelt singing.  I am glad I finally got to hear this group; this will be a recording I will be enjoying for a long time to come and I look forward to hearing a lot more from these guys.

Personal Favs: I BELIEVE; WHEN I LOOK AT THE CROSS; THE HOLY HILLS; WAIT’LL YOU SEE MY BRAND NEW HOME; WHEN I GOT UP

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