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The Imperials Classic Hits Under 4 decennier har Imperials varit en av Amerikas absolut främsta gospelkvartetter, med ett sound som ständigt förnyats och fört deras musik till miljoner lyssnare över hela världen. En av dem som förälskade sig i Imperials unika vokala kvalitet var ELVIS. Imperials sjöng med honom otaliga gånger i Las Vegas liksom på ett flertal skivinspelningar och TV-program. Under 1970-talet kom Imperials också på turné till Sverige, Norge och Finland inbjudna av bröderna Samuelson och deras PILOT MUSIC. Inte minst i Finland blev deras konsert i Finlandiahuset i Helsingfors 1970 en sådan succé, att man än idag talar varmt om konserten. Överallt fyllde de konserthus och sporthallar med entusiastiska lyssnare, som fullkomligt erövrades av deras sång och scenframträdande. Här är en samling sånger från 1970-80-talet, Imperials verkliga storhetstid. The Imperials have been making music since 1964 and have in that time undergone many personnel and stylistic changes before returning to the close harmonies and straight Southern gospel songs that originally made them popular. As of the mid-'90s, Armond Morales is the only charter member of the Imperials; he and Jake Hess founded the quintet. Over the years, 18 different singers have come and gone, including such legends as Russ Taff, Paul Smith, and Gary McSpadden. Other CCM pop performers such as Jonathan Pierce also got their start with the Imperials. Over the years, the Imperials have released over 40 albums and had 14 number one songs. They have also won four Grammy Awards and 13 Dove Awards, making the Imperials, despite (or because of) their many style changes, one of the most popular Christian bands ever. But in 1987, they stirred up controversy and lost many of their oldest fans when they exchanged Southern gospel and middle-of-the-road contemporary to adopt a harder rock/techno-pop sound with the album This Year's Model. The subsequent albums Stir It Up and Love's Still Changing Hearts continued in the same vein. Morales now considers those albums part of an identity crisis for the band, a loss of touch with their original direction and purpose of singing joyful music and ministering to the church. The Imperials reverted to that mission when Morales brought two ordained ministers, Steve Ferguson and Jeff Walker, on board. Neither had experience in mainstream Christian music and were more interested in spreading the word than selling albums. This proved the very tonic the group 1 First Day in Heaven (1:28) 2 Swing Low/Swing Down Chariot (3:05) 3 Thing Called Love (2:40) 4 I've Got Confidence (2:34) 5 Sweet, Sweet Spirit (2:20) 6 Old Gospel Ship (3:27) 7 Jesus Made Me Higher (3:09) 8 Give Them All (3:36) 9 No Shortage (2:53 10 Sail On (2:53) 11 Oh Buddha (3:31) 12 Praise the Lord | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
