The Imperials Albums (11)
'Christmas with the Imperials'
Release Date 12/7/2004
Tracks 10
Label Word
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'The Gospel Side of Elvis'
Release Date 10/26/2004
Tracks 12
Label Daywind
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What The Critics Say
Synthesizers and electric guitars -- their hippest date yet. ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
When This Year's Model appeared in 1987, there was considerable buzz in the CCM world about the "new" Imperials. Setting aside their image as neatly coifed purveyors of conservative inspirational music, the band's four male vocalists (Ron Hemby, Jimmie Lee, David Will, and Armond Morales) donned leather jackets, laced their hair with styling gel, backed their act with all the musical technology available in the '80s, wrapped it up in shimmering space-themed art direction, and generally sent the message to church youth groups nationwide that this was not their fathers' Imperials. The ultra-sleek pop production, replete with sweeping synthesizers, gritty bass runs, and rockin' electric guitar solos, was courtesy of Brown Bannister, who brought the same big, electronic sound to other '80s CCM records like Michael W. Smith's The Big Picture, Amy Grant's Unguarded, and Charlie Peacock's Secret of Time. As it turned out, This Year's Model was aptly titled. By their next album, the new Imperials had gone the way of the moonwalk, as the band turned in the styling gel and retreated to the safer, church-friendly vibe that made them famous. The album was probably destined to be a period piece, but some of the songs, like the opening "Holding On (First Love)" and the breakdanceable "Fallin'," hold up surprisingly well over the years. ~ Evan Cater, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Let the Wind Blow is a pretty standard mid-'80s effort for the all-male vocal quartet the Imperials. The band's lineup was always a rotating door, but in 1985 the group consisted of Armond Morales, Jim Murray, David Will, and Paul Smith. The music is forgettably mild (by now, all but forgotten) gospel-pop written by a hodgepodge of familiar Christian Contempary devotees like Michael W. Smith, Teri DeSario Purse, and Keith Thomas. The arrangements are loaded with the tinny, cheap-sounding keyboards that dominated pop in the '80s, although "Miracles" features an almost -- can this word really be applied to the Imperials? -- funky bass intro. If you happen to come across a dust-covered copy in your church basement, you might consider throwing this one on. ~ Evan Cater, All Music Guide
'Love's Still Changing Heart'
Release Date 1/1/1990
Tracks 11
Label EMI CMG
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'One More Song for You'
Release Date 1/1/1982
Tracks 9
Label Dayspring
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