Willis Virginia Good Intentions Thought God Christian Gospel Vinyl LP Record VG+

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Willis Virginia Good Intentions I Thought Of God Christian Gospel Vinyl LP Record VG+
Vinyl / Jacket Grade per Goldmine Standard: VG+ / VG+
SIDE 1 I THOUGHT OF GOD (Traditional) PALMS OF VICTORY THIS HIGHWAY LEADS TO GLORY (Lassaye Holmes) JESUS IS COMING SOON (R.E. Winsett) DADDY WAS AN OLD TIME PREACHER MAN (Parton-Hope) THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME (Goodman) SIDE 2 DID YOU THINK TO PRAY (Kidder:Perkins) THE STORM (Wanda Dalton) HOLY HILLS OF HEAVEN CALL ME (Rambo) TIME OUT FOR JESUS (Ann J. Morton) TEACH ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN (Brenda Howell) ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD (E.A. Hoffman) The first thing that a friend would want to say of The Good Intentions is that the group is composed of seven unique, individual human beings. And the second thing is that those indi- viduals have, with much hard work, put their God-given talent and individuality together in such a way as to give to many of us some of the best gospel music and singing available today. They are quite proud to say of themselves that their music is "folk country, done up by country folk." This self-chosen definition needs to be commented upon if it is to help us come to know The Good Intentions. "Country" as applied to music in many cases in the past has often meant amateurish, of low quality, unsophisticated, accidental. Listening to the first album by this "country" group should make the point perfectly clear - and that point has often been made in the history of America where the country has produced truly great men - that rare talent can come out of our good country. No, the very impressive, full sounding "country" music and singing of The Good Inten- tions is an excellent example of the musical talent and native ability which one often encoun- ters when he is privileged to live for a few years among the wonderful people of the Appala- chian Mountains. The sound of The Good Intentions is by no means accidental. The only ingredient which would even look like an accident, The Good Intentions would prefer to call God's providence: and that is the fact that two pretty (and, as it turned out, talented) sisters from a beautiful area called Indian Valley married two musically talented men (not brothers then, but very much so now!) from the Buffalo Mountain region. Josephine's marriage to Lonzie and Brenda's marriage to Russell did not complete the group. Lonzie's father, Rush, was there all along, and so was Coy Keith, These six people had enjoyed playing and singing mountain music for some time. The group became complete when another sister, Martha, was discovered to have the talent and desire to enjoy singing with the rest. The group began to think seriously about gospel music (which was by no means new to them) and gradually they stopped playing the Blue Grass and old mountain tunes they loved so much and began to work to build up a repertoire of hymns. Though they no longer as a group play the secular country music, they all know that they owe a great debt to the rich tradition of mountain music which proved to be such a wise and thorough musical instructor. From the very first, the then nameless group was pushed by local and not-so-local audiences to look to bigger things, to learn more hymns, to "come back and sing for us again." With this encourage- ment the group called itself "The Good Intentions" and began to work long and hard under the gentle if demanding instruction of their leader, Lonzie Aiderman. It was Lonzie, so say the other members of the group, who would not allow the group to be just four singers, three gui- tars and a bass. Lonzie made demands on himself and the six other members of the group until the sound became full and tailored, almost to the point of being orchestral. Not very much has been said about how The Good Intentions are held in such high regard by their neighbors in the Willis Community. Neither has anything been said about what good participating church members they are in the nearby United Methodist Church. And not one word has been said to describe the solid Christian faith which is possessed by each member. Perhaps all these things are better said by The Good Intentions themselves as they sing their hymns; after all, that is the way they have chosen to speak of the things that means so much to them. So far, we have heard only of "the group." But the introduction to the group really can- not be complete until each member has been individually presented. Any person who comes to know Lonzie Aiderman must be impressed first of all by his native ability. Lonzie is that rare kind of man who could have, and indeed has, distinguished himself with a paint brush as an artist, with a rod and reel as a trout fisherman, with a bow as a violinist, or with a flat pick as a guitarist. Now add to this the quality of likeability and thoughful consideration of others and you will see how Lonzie is well qualified to be the production foreman at a nearby textile mill. When a very young boy Lonzie began to enjoy making music with his close friend and cousin. Coy Keith. It must be true, as people say, that they taught one another how to play for they are musical equals. In the group, Lonzie plays lead guitar on his 12-string, sings lead and bass, and does what little bit of emceeing the group will allow itself to do. And, of course, in the many extended practice sessions Lonzie is the one who arranges, innovates, listens and pushes until the group sounds its best. Other things could be said about Lonzie, but before we quit, one thing will certainly have to be added - and perhaps this should have been the first word -- and that is the fact that, among all these other things, Lonzie is a good father to his four young daughters. As a man apart from the group, Coy Keith is a person who carries a generous portion of love and respect for other people. He relates to people easily but thoughtfully and is especially well-suited to perform his task as manager of a textile plant several hundred miles from his home county. The ease and comfort with which Coy relates to people is equaled by the ease and comfort with which he relates to most musical instruments. Coy is at home playing the 5-stnng banjo, the guitar, the mandolin, or "just about anything he wants to play." Before explaining where Coy fits into the group, it should be added that he is the father of an adopted son with whom he is enjoying a special close relationship. To say that Coy is the group's best instrumentalist would not be far wrong. While the other Good Intentions are busy playing and singing. Coy is very comfortably picking either lead or back up guitar. His are the ad lib, never- the-same background notes which give the music of the Good Intentions its near urban folk sound. Russell Howell easily possesses the wherewithal to do the things which would make most men happy. But for some reason he is rarely content. Russell seems to have been cast in the same mold as were the frontiersman who once occupied the mountains he now calls home. He appears to be pushed by some kind of inner determination which causes him not to be able to rest satisfied where he now is. Another way to say this is to say that Russell dreams dreams, and then pushes himself to make those dreams come true. One gets the impression from know- ing Russell that he sees and loves what lies at his feet, but all the while he has his eyes on the horizon ahead. And it just seems natural that Russell would be the father of two small boys. Though he has played a guitar for several years, Russell couldn't be happier than when playing the bass for The Good Intentions. His contribution to the group is not measured solely by the bass runs and rhythmic background he adds to the music. His determination to do better and go farther seems to have been caught by the entire group. Perhaps because of Russell, the Good Intentions dreamed a dream and then practiced long hours to bring it about. A debt is owed to Rush Aiderman. He grew up in the beautiful but rough Buffalo Moun- tain region of Floyd County, Virginia, and as he grew he saved and collected all the best and then handed that on to us. He is Lonzie's father, but that certainly does not tell us all of who he is. To learn who Rush really is, one must sit down with him and hear him tell his tales and stories of the mountains. He is a man who loves the old but also likes the new. Of the Aider- man family the local people say, "I never saw an Aiderman who couldn't play music." Music was in Rush's home and he passed it on. Though he has played for years (both the banjo and the guitar) Rush is not "played out" yet. He now enjoys playing the rhythm guitar with The Good Intentions. Rush's part in the whole is not obvious (and one gets the impression that he wants it that way) but all the while there he stands blending into the music with his steady, "old style" rhythm picking. Now the ladies are not easily introduced, not because there isn't plenty to say about each, but because they are all sisters and seem to possess in almost equal measure the same admirable qualities. She does not really look it but Josephine is the oldest. She is Lonzie's wife, and it is at the point of wife and mother that one would have to dwell if he is to introduce Josephine properly. To spend an evening in Josephine's home is to get the impression that someone very capable has been at work organizing and planning. And to meet her four daughters is a genuine pleasure which leaves one with the certainty that Josephine is a very intelligent and capable mother. In the group Josephine sings low harmony. Her voice blends with that of her two sis- ters and adds the quality of fullness and richness which is The Good Intentions. In addition to singing, Josephine contributes to the background and rhythm by playing a snare drum with brushes. Josephine has written a few hymns though none of them are on the present album. Of Brenda Howell a casual acquaintance might say, "She is meek and calm and easy- going." And Brenda is that. But after that same person gets to know her better, he would want to add, "She is also strong, intelligent and confident." After Brenda graduated from Radford College she taught school for a few years. Now she spends her time making a good home for Russell and their two small boys. Brenda sings in the group and plays rhythm tambourine. Her voice is high but seems in effect to soften and mellow the singing of the group. Brenda also writes an occasional hymn, one of which, "Teach Me To Be A Christian, is found in this album. Martha Hollandsworth is the youngest of the sisters and still wears the family name. She, too, possesses the same qualities characteristic of the Hollandsworth girls. In Martha these qua- lities have blended to produce a person who is comfortable to be with and easy to talk to. She is an enjoyable person. Currently Martha is employed as a secretary at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. If Lonzie's 12-string guitar gives the music its characteristic sound, then Martha's voice does the same for the singing. She is the lead singer whose clear voice serves to distinguish The Good Intentions from all the rest. The members of the group are unanimous in saying that it is Martha's voice which gives their sound its unique character. To order records write: The Good Intentions Route 3 Willis, Virginia 24380 Jackets and records by ALBUM CO. of AMERICA Box 374 Morristown, Tennessee Produced at MAGGARD STUDIO Big Stone Gap, Virginia Cover story- Rev. Pete Wohlwend Cover photo- Tech Studio




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