The Talleys did not release any new music in 1991, but in early 1992, the group put to tape this amazing live album, recorded at the famed Christ Church in Brentwood (Nashville), Tennessee, which was truly, “A Night to Remember”! Though I don’t think it was intended, this would actually end up becoming a remarkable swansong for the Talleys, as the album is an incredible capstone to a nearly 10 year run for the group, highlighted by 2 wonderful medleys, encompassing many of their best loved songs and greatest hits.

Once again, Robert Sterling is brought on board to produce “A Night to Remember”, but he played a bit of a lesser role in pitching material as several of the songs were already planned for the recording. Sterling and Roger did work together on music arrangements, with Sterling handling orchestral and background vocal arrangements, and the Talleys coming together to work on their vocal arrangements. If memory serves me right, I think initial talks were to record this at Brooklyn Tabernacle and utilizing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, but I think due to logistics, it was quickly changed to Christ Church in Nashville, and utilizing the Christ Church Choir instead.

With no formal introduction, the recording begins with some low crowd noise, before the audience quickly applauds as the Talleys take center-stage, kicking off with the first song, “Let’s Talk About Jesus For Awhile”. Written by Babbie Mason, it’s the perfect lead-off song, before the Talleys jump right into another upbeat tune, “He Won’t Take Back One Promise”, which Kirk wrote with Phil Cross, and was the final radio single from the album. This is one of my favorite Talley tunes, and I felt that it was a great radio song, but unfortunately, it failed to break into the Top 20. Kirk eventually re-recorded the song several years later, on his final solo recording, “Beyond Words”, which was released in 2008.

As the applause dies down, the Talleys jump into the first of 2 massive medleys that feature some of their best-loved tunes. The first medley, “Typical Day Medley”, kicks off with an acapella vamp of the Dad Speer penned classic, “Sweeter Each Day”, before they wind through several favorites that include “Typical Day”, “Sweeter As the Days Go By”, “Thinking About Home”, “If It Had Not Been” and “God’s Gonna Send Revival”. Medleys can either be a wonderful musical culmination or they can become a disjointed mess…in the case of the Talleys, both medleys are exceptionally arranged and superbly assembled, flowing seamlessly from song to song, and are both highlights of the recording.

Next, Kirk takes a second to welcome everyone and introduce Roger and Debra, and Debra, in turn, introduces Kirk to the crowd. Kirk then turns the mic over to Debra as she introduces her big feature for this recording entitled, “There is a Refuge”. The CD version is edited, but on the video, Debra goes in detail about an encounter she had with a fan who was living in a broken marriage and how Debra tried to minister to her. It was an excellent set up for the song, before Debra delivers a heartfelt performance. Kirk wrote the song after talking on the phone with a high school friend that he hadn’t heard from in years. Though nothing specific was ever mentioned during the conversation, Kirk could sense there was some hurt going on with his friend. After they said their good-byes and Kirk hung up, the conversation continued to linger in Kirk’s heart and mind, and he went to the piano and started writing the first line of the song specifically for his friend…“I know you’re hurting, I feel your pain, you’ve been wounded time and time again…”. Knowing the back-story to the song, makes it all the more special and meaningful.

In keeping with the mood and atmosphere the Talleys had set, Kirk, in his own down to earth, and rather humorous way, begins to share the story behind the next song, “Past Your Past”, which Kirk also wrote. Borne partly out of Kirk’s song, “Lonely People”, I won’t go into all the details of the song, but with Roger playing in the background, Kirk shares his heart about a young lady struggling with deep hurt and pain before he sings the song. At a couple of points during the song, Kirk stops and shares more to the story, and then stops again to make the song applicable to those in attendance, and it was a moment captured perfectly, as only a live recording can do. Though there is some editing to Kirk’s dialogue for the CD, which makes it to the video, it doesn’t deter from the feel of the song or mood at the time. Eventually, Kirk recorded an outstanding studio cut of this song on his 2000 solo recording, “Fields of Grace”.

The second half of the recording kicks off with the driving, up-tempo tune, “God is With Us”, which was written by Buddy Greene, and features Roger. While looking for and picking new songs for this recording, they kept saying they really wanted to find a song just “like” the song, “God is With Us”. Not finding what they were really looking for, they ultimately decided to just record Buddy’s song! Christ Church Choir joins them, and it’s an exciting tune, which ended up being the first single from the recording. The song enjoyed a few months in the chart, but unfortunately, it never quite made it into the Top 20, which I never quite understood why, as it was such a fun and exciting tune.

Shifting gears, the Talleys dive into the powerful worship anthem, “There is a Name”, which was written by Claire Cloninger and Robert Sterling. Featuring Kirk, the song has that massive choral feel that the Talleys were known for, making it a highlight of the recording and one of my all-time favorite Talley tunes, before Kirk brings the energy down to a more quiet spirit of worship. With Roger at the keyboard, Kirk leads us into his masterpiece, “He is Here”, before moving into the hymns, “Blessed Assurance” and “I Will Praise Him”. There is some editing done here, as there is some talking between songs by Kirk on the video, which is not on the CD, but it’s a wonderful moment of worship before the Talleys immediately go into the final medley titled, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb Medley” which features popular songs with a strong choral feel, “God of My Praise”, “No Other Word for Grace, But Amazing”, “We Are Still the Church”, “Triumphantly, the Church Will Rise” and the grand finale, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb”. It’s a huge medley that lifts your spirits to new heights, and by the time they hit that final chorus, the audience is throwing babies from the balcony! It’s a phenomenal end to a fantastic live recording.

“A Night to Remember” is one of the classiest live recordings ever made. No, it doesn’t have the same frenzied excitement and rowdiness as the live albums by the Kingsmen, Hinsons or Paynes, but it was exciting in its own unique way. I was thrilled when this was released and immediately bought me a copy, and it was everything that I expected it to be. The new songs were perfect, and the medleys were outstanding pieces of work. The Talleys and Robert Sterling did an amazing job creating a wonderful live experience that was elegant, worshipful, and entertaining as well.

Sometime after “A Night to Remember” was released, the Talleys announced they were retiring from the road to allow Lauren (Roger and Debra’s daughter) to have a normal life off the road. Though it wasn’t really known at the time they recorded this live recording, I think the Talleys knew the end was coming. Even Roger had a gut feeling that this could possibly be their last recording, and sure enough, by the end of 1993, the Talleys wrapped up an amazing 10-year run! With Roger and Debra settling into some sense of normalcy off the road, Kirk continued to travel and sing as a very successful soloist who enjoyed numerous hit songs including “Joy on the Other Side of Jordan”, “Serenaded by Angels”, “If He Hung the Moon”, “I Start My Day”, “Look Up High”, “Tomorrow” and many others. Eventually, Roger and Debra ventured back out on the road, and by late 1996, the “Talley Trio” was re-born with their daughter Lauren, and before ultimately retiring one final time in 2020, the group enjoyed a slew of hit songs including “Searchin’”, “The Healer”, “I Love the Lord”, “His Life For Mine”, “The Debt”, “Orphans of God”, “The Broken Ones”, “The People in the Line” and many others. Prior to the Talleys final retirement, Lauren began venturing on her own as a soloist, and has enjoyed a very successful solo career, which continues today. Also, for the last 20+ years, Roger has remained a much sought after producer and musician, working with such artists as the Hayes Family, Greenes, Poet Voices, Ivan Parker, Collingsworth Family, Hoppers, and many others.

The impact the Talleys have made on Southern Gospel Music cannot be overstated. They, along with groups like the Nelons, brought a new sound to the genre and introduced a lot of new fans to our style of music. By incorporating worship music and inspirational styles, they gave Southern Gospel Music a broader appeal, which is still felt today. They picked up the baton from such groups as the Rambos, Downings, and Speers, carrying it even further, and today such groups as the Hoppers, Erwins, and Collingsworth Family, and even male quartets such as Triumphant Quartet and others, are carrying that banner onward. While I tend to lean more conservatively when it comes to music, and I have my opinions on how Southern Gospel should be best represented, I have a deep admiration and appreciation of the Talleys, and I am a proud member of the large fandom of “Talley Music”!

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