In looking at the southern gospel releases of 2012, my initial thought was that it was not as strong a year for new recordings as 2011. Digging deeper, the numbers tell a mixed story. This year, I reviewed and rated 22 new albums, giving just one of them 5 stars, but ten of them 4.5 stars. Last year, I reviewed 17 new projects, and gave out three 5-star ratings and six ratings of 4.5 stars. Three projects from 2011 (from the Kingdom Heirs, Inspirations, and Collingsworth Family), were better to me than any new one I listened to in 2012. So that’s probably the main source of my initial perception of relative weakness for this year. But the ten 4.5 star ratings show that there was just as much, if not more, depth of quality recordings this year as last, the lack of blockbuster releases notwithstanding.
The majestic Lari Goss-produced offering from the Mark Trammell Quartet tops my 2012 list. Close behind are the Talleys, with several of my favorite songs of the year, but a couple too many songs I didn’t care for to make the #1 spot. The top three albums are a cut above the rest for me, and rounding it out is the best album many people may not have heard, from Barry Rowland & Deliverance. Kyla Rowland’s pen + just plain singin’ = a home run.
Without further ado, here is are my Top 10 favorite new recordings of 2012.
- Lifetime, Mark Trammell Quartet (review)
- Love Won, Talleys (review)
- Make Mine the Real Thing, Barry Rowland & Deliverance (review)
- Our Anthem, Tribute Quartet (review)
- Through the Night, Perrys (review)
- Right Now, Old Paths (review)
- The Gospel Side of Dailey and Vincent, Dailey & Vincent (review)
- It’s in the Savior’s Hands, Inspirations (review)
- Jubilee 3, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Legacy Five (review)
- A Tribute to the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither, Booth Brothers (review)
Don’t be afraid to tell me what you think! Comment away!
3 comments
Wow, don’t think i have any of those yet.
Three of your four are also in my top 5 and another is in my top 10. I agree that 2012 produced a lot of very good albums. Some of my favorites that your list is missing are “Count Me In” by the Hoppers, “Believe” by the Anchormen, and “Nothing But Love” by Brian Free and Assurance.
I’ve merely sampled some of these and others I haven’t heard any of. I do own the Booths’ _Tribute_ and thought it was sweet. I also thought _Love Won_ was one of the best albums of the year and gave it five stars (I think). I’ve also heard _Our Anthem_’s two big songs, but I didn’t listen to the rest of the album.