Here’s a short list I’ve compiled for July 4th.  What are other songs you guys play for the 4th?

1. “Let Freedom Ring” by The Kingdom Heirs is also a great song.  It’s from their Forever Gold project.  Steve Lacey is awesome on this song.
2. “Blood Bought My Freedom” by The Primitive Quartet is another one.  It’s on their 20th Anniversary project.  This is one of the few times that they’ve used drums in their music.
3. “God Bless America” by Vestal Goodman from her Lifetime of Favorites compilation.
4. “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood, The Nelons, or The Kingdom Heirs.  What’s July 4th without this song?
5. “Pray For America” by Tara Jackson is amazing.  It’s on her debut, self-titled project.
6. “America Medley” from the GVB/EHSS Together project.
7. “America The Beautiful” by Three Bridges from their Believe album.
8. “Proud Of The American Flag” by The Isaacs from their Labor Of Love project.
9. “I Still Believe In America” by Brian Free & Assurance on their So Close To Home project.
10. “We Want America Back” by The Steeles.  Although this song in it’s day was very controversial with the secular media, the message is very much needed today.

What are your thoughts?

TIM SURRETT
Mountain Home

This album, Mountain Home, by soloist Tim Surrett was released in 1999 during his stint with the Isaacs.  As you may have gathered from the title, this album has a bluegrass feel to it, but is what is considered Mountain Gospel. 

Tim Surrett is probably most noted for his time spent with The Kingsmen Quartet when he introduced the hit song “Wish You Were Here”. Tim has recently began traveling and singing with the bluegrass group, Balsam Range.

As if Tim’s vocals and musicianship weren’t enough to buy this project, he calls in assistance from other top vocalists and instrumentalists from Southern Gospel & Country music.  Other artists on this project include:

• Vince Gill
• John Bowman
• Rebecca Bowman
• Jeff Collins
• Karen Peck Gooch
• Steve Gulley
• Ben Isaacs
• Sonya Isaacs
• David Johnson
• Marc Pruett
• Don Rigsby
• Adam Steffey
• Carol Woodard

Tracks for Mountain Home are:

1. I’ve Been Waitin’
2. Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
3. Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City
4. When I Wake Up To Sleep No More
5. I’ll Wear A White Robe
6. Where Will You Build
7. God Likes To Work
8. The First Look
9. Haven of Rest
10. The Prettiest Flowers
11. Mamma’s Angel
12. Turn Back
13. Wait For The Light

This album is available all over the internet and is also available directly from Tim Surrett here.

THE KINGSMEN
Good, Good God

My recommendation for this weeks’ album is the latest release by The Kingsmen.  To be perfectly honest, I just purchased this album this week.  I’ve typically liked most of the music put out by The Kingsmen, but they have never been one of my favorite groups.  I’m not quite sure why they are not one of my favorites, but that was the reason for my delay in purchasing their latest release.  After hearing the project, I wish that I had purchased it the day it was released.

If you haven’t heard this album yet, you need to get it.  After looping this album 5 times on my computer, I don’t think there was a song that I skipped over.  That is rare for me, especially after the first spin of the album.  I was skeptical of this lineup of Jeremy Peace (Tenor), Phillip Hughes (Lead), Tony Peace (Baritone) & Ray Reese (Bass), but was pleasantly surprised with this recording.

Here’s the track listing:

1. He’s a Good, Good God
2. God Can Save Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime
3. Finished Indeed
4. Jesus My Lord
5. Jesus Knows My Name
6. A Story That Shall Never Die
7. I Found Mercy
8. Longing to Go There
9. Don’t Look At the Water
10. To Count for Jesus

This album is available for download on itunes for @ $10 or directly from The Kingsmen here. 

THE CROSSMEN
New Ground

My recommendation this week for your collection is from a lesser known group.  The Crossmen hail from Morgantown, KY and have been singing since 1993.  This project, New Ground (1995) was the first major recording from the group released on the SonLite Records label and it is still my favorite release from the group.  A couple of the songs charted on the Singing News Top 80; “Sweet Heaven Awaits” and “Rise Above It All”. 

Here is the complete track list from the project:

1. I’m On My Way
2. Rise Above It All
3. Time After Time
4. Man Of The Cross
5. Open The Doors
6. A View From Here
7. Sweet Heaven Awaits
8. That’s The Way He Is
9. Moving Out Of Here
10. Hide Me In Your Shadows

My favorite songs from the project are “Sweet Heaven Awaits”, “Moving Out Of Here” and “A View From Here”.  This project was surprisingly good when I first purchased it and it continues to be one of my favorites.

You may have to scour the internet for this project, but if you don’t mind a cassette, it is available here.  This project was also released on CD, but is a little harder to find.

Gold City Quartet
Double CD Project

This week I recommend this Double CD by Gold City.  It includes 2 live albums by Gold City, Live (1982) and Double Take Live (1986).  You get both classic albums on one remastered CD. 

Tracks from the Live album:

1. What A Lovely Name
2. Angels Move Over
3. On Victory Road
4. He’s The Rock I’m Leaning On
5. No Other Word For Grace But Amazing
6. What A Happy Time
7. Ain’t God Good
8. I’m Going Home Someday
9. Ezekiel Saw The Wheel
10. In My Robe Of White

Tracks from the Double Take Live album:

1. Come On In
2. When I Stood Up
3. Band Introduction
4. Separated
5. Mike Lefevere Introduction
6. When I Get Carried Away
7. Brian Free Introduction
8. Greatest Of All Miracles
9. Brian Free’s Testimony
10. Greatest Of All Miracles (Encore)
11. I’m Gonna Move
12. Our God Will Prevail
13. Cool Drink Of Water
14. Ivan Parker Introduction
15. After I Bow
16. Ivan Parker’s Commentary
17. After I Bow (Encore)
18. Loose Him And Let Him Go
19. Loose Him And Let Him Go (Encore)

Ebay is probably the best place to look for this album, although I did find it for sale on Amazon.com here.

The Inspirations
Tell It To A Friend

My recommendation for this week is by the Inspirations.  Tell It To A Friend is one of my favorite albums ever released by the Inspirations and is an awesome addition to a Southern Gospel collection.

Tracks for this project are:

1. God Is Still On The Throne
2. When Reveille Blows From Heaven
3. One More Time Around The Wall
4. I Don’t Have To See The Tomb
5. Thank You Mama For Praying For Me
6. The Filling Station
7. Tell It To A Friend
8. He Gave All Of Him
9. Memories Of Home
10. Gonna Build Me An Ark

I don’t think there is a song on this album that I skip over.  My personal favorite songs from this project are “When Reveille Blows From Heaven” featuring Mike on some awesome bass runs, “The Filling Station” featuring Archie on tenor, and of course the classic song, “God Is Still On The Throne”.

Although this album was released in 1986, it was later re-released in CD format. You should be able to find this project on ebay or by doing a Google search.

The Bishops
Chapter X Live

One of my all-time favorite albums is Chapter X Live by The Bishops.  This album probably gets more playtime from my collection than any other.  Not only do you get the wonderful vocals of the Bishops, you get them live. 

Tracks include:

This album has recently been made available for purchase from www.eddiecrook.com.  Although the CD from ECC is a reproduction, it is a high quality reproduction, not like some of the CD-R quality reproductions widely seen on ebay. 

Many other older Bishops projects are also available from the Retro section of Eddie Crook’s online store here:

http://eddiecrook.com/store/retro_product.php

Phil Cross & Poet Voices
Trust The Truth

I know that I’ve missed a week for my album recommendations to build your collection but I simply didn’t have time last week to post anything.  Oh well, that’s part of life.  You have to deal with issues that arise and go forward.

My must have CD for the Southern Gospel collector this week is Trust The Truth by Poet Voices.  Not only do you get to hear the group in their prime, you get to hear Mike Allen pounding out those low notes and Tony Jarman hitting the high notes.  Although there were two different album covers for this project, one with Tony Jarman and a different cover with Milan Klipa.  Tony sings the tenor vocals on this project regardless of what is pictured on the album cover.  Tony simply left the group right after the album was released so another picture was used in additional pressings of the project to reflect the change in personnel.

The first track, “I Am Redeemed”, has become a Southern Gospel standard.  “One Holy Lamb” was also first recorded on this album with Tony Jarman, but was also recorded on their next album, Rhythm & Rhyme, with Milan Klipa taking the lead vocals.  Milan’s version is the one that was released to radio, but I prefer Tony’s version from this recording.

My other favs from this recording are “Grace & Glory”, “My Lord’s Been With Me All The Way” & “Over & Over, Amen”.  Here’s the complete track listing:

1. I Am Redeemed
2. Grace & Glory
3. One Holy Lamb
4. Over & Over Amen
5. Trust The Truth
6. My Lord’s Been With Me All The Way
7. Faster Than I Can Fall
8. On The Radio
9. God Of Glory, Lord Of Love
10. Praise You With My Life
11. Trust The Truth Reprise

This album can be found for a reasonable price on ebay.  It’s also available here on Amazon.com:

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUM