Apr 23

Top 100 Breakdown: By Individual

Every single album in my Top 100 was recorded by a group of at least three vocalists.  (Greater Vision and the Mark Trammell Trio were the only ones with less than four.)  We’ve already looked at the list broken down by group, but today I wanted to share how the list broke down by the individuals in those groups.  Because I don’t know off the top of my head in a lot of cases whether a quartet’s pianist actually played on a recording, I only included vocalists here, with one exception.  Roger Bennett sang on a lot of albums for the Cathedrals and Legacy Five, so I made the executive decision (it’s my list after all) to include him on any album recorded by them when he was a member.

 

The dominant figure here is obviously Mark Trammell.  It is no secret that he’s my all-time favorite singer, but the truth is that I loved the Cathedrals and Gold City albums at the top of the countdown before I really knew much about him.  It seems like wherever he goes, he makes exactly the kind of music I like.  While I obviously don’t claim to be in his league or stratosphere as a musician, I do think we’re cut out of the same cloth when it comes to our taste in music.

 

I’m not going to list every album for every individual, because that would be way too long.  If for some reason you want to see a full list for someone, let me know in the comments.  For now I will list each individual, followed by the number of Top 20 albums, the number of Top 50 albums, the total number of Top 100 albums, and their highest-ranked album.  For brevity’s sake, I will only list the ones that appeared on multiple albums.

 

Apr 20

Top 100 Breakdown: By Year

Here’s how my Top 100 albums broke down by release year.  You can see that certain groups and lineups dominated a period of time for me.  I’m looking forward to Steve Eaton’s series over on the Back Row listing his favorites for each year.  Here you can find my short list for every year that had at least one album in my Top 100.

My favorite year for recordings is obviously 1999, with four albums in the top 22 and seven in the top 100.  1992, 2003, and 1986 were also great years.  Gold City released my favorite album of the year for eight consecutive years from 1994-2001.  The Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet has been on top four of the past seven years, and they are probably the odds-on favorite to finish on top in 2012, too.  A model of consistency, the Kingdom Heirs have put an album into my Top 100 in 10 of the last 15 years, holding the top spot twice.  The Inspirations have albums in my Top 100 an amazing 38 years apart, and the outlook is good for them to push that gap even wider.

 

2011

#24 We Will Stand Our Ground (Kingdom Heirs)

#39 God Makes No Mistakes (Inspirations)

*The Collingsworth Family’s Part of the Family, released after the countdown began, would fit in here somewhere.

#88 The Only Way (Greater Vision)

#90 Treasures (Mark Trammell Quartet)

 

2010

#46 Testimony (Mark Trammell Quartet)

#95 Vintage Gospel (Mark Trammell Quartet)

 

2009

#37 The Answer (Collingsworth Family)

#40 When You Look at Me (Kingdom Heirs)

#66 The Son Came Down (Inspirations)

#74 Almost Morning (Perrys)

 

2008

#5 Always Have a Song (Mark Trammell Trio)

#63 Help Is on the Way (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

#77 How Great It Is (Inspirations)

#80 In God’s Time (Barry Scott & Second Wind)

#98 So Many Reasons (Dixie Echoes)

 

2007

#11 Once Upon a Cross (Mark Trammell Trio)

#17 We Still Believe (Collingsworth Family)

#26 True to the Call (Kingdom Heirs)

#69 Look No Further (Perrys)

 

2006

#51 He Lives in Me (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

*If I had it to do over again, Greater Vision’s Hymns of the Ages would probably make the Top 100 here.

 

2005

#38 This Time (Mark Trammell Trio)

#49 Give Me the Mountain (Kingdom Heirs)

#76 God Is Faithful (Collingsworth Family)

#100 Church in the Wildwood (Gaither Homecoming)

 

2004

#28 Forever Changed (Kingdom Heirs)

#58 Beside Still Waters (Mark Trammell Trio)

#92 Stand by Me Live (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)

 

2003

#33 A Cappella (Gaither Vocal Band)

#34 Going on with the Song (Kingdom Heirs)

#59 Quartets (Greater Vision)

#62 Something Good (Mark Trammell Trio)

#70 Thank God (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

#87 London (Legacy Five)

#89 This Is the Day (Perrys)

 

2002

#9 Live at First Baptist Atlanta (Greater Vision)

#53 Gonna Keep Telling (Kingdom Heirs)

#93 Everything Good (Gaither Vocal Band)

 

2001

#8 Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over (Gold City)

#21 Gospel Parade (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

#64 Changed Forever (Perrys)

 

2000

#14 Are You Ready? (Gold City)

#30 I Do Believe (Gaither Vocal Band)

#65 City of Light (Kingdom Heirs)

#68 Perfect Candidate (Greater Vision)

#81 Just Over in Heaven (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

 

1999

#2 Signed Sealed Delivered (Gold City)

#13 Far Beyond This Place  (Greater Vision)

#15 A Farewell Celebration (Cathedrals)

#22 God Is Good (Gaither Vocal Band)

#47 Strong in the Strength (Legacy Five)

#61 The Journey Home (Kingdom Heirs)

#84 Winding Through Life (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

 

1998

#6 Within the Rock (Gold City)

#25 Heritage (Rochesters); I don’t exactly know 100% the release year of this one…it is an educated guess.

 

1997

#4 What a Great Lifestyle (Gold City)

#29 When I See the Cross (Greater Vision)

#43 Lovin’ God & Lovin’ Each Other (Gaither Vocal Band)

#79 Anchored (Kingdom Heirs)

#83 Joy in the Camp (Gaither Homecoming)

 

1996

#20 Preparing the Way (Gold City)

#31 There’s a Light Guiding Me (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

#86 Living on the Other Side (IIIrd Tyme Out)

#94 King’s Gold IV (Gold City/Kingsmen)

 

1995

#12 Standing in the Gap (Gold City)

#97 Take Him at His Word (Greater Vision)

 

1994

#10 Renewed (Gold City)

#45 Serving a Risen Savior (Greater Vision)

#72 King’s Gold III (Gold City/Kingsmen)

#75 Testify (Gaither Vocal Band)

#96 Lord Do It Again (Gold City)

 

1993

#18 20 Inspirational Favorites (Greater Vision)

#48 The King Came Down (Greater Vision)

#50 Southern Classics (Gaither Vocal Band)

#57 High and Lifted Up (Cathedrals)

 

1992

#7 It’s Just Like Heaven (Greater Vision)

#19 King’s Gold (Gold City/Kingsmen)

#23 Pillars of Faith (Gold City)

 

1991

#41 On a Journey (Greater Vision)

#55 You Can Have a Song (Greater Vision)

#85 The Best of Times (Cathedrals)

 

1990

#42 Windows of Home (Gold City)

 

1989

#27 I’ve Just Started Living! (Cathedrals)

#56 Goin’ Home (Gold City)

 

1988

#36 Portrait (Gold City)

#44 Goin’ in Style (Cathedrals)

 

1987

#1 Symphony of Praise (Cathedrals)

#35 Mississippi Live (Kingsmen)

#82 Movin’ Up (Gold City)

 

1986

#3 Travelin’ Live (Cathedrals)

#16 Stand Up at Opryland (Kingsmen)

#32 Double Take (Gold City)

#52 Master Builder (Cathedrals)

 

1985

#73 An Old Convention Song (Cathedrals)

#78 Especially for You (Cathedrals)

 

1984

#67 The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet (Cathedrals)

 

1983

#54 Live…in Atlanta (Cathedrals)

 

1982

#99 Something Special (Cathedrals)

 

1976

#71 On Heaven’s Bright Shore (Inspirations)

 

1973

#60 Touring the City (Inspirations)

#91 When I Wake Up (To Sleep No More) (Inspirations)

Apr 19

Top 100 Breakdown: By Group

Just for reference and in case you’re interested, here’s how my Top 100 broke down by the groups who recorded the albums.  So if you ever want to know how I would rank my favorite groups’ albums, remember this post!

 

Gold City

#2 Signed Sealed Delivered, 1999

#4 What a Great Lifestyle, 1997

#6 Within the Rock, 1998

#8 Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over, 2001

#10 Renewed, 1994

#12 Standing in the Gap, 1995

#14 Are You Ready?, 2000

#20 Preparing the Way, 1996

#23 Pillars of Faith, 1992

#32 Double Take, 1986

#36 Portrait, 1988

#42 Windows of Home, 1990

#56 Goin’ Home, 1989

#82 Movin’ Up, 1987

#96 Lord Do It Again, 1994

 

Cathedrals

#1 Symphony of Praise, 1987

#3 Travelin’ Live, 1986

#15 A Farewell Celebration, 1999

#27 I’ve Just Started Living!, 1989

#44 Goin’ in Style, 1988

#52 Master Builder, 1986

#54 Live…in Atlanta, 1983

#57 High and Lifted Up, 1993

#67 The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet, 1984

#73 An Old Convention Song, 1985

#78 Especially for You, 1985

#85 The Best of Times, 1991

#99 Something Special, 1982

 

Greater Vision

#7 It’s Just Like Heaven, 1992

#9 Live at First Baptist Atlanta, 2002

#13 Far Beyond This Place, 1999

#18 20 Inspirational Favorites, 1993

#29 When I See the Cross, 1997

#41 On a Journey, 1991

#45 Serving a Risen Savior, 1994

#48 The King Came Down, 1993

#55 You Can Have a Song, 1991

#59 Quartets, 2003

#68 Perfect Candidate, 2000

#88 The Only Way, 2011

#97 Take Him at His Word, 1995

 

Kingdom Heirs

#24 We  Will Stand Our Ground, 2011

#26 True to the Call, 2007

#28 Forever Changed, 2004

#34 Going on with the Song, 2003

#40 When You Look at Me, 2009

#49 Give Me the Mountain, 2005

#53 Gonna Keep Telling, 2002

#61 The Journey Home, 1999

#65 City of Light, 2000

#79 Anchored, 1997

 

Mark Trammell Quartet/Trio

#5 Always Have a Song, 2008

#11 Once Upon a Cross, 2007

#38 This Time, 2005

#46 Testimony, 2010

#58 Beside Still Waters, 2004

#62 Something Good, 2003

#90 Treasures, 2011

#95 Vintage Gospel, 2010

 

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

#21 Gospel Parade, 2001

#31 There’s a Light Guiding Me, 1996

#51 He Lives in Me, 2006

#63 Help Is on the Way, 2008

#70 Thank God, 2003

#81 Just Over in Heaven, 2000

#84 Winding Through Life, 1999

 

Gaither Vocal Band

#22 God Is Good, 1999

#30 I Do Believe, 2000

#33 A Cappella, 2003

#43 Lovin’ God & Lovin’ Each Other, 1997

#50 Southern Classics, 1993

#75 Testify, 1994

#93 Everything Good, 2002

 

Inspirations

#39 God Makes No Mistakes, 2011

#60 Touring the City, 1973

#66 The Son Came Down, 2009

#71 On Heaven’s Bright Shore, 1976

#77 How Great It Is, 2008

#91 When I Wake Up (To Sleep No More), 1973

 

Perrys

#64 Changed Forever, 2001

#69 Look No Further, 2007

#74 Almost Morning, 2009

#89 This Is the Day, 2003

 

Collingsworth Family

#17 We Still Believe, 2007

#37 The Answer, 2009

*Part of the Family, released after the countdown started, would rank somewhere in here

#76 God Is Faithful, 2005

 

Gold City/Kingsmen

#19 King’s Gold, 1992

#72 King’s Gold III, 1994

#94 King’s Gold IV, 1996

 

Kingsmen

#16 Stand Up at Opryland USA, 1986

#35 Mississippi Live, 1987

 

Legacy Five

#47 Strong in the Strength, 1999

#87 London, 2003

 

Gaither Homecoming

#83 Joy in the Camp, 1997

#100 Church in the Wildwood, 2005

 

Rochesters

#25 Heritage, 1998(?)

 

Barry Scott & Second Wind

#80 In God’s Time, 2008

 

IIIrd Tyme Out

#86 Living on the Other Side, 1996

 

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

#92 Stand by Me Live, 2004

 

Dixie Echoes

#98 So Many Reasons, 2008

Apr 18

Top 100: #1 Symphony of Praise (Cathedrals)

Release Year: 1987

Album Rank for Group: #1 of 13

Here’s a blurb: Could it be any other?  The suspense has been killing you, right?  I doubt it’s any sort of surprise to you that Symphony of Praise is my favorite album of all time.  I’ve said so on numerous occasions in various places online.  It’s one of the first full southern gospel albums I ever obtained, and ever since that day, it’s been my favorite.  And nothing has really ever come close.

First, the performers: Symphony of Praise features my all-time favorite bass singer, my favorite baritone, my favorite tenor, and my top two lead singers of all time.  All five are not only my favorite singers, but are also on my list of “southern gospel heroes” for their Christian examples.

Second, the songs: This is no ordinary southern gospel album.  Produced and arranged by the legend Lari Goss, with accompaniment by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, it’s just a majestic listening experience.  Five of the songs are a cappella (I love a cappella singing), with breathtaking vocal arrangements.  The other five are the orchestrated ones, and each one features a different singer.  Each one is utilized to their greatest strength, and each one delivers a flawless performance.

Finally, the impact: Symphony of Praise was a major part of the transformation of southern gospel from four singers and a piano, or even a full live band, to four singers backed by a big track.  One can debate whether or not that is a good thing overall, but it’s hard to argue that there isn’t some great value in the types of big ballads that have impacted gospel music fans in the last 25 years.  It’s also hard to argue that it didn’t really all begin with Symphony of Praise.  For the Cathedrals, the album placed them at the top of the southern gospel music field to stay until their retirement.  For Gerald Wolfe, “Champion of Love” put him on the map and launched a Hall of Fame career.  And lastly, for me, the songs have been a blessing more times than I can count.

Knock my socks off: God Himself the Lamb, For What Earthly Reason, Champion of Love, Room at the Cross, Scars and Stripes, Revive Us Again, The Heavenly Parade

Don’t skip that one: This Ole House, Won’t It Be Wonderful There

I could honestly do without: Dig a Little Deeper in God’s Love

Wait, there’s more!: A full retro review

Apr 16

Top 100: #2 Signed Sealed Delivered (Gold City)

Release Year: 1999

Album Rank for Group: #1 of 15

Here’s a blurb: My all-time favorite Gold City album has it all: two powerhouse ballads, two or three exhilarating uptempo songs, and everything in between.  As far as my personal tastes go, it is perhaps the deepest recording in my collection.  No less than ten songs made it into the top two categories below.  Jay Parrack leads perhaps the most lyrically powerful song in Gold City’s discography, “Hide Me Behind the Cross”.  Mark Trammell reprises a 1980s Mike LeFevre feature, “Calvary’s Hill,” and knocks it out of the park.  This might be Jonathan Wilburn’s signature album, containing some of his best work on “He Said,” “When He Calls I’ll Fly Away,” and “When the Holy Ghost Shows Up”.  And Tim Riley is hammering some incredible low notes throughout the whole thing.  In summary, Signed Sealed Delivered is the representative album for this star-studded Gold City lineup.

Knock my socks off: Calvary’s Hill, Hide Me Behind the Cross, Signed Sealed Delivered, When the Holy Ghost Shows Up (We’ll Have Church)

Don’t skip that one: He Said, It’s Gonna Be a Good Day, When He Calls I’ll Fly Away, Mighty Army Band, My Savior’s Precious Feet, Everything You’ll Need

I could honestly do without: God Will Take Care of You

Wait, there’s more!: A full retro review

Apr 12

Top 100: #3 Travelin’ Live (Cathedrals)

Release Year: 1986

Album Rank for Group: #2 of 13

Here’s a blurb: I never saw the Cathedrals live (I didn’t even really know who they were until well after they had retired), so live albums and videos are the only ways that I can know in a small way what it was like to sit in front of them and watch southern gospel mastery at work.  The popular sentiment may be that Live…in Atlanta is the Cathedrals’ greatest live recording, and I understand why, but for me, it has always been Travelin’ Live.  It features my favorite lineup of any quartet of all time, doing what they do best.  George Younce may have been the greatest emcee in gospel music history.  Danny Funderburk could bring the house down at any moment.  Glen Payne quietly went about his business singing a perfect lead.  Mark Trammell was solid as a rock, hitting whatever notes were required of him, high or low.  And Roger Bennett backed them all with the ultimate in classy, yet skillful, accompaniment.  Travelin’ Live was not a recording without mistakes: the big one on “Boundless Love” is well-known, and was fixed, while the one on “Come on Home” wasn’t.  (EDIT: this error is probably only on the video)  But it all seems very real, putting the listener right there in the auditorium, and that’s exactly the purpose of a live album.  It’s a thrilling listening experience, repeatedly taking you up to heavens with energy, then bringing you back down to a calmer, pensive state, then back up again.  Even after listening a hundred times, I can’t help but be carried away into the flow every time.

 

Knock my socks off: Come on Home, Boundless Love, Homeland, He’s My Lord, Blood Washed Band

Don’t skip that one: Whosoever Will, Dry Bones, Following in His Footsteps

I could honestly do without: Glory Special

Apr 10

Top 100: #4 What a Great Lifestyle (Gold City)

Release Year: 1997

Album Rank for Group: #2 of 15

Here’s a blurb: What a Great Lifestyle ranks this highly largely on the strength of two of my very favorite songs Gold City has ever recorded.  “God’s Building a Church” is a thrilling brass-driven number with Jay Parrack taking it to the rafters and Tim Riley absolutely hammering notes in the basement.  It is the quintessential song for the 90s era of the quartet.  On the opposite end of the spectrum is one of the best ballads of that era, “Between Me and the Storm,” delivered by Mark Trammell, this Gold City lineup’s go-to ballad singer.  This album also contains a great country-style diddy (“A Little Down Payment”) a modern, true convention song (“Alone in the Garden”), and a very neat listening experience with the jazzy “Good Old Gospel Song”.  This lineup is perhaps more known for their individual singers than for their group blend, but I think the quartet never sounded better than they do on this recording.  Combine that great sound with tremendous song selection, and you have one of Gold City’s best, even if somewhat forgotten, albums.

Knock my socks off: Between Me and the Storm, God’s Building a Church, A Little Down Payment, A Good Old Gospel Song

Don’t skip that one: Alone in the Garden, Touch the Hem, Fountain of the Father, This Old Sinner Testifies

I could honestly do without: He’ll Do It Every Time