Nov 03

Top 100: #48 The King Came Down (Greater Vision)

Release Year: 1993

Album Rank for Group: #8 of 13

Here’s a blurb: In its third year of existence, Greater Vision upped the ante a bit in terms of power songs and arrangements on The King Came Down.  There are some fairly lush orchestrations here, but it still retains a measure of that piano-and-strings simplicity that marked the trio’s early albums.  Gerald Wolfe in particular shines on two power ballads, and of course, the greatest trio blend in the history of gospel music is the album’s best feature.

Knock my socks off: Of Thee I Sing, I’ve Got a Love, Heaven Can’t Be Far Away

Don’t skip that one: Unworthy, Hallelujah I’m Going Home, I’m Free

I could honestly do without: Stormy Weather, The King Came Down

Nov 02

Top 100: #49 Give Me the Mountain (Kingdom Heirs)

Release Year: 2005

Album Rank for Group: #6 of 10

Here’s a blurb: Give Me the Mountain contains the first Kingdom Heirs song I ever heard, “I Don’t Wanna Go Back”.  I was hooked after the first chorus.  This is the first major label recording after Billy Hodges joined Arthur Rice, Jeff Chapman, and Steve French to form another outstanding vocal lineup, which would last over five years.  It doesn’t have the big hits that some of their albums of this era had, but it is consistently good from top to bottom.  As is typical for the Kingdom Heirs, barnburners and mid-tempo jazzy numbers make up the bulk of the recording.

Knock my socks off: I Don’t Wanna Go Back, God’s Word

Don’t skip that one: Sing Shout Dance, Poorest Man in Heaven, When Jesus Speaks Life, My Anchor of Hope

I could honestly do without: Give Me the Mountain

Nov 01

Top 100: #50 Southern Classics (Gaither Vocal Band)

Release Year: 1993

Album Rank for Group: #5 of 7

Here’s a blurb: Southern Classics is the album that launched the Gaither Vocal Band into the southern gospel arena to stay.  It was the only southern gospel album recorded by the stellar, but short-lived, lineup of Bill Gaither, Mark Lowry, Michael English, and Terry Franklin.  This lineup got their foot in the gospel music door, paving the way for Guy Penrod and David Phelps to blow the doors off.  The vocal abilities and production value of this recording raised the bar for the Vocal Band and for southern gospel music as a whole.

Knock my socks off: The King Is Coming, Satisfied, I Bowed on My Knees (And Cried Holy)

Don’t skip that one: Jesus on the Mainline, There Is a River, Sweet Beulah Land

I could honestly do without: Sometimes My Feet Wanna Dance, Sign Me Up

Oct 31

Top 100: #51 He Lives in Me (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

Release Year: 2006

Album Rank for Group: #3 of 7

Here’s a blurb: He Lives in Me is vocally the best-sounding gospel album in the extensive discography of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  The two a cappella numbers (see “Knock my socks off”) were both written by band members.  The majority of the songs are convention-style gospel numbers set to driving bluegrass.  And no one does that better than DL&Q.

Knock my socks off: When He Welcomes Me In, ‘Til I See You Face to Face

Don’t skip that one: We Shall Inherit, He Lives in Me, I Am on My Journey Home, Help Me Lord, There’s a Treasure in Heaven

I could honestly do without: The End of the Road

Oct 28

Top 100: #52 Master Builder (Cathedrals)

Release Year: 1986

Album Rank for Group: #6 of 13

Here’s a blurb: Master Builder finds the Cathedrals in the middle of their glory days, but in one way, it was the end of an era.  It was the last of a string of studio projects produced by Bill Gaither; the quartet would famously call on Lari Goss to produce their next major studio recording, and more after that.  This album sounds terrific, with great tracks and stellar vocals.  There are some very strong songs here, but also more weaker songs in my opinion than on the forthcoming Goss albums.  Bonus points for the great, classy album cover!

Knock my socks off: Sinner Saved by Grace, Master Builder

Don’t skip that one: Plan of Salvation, The Rocks Shall Not Cry Out, Can He Could He Would He, Into His Presence

I could honestly do without: I Just Can’t Make It by Myself.  Am I the only one who has trouble finding the melody on this one?

Oct 26

Top 100: #53 Gonna Keep Telling (Kingdom Heirs)

Release Year: 2002

Album Rank for Group: #7 of 10

Here’s a blurb: The last album released before Eric Bennett, David Sutton, and Jeff Stice teamed up with the Inmans to form Integrity, Gonna Keep Telling is a solid traditional quartet project that really covers a good bit of ground stylistically.  There is an exciting true quartet-style barnburner (“Now I Am on My Way to Heaven”), a mid-tempo salvation testimony song (“I’ve Been Rescued”), a light jazzy number (“He’ll See You Through”), a progressive-leaning inspirational ballad (“The Healer of Your Heart”), and more.  Fortunately for the southern gospel world, the Kingdom Heirs would reload with another stellar lineup, but this was a memorable exit for their longest-standing configuration.

Knock my socks off: Now I Am on My Way to Heaven

Don’t skip that one: I’ve Been Rescued, Come on Let’s Go to That Land, I’m Gonna Keep Telling, Who Needs a Boat, The Healer of Your Heart, Nobody Knows the Answer but God

I could honestly do without: He’ll See You Through

 

Oct 25

Ryan Seaton Quartet “I Cast My Bread Upon The Water”

Although this song is starting to be oversung by many groups these days, it’s good to hear the original bass singer on the song, Aaron McCune, singing again.