A? recent post by Doug Harrison (www.averyfineline.com) included comments made by one of his readers basically bashing all bloggers in general.? (See post here)

Here’s an excerpt:

“……Many of you are obviously well educated and well spoken. It is a shame that you don’t put your writing talents to more useful purposes. You hide under a cloak of anonymity and take pot shots at people who are trying their best to do what God has called them to do. You are wise to have your meeting at NQC in secret. I suspect it has a lot to do with the fact that you wouldn’t have the courage to make your comments to the individuals you castigate in your little blogs in person………In the spirit of this site, I will share my opinion on what part these blogs should play in Southern Gospel Music. NONE!…..”

Here’s another interesting find I found on The Perrys website by Libby Perry Stuffle:

DISLIKES ABOUT GOSPEL MUSIC ON THE INTERNET:
MESSAGE BOARDS AND BLOGS

Are we bloggers so distasteful that no one wants anything to do with us????

Then tell me why even my small, relatively new blog catches the attention of 3000+ unique visitors every week?? I couldn’t even begin to guess how many readers that www.averyfineline.com, www.musicscribe.com/blog, www.southerngospelblog.com? (or most any other blog)? have each week.? I imagine that their numbers are exponentially higher than mine.

Blogging in general is a personal “journal”, if you will, that is basically comprised of the bloggers opinions, emotions, and reactions.? Not all opinions are going to be candy coated, nor should they be……especially those few blogs that are focused on a musical genre like Southern Gospel music.? Overall, I feel the other bloggers like Doug Harrison, David Bruce Murray, Daniel Mount, and myself have the best interest of the SG industry at heart.? Of course, we all have different views, but overall I honestly believe that each of us want Southern Gospel to be the best that it can be.?

I am grateful that Clarke Beasley (NQC Executive Vice President) recognizes that bloggers? can and do play an integral role in the SG industry.? The Bloggers Roundtable, (which is obviously not a secret as eluded to by the reader from Doug Harrison’s blog) is an opportunity for fellow bloggers to come together to discuss issues that we feel are important and for us to get feedback from other industry professionals about the role we play in Southern Gospel.?

What are your thoughts about us bloggers?? ? Are we wasting our time? or are we helping? secure the future of Southern Gospel music?? I’d love to hear the opinions from my readers.?

According to this post by Daniel Mount, I’m a genius.? I did help with a technical glitch, but I’m really not a genius or I wouldn’t be tied to a desk doing what I do for a living.

This is the? initial image that came to my mind when I saw his post:

Those of you familiar with Wile E. Coyote will get this right away……for those of you not familiar with “Wile E.”, here’s some more information.

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.?

justme3001 is currently selling off many different projects by the Gold City quartet as well as some other Southern Gospel cds.? Stop in and see what this seller has to offer.? It’s rare that you see so many hard to find projects for sale at the same time.? If I didn’t already have all of them, I’d be snatching them up myself :-).

If you want to bolster your Gaither collection, then this should do the trick.

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.