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2006 National Releases Overview | ||||
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Last year was another banner year for gospel quartet music and the major labels. MALACO gave us The Caravans’ live recording. The CD is bound to become a collector’s item. For, it has been over forty (40) years since the members of the group collectively recorded together. MCG delivered an outstanding project on The Legendary Dixie Hummingbirds. Mr. Ira Tucker and the guys took us on a musical history journey spanning the life of the Birds. EMI Gospel label released the highly anticipated CD on Darrell McFadden and The Disciples. And, there are numerous other projects that made it to the marketplace from the major labels in 2006. It certainly appears that gospel quartet is live and well at the major labels.
As to the reviews, we began 2006 with The Racy Brothers. It was seven years between The Racy Brothers' self-titled project and their 2004 release “I Won’t Forget.” Within a year of “I Won’t Forget” the brothers were back with “There's Not a Friend - Live in Little Rock.” There is a lot of energy on this recording. While listening to the CD, you do feel that you are sitting at the concert. It is obvious that the brothers are enjoying the recording as much as the audience. As is the case with prior recordings from the brothers, this release features a great variety while still staying in the bounds of the current era’s definition of traditional gospel music.
February’s review was that of the highly anticipated new release by the Bishop – Darrell McFadden and The Disciples. The project was released on January 10, 2006, and has rapidly become a favorite, not only among gospel quartet music fans, but of the general music buying public. This is a toe-tapping, foot stomping, hand clapping good old revival song service on CD. This CD will be in heavy airplay rotation for years to come. The title of the CD is “I’ve Got A Right,” and on this one the Bishop definitely got it RIGHT!
In March, we reviewed the project from the soft spoken falsetto voice of The Williams Brothers, Henry Green. The CD is titled Mr. Green’s Session. This is an outstanding CD. Not because Green (as Mr. Green is affectionately called) sings; because he really does very little signing on the CD; but because of the many exceptional artists that contribute their talents to this project. Green has a prelude and 2 interludes on the CD that essentially set the tone for the listener to better understand his place in gospel music history.
In April, we reviewed the CD from a group that transitioned from independent artists to national artists, none other than Endurance. Their new CD is titled He’ll Make A Way. We really liked this CD. It is still one of our favorites from 2006. This is one CD that will be hard to put down. Endurance has incorporated traditional gospel music with rhythm and blues arrangements that really make this a must have CD. The harmony is very, very tight. These guys really have reached deep down within themselves and their efforts culminated in giving us an exceptional CD.
For the month of May took a look at one of the best female vocalist in gospel quartet music today, Leomia Boyd. With over 11 prior recordings to her billing, the new project by Leomia Boyd titled On Time is worthy of all the accolades it is sure to garner. On this new project, she moves through each song with such finesse and ease until you are left wanting more. There is a common theme to each of the songs. The theme being, God is always on time and that God’s response to the situations you find yourself in is never late. The project was produced by Hi-Lites Music Ministry. Therefore, Daryl Henley and Doc McKenzie’s contributions can be heard throughout the entire project.
In June we showcased Keith Wonderboy Johnson and the Spiritual Voices. There new CD is titled Just Being Me. You can always depend on hard hitting gospel quartet music from Keith. And that is what you get with this new project. It seems that each of Keith’s CD takes you to another level. The bar has been definitely raised several notches with this CD. There are 13 selections on this CD. And, like the project Send A Revival, this release is representative of the Spiritual Voices' unique style to which their fans have become accustomed.
Bill Pinkney & The Gospel Drifters’ I Found The Lord was the subject of the July review. This group has gone through various name changes from Bill Pinkney’s Gospel Drifters, to Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters, to Bill Pinkney & The Original Drifters, to Bill PInkney & The Gospel Drifters. Irrespective of what name the group uses, all of their gospel recordings are outstanding. I Found The Lord, begins with Mr. Pinkney moving, as only he can, from bass to tenor on “I Found The Lord.” Reggie Funderburk sing lead on most of the other songs, except "Walk Around Heaven," which is led by Jeff Hall. Jeff is a natural falsetto. His singing top on this song is just extraordinary. This is one of the best recordings of this song since it was recorded by Paul Beasley.
In August, we reviewed the compilation CD by Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s titled Soulful Healing. In describing this new offering, Mr. James Bullard of MCG Records states that Soulful Healing "is a collection of songs that will touch your heart and heal your soul.” This CD could have very well been titled the Best of Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s. There is one previously not released song on the CD, “When You Gonna Wake Up.” This song was written by Bob Dylan.
When you hear the name Rev. Andrew Cheairs, you immediately think of one of the hardest singing minister in gospel music. You also remember the phrase - "I Belong To The Noisy Crew." Rev. Andrew Cheairs & The Songbirds’ Make Up Your Mind was the subject of our September review. Interestingly, the scripture references for this exciting project (Joshua 24:15 and I King 18:21) are actually stated on the front of the CD cover. In Joshua we are told “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." And in I King “Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.” In other words, it is time to Make Up Your Mind who you will serve.
The quintessential group by which gospel music is defined, The Dixie Humming Birds, new CD, which is appropriately titled Still…Keepin’ It Real – The Last Man Standing, was reviewed in October. The title is a great statement that really summarizes what the CD embodies. This group has been delivering great songs to the world for over 78 years. During that time the group’s personnel have changed. One constant, however, has been Mr. Ira Tucker. Thus, “The Last Man Standing” rightfully applies to this legend. This new offering is solidly footed in traditional gospel music. The Birds are indeed “Still. . . Keepin It Real.” As stated above, the CD is “a musical history journey spanning the life of the Birds.”
What a pleasure it was to review The Caravans’ Pave The Way in November. After forty (40) years The Caravans blessed us with a new recording. The storyteller, Dorothy Norwood, aptly tells how the Caravans paved the way for, not only female gospel signers, but gospel singers throughout the world. In the bio provided by MALCO Music Group it is stated that “Albertina Walker, the “Queen of Gospel Music”, is reunited with her royal court of Gospel superstars on the . . . CD “Paved The Way” with three other anointed, living legends from The Caravans, who are Dorothy Norwood, “The World’s Greatest Gospel Storyteller”, Deloris Washington, “The Sweet Songbird” of Gospel, and Inez Andrews “The High Priestess” of Gospel music. This all-star edition of The Caravans recorded a classic new CD that includes 6 new songs and 7 gospel standards, including The Caravan’s legendary hit: “Mary Don’t You Weep.” This excerpt summaries what this new CD is all about. What a powerful project.
We ended the year by going to the state of Louisiana, and introduced to some and presented to others The Mighty Supremes. Their 2005 recording titled Awesome God, “LIVE” is indeed “awesome.” Although the CD was recorded in 2005, it has basically been “on the self.” The project was recently picked up by one of the fastest growing gospel music label – Low Rush Music, LLC. This is a live recording and you can feel the energy from the congregation when the services begin and from the group throughout the recording.
As you can see, just from the twelve (12) CDs reviewed, 2006 was a great year for traditional gospel music.
Below you will find the Gloryland Gospel's top 5 picks of the year 2006 and the top 15 national groups to watch in 2007. This list is in no way all inclusive, however if you're really looking for the best of the best you will definitely want to add these recordings to your quartet library. God Bless and we look forward to great releases from the major labels in 2007.
Top 5 National Releases of 2006
1. Darrell McFadden & The Disciples "I've Got
A
Right"
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