SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL: TOP 10 FAVORITE CDS OF 2015
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
TOP TEN FAVORITE CDS OF 2015
10. ROCK OF AGES: HYMNS AND GOSPEL FAVORITES- THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
TAKE ONE OF COUNTRY AND GOSPEL FINEST GROUPS AND ADD THE CLASSIC HYMNS AND YOU GET A FANTASTIC RECORD. THE MIGHTY OAKS CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THESE STANDARDS AS ONLY THEY CAN.
9. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'- IAN OWENS
IAN OWENS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BASS SINGERS ON THE ROAD TODAY. THIS ALBUM SHOWCASES HIS INCREDIBLE RANGE AND STYLE. DEFINITELY ONE OF HIS BEST RECORDINGS.
8. HOME- THE LEFEVRE QUARTET
I JUST RECEIVED THIS RECORDING RECENTLY AND CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO IT! NEW TENOR JEREMY PEACE KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH HIS SIGNATURE HIGH NOTES ON SEVERAL SONGS. THE SONGS, PRODUCTION QUALITY, AND VOCALS ARE GREAT!
7. PRAY NOW- KAREN PECK & NEW RIVER
A TRULY AMAZING COLLECTION OF SONGS AND VOCAL PERFORMANCES. THE TRIO DELIVERS IN MY OPINION THEIR BEST WORK ON THIS RECORD.
6. READY TO SAIL- THE ERWINS
THIS YOUNG GROUP IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE UP AND COMING QUARTETS. THEY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM. THIS CD IS A TRULY CHRIST CENTERED PROJECT!! THE ERWINS ARE A BLESSED GROUP OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF JESUS. THEIR INCREDIBLE FAMILY HARMONY HAD ME HOOKED IMMEDIATELY.
5. HOW WE LOVE- MARK LOWRY
THIS NEW SOLO ALBUM FROM LOWRY TRULY BLEW ME AWAY. EXCELLENT SONGS, INCREDIBLE VOCALS, AND A HEARTFELT MESSAGE. BRILLIANT
4. HAPPY PEOPLE- ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
EHSS ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUARTETS OF ALL TIME AND THIS RECORD IS AMONG THEIR BEST WORK. A GREAT SENDOFF FOR DOUG ANDERSON AS WELL. THE DELUXE VERSION FEATURING NEW BARITONE DUSTIN DOYLE IS ALSO TOP NOTCH.
3. FREEDOM- DAVID PHELPS
WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT DAVID PHELPS. THIS CD SHOWCASES YET AGAIN HIS GOD GIVEN TALENT. IT ALSO INCLUDES ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF THE YEAR: "WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM."
THIS CD SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS. CANTON JUNCTION IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF MY FAVORITE GROUPS ON THE ROAD TODAY. INCREDIBLE SONGS, VOCALS, AN PRODUCTION QUALITY. BASS SINGER TIM DUNCAN HAS NEVER SOUNDED BETTER THAN HE DOES ON THIS RECORD, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.
1. A NEW LOOK- KINGDOM HEIRS
THIS PROJECT HAS EVERYTHING THAT I LOOK FOR IN A QUARTET ALBUM: PRODUCTION QUALITY, EXCELLENT VOCALS (INCLUDING GREAT TENOR AND BASS SOLOS), GREAT MESSAGES, AND WELL WRITTEN SONGS. ARTHUR RICE SOUNDS BETTER THAN EVER ON HIS STANDOUT SOLOS ON " POWER IN THOSE BONES" AND "PASS THE TORCH." JEFF CHAPMAN DELIVERS SOME OF HIS BEST WORK ON THE SINLGE "THE CHAIN GANG" AND HITS INCREDIBLE LOW NOTES THROUGHOUT THE RECORD. NEWCOMER BRIAN ALVEY’S PERFORMANCE ON "NEVER MADE A PROMISE" WAS FANTASTIC. THE CASUAL LISTENER WOULD ASSUME HE HAS BEEN WITH THE GROUP FOR YEARS. JERRY MARTIN TUNRS IN HIS BEST PERFORMANCE TO DATE, IN MY OPINION, ON THE POWERFUL BALLAD "PIECES." ALL IN ALL, THIS CD EARNS THE TOP SPOT ON THIS LIST.
Honorable Mentions:
Stay- Old Paths
Sing- The Perrys
Living In Harmony- Triumphant
Aim Higher- The Browns
Revived- Dixie Melody Boys
Rewind- MTQ
Songs In The Key Of Happy- Goodman Revival