Ishee Out

According to Chuck Peters, Bryan Elliott (of The Anchormen) will be joining Palmetto State Quartet as their new pianist. Since two pianists for one group doesn't make sense, that means Andrew Ishee is leaving PSQ. I'm sure that announcement won't be long in coming now that the cats out.

Ishee is one of those pianists that in the beginning (Kingsmen days) I thought would go on to become a great one. While he is immensely talented, he just never seemed to develop into that "big-time" SG figure. I think his PSQ gamble (that he and the other very talented PSQ'ers could move them to the very top in SG) that never played out is the main reason. Whatever the reason, unless and until he comes back, he will be remembered for his charisma and energy for sure.

Comments?

Top Ten Live Recordings

***NOTE: Thanks to Daniel Mount for pointing out that The Cats Christmas A Capella was NOT live. I was a little too quick with the cut and paste. Thanks Daniel.


A couple of posts back I did a "top ten recordings" list. While doing that, I decided I should really break that into Live and Studio recordings since they are so different and should be judged with different criteria in mind. Live recordings involve the MC and their abilities to communicate. They involve humor. They involve the instrumentalists much more than studio recordings do (usually studio recordings have studio musicians).

So, the top of this list will be no surprise if you read my previous list, but look over the rest of the list and give me some feedback on how you would rate them.



10. Live and On Stage - The Hinsons
This one almost didn't make the list due to my carelessness at the top... This recording and this group certain deserve to be here too. They were a group that sounded great on a studio recording, but live was really where it was at for them. This recording has songs like "King Jesus", "Ain't That What It's All About" (recently re-recorded by Gold City), "I Never Shall Forget The Day", "Sea Walker", "Hallelujah Meeting", "The Lighthouse" and others. Very good and available on CD, which is not true of some on this list.


9. A Christmas Homecoming - Gaither Homecoming Artists
Here is a fine Christmas CD with some of the best Southern Gospel artists at that time. This is the first of several Christmas projects by the Gaither machine, but I don't think they ever did it better than here.

8. Big and Live - The Kingsmen
A tremendous live album that contains many of what are now considered Kingsmen standards. The "Ton of Fun" really put it together here. Songs include: "Ready to Leave", "Wait For Me At Jesus Feet", "When I Wake Up", "Love Lifted Me", "Glory Road" and many more. If soaring tenor and growling bass are your thing, this is your recording.

7. Live From The Alabama State Coliseum - JD Sumner & The Stamps
A very good live session from one of the great bass singers ever. Also a terrific lineup of singers around him. Jack Toney, Jerry Trammell, Ed Hill along with JD make up a high-powered lineup in any realistic estimation. The song selection is also very strong with "I John Saw", "Rainbow of Love", "If It Had Not Been", "Music, Love and Happiness", "The Touch of His Hand", and others. JD's humor is also a major highlight of this particular recording.

6. Live in Atlanta - The Cathedrals
This groups was Kirk, Mark, Roger, George and Glen. Songs like "Rivers of Joy", "We Are So Blessed", "I'm Gonna Live Forever", and of course "We Shall See Jesus", make this live recording a huge success.

5. Greater Vision Quartets Live at NQC - Greater Vision
This is the recording where the best trio in SG history brought in some of the best bass singers in the business to record fifteen exceptional songs. I should mention that some of the bass singers were brought in posthumously via recording. Really, every song on here is good and the weakest one is sung by George Younce. That should really tell you the quality of this project.

4. Gospel's Alive and Well - The Imperials
Here is the first of many live recordings on my list. If this had been recorded using modern equipment, etc. it would probably be the best ever. As it is, there are few better.

3. Live at Murray State - The Stamps
This live recording completely captured what it was to see The Stamps in concert during their heyday. JD's humor along with awesome vocals and song selection make this recording easily a top ten.

2. Travelin' Live - The Cathedrals
Another live project that is simply awesome. Also another recording that if modern techniques were used, it would be even better. Songs include "Blood Washed Band", "Whosoever Will", "Boundless Love", "Homeland" and others. The best live recording by the best lineup The Cats ever put together.

1. Live, Naturally - The Kingsmen
These guys were known more for their live recordings than their studio work. This recording and "Big and Live" give you the obvious reasons why. Jim Hamill could work an audience (and group) like no other MC before or since. The song selection and pure entertainment value of this one is unequaled.

Blogger Comments

This one seems to be making the rounds today, so I will chime in as well.

My first thought is that this is more about bloggers making themselves the topic of conversation instead of the music. However, since we are at least peripherally a part of the "industry", it is all right to be a part of the conversation on occasion.

I really have no problems with either method of dealing with comments. Avery prefers to start the conversation and then get out of the way. While Daniel Mount likes to participate in the resulting discussion. Since "blogging" is not really "reporting" the news so much as giving your opinions about it, there seems to me to be nothing wrong with continuing with the discussion. Alternatively, Avery's way seems to work for him and he has plenty of readers who like it that way.

My method would be more like Daniel's (if I had any comments that is). My purpose here is not to report, but to give my perspective. I don't really see the need to create a completely different post every time a reader makes a point that I would like to respond to.

What do you think?

Top Ten Recordings

A few disclaimers first:
These are recordings that I've either heard or own or both.

There are many recordings made before my time that probably deserve mention in this list, but I really can't include them if I'm not COMPLETELY familiar with them.

These are my personal choices that are all about the music and have nothing to do with cover art, packaging, etc.

If you made a similar list, I'm sure it would be completely different, but I do hope you get some enjoyment out of reading my choices. And who knows, maybe there are some here you haven't heard and so will give you the chance to hear something new and good.

This list will not include "compilations" type recordings such as the "Masters of Gospel" series, "Just Call It Southern" series, etc.

I've decided to include "live" recordings, but debated much about it with myself. I may eventually come up with two separate lists since these types of recordings are so different and involve a completely different dynamic.

10. From The Heart - The Oak Ridge Boys
Many did not even want to consider this recording by The Oaks after their many years in Country Music. But if you give it a listen, you will quickly realize that it is an excellent recording and definitely Southern Gospel.

9. Pillars of Faith - Gold City
This recording has so many songs on it that are now Gold City staples, that there is no way to leave it off. Songs include: 'Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus, If God Be For Us, There Rose a Lamb, One More Time Will Do It, and others.

8. Gospel's Alive and Well - The Imperials
Here is the first of many live recordings on my list. If this had been recorded using modern equipment, etc. it would probably be the best ever. As it is, there are few better.

7. It Comes From The Heart - Perfect Heart
This debut recording from Perfect Heart went on to have the Song of the Year and a number one song in "Somebody Touched The Lord". Other great songs were "They That Sow", "He's Coming", "It's A Fine, Fine Day", and many other superb songs.

6. Live at Murray State - The Stamps
This live recording completely captured what it was to see The Stamps in concert during their heyday. JD's humor along with awesome vocals and song selection make this recording easily a top ten.

5. Black and White - The Singing Americans
These guys put together many great recordings during the 80's. This one is unmatched. Michael English, Rick Strickland, Dwayne Burke, and Ed Hill sound as good as any quartet ever did or will.

4. Travelin' Live - The Cathedrals
Another live project that is simply awesome. Also another recording that if modern techniques were used, it would be even better. Songs include "Blood Washed Band", "Whosoever Will", "Boundless Love", "Homeland" and others. The best live recording by the best lineup The Cats ever put together.

3. Quartets - Greater Vision
This is the recording where the best trio in SG history brought in some of the best bass singers in the business to record fifteen exceptional songs. I should mention that some of the bass singers were brought in posthumously via recording. Really, every song on here is good and the weakest one is sung by George Younce. That should really tell you the quality of this project.

2. Live, Naturally - The Kingsmen
Well, I hoped you realized I wouldn't leave the "Ton of Fun" off the list. These guys were known more for their live recordings than their studio work. This recording and "Big and Live" give you the obvious reasons why. Jim Hamill could work an audience (and group) like no other MC before or since. The song selection and pure entertainment value of this one is unequaled.

1. A Cathedral Christmas, A Capella - The Cathedrals
The only double group entry in my list. I know this is a Christmas project, but never mind that, this is simply said the very best Southern Gospel recording ever. The vocals are unbelievable, the arrangements are (or were for the time) new and interesting, the songs selected are a mixture of everything you would want on a Christmas CD. It wouldn't be Christmas to me without this CD, but don't limit yourself to listening one time a year, this one can be played and enjoyed year 'round.

I hope you enjoyed this, feel free to comment and even give me your list or some you think I left off.

LeFevre Quartet

Interesting news about this talented group (and winners of the 2006 SN Horizon Group Award) being left off the line-up at next years NQC. Obviously it is still early and this might have been a simple oversight. In which case, it will be fixed and they will perform next year.

Any other explanation than the above would leave a bad taste in a LOT of people's mouths.

If you feel strongly about this, give the right folks over at NQC some feedback.

AGM Festival in Dallas

I received (as I'm sure many of you did) an email from Clarke Beasley yesterday detailing the upcoming American Gospel Music Festival in Dallas, Texas.

Here is the link in case you missed it:

http://www.americangospelmusic.com/

The line-up seems more than just good, very impressive in fact.

If they can continue to put together programs of this magnitude, and if they really get the word out and have a large attendance, then this AGM thing might be onto something afterall.