Comments on: SoGospelNews announces Ovation Awards

By: quartet-man

quartet-man — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:47:27 +0000

I did think that Gold City’s CD was a bit more progressive than lots of SG projects, but not overly so. I actually think Truth Is Marching on is best by Gold City. I really like the Talleys and Legacy Five, but I feel like Gold City nailed it and owns this song.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:32:08 +0000

Mary,

I would tend to agree, with one addition. People in the area tend to like two types of music: The old music, and music that sounds like the old music.

By: SoGospelNews

SoGospelNews — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:14:42 +0000

I don’t know any organization that forces the “new stuff” onto the public by showing favoritism to it in the press. But, in all honesty, the press is going to give more attention to those groups or items that are selling the most or are currently “hot.” If that means it is a style or a group that you aren’t personally sold on, that’s unfortunate, but still the truth.

I watch commercials everyday for TV shows that are currently the hottest or most watched, but not my favorite. TV stations would be remiss if they didn’t give the most attention to what is the current “hot” item. The same thing applies to SG news organizations or magazines.

By: Mary St.Clair

Mary St.Clair — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:42:38 +0000

A huge majority of people (here in North-Central Ohio, and I’m sure there are many everywhere) love the old music.I say don’t force the new stuff they can’t relate to down their throats by heavily playing it on the raido and showing favoritism to it in the SG press.
But I guess that’s all detirmined by what groups have the most money to spend on promotions.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:08:44 +0000

Good words, Deon. I have probably 50 Statesmen albums and probably 80 Blackwood Brothers albums, so I do understand your points.

By: Deon Unthank

Deon Unthank — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:27:41 +0000

Daniel, it seems to me that you have a different idea of what those old time groups did. If you think that the Gold City album would not have fit with what the Blackwoods or Statesmen or Oak Ridge Boys sang, then you haven’t listened to everything they did. You have limited the idea of what the Statesmen performed to three chords and a cloud of dust. In actuality the these guys did a good variety of songs. Sure they did the classic upbeat numbers that we all like, but they also did songs like “When He Calls I’ll Fly Away”, which back in the 60s was very progressive. When the Statesmen sang “Oh What A Savior”, it WOWed the people because it was different than the way “The Old Rugged Cross” was sang by most groups. Southern Gospel has always offered a wide style of music. The Goodmans sang “What A Beautiful Day For The Lord To Come Again” and it was thought to be traditional SGM, but it was different than other songs of the day. So don’t go limiting SGM. It’s always been a genre that has a wide variety of styles, from the Quartets like the Blackwoods and Statesmen to the Speer Family and the Masters Family, to the Lefevres and Swuanee River Boys. The styles have the same wide variety today, and it’s still all Southern Gospel.

By: www.southerngospelblog.com » Blog Archive » Is Traditional Southern Gospel still viable?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:00:36 +0000

[...] In my post yesterday on SoGospelNews’s Ovation Awards, I mentioned that Gold City’s Revival album fell outside what I would consider the traditional Southern Gospel sub-genre. [...]

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:39:30 +0000

Chris,

Yes, you define traditional a little more broadly than I do.

You’re right. It’s something fascinating to think about. I’ve been thinking about it since I read your comment. Are there enough professionally recorded projects out there to fill a nominations list?

Just to see, I worked at putting together two nominations list–a list of traditional albums in 2006, strictly defined, and a list of albums that are traditional, less strictly defined.

Sample top 10 Traditional Albums List for 2006
Dixie Echoes – Songs of Sunday
Blackwood Brothers – Rock of Ages: Hymns of the Faith
Dixie Melody Boys – Smooth and Easy
Inspirations – I Know
Mark Trammell Trio – Journey Thus Far
Palmetto State – Gospel Quartet Favorites
Chuck Wagon Gang – 70th Anniversary
Florida Boys – Keep on Singing
Kingdom Heirs – Off the Record
Triumphant Quartet – Treasures

Those are all projects by major groups. I own six of them and wouldn’t mind purchasing a copy of the last four, either. Then, to turn to a possible list of the top 10 traditional albums for 2006, less strictly defined:

Perrys – Come Thirsty
Legacy Five – Live in Music City
Greater Vision – My Favorite Place
Triumphant Quartet – Better Hurry Up*
Palmetto State Quartet – Sweet Land of Rest
Inspirations – I Know
Mark Trammell Trio – Journey Thus Far*
Dove Brothers – Shout it Out
Chuck Wagon Gang – 70th Anniversary
Florida Boys – Keep on Singing

(*These group’s main releases would also do, if they’d done one in ‘06.)

That’s a pretty strong list of releases, too, at least in my book.

By: Chris Unthank

Chris Unthank — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:39:07 +0000

I believe we’ve had this conversation before Daniel. Your scope of what traditional is is way too narrow, in my humble opinion. Yes, traditional is represented in those albums that you mentioned – however it is not limited to that.

Gold City has always been known as a traditional quartet who stretches the boundaries of traditional music – just like groups like Greater Vision and the Perrys.

I know this is said way too often – but music is ever evolving. Today’s “traditional” is not what it was 20 years ago. So while a song like “Truth Is Marching On” may have been deemed progressive 20 years ago – today is very much in the realm of traditional Southern Gospel music.

As for the album, Revival – a few moments of progressive SG doesn’t make it a progressive album. Again – Gold City is known for pushing the boundaries of traditional Southern Gospel music. The only song on that album that I would actually consider progressive is their cover of Phillips, Craig & Dean’s “Mercy Came Running.” All the other songs are very much in the realm of traditional Southern Gospel music.

I know this is just a differing of opinions – but if you are limiting your view of traditional Southern Gospel to the artists that you have listed – the SGN Music Awards wouldn’t have enough nominees to fill out the category every year – because that old throw-back style is not the most produced product every year.

Just something to think about.