Comments on: The Best Songs Possible

By: brady

brady — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:32:17 +0000

Well, I don’t mean to minimize anyone’s struggle, but if I had a life-threatening illness or my child died or any other number of catastrophies that could happen to me,I believe it might be easier to endure if I could pick up the phone and call someone right when I needed them to lean on, or get in my car and go visit the grave or make it to a doctor’s appointment. I think perhaps the degree to which I could suffer may be lessened by those more modern conveniences. Maybe not, but I am thinking for me personally, it would be.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:56:08 +0000

Yes, technology does lead to an easier life in that way, I’ll definitely give you that. But I’m not sure that technology makes a heartbreak any less painful.

By: Amy Rogers

Amy Rogers — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:12:43 +0000

I see Brady’s point. When I compare Roger (Bennett)’s work before his struggles with cancer and afterwards, I have always thought I saw a large difference. It could partly be attributed just to maturity, but I’m sure a large part of it went deeper than that. He did write “Don’t Be Afraid” just a little while before he found out about the cancer, and he said he felt that God gave it to him to prepare him for that.
But there is a big difference in depth IMO between “I’ve Read the Back of the Book” and “Whispers in the Night.”

By: Brady

Brady — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:39:08 +0000

Well, I understand that your point, too. Show me a great writer and I’ll show you someone who has probably lived a struggle or two. I know that Marcia Henry has endured her share of problems–the tragic death of her mother who was hit by a train, her own physical problems the last few years and even the recent death of her father. Joel Lindsey has had his battles with cancer and during those times he wrote “Calvary Answers For Me” and “New Day Dawning,” two of my favorites.

What I really mean is that today’s writers of any age, while they all have had some measure of trial or struggle (we all have), they still drive cars, use phones, have electricity, have been vaccined against terrible diseases, etc. I have a relative going over to Iraq soon for his third tour. When he is there, he actually calls every day to speak to his wife. Compare that to the wars of years past when the only communication was a written letter. When you think of it in those terms, we all have it a lot easier.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:23:34 +0000

Kyla is younger than Albert E. Brumley and Fanny Crosby were when they died (not to mention their age when they were still alive!) … but I understand that you meant even younger than that.

By: brady

brady — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:19:18 +0000

With all due respect to Ms. Rowland, whose work I greatly admire, Daniel, I did say “younger” writers. I would guess that Kyla, Dianne, Ronnie, and Bill have at least two decades on writers like Joel Linsey, Wayne Haun, Marcia Henry, Rebecca Peck, and even more years on the likes of Jim Brady, Scott Inman and Joseph Habedank.
I am not here to debate whose trials are the worst. I am speaking generally and not specifically when I say that fewer and fewer classics are rising to the top due to the volume of songs vying for greatness and the fact that many of today’s prominent writers never endured the hardship of those before. Today’s writers will tell you that themselves.
I think of Albert E Brumley who wrote by the light of a coal oil lamp. Or some of the great writers of hymns who saw their entire family perish in fire or flood. Or Fannie Crosby who was blind, if I recall correctly. Those are the hardships and trials I was thinking about. I should have clarified it better.
I do think today’s writers do well to keep writing the same old Gospel story in new and creative ways though. To have one book inspire countless thousands of songs is truly amazing in itself and I attribute that to the goodness of God to provide new mercies every day, and that surely must include new ideas for the songwriters.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:09:07 +0000

To any wondering if today’s Gospel music songwriters have had to face hard tests and trials, read this interview with Kyla Rowland: http://www.southerngospelblog.com/archives/414

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:06:56 +0000

Groups don’t have to have different songs to have different sounds.

By: Brady

Brady — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:20:12 +0000

Andrew, I’m going to say yes to your question in comment #4. I’m almost certain that a song called “Called Out” was on the charts by both the Kingsmen and a group headed up by that song’s writer, Felicia Shifflett. In fact I think the songs were right next to each other on the charts at least one month. This would have been in the early-mid 1980’s. And I am thinking that in the past 7-8 years or so, the Kingsmen and Rejoice both released a song called “Joy’s Gonna Come In The Morning.” I am not certain about that, but I know the plan was for both of them to release it, and I know the Kingsmen did.

As a listener, I prefer to purchase recordings with songs that are different than the ones on the last project I purchased. I like variety, and honestly I am a comparison listener. I agree with Kyle in that I really don’t want to hear anyone else sing certain songs than the one who made them a hit, and that goes for the ones Kyle mentioned, along with “Four Days Late” by Karen Peck and New River, “God On The Mountain” by the McKameys, and “He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away” by the Lesters.

Now, conversely, I know several song writers who love to get multiple cuts off of one song. It means more exposure for their song and more royalty payments, but also decreases variety.

As for the question: Would Southern Gospel be better off today if groups selected the best song possible? or Would Southern Gospel be better off if we forget the formulas that gave secular rock and pop their (lately-economically-crumbling) place in the sun, and go back to the formulas that got us to where we were in the 1960s and 1970s? Here’s my opinion.

Until you get radio to play only the best songs they have, not a lot is going to change. Not every song that is sent to radio should be played over the air waves. Most, in fact, should not. That’s what we should be learning from our secular counterparts.

I have access to three gospel stations in my regular travels, and all three of them, one being Solid Gospel, routinely play music that makes me turn off the radio shaking my head. It doesn’t matter what new songs are being released if radio plays the same 20 songs over and over that are favorites of the DJ’s.

If a group hasn’t been together for over two year, they should probably not be getting airplay unless there’s a segment of “Oldies But Goodies” or some other similar format to stick them in. I personally don’t mind an old song from time to time, but I recently heard a play list of the following: Excuses, Didn’t It Rain, Can He Could He Would He, and another song over ten years old. I thought I was in a time warp.

As far as songs written today versus 30-40 years ago, I am not sure today’s younger writers have had to endure the hardships that writers did decades ago. I’ve often heard writers say the greatest songs come from the hardest tests or trials. I do think we have some great songs out there today, but fewer of them will be classics both because of the great songs that have been written earlier and because of what radio has become today.

By: Andrew Fountain

Andrew Fountain — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:33:50 +0000

Forgive me for not knowing, but has there ever been a time when the same song was on “the charts” at the same time by different artists?