Comments on: What makes a song a Classic?

By: KB

KB — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:24:28 +0000

Take a look at “Canaanland Is Just In Sight.” Jeff Gibson wrote the song and his group, Heavenbound, recorded it in 1982. Within a year, the Cathedrals had recorded it on an indie project, and over the next few years, nearly everyone had done it. Jeff has actually said that he quit trying to keep track of who had recorded it, as he simply couldn’t keep count.

As much as the lyrics play an intregal part, I’d say that the music/arrangement makes a difference. The best example is “A House Of Gold,” written by Hank Williams. This song basically sat for years (although a few quartets had tried some vanilla recordings of it). Then the two Michaels (Sykes & English) produced a cut of it with Mark Lowry (admittedly, not the most soulful singer in the world), and the arrangement was such that it became a very rousing number (thanks in large part to English’s vocal backups). From then on, I saw all kinds of groups recording the song….

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:20:23 +0000

Paul, Good point on the terminology; that hadn’t really occurred to me.

Daniel

By: Gospel hog

Gospel hog — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 21:27:38 +0000

Amen forevermore boys!!!
Somebody sing “I’ll fly Away”…Hallelujah!
GH

By: Paul Jackson

Paul Jackson — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 21:24:26 +0000

Daniel,
I think your definition is right on target.
I try to avoid singing other artist’s “signature” songs.
But many of these evntually transcend the artist/writer and become “property” of the genre…and even property of the church (Kingdom). Then they are “standards”, which to me is a step beyond “classics”…probably splitting hairs here, but I think it is possible to be a “classic” and still be identified with a particular artist…but when it transcends the artist it moves into the “standards” bin…just my way of thinking. I could share examples but you have asked us not to name song titles. We enjoy the minutia now and then. Thanks for airing your thoughts.

Paul Jackson / The Prophets
pauljackson7@sbcglobal.net