2009 in Review: Top 10 Stories

Last year was filled with big news stories, with enough major ones breaking in the last two weeks that it just wasn’t safe to put this post up until the year had officially ended. Gaither Vocal Band unveils new lineup: Penrod, Hall leave Gaither Vocal Band; Phelps, Lowry, English return. If the...

2009 in Review: Top 10 Stories: Nominations

In 2008, there were a few indisputably big stories, but it was a slight challenge to fill out the whole list of the year’s top stories. This year, there was no shortage of big stories; whittling the list down will be the hard part. Since two stories that will definitely make the top 10 have transpired...

2009 in Review: Top 10 Breakout Albums

A number of Southern Gospel journalists have posted their lists of the top 10 albums of 2009. Rather than duplicating their efforts, here are the top 10 breakout albums of the year. These ten aren’t necessarily the ten best projects of the year—though several are certainly in that number—but these...

Southern Gospel Quintets

The new Gaither Vocal Band may be the best-known quintet (as a quintet) in Southern Gospel in recent years, but it’s not the only one—and by some standards, not even necessarily the best. (Though with the level of talent they have, they’ll have to be somewhere near the top of a best quintets...

Groups that Stood the Test of Time: 1990s

Today, we wrap up the four-part series we started on Monday. Which groups’ recordings from the 1990s stand up best to the test of time? As before, I’ll start things off with a list. Just for fun, if you like, indicate in your list how many recordings you have by that group from that decade. These...

Groups that Stood the Test of Time: 1980s

Today, let’s look at which groups’ recordings from the 1980s hold the greatest appeal today. I’ll kick things off with my list. Just for fun, if you like, indicate in your list how many recordings you have by that group from that decade. Cathedral Quartet (23 recordings). In the 1980s, he...

Groups that Stood the Test of Time: 1970s

Continuing the series we started yesterday, let’s look at which groups’ recordings from the 1970s stand up best to the test of time and hold the greatest appeal today. I’m kicking things off with a list each day. Just for fun, if you like, indicate in your list how many recordings you have...

Groups that Stood the Test of Time: 1960s

It’s always fascinating to contemplate how different things stand up to the test of time. In music, certain groups’ recordings have a far more enduring appeal than others—even if those others were more popular at the time. So this week, let’s go decade by decade through Southern Gospel...

2008 in Review: News Stories

What were the highlights of 2008 in Southern Gospel? We’ve looked at the year’s best albums and songs; now let’s look at the year’s biggest news stories. I’ll treat a group personnel change (one member leaves, another joins) as a single story. Here’s my top ten...

2008 In Review: Top CDs

Several other bloggers have issued lists of the CDs they think were the best of 2008. Here’s my list: Always Have a Song to Sing (Mark Trammell Trio)—The group’s best yet, setting the standard to which their future releases will be compared. When God Ran (Kingsmen)—While this project may not...