Whence comes the Inspirations’ popularity?
Whence comes the Inspirations’ popularity?
I’ve been pondering that the last few days, and came to a conclusion today. It’s the songs.
Sure, they are helped by a stable lineup, and no matter what critics may say, they can carry a tune. (If they couldn’t, then kindly explain to me how one of the singers can launch into an acapella reprise and hold the group on key throughout a chorus so that Martin Cook comes back in on piano at the end in the correct key.)
I came to this conclusion when listening to their rendition of “Shoutin’ Time” for the first time. I got to thinking about the songs they’d introduced or popularized that other groups have recorded.
Take “Glory to God in the Highest.” John Scheideman–far and away the best Southern Gospel historian among the fraternity of Southern Gospel bloggers–let me know that the Inspirations actually introduced the song in 1992. Since then, Brian Free & Assurance has recorded the song, the Old Friends Quartet made it a radio hit, and Signature Sound is currently setting stages on fire with their energetic rendition of the song. But the Inspirations introduced it.
The Inspirations introduced another classic in “A Rose Among the Thorns.” The Bishops did a nice rendition of the song a few years back, but again it’s an Inspirations song.
“Shoutin’ Time” was the breakout song that put the Hoppers at the head of the list of the most popular family groups of the ’90s. Yet it was an Inspirations song originally.
Of course, the Inspirations are known for being nearly the only group introducing innovative, new songs with a walking bass part on every album. Take “Overwhelming Joy,” “He Broke the Chains,” “In the Twinking of an Eye,” “Is That Footsteps I Hear,” and dozens of others. They have a good selection of songs that address America’s Christian heritage and current direction. Then there are the tenor songs that feature Archie Watkins’ instantly recognizable voice: “Golden Street Parade,” “Touring that City,” and “Two Shoes.” (Off-topic: “Two Shoes” drove me crazy the first twenty times I heard it, but it has really grown on me to the point where it makes me cry now.)
The Inspirations seem to have a knack for picking classics with every album. There are groups like the Mark Trammell Trio and Palmetto State that get to where they are despite their song selection, but the Inspirations would have to join groups like the Kingdom Heirs and the Perrys who manage to fill a ten-song album with at least eight songs that their average fan would really like. I think their songs are the secret of their success.
