Smack Down!! – “Well Of Grace”

This week’s smack down features a song that I always enjoyed listening to as a kid.  Joel Hemphill has penned many great songs over the years.  Some of my favorites include “Carry On Church”, “Every Need Supplied”, “Good Things”, “He’s Still Workin On Me”, “I Claim The Blood”, “I Found A Better Way”, “I’m In This Church”, “It Wasn’t Raining When Noah Built The Ark”, “Master Of The Wind” and this week’s smack down feature “Well Of Grace”.

Originally recorded on the group’s 1983 Louisiana Live album, “Well Of Grace” became a single from that recording.  While it wasn’t a major hit like “I’m In This Church” or “He’s Still Workin On Me”, “Well Of Grace” was still a fun song, especially in concert.  The Hemphills will take the first verse and chorus.

The song was covered on what would become the Greenes final 2010 recording Hallelujah.  The second verse featured the late Tony Greene.  While the arrangement was similar to the original, the Greenes had a few additional bells and whistles, including some bass singing by Tim Riley on the second chorus.

The Greenes will take the second verse and chorus.  Enjoy this fun tune from the pen of Joel Hemphill.

Reader’s Choice – Pet Peeves

It is time for another reader’s choice topic.  This week Kevin in Pennsylvania wanted to know my pet peeves within Southern Gospel music.  After thinking about it, here is what I came up with as my biggest pet peeves.

1.  The concert goer’s lack of respect for an artist’s profession is probably my biggest pet peeve.  Southern Gospel concert goers tend to complain about ticket prices or choose not to attend concerts because of the price of the ticket.  It also comes in to play when talking about ‘free will’ offering concerts.  I know of an instance recently when a prominent artist did a ‘free will’ offering for a Saturday night concert event and walked away with a $350 offering.  I don’t think that is going to pay the entire group.

2.  The second would be ease of entry, by artists, in Southern Gospel music.  Any ‘joe schmo’ with a little money can get an album recorded and then ship a song to radio.  The bigger travesty is radio then playing that sub par music.  I know this topic has been hashed out before and let me make a few additional points. 

First, I have zero problems with ‘joe schmo’ going and recording an album if that is what they want.  There are many wonderful weekend warrior groups who are doing a great job of bringing great music to their region. 

The problem I have is ‘joe schmo’ believing that now that they have an album recorded that they’ve ‘made it’.  That somehow automatically puts them in the same league as the more prominent artists.  Work at your craft, excel at what you’re doing and if it is meant to be it will happen.

3.  Finally I would have to add the extinction of live music in Southern Gospel.  Another topic that has been hashed out before, but from someone who grew up with artists still traveling with live musicians, it is a tough sell to go to a concert and not see them.  I understand the economics argument with regards to having to pay additional individuals but that still doesn’t mean it is not an issue.  Recently, several artists have started using live musicians again but the days of every artist traveling with live musicians is over.

This could tie right back to pet peeve #1.  Could the extinction of ‘live music’ be a contributing factor to the decline in concert attendance or the complaints about ticket prices?  Don’t know, just a thought.

I’ll open it up to all of you.  What are some of your biggest pet peeves regarding Southern Gospel.  As a talking point, there is no reason this discussion can’t remain civil and constructive.  Remember if you want to discuss a specific topic as part of a future reader’s choice post drop me an email.  You will receive a (2) CD prize pack if your entry is used in a future reader’s choice post.