David Bruce Murray
Diana Brantley
Kyle Boreing
Phil on Southern Gospel
Steve Eaton
Attempting to rank the top albums of a group like the Gaither Vocal Band is tough. The caliber of recording consistently released by the group can make the list easily interchangeable. With many of Gaither’s songs re-recorded by various versions of the group through the years, it comes down to what version is liked best. My attempt at ranking the Gaither Vocal Band’s top recordings.
The top ten albums of the Gaither Vocal Band are:
- Greatly Blessed (2010)
- Testify (1994)
- I Do Believe (2000)
- Homecoming (1991)
- Give It Away (2006)
- Passin’ The Faith Along (1983)
- God Is Good (1999)
- The New Gaither Vocal Band (1981)
- Southern Classics (1993)
- Peace Of The Rock (1993)
- Of all the albums the group has released since 1981, I pick the group’s recent 2010 effort Greatly Blessed as the top album released? First, the vocal line up on the recording is hard to match. Second, the song selection is some of the finest you’ll hear. Finally, it is simply a great recording.
- The 1994 recording Testify wasn’t far behind as the group’s best recording. The only recording to feature Buddy Mullins at the lead. The vocal impact he made on the group in the short amount of time he was there shows on this recording.
- In ranking Gaither Vocal Band recordings, instead of looking at the specific songs on the record, it was more looking at the vocal performances found on that particular recording. That is why I Do Believe ranked so high on the list.
- The four albums released from 1991 to 1994 all made the group’s ten best list. Homecoming, the album that started a Southern Gospel phenomenon that continues 20 years later, is next behind Testify ranked at #4.
- The Southern Classics album from 1993 is the best collection of previously recorded songs the group released. It is hard to beat the line up of Franklin, English, Lowry and Gaither singing “There Is A River”, “Give Up”, “Jesus On The Mainline” and “Little Is Much”.
- Nearly every line-up of the group has an album listed among the group’s ten best. It shows the versatility the group has when members change to continue recording top-notch music.
- Two of the Gaither Vocal Band’s early recordings are among the group’s ten best. Passin’ The Faith Along from 1983 and the group’s debut effort The New Gaither Vocal Band from 1981 are worth picking up if you enjoy collecting classic Southern Gospel music.
- The forgotten gem in the group’s discography is another album released in 1993 titled Peace Of The Rock. Taking a more progressive approach separated this recording from the Southern Classics album also released the same year.
- Yes, even a group like the Gaither Vocal Band has an album that should be forgotten. The 2011 release I Am A Promise is already a top that list. I understand the concept is that it is supposed to be a kid’s album. It has been quite a while since I have been a kid.
- The Gaither Vocal Band is probably the most recognized Southern Gospel artist outside Southern Gospel circles. Their broad appeal continues to introduce new crowds to Southern Gospel music whether it be in concert or on the television with one of the many homecoming programs.
***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN: TALLEYS***
The Vocal Band is one of my favorite southern gospel groups and I Do Believe was my first gospel album I ever bought and I agree with the top ten. Some great songs are on the early albums between ’83 and ’91 it would be nice if they would remake some more of those. Making the more southern gospel than the contemporary sound they had in the ’80s. And I love Mark Lowry but he was featured way too much on I Am a Promise, among other things.
Some I agree with, others I don’t.
You are right though that it is tough to choose ten. I haven’t listened to “I Am A Promise” yet, but I suspect I would agree with you. One thing I would say is that the GVB seems to cover such different styles (even among a single album sometimes) that I personally have hit and misses on an album and therefore unlike some artists it is hard to find albums without songs I don’t like. For instance, One X 1 had some great stuff (“Glorious Morning”, “Lamb of God”, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks”, “Forever”, “Look Up”, “The Things That Last Forever” and yet the album as a whole for some reason doesn’t seem as good as maybe it should be since it has all of those good ones. I don’t know if it is just because of it being an abrupt change and my feelings back then or what.
One puzzling exclusion is “New Point of View”. That had some great stuff and was the first one I heard and caused me to get the preceding two also. That doesn’t have any filler song on it. The one I liked the least (and maybe still do although I like it tremendously more than I first did as I listened to it more and the brilliance of the message and the way it was told sunk in past the musical portion. Also later the contrast in tempo and fervor that built in intensity until changing once the danger had past was appreciated as well.)
Peace of the Rock had some good songs, but the album as a whole fell flat with me. I Do Believe was probably the pinnacle of that lineup. Even though there are some weak songs on it and even though there are some stronger songs than most or all of the songs on here elsewhere, it collects enough strong songs and performances to be as a whole a great album.
I also would have put Wings and Few Good Men here. Although both have some filler, there are great songs on both. Songs on the latter like “Beyond the Open Door”, “A Few Good Men”, “These are They”, “Stand Tall” and “There is A Mountain” are all good and helped me to accept Lowry being in there as they had a more smooth, pop sound.
I liked “Back Home Again In Indiana” too as that collected some of the best songs between a couple of the albums and the live performances had more passion than the studio cuts.
Well, I have to stop now. Someday I want to go through entire collections of certain groups and pick out the best songs (which I could do without listening again) and maybe pick out albums like you are doing.
My favorites are between Southern Classics and I Do Believe. Southern Classics launched them back to the Southern Gospel world at that time. It would be hard to choose a top ten because they do have great music. Still like your list.
I agree with your choice of #1 – wholeheartedly. My #2 would be I Do Believe…it was #1 until last year.
Good list…although mine would differ slightly. Still The Greatest Story Ever Told would have to be on it. (It’s a must-listen-to…never gets old…unlike their 2nd Christmas one.)
I actually like I Am A Promise…it is what it is. Just saw the GVB perform Attitude of Gratitude this past weekend…Michael is Michael, after all.
I won’t listen to Lovin’ Life – gave mine away. Only 2 songs worth listening to from it – There’s Always a Place at the Table & When I Cry.
Unlike a lot of people, I love Reunited…there again, it is what it is. I enjoy what they did to the old songs. They took what was already classic & shot it up to another level.
Hard to whittle it down to 10, isn’t it? LOL
Well I would just say that I love the 2nd Christmas cd -Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style. It’s just all the classic and well known Christmas songs sung by beautiful voices. What’s wrong with that? They’re beautiful and very easy listening. I also love Lovin’Life. Here again I love these men’s voices. In addition to the 2 mentioned by the previous poster, I love Go Ask, Home of Your Dreams, Prisoner of Hope, Then He Bowed His head and Died. I think those are great songs.
I loved seeing their debut and sophomore projects on here. Passin’ the Faith Along is one of my favorites. Honestly neither that project nor New GVB sound very southern gospel at all, but maybe that’s why I like them both so much—they sound very 80s soft rock instead, and I love that style.
By the way, thanks for providing a thumbnail of Passin’ the Faith—I’ve been looking for one for my ipod!
I’ve said for years that “testify” has to be the best from GVB- there’ve been A LOT of albums since then- but none that have changed my mind! I have to say that I was excited when I heard about the new 5 member configuration of the GVB- but I have to say I really am disappointed with the sound! I just don’t like it. It would sound good with the names- but I don’t think the execution comes off very good.
I don’t see the purpose of two tenors. Maybe two leads would be good. Like Mike English and Buddy Mullins. Or I could REALLY appreciate two tenors if it were Wes Hampton and Larnelle! (sorry, I just could never get into David Phelps)
My list would be:
1) Southern Classics (English/Franklin/Lowry/Gaither)
2) Wings (English/McSpadden/Murray/Gaither)
3) a Few Good Man (English/Murray/Lowry/Gaither)
4) Homecoming (English/Murray/Lowry/Gaither)
5) Peace of The Rock (English/Franklin/Lowry/Gaither)
6) Testify (Mullins/Lowry/Pierce/Gaither)
7) Still The Greatest Story Ever Told (Phelps/Penrod/Lowry/Gaither)
8) I Do Believe (Phelps/Penrod/Lowry/Gaither)
9) One x 1 (English/Harris/McSpadden/Gaither)
10) God is Good (Phelps/Penrod/Lowry/Gaither)
I love the latest line up with English/Phelps/Hampton/Lowry and of course Gaither…but ‘Greatly Blessed’ is to me like ‘The Lovin’ Life’ album..i don’t play it either..’ I Am a Promise’ I love the arrangement of Jesus Hold my Hand…until the kiddos are coming in…there i have to turn it off..I am confident though that the greatest GVB album is yet to come…and from what i’ve heard the next one could just be that one.
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