David Bruce Murray
Diana Brantley
Kyle Boreing
Phil on Southern Gospel
Steve Eaton
Lets close out another week and take a look at the album and recorded song at #6 for 2011. One of the most consistent recording artists in Southern Gospel music is Karen Peck and New River. From their debut album to current, this trio has provided the listener with Southern Gospel music and a mix of country and light pop sounds that are now uniquely New River.
The album that lands at #6 among the best releases of 2011 is Reach Out. Filled with lyrically strong material and two of the best recorded songs of 2011, as is evidenced in this annual count down, Reach Out should keep radio busy with airplay. Karen Peck Gooch, Susan Jackson and Jeff Hawes combine to release one of the best albums of the year, at #6.
Personal favorite songs from this recording include: ”On The Banks Of The Promised Land”, “Broken Into Beautiful”, “This Is What Mercy Does”, “Faithful Love Of Jesus”, “Sustaining Grace”, “Good Things Are Happening” and “Mighty Big God”.
Crabb Revival released Going Places back in February 2011. At the same time it was announced the group would no longer be touring and Adam Crabb would venture out as a solo artist. If it wasn’t for the disbandment of Crabb Revival, Going Places may have been among the top 20 albums of the year.
There were several songs from that particular album that were considered among the best recorded songs of the year. One song was strong enough to rank #6 among the best recorded songs of 2011. Gerald Crabb must have been listening to the Wilburn’s classic “God’s Promised Land” when writing “The Crossing”. The verses to both songs are eerily similar musically.
Since he is now touring as a solo artist, I’ll credit Adam Crabb as having #6 among the best recorded songs of 2011 with “The Crossing”. Listen to the first verse and chorus.
Monday will kick off the final five: #5.
I knew we would have some of the same recordings in our countdown, but Karen Peck and New River landed at the same spot on our lists. “Reach Out” is also my sixth favorite album for 2011. This album, while not as strong from top to bottom as some others on the list, contains 3 of my favorite songs for this year. “On the Banks of the Promised Land” is one of my favorite up tempo songs released in 2011. I especially enjoyed this song when I saw New River live this year. The Gaither Vocal Band recorded “More Than Ever” 10 years ago, but this new version tops their effort. Even though I tend to prefer quartets to trios (especially mixed trios), Karen Peck’s voice has a passion and feeling on “More Than Ever” that David Phelp’s voice lacks. This is most evident on the line “…and He is so precious to me”. Lastly, “Broken into Beautiful” is one of the most moving and quietly powerful songs I have ever heard. My favorite song from 2010 was “Never Walk Alone” by Brian Free, and this song is in that same category. These songs, plus a couple of other solid songs, make “Reach Out” my sixth favorite album for 2011.