Ten On Ten – Greenes

This week’s ten on ten feature highlights the 30 year career of the Greenes.  Starting in 1979 as father Everette Greene took his three children, Tim, Kim and Tony around the country to begin the career of one of Southern Gospel music’s greatest trios.  Three of Southern Gospel music’s best female vocalists spent time with the Greenes; Kim Hopper, Amy Lambert and Taranda Greene.

Even through adversity and sickness the Greenes continued until the untimely passing of Tony Greene in 2010.  The group produced many great recordings during the span of their career.  This week’s ten on ten feature will attempt to compile a list of the group’s ten best.  It is also nice to see that Tim Greene will be continuing the Greene legacy by using the Greenes instead of the Tim Greene Trio.

The Greene’s top ten albums are:

1. 10th Anniversary Live (1989)
2. Hallelujah (2010)
3. It’s A Sweet Life (1993)
4. Testimony (1990)
5. Glory Mountain (2001)
6. Family Praise (1987)
7. Carolina Live (1991)
8. Far Down The Road (2007)
9. So Happy (2000)
10. Whosoever Believes (2004)

• The pinnacle of the Greene’s discography is their 1989 10th Anniversary Live recording.  Even though this was the final recording to include sibling Kim Hopper, it captured the Greenes at the start of their rise in Southern Gospel music.
• With power house songs “When I Knelt, The Blood Fell”, “More Precious Than Gold”, “It Sure Sounds Like Angels To Me” and “Lift Me Up”, this album is a must have for any Greene’s fan.  ”When I Knelt” also became the group’s first #1 song.
• The Greenes career, with Tony at the helm, capped off with one of the group’s greatest recordings.  The 2010 recording, Hallelujah, was Tony’s last and delighted listeners with “Hallelujah”, “Oh The Cross”, “Keep Coming Back To The Well” and “Heaven In The House”.
• The Amy Lambert years have three recordings among the group’s ten best and she was only with the group five years.  The highest ranking recording to include Amy Lambert was the 1993 recording It’s A Sweet Life (ranked #3).  One of the group’s greatest songs, “In The Twinkling Of An Eye”, was found on this recording.
• Testimony, the first recording to include Amy Lambert, wasn’t far behind (ranked #4).  Some of Tim Greene’s best compositions are found on this recording.
• Also during this time period, the Greenes wowed audiences night after night with their captivating stage performances.  They would close most of their performances with a song titled “Shelter From The Storm”.  They would end the song a capella by walking off the stage in to the audience.  It would bring the house down.
• Brad Hudson and Jeff Snyder added their vocal talents to the group after Tim Greene had to leave the road for health issues.  Also, nearly the last decade of the Greene’s had John Jeffrey’s piano talents and at time vocal talents add to the group’s performances.
• The forgotten gem in the group’s discography is their 2001 recording Glory Mountain.  ”His Blood No Longer Leaves A Stain”, “When Your Back Is To The Wall”, “Every Time I Speak His Name” and “He’s Still Alive” all highlight this album.
• In their 30 year career, the Greenes even released an album that should be forgotten.  The 1997 album The Road Home did not measure up to the albums that came before or to the albums that would follow.
• As already mentioned, it is good to see that Tim Greene will be continuing the Greene legacy by renaming his trio to the Greenes.  I look forward to the future Greene recordings that will be released under this new group.

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