This week’s ten on ten feature continues reader requests and takes a look at one of the biggest names in Southern Gospel quartet music; Hovie Lister and the Statesmen. The one, two punch of the Statesmen and the Blackwood Brothers in the 50′s/60′s were unrivaled and unmatched in the quartet world.
The Statesmen were trend setters in every sense of the word and are still considered by many as the most influential quartet in Southern Gospel music history. So, how does one even start in attempting to rank the group’s ten best recordings? The only answer, very thoughtfully and carefully. Here is my final result.
The Statesmen’s ten best recordings are as follows:
- On Stage (1960)
- The Statesmen Quartet Sings With Hovie Lister (1958)
- The Statesmen Quartet With Hovie Lister (1957)
- A Gospel Concert (1963)
- Sing Brother Sing (1968)
- Get Away Jordan (1959)
- Through The States (1961)
- The Sensational Statesmen Quartet (1965)
- Revival (1992)
- Featuring… (1970)
- As already mentioned, the Statesmen dominated the quartet world through the mid 1960′s. It is no surprise the group’s biggest recordings come from this time period. The 1960 album On Stage, I consider to be the pinnacle in the Statesmen discography.
- Recorded live at the Ryman Auditorium in 1959, On Stage captures the Statesmen in their prime as no other recording could. Hearing songs that are now quartet classics performed with class and flair. ”Thanks To Calvary”, “Something Within”, “He’s Already Done”, “Wade On Out”, “Gonna Open Up All The Doors”, “He Set Me Free” and “Get Away Jordan” all highlight this recording.
- The Statesmen time spent with RCA Victor dominated the top ten list. Seven of the top ten albums were released by RCA Victor.
- The Statesmen’s first two RCA Victor albums rank #2 and #3 respectively. The 1958 album ranks #2 and the 1957 album ranks #3. All the great, what are now quartet standards found on these two albums are a quartet lover’s dream.
- The Statesmen delights the listener with “Glory, Glory Clear The Road”, “My God Is Real”, “Led Out Of Bondage”, “One Of These Mornings”, “Hide Me Rock Of Ages”, “I Know It Was The Lord”, “It’s A Wonderful Feeling”, “Wonderful Is The Lord”, “Sea Walker” and “Stand By Me”. All these songs highlight these two gems.
- The Statesmen recorded two other concert albums in the early ’60s and both landed among the group’s ten best. The 1963 album A Gospel Concert ranks #4 as the 1961 album Through The States lands at #7. While neither quite captured the excitement of On Stage, they were still great recordings.
- Hovie Lister had some of the most legendary names in Southern Gospel quartet history as a member of the Statesmen. Buddy Burton, Bob Caldwell, Johnny Cook, Denver Crumpler, Biney English, Rick Fair, Cat Freeman, Jake Hess, Ed Hill, Jim Hill, Sherrill Nielsen, Doy Ott, Rozie Rozell, Tommy Thompson, Jack Toney, Jim Wetherington and Willie Wynn among others spent time with the Statesmen during their storied career.
- The only ’70s era Statesmen album to land in the top ten was the 1970 recording Featuring. The re-formed ’90s edition of the Statesmen also landed in the top ten with the 1992 return album Revival.
- The gem in the Statesmen’s discography is the 1968 album Sing Brother Sing. This happens to be one of my personal favorite Statesmen recordings.
- With a discography as extensive as the Statesmen there were several albums that didn’t quite make the top ten but deserve an honorable mention: Thanks To Calvary (1969), O’ My Lord What A Time (1993), The Happy Sound (1966), Even So Come (2000) and The Common Man (1970).
***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN: POET VOICES***
