‘Live’ Southern Gospel Music Connection – 04/08/13 to 04/14/13

Welcome to another week of the ‘Live’ Southern Gospel music connection.  This is your one stop to get concert information for artists that use ‘live’ music in the concert setting.

Concert Spotlight This Week:

• Akins – Sunday April 14th, 2013 – Harp’s Crossing Hollonville Campus in Williamson, GA.  Concert time 6pm.
• Chuck Wagon Gang - Thursday April 11th, 2013 – Tony Gore’s BBG & Grill in Sevierville, TN.  Concert time 7:30pm.
• Dixie Echoes - Saturday April 13th, 2013 – Central Baptist in Crestview, FL.  Concert time 6pm.
• Dove Brothers Band - Friday April 12th, 2013 – Bible Baptist Church in Jacksboro, TX.  Concert time 7pm.
• Inspirations - Thursday April 11th, 2013 – Hardin County High School in Savannah, TN.  Concert time 6pm.  Concert also includes the McKameys and Josh & Ashley Franks.
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Sunday April 14th, 2013 – First Baptist Church in Kenton, TN.  Concert time 6pm.

‘Live’ Music Moment Of The Week:

• This week’s live music moment is a YouTube clip from our very own DinanaSN, of Akins performing their current radio single “Big God”.  Enjoy!

I Played In The Band – Kingsmen

After my second post Tuesday on the potential irrelevance of Southern Gospel music and my plea to see the return of ‘live’ music at Southern Gospel concerts, I wanted to start this new series which will be weekly; highlighting Southern Gospel concert clips that feature only ‘live’ music (past and present).  If you’re not tired of me by the end of 2013 regarding this topic, you’ll at least see how Southern Gospel music sounds with ‘live’ music in the concert setting.  A movement starts with one….

Before we get to the video clip I needed to do a little house keeping.  Even though I had the voting polls for best and worst Southern Gospel album covers, I never officially announced the winners of each poll.  The Rebels Quartet was given the dubious honor of having the worst Southern Gospel album cover with the 1961 album What Then.  This poll had just under 100 total votes cast.

Signature Sound fans came out to support the group in voting the 2012 album, Here We Are Again, as best Southern Gospel album cover.  There was just over 250 total votes cast in this poll.  Thanks to all my readers for participating.

Now back to the new feature.  The Booth Brothers recorded a song out on radio now titled “I Played In The Band” (written by Bill Gaither and Larry Gatlin).  I’m not going to point out the irony of the Booth Brothers recording a song with this title.  Instead I will show the first ‘live’ music clip featuring the Kingsmen from 1983.  This YouTube clip showcases one of the best bands in the history of Southern Gospel music.  The Kingsmen band won many awards during this era and always added that musical punch that made attending Kingsmen concerts in the 1980′s a one of kind experience.  Enjoy!

VOTE – Best Southern Gospel Album Cover

Last week, the Rebels Quartet was given the dubious honor of having the worst Southern Gospel album cover for their 1961 album What Then.  This week will allow you to vote on the album you consider the best Southern Gospel album cover.  These were the eight highest ranked covers.  I have provided thumbnails (click for larger image).

Driven – Crabb Family (2004)

A Tribute To Mosie Lister – Dove Brothers Quartet (2004)

Places To Go, People To See – Hoskins Family (2003)

Pure Vintage – Inspirations (2001)

London – Legacy Five (2003)

I Love To Tell The Story – Mark Lowry (2007)

Simplicity Too – Old Paths (2011)

Here We Are Again – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2012)

The Fab Five – January 2013

January 2013 is here and as I did in 2012, I will kick off each month with five current radio songs that piqued my interest over the preceding month.  2013 finds Channing Eleton’s first big solo single from his 2011 album Summer Rains Have Gone.  You will also find strong singles from Brian Free & Assurance, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Greater Vision and a break through debut single from Canton Junction.  Enjoy!

Best Of 2012 – #8

We’re one week out from the 2012 Christmas holiday and this week will continue the best of the year countdown.  Today we’ll take a look at the Southern Gospel album and recorded song ranked #8 for the year.

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound hit a few speed bumps the last several years with the release of Dream On and the Cathedrals tribute album.  Both fell flat.  The group turned it around in 2012 with the release of Here We Are Again in February.

With only a few mis-steps in terms of song selection, Here We Are Again is one of the best albums in Signature Sound’s discography. The album is also one of Southern Gospel’s  best albums released in 2012.

Personal favorites from this recording include:  ”Sometimes I Wonder”, “I’ve Been Here Before”, “Singing In The Midnight Hour”, “Love Carried The Cross”, “Any Other Man”, “Here We Are Again” and “You Are Welcome Here”.

The Perrys have a knack of recording at least one up tempo number on each album that causes excessive repeating while listening.  They’ve done it again on their 2012 album, Through The Night.

I first heard “One Of These Mornings” performed at this years NQC.  I was instantly hooked.  It is the type of song the listener can pick up quickly and sing along after only a couple listens.  I see this song being a concert favorite for the Perrys.

The song was penned by Jeffrey Bumgardner and Joel Lindsey and is the #8 recorded song in Southern Gospel music for 2012.  Listen to a clip of “One Of These Mornings”.

The countdown rolls on tomorrow with #7.

Best Of 2012 – #14

Time to kick off another week and continue the countdown of the best Southern Gospel albums and recorded songs of 2012.  Today, #14.

The Old Paths have had a great 2012.  Their song, “Battle Stand”, I ranked at #19 among the best recorded songs of 2012.  The song also became the group’s first #1 song on the Singing News radio chart.  The album, Right Now, which contains that #1 song is also the #14 album of the year.

This was Old Paths first album with Crossroads Music.  I would also consider it the group’s best album to date.  Filled with a strong mix of up tempo Southern Gospel songs and the standard ballads, Right Now is a great album to start your Old Paths collection.

Personal favorites from this recording include:  ”Battle Stand”, “I Know My God Can Do It”, “He’s My Song”, “Right Now”, “God’s Great” and “When It All Starts Happening”.

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound hit another personnel snag at the end of 2012 with the departure of bass singer Ian Owens.  Ernie called on Paul Harkey (Anchormen, LeFevre Quartet) to fill that void.

The group released their latest album, Here We Are Again, back in February.  That album had several strong song selections, but the one that stood out above the rest was “Sometimes I Wonder”.  Doug Anderson expertly conveys the message in this song.

The song was the songwriting collaboration of Ernie, Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey.  An annual countdown of the best in Southern Gospel music would not be complete if there wasn’t a song by Wayne Haun and/or Joel Lindsey.  Listen to a clip of the #14 recorded song of 2012; “Sometimes I Wonder”.

The countdown rolls on tomorrow with #13.

Ten On Ten – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

This week the ten on ten feature highlights the recording career of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.  I was reluctant on featuring the group considering the group barely has 15 recordings in their discography and half of those are custom recordings.  Since I’m nearing the end of the series, I figured why not.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound began recording/touring in 2002 (the same year Triumphant Quartet started).  Through personnel changes and stage performance changes, the group has become one of the biggest artists touring in Southern Gospel music.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s ten best recordings are as follows:

1. Stand By Me (2003)
2. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2005)
3. Influenced: A Vintage Quartet Session (2008)
4. Get Away Jordan (2007)
5. Here We Are Again (2012)
6. Great Love (2004)
7. Stand By Me Live (2004)
8. Building A Bridge – Volume 1 (2002)
9. The Ground Is Level (2003)
10. California Live – Volume 1 (2012)

• Is it surprising that after ten years of touring, I still consider the group’s debut album, Stand By Me, the pinnacle of the group’s recording career.  There was something special in that first vocal line-up that combined to release one of the best debut recordings of all time.
• “Old Time Christian Way”, “Calvary Answers For Me”, “Stand By Me”, “I Have Seen The Lord”, “City Built For Square” and “The God Of Today” all highlight this album.
• The group’s self titled 2005 Gaither Music recording ranks #2 among the group’s ten best.  This was the first album to set the group on their new choreographed stage performances.  ”Shout, Brother Shout”, “Trying To Get A Glimpse”, “Then Came The Morning”, “Do You Want To Be Forgiven”, “If This Is What God Wants” and “Forgiven Again” all make this album one of the group’s best.
• The best of the custom recordings Ernie Haase & Signature Sound have recorded over the course of their career is the 2008 album, Influenced: A Vintage Quartet Session.  The vintage quartet arrangements were excellent and the group also made each song sound fresh to a newer audience.  I wouldn’t be displeased if this was the group’s style all the time.
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s 2012 release, Here We Are Again, was good enough to land at #5 among the group’s ten best.  There is a lot to like about this recording.  They include “Singing In The Midnight Hour”, “Here We Are Again”, “I’ve Been Here Before”, “Love Carried The Cross”, “Sometimes I Wonder” and “Any Other Man”.
• With their limited discography, two live recordings of previously recorded music made the top ten list.  The Stand By Me Live recording of 2004 ranks #7 and their recent California Live Volume 1 recording released this year ranks #10.
• While Ernie Haase is the name behind the group, the vocal center point of the group since its inception is baritone vocalist Doug Anderson.  While the group has cycled through several lead and bass singers, it would be a huge blow if they were to lose Anderson.
• An album that is often overlooked and shouldn’t be is the 2004 album Great Love.  Ranked #6 among the group’s best, if you don’t have this recording in your collection, you should.
• The album that should be forgotten in the group’s discography is the 2008 recording Dream On.  With the exception of a few great songs, the overall album was a disappointment.
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound have become innovators in Southern Gospel music.  I look forward to hearing what the group has to offer in the years to come.

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  WHISNANTS***

Album Covers To Rank – Set 9

Time to rank some more album covers.  Here is set nine.  In the comments section rank the covers from 1 to 6 (1 being best, 6 being worst).  Click on thumbnail for larger image.

Get On Board – Dixie Echoes (1976)

Life – Dove Brothers (2008)

This Is The Day – Downings (1970)

Here We Are Again – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2012)

Born Again Children – Galileans (1975)

I Met Jesus On My Radio – Gann Brothers (1991)