SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 05/17/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 05/17/24.

Home: Mark Bishop

GRADE:  B

• Album:  Home
• Artist:  Mark Bishop
• Label:  Sonlite
• Style:  Folk, Country
• Producer(s):  Jeff Collins
• Release Date:  01/26/24
• Running Time:  41 Minutes

SYNOPSIS:

Today we are going to take a look at the latest album from Mark Bishop; Home.

Mark’s singer/songwriter ‘down home’ folk style has endeared him to many listeners since becoming a solo artist over 20 years ago.  Mark’s 2024 album release, Home, only enhances that style. 

As with all of Mark’s recordings, he wrote all eleven new songs found on Home.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Mark outdid himself when writing the material for Home.  I consider several songs on the album some of the best compositions of his career.
• The immediate stand out was the album’s first radio single, “I Met Somebody On The Way To The Cemetery”.  Mark always has a unique way with words.  The title alone makes you want to give the song a listen.  
• That is followed by the album’s current radio single, “What I Don’t Know How To Do, Jesus Does”.  This is the style song listeners have come to expect from Mark; an up-tempo folk style song that will have you hitting repeat before listening to the rest of the album.
• Another must listen is the ‘rock-a-billy’ style title track, “Home”.  This would also make for a strong radio single contender.
• I don’t want to leave the review without mentioning the album’s opening track, “I Found Something Better”.  Reminiscent of the classic country sounds of Hank Williams and Buck Owens; give it a listen.
• Strongest songs included in order:  “I Met Somebody On The Way To The Cemetery”; “What I Don’t Know How To Do, Jesus Does”; “Home”; “I Found Something Better”; “But There Is A Cross”; “I Am Unshackled/Thank God I Am Free” and “Come Unto Me All Ye Who Are Weary”.

 

 

CRITIQUE:

• The album’s style does get a bit disjointed with the two progressive Southern Gospel style songs at the end of the recording.
• “Ten Thousand Witnesses” gets full, sweeping orchestration that stylistically separates from the rest of the recording.
• Weakest songs included in order:  “Waiting For You” and “A Lovely Tapestry”.

WRAP UP:

Mark Bishop continues to provide listeners with his endearing, folksy style.  I would consider Home among the top five albums released in Bishop’s recording career.  Several songs on the album are also among the best of his songwriting career.

SONG (Tempo)/Style – Songwriter:  1. “I Found Something Better” (Mid/Fast)/Country – Mark Bishop  2. “A Lovely Tapestry” (Mid)/Folk – Mark Bishop  3. “But There Is A Cross” (Mid)/Folk – Mark Bishop  4. “If We Can’t Be Happy Here” (Mid)/Folk – Mark Bishop  5. “What I Don’t Know How To Do, Jesus Does” (Fast)/Folk – Mark Bishop  6. “Home” (Fast)/Country – Mark Bishop  7. “Come Unto Me All Ye Who Are Weary” (Mid)/Folk – Mark Bishop  8. “I Met Somebody On The Way To The Cemetery” (Mid)/Country – W Herbert Brewster, Clara Ward  9. “Waiting For You” (Slow)/Easy Listening – Mark Bishop  10. “I Am Unshackled/Thank God I Am Free” (Mid)/Progressive Southern Gospel – Mark Bishop/James McFall  11. “Ten Thousand Witnesses” (Slow)/Progressive Southern Gospel – Mark Bishop

Nobody Like Jesus: LeFevre Quartet

GRADE:  B+

• Album:  Nobody Like Jesus
  
• Artist:  LeFevre Quartet
• Label:  New Day
• Style:  Progressive, Country
  
• Producer(s):  Wayne Haun
• Release Date:  11/17/23
• Running Time:  35 Minutes

SYNOPSIS:

I’m still playing catch up with album reviews.  I’m hoping to get back to a regular schedule where I post a missing 2023 album review and a newer 2024 album review in the same week.  Today we take a look at the 2023 album release from the LeFevre Quartet; Nobody Like Jesus.

I ranked Nobody Like Jesus one of the top five albums released in 2023.  LeFevre Quartet took a brief hiatus and returned in 2023 with a new album, new vocal line-up and a limited tour schedule.  While Nobody Like Jesus gives listeners that progressive LeFevre Quartet sound they’re familiar with, the album also tends to lean into a country sound/style.

The current vocal line up which is found on the album is comprised of Jonathan Price (tenor), Jordan LeFevre (lead), Mike LeFevre (baritone) and Christian Davis (bass).  Channing Eleton provides pianist duties during the group’s touring schedule.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The album’s title track, “Nobody Like Jesus”, has already been to #1.  Featuring Mike, this is also the stand out track from the album.
• Jordan is featured on another stand out, “Glory Bound”.  This ballad builds throughout the song without being over the top in terms of vocal and instrumentation.  This would make for a strong radio single choice.
• Speaking of radio singles, the current song at radio is the Jordan feature, “There Is A Name”.  This song gets the full Wayne Haun power ballad orchestration.  Kudos to Haun on not over orchestrating the entire album but reserving it for this power ballad.
• Good to hear Christian Davis doing Southern Gospel quartet music again.  His bass vocal strength is evident on the mid to up-tempo, “Cast My Burdens”.  Add this to the list of potential radio single choices.
• The other Christian Davis feature that deserves a listen is the country style ballad, “Man In The Middle”.
• Strongest songs included in order: “Nobody Like Jesus”; “Glory Bound”; “Cast My Burdens”; “Man In The Middle”; “There Is A Name” and “The Things We Cannot Change”.

 

CRITIQUE:

 

• There was only one song that felt out of place on Nobody Like Jesus, “Because Of Who He Is”.  Style and arrangement didn’t fit with the rest of the album.
• Weakest songs included in order: “Because Of Who He Is”.

WRAP UP:

Even with a limited tour schedule and new vocal line-up, the LeFevre Quartet released the best Southern Gospel quartet album of 2023.  The hits from this album will continue well into 2024. 

SONG (tempo)/Featured Vocalist – Songwriter:  1. “Nobody Like Jesus” (Mid)/Mike – John Honaker, Jonathan Smith  2. “Cast My Burdens” (Mid/Fast)/Christian – Lee Black, Jason Cox  3. “Looks Like A Miracle To Me” (Mid)/Jonathan – Don Koch, Sue C Smith  4. “Glory Bound” (Slow)/Jordan – Brent Ellison, Wayne Haun, Keith Hill  5. “The Things We Cannot Change” (Mid/Fast)/Ensemble – Dave Clark, Wayne Haun, Scotty Inman  6. “Man In The Middle” (Mid/Slow)/Christian – Val Dacus, Aaron Stewart  7. “Never Walk Alone” (Slow)/Mike – Jess Cates, Hope Darst, Tommy Iceland, Lizzie Morgan, Jonathan Smith  8. “Because Of Who He Is” (Mid)/Jonathan – Dave Clark, Don Koch  9. “There Is A Name” (Slow)/Jordan – Don Koch

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 05/10/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 05/10/24.

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 05/03/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 05/03/24.

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 04/26/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 04/26/24.

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 04/19/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 04/19/24.

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 04/12/24

Thanks for listening to my weekly playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify.  You are driving this weekly chart of total streams for current Southern Gospel singles.

The chart will always represent a running (4) week tally of total streams.  If you want to find my weekly playlists, on Spotify search SGVBR and Apple Music search Southern Gospel Back Row.  Here is the SGVBR weekly top 20 for the week of 04/12/24.