Best Albums Of 2022: #1 to #5

REASON FOR RANKING:  In 2022, the Hoppers showed listeners what the new generation of the group would look/sound like now that hall of fame members Claude and Connie would limit their touring schedule.  They provided listeners with the best Southern Gospel album release of 2022!

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Can You See The Clock”; (2) “Glorious Appearing”; (3) “God Of A Second Chance”; (4) “Glory Up Ahead”; (5) “Daniel Open Up Your Window”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The top quartet album released in Southern Gospel music in 2022 was The Stories We Tell by the Down East Boys. With One Day In The Past (2018) and Faithful Still (2020) and now The Stories We Tell, the Down East Boys are at the top of their game right now.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Your Sins Are Forgiven”; (2) “Before The Cross”; (3) “The Story They Tell”; (4) “The Altar”; (5) “Good In The Good Times”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Williamsons continue to put out some of the best traditional Southern Gospel music in the genre. They knocked it out of the park this year with Above Everything.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Out Of Harm’s Way”; (2) “Message To The World”; (3) “The Story”; (4) “You Made The Mountain”; (5) “What A Privilege”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Perrys returned to the top five this year with John 3:16. The album was bolstered by the strong lead vocals of Scott Brand.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Tell The Grave”; (2) “John 3:16 Is Calling Out To You”; (3) “Calvary’s Touch”; (4) “Whatever It Takes”; (5) “I Think I’ll Just Go On”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Family groups dominated this year’s best album list claiming four of the top five slots. The first is the Mylon Hayes Family with their 2022 release, Steady & Sure. The Mylon Hayes Family were also the most honored group at this year’s Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row Honors.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “I Stand With The Cross”; (2) “There’s Gonna Be A Meeting”; (3) “Just As Sure”; (4) “Carry The Glorious Gospel”; (5) “Nothing In The World”.

Best Albums Of 2022: #6 to #10

REASON FOR RANKING:  Consistently the most underrated group in Southern Gospel music is Master’s Voice.  They continue to release some of the best music, including quartet music, in the genre.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “I Need Your Grace Tonight”; (2) “Always Believe”; (3) “Then And There”; (4) “Whose Hand You’re In”; (5) “Sow A Little”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Several artists had career best albums in 2022 and one of those is the Lore Family. I enjoyed the blues element found on several songs from the recording.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Would Someone Go Summon The Angels”; (2) “Run To The Throne”; (3) “The Dark Night Of The Soul”; (4) “The World Needs A Song”; (5) “I Bring You Jesus”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  While I didn’t consider God Is Real as strong as the group’s previous album, Make It Count; it still ranks as one of Southern Gospel’s top ten albums released in 2022.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “God Is Real”; (2) “Prayers My Parents Prayed”; (3) “Never Not God”; (4) “Eternity”; (5) “Peace Is”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Booth Brothers had a resurgence in 2022 with two new album releases. Both made the year’s top 20 list. The second of the two is the trio’s first album with StowTown Records, Speak Jesus.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “My Next Victory”; (2) “Hallelujah Praise The Lamb”; (3) “Let’s Sing”; (4) “Room Full Of Stories”; (5) “Nothing Like Grace”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The 3 Heath Brothers released the best album of their career thus far in 2022, with Into The Deep. The brothers also released a video for the song, “Into The Deep”, that is the best concept video ever released by a Southern Gospel artist.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Take All Of Me”; (2) “Into The Deep”; (3) “Jesus Is Coming Back”; (4) “It Ain’t Over Yet”; (5) “Love Your Neighbor”.

Best Albums Of 2022: #11 to #15

REASON FOR RANKING:  A Pioneer Legacy was the second album release with this current line-up of the Inspirations.  The album provided listeners with a mix of old and new; honoring the legacy of the group.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Ark Of His Grace”; (2) “I Have God To Thank For Everything”; (3) “What A Morning”; (4) “I’m Gonna Tell It”; (5) “We Shall Rise”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Karen Peck and New River always tend to find a home in the year’s best album list, anytime they release a new album. 2022 was no different, with 2:22.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Sheaves (Dedicated To Isabel)”; (2) “Bless His Holy Name”; (3) “Answer Is Jesus”; (4) “Lead Me Through”; (5) “The Keepers”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The best solo artist recording of 2022 is from Lauren Talley. Her first official album since becoming a full time solo artist is the best of her career. This is the only album in the top 20 I didn’t get a review posted before the countdown. Look for a full review in early January 2023.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Shut Him Up”; (2) “Say Yes I Am”; (3) “This Is For You”; (4) “Honey In The Rock”; (5) “Thank You Jesus For The Blood”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Sister, Leslie Perkins returned to the group for the 2022 album, Love Is The Voice. Returned to a mixed quartet sound, the album was anchored by the hit single, “God Do It Again”.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “God Do It Again”; (2) “Break Me Back To You”; (3) “Love Is The Voice”; (4) “Better Land”; (5) “What I Know”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  An album roughly three years in the making finally hit streaming platforms in 2022. It was good hearing the current group re-record Doug Riley’s biggest songs.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Mercy Rescues Me”; (2) “He Lifted My Burdens”; (3) “He’ll Do It Every Time”; (4) “Once And For All”; (5) “The Savior’s Open Arms”.

Best Albums Of 2022: #16 to #20

REASON FOR RANKING:  With Roger Talley in the producer’s chair, the Chitans released the best album of their career thus far with Shoulder To Shoulder.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “To Love Like Jesus”; (2) “Hush”; (3) “Nothing The Blood Can’t Cover”; (4) “God Like That”; (5) “My All”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Soul’d Out returned to the scene in 2022, now as a vocal trio. He Said I Could Come was bolstered by the title track; one of the best recorded songs of the year.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “He Said I Could Come”; (2) “Don’t You Die Without Jesus”; (3) “At The Cross”; (4) “I’ll Cast My Crown”; (5) “You’re Gonna See Me Through”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Guardians Quartet released their first album with Daywind Records in 2022. John Darin Rowsey continues to pen hits for the quartet.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Not For Long”; (2) “He Grew The Tree”; (3) “What You Can’t Remember”; (4) “Surely He Did”; (5) “Come On In”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The second album to make the year’s 20 best list is also an album of previously recorded songs. The Ball Brothers make the majority sound brand new.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Old Church Choir”; (2) “There Is Hope”; (3) “For My Good”; (4) “Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)”; (5) “Goodbye Fear”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Booth Brothers treated listeners to two new albums in 2022 and both made the year’s top 20 list. Take Another Step provided listeners with mainly previously recorded songs done in the Booth Brothers undeniable style.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Almost Morning”; (2) “Sing Wherever I Go”; (3) “I Am Loved”; (4) “For God So Loved”; (5) “Even If”.

And The Winners Of The 9th Annual Southern Gospel Views From The Back Row Honors Are…

The voting in the 9th annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors has concluded.  I want to thank all my readers who participated this year.  Here is an official announcement of all the winners and congratulations to the Mylon Hayes Family on picking up the most wins this year.

AND THE 2022 WINNERS ARE:

Recorded Song of the Year (song recorded on a 2022 album, did not have to be a radio single)

1. “I Stand With The Cross” – Joseph Habedank, Sue C Smith; recorded by the Mylon Hayes Family (Steady & Sure)

Single/Streaming Song of the Year (had to be on the weekly streaming top 20 chart from January to December 2022)

1. “Out Of Harm’s Way” – Kyla Rowland; recorded by the Williamsons (Above Everything)

Song Cover of the Year (a previously recorded song covered in 2022 via album or single)

1. “Scars In Heaven” – Nelons (Single); John Mark Hall, Matthew West

Songwriter

1. Kenna Turner West

Album of the Year (had to be a 2022 release)

1. Steady & Sure – Mylon Hayes Family (UIA)

Video (concept video released in 2022)

1. “The Keepers” – Karen Peck and New River

Artist – Breakthrough (New)

1. McKamey Legacy

Artist – Duo/Trio (no more than 3 vocalists)

1. Greater Vision

Artist – Mixed Group (at least 4 vocalists)

1. Mylon Hayes Family

Artist – Quartet

1. Inspirations

Vocalist – Alto

1. Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Vocalist – Baritone

1. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)

Vocalist – Bass

1. Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)

Vocalist – Lead

1. Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)

Vocalist – Soprano

1. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Vocalist – Tenor

1. Chris Allman (Greater Vision)

Artist – Soloist

1. Joseph Habedank

VOTE: Best of 2022: Album/Video

Today starts the voting for the final two categories in the 9th annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors; album and video of the year.  Be sure to put in another vote for the prior categories.

ALL readers of this blog can participate in the voting.  ALL readers are allowed one vote per day.  If anyone attempts to vote more than once per day, the polling system will blacklist your IP address and you will be disqualified from voting in that category.

The polls for these three categories will close on Saturday 12/17/22 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.

VOTE: Best of 2022: Lead/Soprano/Tenor Vocalists

Today starts the voting for best Southern Gospel lead, soprano and tenor vocalists of 2022.  Be sure to put in another vote for the prior categories.

ALL readers of this blog can participate in the voting.  ALL readers are allowed one vote per day.  If anyone attempts to vote more than once per day, the polling system will blacklist your IP address and you will be disqualified from voting in that category.

The polls for these three categories will close on Friday 12/16/22 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.

VOTE: Best of 2022: Alto/Baritone/Bass Vocalists

Today starts the voting for best Southern Gospel alto, baritone and bass vocalists of 2022.  Be sure to put in another vote for the prior categories.

ALL readers of this blog can participate in the voting.  ALL readers are allowed one vote per day.  If anyone attempts to vote more than once per day, the polling system will blacklist your IP address and you will be disqualified from voting in that category.

The polls for these three categories will close on Thursday 12/15/22 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.