Overrated?? – Brian Free and Assurance

Today continues a new series titled overrated.  It looks at a current artist’s popularity (rated out of 100) vs current chart success/album releases (rated out of 100).  The difference between their popularity score and chart success/album release score is where they fall on the overrated meter.  The artist covered today is Brian Free and Assurance.

CURRENT POPULARITY = 88

• Brian Free and Assurance had instant recognition when they hit the scene in 1994 after Brian’s huge success with Gold City.
• Brian understood the importance of a Southern Gospel quartet and added a bass singer by 1995.
• Even after being one of Southern Gospel’s most awarded tenor vocalists, the group (once again a trio) still is loved among fans.  They landed in six categories among the top ten finalists for this year’s Singing News fan awards.
• Ultimately it will be up to fans to determine if losing the bass singer will reduce their popularity.

CURRENT CHART SUCCESS/ALBUM RELEASES = 76

• In pondering the music Brian Free and Assurance is currently giving listeners, I score that 76 out of 100.
• I consider the group’s prime recording years, thus far, to be between 2005 and 2010.
• Albums such as Live In New York City (2005), It’s So God (2006), Real Faith (2007), Worth It (2009) and Never Walk Alone (2010) represent the best in the group’s entire discography.
• The group’s most recent effort, Live Like We’re Redeemed (2016) is one of the least remarkable in the group’s entire discography.

SCORE ON THE OVERRATED METER = +12

• This score represents that Brian Free and Assurance is currently overrated by a net positive +12.

Overrated?? – 11th Hour

Today continues a new series titled overrated.  It looks at a current artist’s popularity (rated out of 100) vs current chart success/album releases (rated out of 100).  The difference between their popularity score and chart success/album release score is where they fall on the overrated meter.

I am going to flip the script today and actually look at the opposite.  An artist who would be considered underrated.  The artist covered today is 11th Hour.

CURRENT POPULARITY = 78

• 11th Hour already has an up hill battle in gaining a larger listening audience by being a mixed vocal trio instead of an all male trio/group.
• With a reputable record label behind them and the access to huge chart hits, its allowing the group to win over new listeners.
• In an industry where a sea of artists is refurbishing 80s/90s CCM as today’s Southern Gospel, there is no doubt that 11th Hour is releasing Southern Gospel music.

CURRENT CHART SUCCESS/ALBUM RELEASES = 90

• In pondering the music 11th Hour is currently giving listeners, I score that 90 out of 100.
• 11th Hour currently has (5) #1 hits under their belt during their short recording career.
• I named What A Moment the #1 album released in Southern Gospel in 2016.
• With only four albums in their discography, 11th Hour has a long career ahead to become on of Southern Gospel’s greatest trios.

SCORE ON THE OVERRATED METER = (-12)

• This score represents that 11th Hour is currently underrated by a net negative (-12).

Overrated?? – Booth Brothers

Today continues a new series titled overrated.  It looks at a current artist’s popularity (rated out of 100) vs current chart success/album releases (rated out of 100).  The difference between their popularity score and chart success/album release score is where they fall on the overrated meter.  The artist covered today is the Booth Brothers.

CURRENT POPULARITY = 98

• There is no doubt in any Southern Gospel listener’s mind that the Booth Brothers is the most popular artist in the industry at the moment.
• The trio has won a total of 57 Singing News fan awards over the course of the last decade.
• The group built that success on impeccable harmony.  When the group first hit the scene it was tough not to be mesmerized by the Booth Brothers stage presentation.

CURRENT CHART SUCCESS/ALBUM RELEASES = 64

• In pondering the music the Booth Brothers is currently giving listeners, I score that 59 out of 100.
• The Booth Brothers prime recording years, thus far, came between 2001 and 2006.
• Albums such as This Stage Of Grace (2001), The Booth Brothers (2003), Pure Southern Gospel (2004), The Blind Man Saw It All (2005) and Harmony (2006) represent the best in the group’s entire discography.
• On an added note, the Booth Brothers have a new album due out in April that could bump this score up.

SCORE ON THE OVERRATED METER = +39

• This score represents that the Booth Brothers is currently overrated by a net positive +39.

Overrated?? – Collingsworth Family

Today continues a new series titled overrated.  It looks at a current artist’s popularity (rated out of 100) vs current chart success/album releases (rated out of 100).  The difference between their popularity score and chart success/album release score is where they fall on the overrated meter.  The artist covered today is the Collingsworth Family.

CURRENT POPULARITY = 97

• The Collingsworth Family have become Southern Gospel’s biggest mixed group.
• The fan voted Singing News fan awards have given the Collingsworth Family favorite mixed group the last five years in a row.
• Kim Collingsworth’s piano playing has contributed more to the Collingsworth Family’s success than the music the group releases.

CURRENT CHART SUCCESS/ALBUM RELEASES = 64

• In pondering the music the Collingsworth Family is currently giving listeners, I score that 64 out of 100.
• The top album in the Collingsworth Family’s discography is the 2011 album, Part Of The Family.
• The Collingsworth Family didn’t pick up their first top ten song until November 2012 with the song, “Just Another Rainy Day”.  Since that time they’ve had only two other top ten hits; “How Great Is Love For Me” (2015) and “What The Bible Says” (2016).
• The Collingsworth Family has yet to capture a #1 song on the Southern Gospel radio singles chart.

SCORE ON THE OVERRATED METER = +33

• This score represents that the Collingsworth Family is currently overrated by a net positive +33.

Overrated?? – Ivan Parker

Today embarks on a new series titled overrated.  It will look at a current artist’s popularity (rated out of 100) vs current chart success/album releases (rated out of 100).  The difference between their popularity score and chart success/album release score is where they fall on the overrated meter.  The first artist in the series is Ivan Parker.

CURRENT POPULARITY = 92

• It is no doubt that the Southern Gospel grandma’s who go to concerts still love them some Ivan Parker.
• The fan voted Singing News fan awards have given Ivan Parker favorite solo artist 14 of the last 16 years.
• Ivan will forever be associated with the song “Midnight Cry”.

CURRENT CHART SUCCESS/ALBUM RELEASES = 48

• In pondering the music Ivan Parker is currently giving listeners, I score that 48 out of 100.
• I would rate Ivan’s prime years (those years he was providing listeners his best music) between 2003 and 2006 with the releases of Just Imagine, Redeemer and Under Grace.
• Ivan Parker’s last top 10 song on the Southern Gospel radio singles chart came in July 2010, when “Keeper Of The Lost And Found” landed at #9.

SCORE ON THE OVERRATED METER = +44

• This score represents that Ivan is currently overrated by a net positive +44.

Most Overrated Southern Gospel Artist Series

2017 will bring a series that I was going to do last year but scrapped.  I have a bit more boldness this year to tackle the most overrated Southern Gospel artist series.

To overrate is to rate/appraise too highly or overestimate.  Looking at the word appraise we come up with the definition evaluate or estimate the quality.

I know there will be some readers who will be opposed to this series because of the idea that I will be degrading/bashing artists.  Let me assure you and make clear that I will not be using this series to degrade/bash artists.

This series will assess current artists and the music they are providing listeners.  I am strictly looking at the music from an artistic standpoint and stacking it up against music other artists in the genre are providing listeners.  This series will NOT be critiquing an artists/listeners view of ministry/the Gospel, etc.

The first artist in the series will start next week.