Best Albums Of 2023: #1 to #5

REASON FOR RANKING:  Congrats to the Steeles for releasing the best Southern Gospel album of 2023.  A career that spans nearly 40 years found the group releasing one of the best albums of their recording career.  Also, Brad Steele is currently one of Southern Gospel music’s premier songwriters.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “A Hundred Different Altars”; (2) “Braggin On Jesus”; (3) “In The Dark”; (4) “On The King’s Shoulders”; (5) “On The Way”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Southbound burst on the scene several years ago with their ‘high powered’ live performances. The trio released their sophomore album in 2023 and by far their best album to date.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Lost And Found”; (2) “Nothing He Can’t Do”; (3) “Somebody Testify”; (4) “Time And Jesus”; (5) “His Love”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  Jeff and Sheri Easter continue to provide listeners with some of the best Southern Gospel music anytime they release a new album. The album already has two #1 songs.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “One Name”; (2) “Here Comes Jesus”; (3) “Fall Into Place”; (4) “Sunshine On A Cloudy Day”; (5) “The Giving Part Of Living”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The highest ranked quartet album of 2023 comes from the LeFevre Quartet. Several years ago the group announced their retirement and then shortly after decided on a limited touring schedule. Good thing, because listeners weren’t done with the caliber of songs the LeFevre Quartet provide.

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Nobody Like Jesus”; (2) “Glory Bound”; (3) “Cast My Burdens”; (4) “Man In The Middle”; (5) “There Is A Name”.

REASON FOR RANKING:  The Down East Boys are among two quartets to have one of the top five albums released in 2023. This is the fourth straight album by the quartet to be one of the top five albums released in that specific year (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023).

FIVE BEST SONGS FROM THE ALBUM:  (1) “Love Worth Dying For”; (2) “The Song Of The Redeemed”; (3) “Celebration At The Empty Grave”; (4) “A Song About Going Home”; (5) “There’s A Song For That”.

And The Winners Of The 10th Annual Southern Gospel Views From The Back Row Honors Are…

The voting in the 10th 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.  Congratulations to the Down East Boys on picking up the most wins this year.

AND THE 2023 WINNERS ARE:

Recorded Song of the Year (song recorded on a 2023 album, did not have to be a radio single)

1. “Love Worth Dying For” – Amy Sue Keffer, John Lemonis Jr; recorded by the Down East Boys (There’s A Song For That)

Single/Streaming Song of the Year (had to be on the weekly streaming top 20 chart from January to December 2023)

1. “Nobody Like Jesus” – John Honaker, Jonathan Smith; recorded by the LeFevre Quartet (Nobody Like Jesus)

Song Cover of the Year (a previously recorded song covered in 2023 via album or single)

1. “Love Carried The Cross” – Endless Highway (This Is The Moment); Wayne Haun, Ernie Haase, Joel Lindsey

Songwriter

1. Joseph Habedank

Album of the Year (had to be a 2023 release)

1. Nobody Like Jesus – LeFevre Quartet (New Day)

Video (concept video released in 2023)

1. “My View From The Valley” – Browns

Artist – Breakthrough (New)

1. Redeemed Quartet

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

1. Jeff and Sheri Easter

Artist – Mixed Group (at least 4 vocalists)

1. Chuck Wagon Gang

Artist – Quartet

1. Down East Boys

Vocalist – Alto

1. Sheri Easter (Jeff and Sheri Easter)

Vocalist – Baritone

1. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)

Vocalist – Bass

1. Ian Owens (Tribute Quartet)

Vocalist – Lead

1. Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)

Vocalist – Soprano

1. Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck and New River)

Vocalist – Tenor

1. Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)

Artist – Soloist

1. Joseph Habedank

VOTE: Best of 2023: Album/Video

Today starts the voting for the final two categories in the 10th annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors; album and video of the year.

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 02/24/24 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.

VOTE: Best of 2023: Alto/Baritone/Bass Vocalists

Today starts the voting for best Southern Gospel alto, baritone and bass vocalists of 2023.  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 02/16/23 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.

VOTE: Best of 2023: Breakthrough/Mixed Group/Trio

Today starts the voting for best Southern Gospel breakthrough artist, mixed group and duo/trio of 2023.  Be sure to remember to put in another vote for yesterday’s 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 Friday 02/02/24 at 11:59pm.  Click the link on each nominee to see an audio/video of the nominees.

And The Nominees For The 2023 Southern Gospel Views From The Back Row Honors Are….

It is time to announce the nominees for the 10th Annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row Honors.  I went through all the Southern Gospel album’s released in 2023 and scoured through the weekly streaming top 20 charts (January to December) to determine what I considered to be the five nominees to best represent each of the 17 categories.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE:

Recorded Song of the Year (song recorded on a 2023 album, did not have to be a radio single)

1. “A Hundred Different Altars” – Bradley Guildemond, Joel Lindsey, Brad Steele; recorded by the Steeles (Be The Reason)
2. “Glory Bound” – Brent Ellison, Wayne Haun, Keith Hill; recorded by the LeFevre Quartet (Nobody Like Jesus)
3. “Lost And Found” – Clint Brown; recorded by Southbound (Lost And Found)
4. “Love Worth Dying For” – Amy Sue Keffer, John Lemonis Jr; recorded by the Down East Boys (There’s A Song For That)
5. “Nobody’s Too Broken” – Lee Black, Sue S Smith; recorded by Tribute Quartet (Always Grace)

Single/Streaming Song of the Year (had to be on the weekly streaming top 20 chart from January to December 2023)

1. “Beautiful” – Jason Clark, Don Poythress, Kenna Turner West; recorded by the Nelons (Beautiful)
2. “The Healer Sees Me” – Rebecca J Peck, John Robinson; recorded by the Ferguson Family (His Kind Of Love)
3. “My View From The Valley” – Marcia Henry, Sue C Smith; recorded by the Browns (Breakthrough)
4. “Nobody Like Jesus” – John Honaker, Jonathan Smith; recorded by the LeFevre Quartet (Nobody Like Jesus)
5. “That’s Why We Pray” – Buddy Mullins; recorded by Brian Free and Assurance (Meet Me At The Cross)

Song Cover of the Year (a previously recorded song covered in 2023 via album or single)

1. “Come On In” – Kingdom Heirs (Something Good, Vol. 3); Ronald Williams
2. “For What Earthly Reason” – Chuck Wagon Gang (Come Go With Me); Dottie Rambo
3. “I Got Saved” – TrueSong (Tell Someone); Jennie Lee Riddle, Corey Voss, Crystal Yates
4. “Love Carried The Cross” – Endless Highway (This Is The Moment); Wayne Haun, Ernie Haase, Joel Lindsey
5. “Then We’ll Be Glad”- Redeemed Quartet (Those Were The Days); JB Spencer

Songwriter

1. Clint Brown
2. Joseph Habedank
3. Sue C Smith
4. Brad Steele
5. Kenna Turner West

Album of the Year (had to be a 2023 release)

1. Be The Reason – Steeles (StowTown)
2. Lost And Found – Southbound (New Day)
3. Nobody Like Jesus – LeFevre Quartet (New Day)
4. There’s A Song For That – Down East Boys (Sonlite)
5. Treasure – Jeff and Sheri Easter (Gaither Music Group)

Video (concept video released in 2023)

1. “Army Of Love” – TrueSong (released 06/18/23)
2. “Forgiven” – Westward Road (released 06/20/23)
3. “My View From The Valley” – Browns (released 07/28/23)
4. “Somebody Testify” – Southbound (released 10/24/23)
5. “Sundays Never End” – Hinson Family (released 10/06/23)

Artist – Breakthrough (New)

1. Chosen Road
2. Ferguson Family
3. Meadows
4. Redeemed Quartet
5. TrueSong

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

1. Brian Free and Assurance
2. Browns
3. Jeff and Sheri Easter
4. Southbound
5. Steeles

Artist – Mixed Group (at least 4 vocalists)

1. Chuck Wagon Gang
2. Endless Highway
3. Mylon Hayes Family
4. Nelons
5. Karen Peck and New River

Artist – Quartet

1. Down East Boys
2. LeFevre Quartet
3. Mark Trammell Quartet
4. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound
5. Tribute Quartet

Artist – Soloist

1. Jason Crabb
2. Joseph Habedank
3. Gordon Mote
4. Lauren Talley
5. Kenna Turner West

Vocalist – Alto

1. Kelly Nelon Clark (Nelons)
2. Sheri Easter (Jeff and Sheri Easter)
3. Shaye Smith (Chuck Wagon Gang)
4. Lisa Williamson (Williamsons)
5. Maria Wolfe (Kramers)

Vocalist – Baritone

1. Jake Anglin (Brian Free and Assurance)
2. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)
3. Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Quartet)
4. Scott Mullins (Guardians)
5. Josh Singletary (Tribute Quartet)

Vocalist – Bass

1. Christian Davis (LeFevre Quartet)
2. Pau Harkey (Ernie Haase and Signature Sound)
3. Josh Koble (Redeemed Quartet)
4. Will Lane (Mark Trammell Quartet)
5. Ian Owens (Tribute Quartet)

Vocalist – Lead

1. Clint Brown (Southbound)
2. Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)
3. Josh Garner (Chuck Wagon Gang)
4. Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
5. Brad Steele (Steeles)

Vocalist – Soprano

1. Michaela Brown (Browns)
2. Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck and New River)
3. Allison Griggs (Endless Highway)
4. Amber Kistler (Nelons)
5. Amber Saunders (11th Hour)

Vocalist – Tenor

1. Dusty Barrett (TrueSong)
2. Jody Braselton (Southbound)
3. Brian Free (Brian Free and Assurance)
4. Gus Gaches (Tribute Quartet)
5. Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)

So do the nominees represent the best of 2023?  Were there any snubs? The voting rounds will begin Tuesday (01/30/24).

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 12/15/23

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 12/15/23.

SGVBR: Weekly Top 20: 12/08/23

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 12/08/23.