For all you political junkies, today is super Tuesday. Take part in the political process and vote, if your state happens to be one of many holding primaries today. I am kicking off the month as I do each month; providing the five most played Southern Gospel radio songs (or should be) in my musical playlists over the preceding month. Also, take this time to highlight any current Southern Gospel song that you are enjoying.
*Video Credit (#JosephHabedank)
*Video Credit (#ThePerrys)
*Video Credit (#TheErwins)
*Video Credit (Various Artists – Topic)
*Video Credit (#BoothBrothers)
Welcome to 2016! First official new post of the new year is a little Southern Gospel tidbits. I thought I would provide some Southern Gospel predictions for 2016. What do you think? What are some predictions you have for Southern Gospel music for 2016?
*In all seriousness, I hope you all have a wonderful 2016 and I am going to leave you with this new song that is already promising to be a big hit for the Wisecarvers in 2016; “Just To Save Me”.
*Video Credit (#TheWisecarvers)
Everything that needs to be said of Southern Gospel music in 2015 is said; just about. Here are a few more things to wrap up the year and look ahead to 2016.
Some Stats:
Top Five Read Posts of 2015
**This tells me that my readers enjoy awards/honors (where they decide the results) and album reviews. If I had expanded this list, you would be surprised at how many of the most read posts are album reviews.
Ten Most Played Southern Gospel Songs of 2015
**I present the fab five feature at the start of every month to let you know my most played Southern Gospel radio songs in my musical playlists. I get asked on occasion what I am currently listening to and this allows me to let the readers know. These were the ten most played songs of the entire year.
Most Viewed YouTube Clips of 2015
**I started a YouTube channel in September 2015 to go along with the blog. This blog has always been about the music. I try not to play favorites and present Southern Gospel music in all its forms throughout its history. With my vast music collection, I noticed there were many classic songs missing from YouTube that may never be heard again. I wanted to change that. These were the ten most viewed clips since September.
In Honor of those who passed in 2015
Looking ahead to features you will find in 2016
**I want to thank everyone who stopped by the blog in 2015. This year had to most views/site visitors of any year I have been doing this blog. As long as you continue to stop by, I will continue the blog.
Today we conclude the annual countdown of Southern Gospel’s best album and recorded song by crowning #1. Thanks once again for indulging me on presenting one of my favorite features of the year.
When Southern Gospel music looks back at 2015 in years to come, they only need to remember one name; Karen Peck and New River. The group’s 2015 album release, Pray Now, ranks as the best Southern Gospel album released this year.
The eleven song collection has everything a listener has come to expect from the group. But, what sets it apart from the other albums found in my annual countdown is several strong songs, most notably, the title track; “Pray Now”.
Personal favorites from this recording include: “Pray Now”, “Redemption’s Holy Lamb”, “Blessed”, “Hallelujah For The Cross”, “Lord Send Your Angels”, “Calling” and “Peace That Covers All The Pain”.
That leaves the #1 recorded song of 2015, which happens to be Karen Peck and New River’s, “Pray Now”.
Karen, along with Dave Clark and Michael Farren penned this masterpiece that has truly defined 2015. This happens to be the top Southern Gospel song in my musical playlists, in regards to total number of plays, than any other song recorded/released this year.
I’m not alone, considering the readers of this blog also chose “Pray Now” as the top Southern Gospel recorded song in the 2nd annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors. Thank you Karen Peck and New River for providing the best Southern Gospel music of 2015.
*Video Credit (Various Artists – Topic)
Another new artist finds a home in the countdown today. The Jim Brady Trio won breakthrough (new) artist of the year by the readers of this blog for the 2nd annual Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors.
The trio started the year by releasing their debut album, A New Chapter, in January 2015. Instant name recognition and the songwriting talents of Jim and Melissa Brady make for a dangerous combination in an industry where it can be tough to get listeners to recognize your music.
The album contains one of the greatest song covers in Southern Gospel music. Melissa Brady is featured on the Squire Parsons classic, “The Greatest Of All Miracles” to make it a better version than the original by Gold City. When determining the best Southern Gospel albums released in 2015, it wasn’t difficult to list the Jim Brady Trio’s, A New Chapter at #18.
Personal favorites from this recording include: “The Greatest Of All Miracles”, “Steppin’ Out In Faith”, “When He Saved Me”, “The Half That’s Never Been Told”, “That Sounds Like Home To Me”, “God Of What’s To Come” and “If It Had Not Been”.
Even in the midst of another personnel change, Karen Peck and New River is celebrating another great year in Southern Gospel music. The release of the album, Pray Now, in April of this year gave Southern Gospel music one of the biggest songs of 2015 with the title track.
The album had quite a few songs worth mentioning and was one of only two recordings released this year to land two songs in the annual countdown. “Redemption’s Holy Lamb” is one of the most different musical arrangements I’ve heard this year. The song uses a celtic style melody while the trio tend to use a bluegrass influence in their vocal interpretation of the song.
Benji Coward, Kenna Turner West and Karen came together to write the song that lands at #18 among the best recorded in 2015.
*Video Credit (Various Artists – Topic)
You, as readers of this blog, decided who you thought represented the best of 2015. Over the course of the last several weeks you voted in polls that represented 20 different categories (also chosen by you). If you looked back through after the polls closed, you already know the winners, but I thought I would wrap up this year’s honors by listing the winners in each category. Thanks for participating and continuing to come by on a daily basis to let me know you want me to continue this blog.
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
Recorded Song of the Year (song recorded on a 2015 release, did not have to be a radio single)
*I’m not surprised Karen Peck and New River were given the highest honor of best recorded song of 2015. “Pray Now” was hands down, the song that best represented 2015 in Southern Gospel music. If I was hand picking the winners, my choice would have also been “Pray Now”.
Album of the Year (had to be a 2015 release)
*Pray Now by Karen Peck and New River was leading early, looking like they would go two for two. But the Kingdom Heirs, ultimately edged out a win for album of the year for A New Look. My choice would have gone to Pray Now, but all five contenders in this category were worthy of the win.
Radio Single of the Year (had to be a chart hit from January to December 2015)
*This was the closest vote tally of any category in the honors. The Kingsmen and Gaither Vocal Band (“Sometimes It Takes A Mountain”) were swapping the lead throughout but the Kingsmen were honored for their hit single, “Battle Cry”; the best single of 2015.
Song Cover of the Year (a previously recorded song covered on a 2015 album release)
*This was no surprise. Ultimately one of the best cover songs in Southern Gospel music; beating the original recording by Gold City.
Album Cover Design (best album artwork/cover design from a 2015 release)
*The Nelons had another good year, tallying four wins in this years honors. The first is Amber Nelon Thompson’s solo recording, Just Sing, picking up best album cover design.
Songwriter
*It is finally great to see non-performing/touring songwriters getting the recognition they deserve. It is also nice that the general Southern Gospel listening audience is also beginning to recognize these names. All five nominees in the songwriter category this year were non-performing/touring songwriters. Kenna Turner West is one of the best and she was given this year’s honor as best songwriter.
Songwriting Collaboration Team
*Kenna Turner West would grab two wins as she was also part of the best songwriting collaboration team of 2015. Along with Sheri Easter and Don Poythress, they penned one of the best recorded songs of the year; “Jesus Loves You”. The song was recorded by Jeff and Sheri Easter.
Artist – Quartet
*Fan favorites tended to dominate the artist categories. Triumphant grabbed best quartet of the year. My hand-picked choice would have gone to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.
Artist – Mixed Group (at least 4 vocalists)
*Another fan favorite, the Collingsworth Family picked up the honor for best mixed group. My choice would have gone to the Erwins.
Artist – Duo/Trio (no more than 3 vocalists)
*One can’t argue the contributions Greater Vision made to Southern Gospel this year with the release of As We Speak. For me, one artist would have slightly edged out Greater Vision; Karen Peck and New River.
Artist – Breakthrough (New)
*A strong debut album (A New Chapter) along with a strong debut radio single (“Steppin’ Out In Faith”) and immediate name recognition made for a fairly easy choice for most voters.
Artist – Underrated (overlooked by majority of listeners)
*While the Dunaways attempted to provide some competition, the LeFevre Quartet would pick up the honor for most underrated artist of 2015. Even though, the new album (Home) has been pushed back, the success of the first single, “He Left No Stone Unturned” was enough for this win.
Vocalist – Tenor
*Greater Vision would grab a second win as Chris Allman picked up tenor vocalist.
Vocalist – Lead
*Arthur Rice being snubbed from other fan voted award shows has given him two wins in a row for the Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row honors.
Vocalist – Baritone
*Triumphant would also grab a second win with Scott Inman garnering baritone vocalist.
Vocalist – Bass
*Actually, go ahead and make that three wins for Triumphant as Eric Bennett was chosen as best bass vocalist for 2015.
Vocalist – Alto
*The Nelons would make a clean sweep of the female vocal spots as Kelly won Alto.
Vocalist – Soprano
*And Amber would get her second soprano win in a row.
Vocal Collaboration (two artists coming together on a song from a 2015 album release)
*Amber Nelon Thompson’s success over the last couple years has been unmatched. She, alone, made up three of the four Nelon wins. “Without Your Love”, along with Jospeh Habedank garnered Amber a win for vocal collaboration of the year.
Hall Of Fame – Individual (artist with a 30+ year career in Southern Gospel still producing hits in 2015)
*Karen Peck Gooch is one of the most known female vocalists in Southern Gospel music. Her career has now spanned more than thirty years. As a result, you honored Karen with the hall of fame individual for 2015.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Thanks for providing the best Southern Gospel had to offer in 2015; at least the readers of this blog think so.
Southern Gospel Views From The Back Row 