Traditional
CD Review: The Last Big Thing (Kingdom Heirs)
The Kingdom Heirs have once again released a CD I won’t get tired of for a long time.
Plenty of Singing – For people like me who can’t sit still during toe-tapping songs, this one will have you on your feet dancing and snapping your fingers.
Jeff Chapman is featured on another uptempo song: Victory.
Telling the Story – Do you ever get tired of hearing Bible stories? Each one talks about the power of God and His goodness. “I’ve rested in trials while shouting the glory so I’m telling the story again.”
The Last Big Thing is a clever play on words. People are always talking about the next big thing they’re working on, but “I wanna tell you about the last big thing!”
Jerry Martin sings a song penned by Gerald Crabb: Heroes of Faith.
I Wanna Do More – Can we ever do enough for God? He has done so much for us!
“While Satan was counting his victory, all of Heaven Was Counting to Three.” A great song by Jim Brady and Rodney Griffin.
Heaven Just Got Sweeter for You is a sad but encouraging song. We miss those who have gone to Heaven ahead of us but, if we are faithful, we will see them again.
I love the harmony and the message of Just Another Mile. Dianne Wilkinson wrote this one.
Other songs included are Live it Up and I’ll Trust You With Tomorrow.
CD Review: East to West (Endless Highway)
Formerly known as The Joylanders, Endless Highway consists of Perry & Nell Wimberley, their daughter Vanessa and her husband Jason, and Jason and Vanessa’s children, Jay and Allison. Both old and young should be able to find songs on this recording that they enjoy as there is a mixture of traditional and progressive southern gospel music, with the ballads being more inspirational and worshipful.
The CD begins with the peppy song It’s a Highway to Heaven.
A beautiful song with a good message is Under the Sea.
“For every unanswered question, there’s an Unbroken Promise.” An encouraging thought if you’re going through a tough time.
Other songs include It’s His Story, This is the Grace I Know, Count It All Joy, I’ve Got the Son in My Eyes, Go Ahead and Shout, Beautiful Scars of Love, and Out of the Deep.
CD Review: Finest Hour (The Talleys)
In an era where some southern gospel artists are in a rut, songs sound the same, etc. the Talleys are still being creative with their arrangements while singing strong lyrics. I had a time of worship while writing this review. This is a CD I won’t get tired of for a while.
Look Up is a song of encouragement to those who are weary and downtrodden. You won’t find hope on this earth but only by looking up.
Lauren Talley sings Jeremiah 29:11 (You Have Plans). When things don’t make sense, you can still hold on to the truth that God has plans for you, and His plans are always good.
Debra is featured on When the Answer is No. “Every storm you have to face will be covered by His grace. Mercy still flows when the answer is no.” Amen!
A peppy song is next: Joy. No matter what you are going through, this song is bound to put a smile on your face.
“We Are Witnesses, the ones who testify to the resurrection power of the Lord of life. Our glorious Savior–we have seen Him with our eyes. We are witnesses of Jesus Christ.”
That’s What the Teacher Taught provokes a lot of thought. I think many overlook the things that Jesus taught, perhaps thinking he didn’t really mean what He said.
He Restoreth My Soul is basically Psalm 23 set to music.
Other songs include: Grab Your Umbrella, Death Was Arrested, Get Me There, Home at Last, and Begin Again God.
CD Review: They Don’t Know (The Kingsmen)
“When it seems you’ve fallen prey in a hungry lion’s den, He’ll keep the lions hungry and deliver you again.” I love those lyrics penned by Regina Walden. This is just one of the songs on The Kingsmen’s latest CD.
God Calls it Grace is an encouraging ballad sung by Joshua Horrell.
The Evidence I Need goes with Romans 1:20, which talks about how even creation proves that there is a God. Between that and the work He has done in my life, I don’t need anything else to prove to me that God is real.
I’ll Sail Away Yonder takes me back to the Kingsmen of the 1980s.
Bob Sellers sings the sobering Cost of the Cross. I don’t think we can ever think too much about what our salvation cost Jesus.
I don’t know what it is about Sandy Knight’s songs but they always catch my attention. Don’t Underestimate God’s Grace is no exception. Another great song.
Other songs include They Don’t Know (What the Lord Can Do); Hear the Word of the Lord; Let Go and Hold Fast; Fade to Black; and Legacy.
In an age of progression, I am happy that the Kingsmen stick to their roots. Their lyrics have gotten better over the years but their sound stays very much the same.
CD Review: The Hinson Side of Me (Chris Freeman)
The long-awaited solo project from Chris Freeman was finally released last year. How better to celebrate over 30 years of singing than to re-release some of the songs she sang when she was with the Hinsons.
Songs included are: How Wrong You Are (with Ronny Hinson); Homesick to Go (with Mike Bowling); Call Me Gone (with Larry and Weston Hinson); Burdens are Lifted Away (with Larry and Weston Hinson); Ain’t That What It’s All About (with Bo Hinson); That I Could Still Go Free (with Three Bridges and Gene McDonald); I Never Shall Forget the Day (with Jeremiah Yocom); Too Many Times (with The Isaacs); and I’ll Never Forget (an old recording of the original Freemans).
This is a must-have for Freemans and Hinsons fans.
CD Review: Walk Worthy (Master’s Voice)
It’s rare that a group catches my attention the first time I hear them. Master’s Voice is one of those rare groups. I have two of their CDs and never get tired of them. Good harmony and arrangements to songs written by writers such as Phil Cross, Joseph Habedank, Dianne Wilkinson, Jerry Salley, and others make this a recording you will want to listen to over and over. You will be tapping your toes on Love Goes a Mighty Long Way, crying on One Day Longer, acknowledging that “Without You, I Haven’t Got a Prayer,” and praying to be that person who will “Lift Up Your Hands When You Can’t.”
Other songs include: He Saw Me; Another One Like Him; Yes He Did, Yes He Does, Yes He Will; More Than Enough; Sowing the Good Seed; Do What Jesus Did; Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary; and Where My Savior Is.
CD Review: A Different Light (Mark Bishop)
Mark Bishop has just released another CD with 11 original songs that he wrote. He has several guest vocalists that are worthy of mention on this recording.
The Kingdom Heirs join Mark on the uptempo Finish Strong, Finish Well, Finish Empty.
He’s Always Been a Friend reminds me of the Bishops, and it features Kenneth Bishop on the second verse.
The Refrigerator Door will take you back to when your children were little, and everything they drew, made, etc. was placed on the refrigerator door.
Tell Me You Saw Me is something each of us should desire. “Tell me you saw me walking with Jesus. I’ll tell you it’s by His grace.”
My favorite song on this CD is Couldn’t Feel Any Better. The second verse features Chris Freeman. If you’re having a rough time, this song should lift your spirits.
Other songs include: More Than Enough; I Know I’m in Good Hands; God Is Powerful; What It Comes Down to Is Me; Fly, Fly Away Little Birdie; and I’m Gonna Wish I Had Worried Less.
CD Review: Stronger Together (The Nelons)
When you think of the Nelons, you may think of great harmony and good songs. This CD will not disappoint.
One Little Word talks about the name of Jesus. It’s amazing how effective that one word is no matter how low you get.
Family Chain reminds us that, although we may lose loved ones on this earth, if they know Jesus, the separation is only temporary.
The highlight of the CD, for me, is Then Came the Morning. I love the song anyway but Amber Nelon Thompson does an awesome job on this classic.
Jason Clark sings Gate of Heaven.
Karen Peck Gooch joins Kelly Nelon Clark and the Nelons to sing You Can’t Make Old Friends.
I’m so glad someone finally brought back I Think I’ll Read it Again. I have loved that song ever since Gold City released it in the 1980s.
Other songs included are: In My Father’s House, The Awakening, and Angels Hover Near You.
CD Review: Classics Volume One (Blackwood Brothers Quartet)
The Blackwood Brothers have released yet another CD of classics. Songs include: I’d Rather Have Jesus, He Touched Me, If That Isn’t Love, Who Am I, The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, Without Him, Sweet Beulah Land, What a Day That Will Be, The Eastern Gate, and The Love of God.
The CD was produced and arranged by Trey Ivey who also plays piano on the recording. Longtime Blackwood Brothers fans will still enjoy the group today.
CD Review: Here For You (Tribute Quartet)
Earlier this year, I reviewed my favorite CD for 2016. The latest CD from Tribute Quartet may not be my very favorite, but it’s definitely up there.
Here For You is an uptempo song of encouragement. You can find love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, faith, everything you need to make it through. All you need to do is join the family of God.
Another encouraging toe-tapper is Never Forsaken.
We all need reminders that this world is not our home, that these trials will not last forever, etc. Somebody Sing Me That Song.
Riley Harrison Clark blows the roof off with When the Prodigal Comes Home.
The tempo picks back up with Meeting in the Middle of the Air.
I’m so thankful that I serve the God of the Storms.
Everybody Come See Jesus is just a song about Jesus and how wonderful He is.
Anthony Davis is featured on That’s How I Know.
Grace at Its Best is still the cross. I love that!
Jesus Saves is an old song written by Connie Hopper and Geron Davis.
Nothing Stops the Savior’s Love–I needed to hear this today. “Fear may rule the day, but hope–it always finds a way to reach us where we are, to give us life that’s more than what we dreamed of.”
