This Christmas season, gospel artists are dropping Christmas singles left and right.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the must-have Christmas singles that you can download for just $.99. That makes for a happy holiday.

1. “Christmas Worship Medley” by Janice Gaines
This one is particularly dear to my heart, so it goes first. She’s my wife, but she’s also an incredible vocalist. This tune highlights her awesome range and heart for worship. I promise you’ll love it.

2. “Silent Night” by Crystal Aikin
Been missing her? Us too. She doesn’t disappoint on this tastefully acoustic-vibed classic holiday song. It’ll tide us over for now.

3. “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” by Le’Andria Johnson
The raspy, powerhouse voice of this Sunday Best winner is well supported by this jazzy arrangement. She owns it.

4. “Donnie’s Christmas Songs” by Donnie McClurkin
This is a medley of some of his favorite holiday tunes. It’s upbeat and soaring, and makes you feel like you’ve had a good ol’ Christmas in just over 3 minutes. 

5. “God Bless Us, Every One” by Crystal City, Inc.
This Nashville-based production team is comprised of brother duo Dwan Hill and Marcus Hill. They’ve released a FREE Christmas EP to demonstrate their gifts and to wish you a happy holiday. Great musicianship– get it!

6. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Melinda Watts
We’ve been eager to hear more from this dynamic vocalist and she doesn’t disappoint. Sale proceeds will benefit at-risk girls through her nonprofit org, the Dream Girlz Gathering Foundation.

7. “Angels We Have Heard On High” by Committed
The a capella winners of last season’s The Sing-Off on NBC are precisely the type of artist you want Christmas music from. And this tracks proves why.

Which ones do you have?  Which ones are you grabbing?

Just a quick heads-up folks (as if you weren’t already planning to watch, right?)–

The finale of Sunday Best airs this Sunday, September 11th at 8pm ET.  We will, of course, FINALLY know who will take the title this season– Andrea Helms or Amber Bullock.

Also, part of the show will celebrate the 100th birthday of Mahalia Jackson and will feature key performances from some of gospel music’s biggest names, including Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Rance Allen, Lecrae, Crystal Aikin, Y’Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Le’Andria Johnson, VaShawn Mitchell, Ricky Dillard and MORE.

Yet ANOTHER reason to watch!

It’s down to Amber Bullock and Andrea Helms as the finalists of this season’s Sunday Best on BET.  Public voting opened this past Sunday, and we’ll know the winner this Sunday, September 4th.  But, then what?

Sure, the winner will release her debut album on the Music World Gospel label, after Mathew Knowles struck a deal with BET to sign the winners of last season and this season. But after the buzz of winning dies down, and the album runs its cycle… what for the winner?

Big album sales? More performance opportunities? Big money? Maybe not…

The problem, as I see it, is similar across most talent competition shows– interest in the program does not equal interest in the winner’s album or long-term career.

We have cared enough to tune in, cared enough to comment, and we may even care enough to vote. It costs us nothing but our time. But to spend $10 on any one of the finalists’ albums is clearly more of a “vote” than even a fraction of the show’s millions of viewers are willing to make.

See, the audience cares, just not that much.  So, the biggest challenge for the winners– and the labels to which they’re signed– is to make more of the viewers into consumers. It’s to make us fall so in love with the product– the artist, that is, not the show itself– that we still care even once a new season begins.

This is particularly important for Amber and/or Andrea, by the way, as I’m hearing rumblings that BET will start auditions for its next season sooner than ever, within the next month or two.

Which begs another question– does it even matter who wins? With the exception of Elder Goldwire McLendon last season, both the winner and runner-up have received album contracts. In fact, Crystal Aikin and runner-up Shari Addison released their albums on the same day in 2009.

So, maybe Sunday Best is more of just a fun weekly showcase of this nation’s homegrown gospel talent than a platform to become ‘the next big’ whatever. Maybe it’s just a resume builder, as opposed to the grand career launch pad that many think it is.

Don’t get me wrong– I enjoy the show and plan to tune in each season. Without question, Sunday Best is one of the most entertaining television programs to ever hit the gospel industry.

But what if that’s all it is?

From Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

After a year-long hiatus, Sunday Best returned to the BET airwaves Sunday night to premiere season four of the popular gospel singing competition. And with it were all the familiar faces fans have come to love.

Kirk Franklin, the multi-award-winning songwriter and producer, returns to host the show, proving he hasn’t lost a bit of his excitement. He’s still unpredictable and over the top, which is exactly why he’s so beloved as the show’s official hype man.

At the judges’ table, Donnie McClurkin and sisters Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, are again on board to evaluate the talent (and occasional lack of talent) presented by the thousands of singers who audition for a chance to be named “Sunday Best.”

Tina clearly is still the judge who’s not afraid to dish out some tough love when an audition “ain’t workin,’” as she put it. Erica, on the other hand, maintains the middle ground, issuing balanced critiques and with little wavering. But you’ll notice that is seems Donnie has settled into his role as a judge and doesn’t hold back on would-be contestants quite like last year, either.

For the most part, though, things remain the same, and that’s not a bad thing.

As always, the most interesting and unpredictable part of Sunday Best is the contestants. If you watched the first three seasons, you’ll remember that there have been three strong female winners: Crystal Aikin in season one, Y’Anna Crawley in season two, and LeAndria Johnson last year.

After making stops in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles among other cities, this year’s Sunday Best Top 20 is split between ten men and ten women who represent an interesting variety of vocal styles and textures. While I heard a lot of runs and vocal acrobatics during the audition footage, it was mostly from singers who didn’t make the final cut. There were, of course, those few who I could’ve thrown my hands at. But I remember that it’s a competition and an even playing field isn’t always fun to watch.

With the exception of a few singers, I think we’ll get to see some voices explore tones and techniques besides the traditional growls and groans we’re used to on the show. We might even get a little reggae this year! I like surprises, though, and Sunday Best is always full of them, so only time will tell if there’s any truth to my gut-feeling.

What ultimately remains to be seen, however, is if a male singer will snatch the title away this year. I hate to make this a battle of the sexes, but I’m not the only one who’s just a bit curious, right? Right!?

Here’s your Top 20:

• Timesha Sampson
• Toneisha Harris
• Sue Roseberry
• Shandandolan Reynolds
• Roosevelt Griffin
• Ricky Valentino Lafontaine
• Quentin Bethea
• Monica Smith
• Michael Washington
• Michael Pugh
• Latrice Smith
• Isaiah Freeman
• Felicia Russell
• Eric Drew
• Chase Stancle
• Carlington Roberts
• Brian Ezra Bates
• Annalisha Robbins
• Andrea Helms
• Amber Bullock

We’ll all have to stay tuned to find out for sure…

So remember, the Top 20 head to Atlanta this coming week for the first round of performances and cuts. Be sure to tune in to at 8 p.m. EST on Sundays this summer!

*     *     *

What’d you think of the Sunday Best premiere?

Did you like the judges’ Top 20 picks?

Who are you rooting for so far?  Everybody?  Nobody?

Bishop TD Jakes is set to release the second installment of Sacred Love Songs on May 31, 2011.  The project, titled Sacred Love Songs 2, is a 12-track compilation of music inspired by the new movie Jumping the Broom on Sony Pictures.

With guest artists ranging from Fred Hammond to Karen Clark Sheard, El DeBarge to Joe, Bishop Paul Morton to Ledisi, this project promises to have a little something for everyone.

The first single from Sacred Love Songs 2 is a modern remake of Kirk Franklin’s hit “Love,” recorded by Anaysha Figueroa.

Here’s a full track listing…

1. The Vow featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes
2. Let’s Stay Together featuring Ledisi
3. Back At One featuring Micah Stampley
4. Just Take My Heart featuring Crystal Aikin
5. Closer featuring Joe
6. The Homily featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes
7. Inseparable featuring Karen Clark Sheard & Kirk Whalum
8. My Lady And Myself Featuring Fred Hammond
9. Love featuring Anaysha Figueroa & Bishop T.D. Jakes
10. Finally featuring Bishop Paul Morton
11. How Can You Love Me featuring El Debarge
12. Don’t Go To Bed Mad featuring Terry Thomas

Looks pretty good!

I’m a patient dude. At least, I try to be.  But there are a three albums that I’m anxious to get, and I’m just about tired of waiting!

In no particular order, I’m tapping my foot HARD about new albums from:

21:03, Z’iel, Crystal Aikin

Sure, the new albums from Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary will tide me over with great music for the next several months, but I’m not just eager for good music…

I’m particularly interested in these three albums so that I can see the growth of these 3 artists.  We, as an industry, have kinda had the opportunity to watch them from the beginning, and each is said to have evolved or developed in some unique way leading up to now.

I wanna see.  I wanna hear.  Like… soon! Lol

What albums are you not-so-patiently waiting for, and why?

Ya heard Joe Pace’s “And We Are Glad” yet?

I love it. It’s just a dope choir song, RIPE AND READY for your Sunday morning worship services.

The tune is on Joe Pace’s latest album, Praise for the Sanctuary, which hit stores last week and features guest spots from Isaac Carree, Crystal Aikin, Tonya Baker and more. Click here to check it out
and to buy it.

Peep the live video (ignore the mysterious overdubs on the vamp– it’s spooked me at first, but I’m over it now):

Whatd’ya think???

Word has it that Integrity Music’s hit gospel compilation project, Gotta Have Gospel, will be returning to stores with its 8th edition on October 5th.

The project features 24 tracks, with a bonus DVD of gospel performances and music videos.

The track listing?  Glad you asked–

Disc One
1.  I Give You Praise – Byron Cage
2. Expect The Great – Jonathan Nelson
3. All Of My Help – Hezekiah Walker & LFC
4. How I Got Over featuring Tim Bowman, Jr. – Vickie Winans
5. Nobody Like You Lord – Fred Hammond
6. Every Prayer featuring Mary Mary – Israel Houghton
7. I Will Lift – Trin-I-Tee 5:7
8. Your Name Alone – Stephen Hurd
9. Lord You Reign Forever – Crystal Aikin
10. Jesus – Kirk Franklin
11. Free – Rizen
12. I Gave It Up – J Moss

Disc Two
1. Trusting In You – Donnie McClurkin
2. Let The Word Do The Work featuring Brother Hahz – Donald Lawrence & Co.
3. I Praise You – Shari Addison
4. Get Up – Mary Mary
5. It All Belongs To You – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
6. The Master Plan – Tamela Mann
7. Bless The Lord (Son Of Man) – Tye Tribbett
8. Worship Medley: I Worship You Almighty God/There Is None Like You/There’s Something About That Name – Marvin Sapp
9. All I Need – Brian Courtney Wilson
10. Free – Darwin Hobbs
11. Your Will – Ken Reynolds
12. Trading My Sorrows – PAJAM

DVD Footage
1. La Buena Vida (Romans 8:31) – Ken Reynolds featuring Lucia Parker
2. I’ll Say Yes – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
3. Just Wanna Say – Israel Houghton
4. Worship Medley: I Worship You Almighty God/There Is None Like You/There’s Something About That Name – Marvin Sapp

Sounds good, yes?

Who’s thinking of grabbin’ this one???

Word has it that gospel artist Melinda Watts is deep into the planning stages of her first conference to empower teenage girls.  It’s called the Dream Girlz Gathering and it’s going down August 19-21, 2010 in Vineland, NJ before hitting the road and hitting several cities across the nation.

The schoolteacher-turned-gospel-artist (by way of gmc’s Gospel Dream talent competition) has always had a passion for educating and empowering young girls on their journey to becoming young women– this conference is an outpouring of that passion.

And to assist her, she’s locked in the support of other great women in gospel, including Crystal Aikin, Karima Kibble, Neechy and more.

Visit http://www.dreamgirlzgathering.com or call 866-806-GRLZ for more info.

Anyone gonna check it out?  Anyone planning to attend?  Lemme know!

Is it just me, or has Crystal Aikin displayed a remarkable amount of artistic growth over the past year?

She gave one of my favorite performances at this year’s Stellar Awards.  I was mesmerized as she sang her single, “I Desire More,” not because she’s such a gifted vocalist (though, she is), but because I could see how much she has grown as an artist in just a year.

To be clear, Crystal Aikin, the winner of BET’s first season of Sunday Best, never gave lackluster performances.  She always demonstrated her vocal ability to wowed audiences.  I’ve always enjoyed seeing her and I have definitely loved her single.  In fact, I didn’t even notice that “I Desire More” was “missing” something until I saw her perform it with even more ownership, control and passion this year.

I would’ve been tempted to say that her performance was the result of having just won Stellar Awards for New Artist Of The Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist Of The Year, but her performance of the song was even better at the rehearsals earlier that day!

No, there is a refinement, a confidence, a graceful domination that Crystal Aikin is exhibiting… it’s not the result of accolades or awards.  I’m thinking it’s the result of dedication to her craft over the past year and the seasoned grace of a real pro.  Whatever the difference, or what caused it, I LOVE IT.  I’m definitely looking forward to watching her develop musically and I wanna hear the album she’s slated to work on this year.

To see my point, compare “I Desire More” from her guest appearance on last year’s season of Sunday Best with “I Desire More” from this year’s Stellar Awards…

Sunday Best, 2009:

Stellar Awards, 2010 (pardon the quality):

Do you see the difference I’m talking about? Whatd’ya think???