Y’Anna Crawley, winner of season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with her long-awaited project, The Promise.  Congratulations!!!

Also, Tamela Mann and Brian Courtney Wilson experienced some significant sales gains, jumping from #15 to #4, and from #10 to #5, respectively.

The rest of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | Y’Anna Crawley – The Promise
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Tamela Mann – The Master Plan
#5 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#6 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#7 | Various Artists (from Fred Hammond) – Life In the Word
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#10 | Forever Jones – Get Ready

Did you guys grab Y’Anna’s new project yet?  What do you think of it?

What do you think of the rest of the top 10???

Israel Houghton returns to the scene today with his newest album, Love God. Love People. The project has been highly publicized, primarily because it was created in London’s famed Abbey Road Studios, the birthplace of much of the Beatles’ historic music.

Produced by Houghton, with Aaron Lindsey and Tommy Sims, the magic and wonder of the recording space can definitely be heard in this musical body of work.  One might criticize it, though, as it likely showcases more musicality than the average consumer can appreciate or follow.  Still, while Abbey Road may not carry as much significance for the gospel community as it does for Israel personally, there’s something quite cool about knowing that this project is unlike others in our genre.

The album opens with the title track, full of funk and a banging beat, before transitioning to another stand-out, “Yahweh.”  This tune is energetic and full of vocal/instrumental nuances that make you wanna listen multiple times in a row, just to ensure that you’ve heard it all.  Up next, is “Love Rev,” with a fun 60′s Motown/British invasion chorus (with a bit of a doo-wop vibe) that you’d expect to have been created at Abbey Road.

Other standout tracks are “That’s Why I Love You,” a mellow, jazzy groove that makes you wanna snap your fingers and fall in love with God all over again, and “You Hold My World,” a heart-wrenchingly performed ode to God’s faithfulness (the song’s build is captivating).

Israel’s also got some solid, but understated guest performances from his industry peers–  the upbeat and dance-ready “Mercies,” features Kirk Franklin.  With its Earth Wind & Fire kind of vibe, it’s just screaming for a skate party. The collabo is so seamless and natural that the song could easily have fit on an album by Kirk, too.  Then there’s “Surprises,” with Fred Hammond giving a vocal that is higher and lighter than we’ve come to expect from him, along with a bass-heavy vamp that showcases Hammond’s musicianship in a way that we don’t always get to hear.

Perhaps one of the most powerful songs on the entire project is the one that ends it– ”Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher).”  In various sections of the song, the tune is as pure and innocent as the children’s choir singing behind it, before becoming as intricate as the background vocals supplied by a cappella wonder-group Take 6.  It’s the type of song that should/will be sung at an outdoor crusade by about 40,000 people at once.  At over 8 minutes in length, “Hosanna” is over-the-top grand. And rightly so– it’s a cry of praise to an over-the-top grand God.

In sum, Love God. Love People. is certainly more experimental than any other project he’s done. If Houghton’s Real album bothered fans of the praise & worship New Breed sound, this one is gonna drive them crazy.  There’s hardly anything that most churches will be adding to their Sunday morning repertoires, but Israel has never claimed to be a limited to what we define as “worship music.”  In my estimation, he’s always explored the more creative side of himself in a way that is uninhibited and undefined.

The masterful production and simply “good music” found on this project is reason enough for any true music lover to grab it.  The fact that we can have it, and know that it’s about an infinitely creative God (who expresses His creativity in innumerable ways)… that’s a bonus.  Worth a purchase.

Click here to listen and/or download it now!

VaShawn Mitchell has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with the new release of his latest album, Triumphant (EMI Gospel).  This sales week represents the highest week of his career.  Congrats!

Also, Brian Courtney Wilson jumped from #12 to #7 on the chart.  Great job!

The rest of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Various Artists (from Fred Hammond) - Life In the Word
#5 | Forever Jones - Get Ready
#6 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC - Souled Out
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#8 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
#9 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#10 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still

What do you think???

Life In the Word, the first project in the joint venture between Fred Hammond’s fHammond Family Entertainment and Universal Christian Music Group has debuted at #2 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. Fred’s 2009 release, Love Unstoppable, came in at #6 this week, so he’s got TWO albums in the Top 10.  Congrats!

Also, kudos to Lowell Pye for debuting at #10 on the chart, with his solo debut, Finally, which hit stores last Tuesday. Click here to listen to snippets and to buy it!

The rest of the top 10 shakes out to look a little something like this…

The full run-down of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | Various Artists – Life In the Word
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC - Souled Out
#5 | Trip Lee – Between Two Worlds
#6 | Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson - Just Love
#8 | Forever Jones – Get Ready
#9 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still
#10 | Lowell Pye - Finally

To be honest, I haven’t grabbed Lowell’s project yet– anyone got it?  Anyone lovin’ it?

Tell me about!

There are certain praise & worship songs that just stand the test of time– they’re the songs that are so popular and powerful that they’re kinda “must-haves” in the Sunday morning worship experience.

I’m talking about Fred Hammond’s “You Are The Living Word.”  Or maybe Martha Munizzi’s “Glorious,” or Maurette Brown Clark’s “Just Want To Praise You.”  And what about “Here I Am To Worship?”

They’re the songs that practically every church musician and congregation knows, across the country.  They’re the go-to tunes, the never-fail songs of the modern day church experience.

I’m curious– in your opinion, what are some of the must-have songs in praise & worship???

For a second week, it seems that an artist has debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Gospel Albums charts that many probably were not expecting to land there.

This time, it’s the project Landmark, a new album from Jasper Williams & Salem Bible Church Mass Choir, which debuted at #6.  This traditional gospel project was given a solid rating by The Black Gospel Blog (one of my faves for its historical accuracy and broad coverage).

The full run-down of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#4 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#5 | Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable
#6 | Jasper Williams & Salem Bible Church Mass Choir – Landmark
#7| Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | Forever Jones - Get Ready
#10 | Donnie McClurkin - Playlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin

Since his debut at #8 last week, gospel hip-hopper PRo has dropped to #22.  I’d probably blame that on a bunch of pre-sales, as well, without momentum beyond first week.  Either way, you guys have said good things about him… I think folks should check him out.

Ok, so who’s got good ol’ Jasper Williams’ project???

Talk to me!

New Associate Editor Troy Lilly interviewed Fred Hammond for you guys…

In this chat, he talks with Fred about Life in the Word (the new album that hits stores TODAY), Fred’s new relationship with Universal Music Christian Group, and plans for the future.

It’s a great read, so I won’t delay things any further… here’s Troy with Fred Hammond.

*     *     *

Troy: How are you doing this morning, man?

Fred: Good, man. How you feel?

Troy: Good, good. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Fred: I appreciate you, doc, for talking to me.

Troy: First off, I want to congratulate you on the new label, fHammond Family Entertainment, and your joint venture with Universal Music Christian Group.

Fred: Yeah.

Troy: Everyone’s really excited about it. Some people are so excited they’ve let their imaginations run wild about what’s going to happen next. I mean really, really wild!

So, tell me how this partnership came about and what exactly this means for future Fred Hammond projects?

Fred: Well, uh, the label is not as new as is kind of being said. It’s fHammond Music, basically, which was on the Verity/Zomba label.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: Verity and Zomba both gave me an opportunity to learn the inside of executive producing …there’s other levels… marketing, and not just finding the talent, but motivating and molding the talent. Verity taught me to do that.

But when we got to the end of our run, Verity wanted to concentrate on less secondary projects and more primary projects. Fred Hammond is a primary and fHammond is a secondary.

Troy: I see.

Fred: Basically, I got dropped! Naw…I’m just kidding! (laughs)

Troy: (LAUGHS)

Fred: And I didn’t really get dropped. We both mutually agreed, you know, it was time to go. It was a good run. We got Joann Rosario [Condrey] out of it, I had the Singletons and Shea Norman … Joann really shined out of that… but I got a chance to learn at each step.

Troy: Right, right.

Fred: But Universal came along. And see, because Universal is not a label – they’re distribution – they can help develop a label, you know.

Troy: Right…

Fred: They don’t have artists to compete with. They were looking for some talented young labels and people who had music and they said, ‘we can help you.’ And when we met up with each other I felt really good about it. I went there and sat down and I felt like this was the place to be.

They allow me, as a businessperson, to say, “this is the plan and this is the direction we’re going.”

Troy: Wow.

Fred: Sometimes I’m almost asking them permission to do something as a label…

Troy: (Chuckles)

Fred: And they’re like… ‘uh, that’s your label. You tell us what to do.’ And I’m like, “oh, ok!” It’s almost like Eddie Murphy in the movie Trading Places when he walked into the house and said, ‘oh, so this vase is mine …so that means I can just throw it down on the ground,’ – POW! You don’t really believe it at the end of the day.

Troy: The first project on the fHammond Family Entertainment label hits stores on July 27th and is titled Life in the Word. What’s the significance of the title?

Fred: It’s interesting that the first CD that comes out is Word-based. It’s what the whole foundation of the company and the label will be based on – life in the Word. So the actual CD itself is a praise and worship devotional.

There’s little narrated scriptures in between most of the music. Some of them are comedic, some are dramatic. But if you just hear them it’ll remind you… that we should go over into the land because we can certainly take it. Whatever your promised land is, go get it.

Troy: Yeah.

Fred: And like I said, some of them are comedic. I play a preacher on one of ‘em, from a store front church, and I scream, “READ!” (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: And they start reading and I change the words up on ‘em. So they’re reading, ‘for this’ and I say, “No, for that,” then, “no, for this…” (laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: It’s funny, but it’s still reading the Word of God.

Troy: Now, I have to say this: the spoken scriptural interludes on the album are a treat and really take me back to the “Inner Court” days with Radical for Christ… stuff like “The Communion Song” where there’s actual reading during the song,

Fred: Yeah!

Troy: And then like “Hear My Cry”…man! That stuff is just ripped from scripture, kind of like hearing people sing the Bible.

Fred: That’s just my style, man.

Troy: You’re credited with creating the sub-genre Urban Praise and Worship, but you described the Life in the Word project as “the other side” of your style. Do you feel this style and sound will appeal to a new, wider audience, or…?

Fred: On this one… it’s a little departure, but it’s not theeeee departure, you know what I’m sayin’? I didn’t wanna shock people too bad. But if they got to listen to “You Are My Dwelling Place” – which I sing on – they’re gonna hear a little alternative and rock edge to it.

Troy: The album features an ensemble of gifted singers such as Lowell Pye, Ericka Warren, Candace Laster, Michael Bethany, and Faith Anderson. What caused you to choose this particular group of singers?

Fred: Man, it’s like these cats…they can really sing! I reached out to Lowell because he’s a friend of mine. I think Lowell has an [amazing] voice. Some people I sit there and like everything they do. Lowell, when he sings, that’s me. He reminds me of John P. Kee, who’s my favorite male vocalist.

Troy: Yeah, probably for a lot of us. (chuckles)

Fred: So at the end of the day, Lowell was a no brainer. And when I asked him he was like, ‘yeah, man, yeah…I’ll do it.’

And then the rest of them kinda sing with me. They go out on the road with me, except Faith, who sings with Kirk [Franklin]. But it was an opportunity and they all jumped at the opportunity. I’ve always had a heart to help people

Troy: How much will we hear you, Fred, vocally on this new record?

Fred: I’m actually singing two songs on there. One of them is a remake, the full version of “Just to Be Close to You” with the verses and everything.

Troy: Yeah, I saw that. So, it sounds like this new album is really similar to the In Case You Missed It… project, which primarily featured and introduced a plethora of guest artists.

Fred: Absolutely. It’s just the same concept. I may even do an In Case You Missed It 2…  on this label. I may take some of my old music that people didn’t’ really catch onto, songs that I thought were great and nobody really listened to…

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: And let somebody else do it. Folks will hear it and say, “Wow! I didn’t hear that song that way when he sang it.” So there’s an In Case You Missed It 2… coming, a Life in the Word 2 coming.

Troy: Should we expect to see solo projects on this new imprint by some of the guest artists you’ve introduced over the years…perhaps even solo work from Fred Hammond in the future?

Fred: Well hopefully, all of them. Hopefully all of them will get a chance to be able to do their own projects from this – especially in my camp.

And I’m looking to expand this into different voices and different topics.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: My daughter, BreeAnn, is a great vocalist, but I don’t think I should put her out there in the way where she has to go to churches and stand up, and do this and do that. But she can go to youth groups and sing to other 18- and 22-year-olds about what it feels like to be in love and lose love.

They don’t necessarily have to hear it from all from Rihanna, you know what I’m sayin’?

Troy: Yeah!

Fred:  But they can hear it from a woman with “this” instead of that perspective.

Troy: Wow.

Fred: So I want to have new voices. Then I have another guy who’s been out there, another brother. He has a great album. His name is Steve Huff.

Troy: Oh, yeah man! Steve, definitely.

Fred: That’s my dude. We just hooked up and I’m putting him out. He’s got a great album and I believe in it. He’s super urban. – I mean he’s got like 10, 12 songs of “God in Me,” and they’re all killin’! I mean they’re all killin’.

And then there’s another younger guy I got named Silas. He has another sound with another voice, and he’s talking about life. It sounds like a mixture of Hootie and the Blowfish meets…somebody else.

Troy: (Chuckles)

Fred: Honestly, it’s just different sounding music, and it may not all get radio, but there’s a way to get it out. People are getting 50 million hits on YouTube, and you’ve got Pandora radio and Fred radio…

Troy: Yeah, the game is definitely changing.

Fred: Right, the game is changing, and I love gospel radio but I understand that they just don’t have all the room to put everybody out there, so…

Troy: That’s true.

Fred: I’m gonna put out different forms of music.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: I have a jazz CD I’m putting out, but I’m not gonna do “Lord, Help Me to Hold Out” over a piano solo. No, I’m doing a straight-up smooth jazz album. It’s a musician album. I got a group and it’s a jazz CD, just with a Christian guy who happens to be playing jazz.

We’re going to talk about some regular stuff AND still have God and the gospel going in, because believe it or not, God cares about all of that.

Troy: He does.

Fred: He said “cast all your cares,” not your “gospel” cares or your “Christian cares,” but he said every care that you have cast on me, because I care for you.

Troy: After almost 30 years in the business producing, arranging – playing – are you ready to focus on something other than music, or is it still “all about the music?”

Fred: Music is the base, but man, I’m writing books. I figure the world has enough self-help books, so my books are fictional. They’re stories that I’ve met and seen in my lifetime – people dealing with childhood issues, murder. These are things that I’ve seen. Several of my friends have been killed, executed.

Troy: Man! (gasps)

Fred: That’s the kind of life I’ve dealt with, you know. I’ve been in the church and in the streets, so I’m gonna tell the story. But, I’m going to tell you where God shows up, how God heals that moment!

Troy: Right!

Fred: And it doesn’t have to sell a billion books. But it’s going to be unique.

Troy: I’m excited.

Fred: It’s a start, you know? One day, Commissioned had a record called “I’m Going On,” and people were excited. But, we also heard the other side: “it’s not as good as the Winans,” and “you guys aren’t big time…” I heard all of that.

But you still put something out, and you do another one and another one, until you look up and you’ve sold millions of records and you’re doing an interview talking about your first label. (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs) That’s how it happens.

Fred: That’s it.

Troy: I want to say congratulations again. I hear the vision and I see that you are really taking the reigns, creating opportunities, not only for yourself, but for other people as well. I enjoyed the talk, man, and I hope you did as well.

Fred: Yes sir. Yeah, I appreciate you, man. Keep doing what you’re doing and anything you need to ask, just hit me up. We gotta work together.

Troy: Definitely.

Fred: Very good, man. Thanks.

Troy: You’re welcome. Take it easy.

*     *     *

Niiiiiiiiice!

Glad to hear, officially, what all the fuss is about over Fred and Universal Music.  And, I’m glad to know more about the direction he’s heading, musically– some of those projects (especially that jazz one)… I want them NOW!

So, what did you guys think of Troy’s interview with Fred Hammond?

The latest project in the Gotta Have Gospel series– this one, featuring Choirs– will be in stores on July 27th.  There will also be an accompanying DVD released on the same day.

Check out the track listing–

1. Lift Him Up -Hezekiah Walker
2. Victory (Live) -Tye Tribbett & G.A.
3. Zion Rejoice (featuring Erica Campbell of Mary Mary) -Faithful Central Church
4. Let The Praise Begin -Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ
5. You Are Good -Lakewood Church
6. High And Lifted Up -Joe Pace
7. God Is Featuring The Tri-City Singers -Dewayne Woods
8. Imagine Me -Kirk Franklin
9. I Speak Life -Donald Lawrence featuring Donnie McClurkin
10. Total Praise -Richard Smallwood With Vision
11. God Great God -Kurt Carr
12. Holy Is The Lord -The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
13. Show Up! -The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee
14. The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow -Bobby Jones & New Life with The Nashville Super Choir
15. Stand! -VIP Mass Choir featuring John P. Kee
16. Give Thanks- T.D. Jakes

For anyone who doesn’t already have the individual projects that first featured these songs, this is a pretty decent line-up.  I am, however, givin’ the side-eye to the notion that Kirk Franklin’s “Imagine Me” should be listed as a choir song…

Again, it’s in stores next Tuesday, but you can pre-order now by clicking here.

Anyone thinking of grabbin’ it?  Do you guys typically buy compilation projects like this???

Everything’s pretty much business as usual in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Gospel Albums charts, with the exception of two projects that I wasn’t really expecting to be there.

One is a compilation album from Donnie McClurkin.  It’s actually been on the charts for a while, but I don’t know how it managed to peek into the #10 spot. Not mad about it , though… welcome!

The other is Redemption, a new album from gospel hip-hop artist PRo (I did some googlin’), which debuted at #8.  The project features guest vocals from Lecrae and others.

The rest of the rundown looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#4 | Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable
#5 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#6 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#7 | Forever Jones - Get Ready
#7 | PRo – Redemption
#9| Brian Courtney Wilson - Just Love
#10 | Donnie McClurkin - Playlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin

Anyone have PRo’s album?  Heard of him? Like him?! Click here to listen to snippets of his album, Redemption.

Talk to me!