William McDowell’s Arise is back at #1 on Billboard this week, followed by Kirk Franklin and Le’Andria Johnson at #2 and #3, respectively.

Shirley Caesar has a compilation album, The Ultimate Collection, which came out about a year ago and re-entered the charts at #4… dunno what’s up with that, but “whoo hoo” for ya!

Check out the full top 10…

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | Shirley Caesar – The Ultimate Collection
5 | Lecrae – Rehab
6 | Amber Bullock – Thank You
7 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
9 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
10 | WOW Gospel 2011

New music is coming from James Fortune in less than two weeks– he’ll dominate the charts when he gets here. Until then, the soundtrack for the motion picture Joyful Noise stands to make a little splash when it’s released this coming Tuesday, January 10th.

Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock, hangs in there at #1 this week with her debut album, Thank You.

William McDowell’s Arise rises back to #2… I thought that was clever play on words, but maybe it’s just early.

Anyway, the top 10 features the same folks, with minor switches of positions…

1 | Amber Bullock – Thank You
2 | William McDowell – Arise
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Lecrae – Rehab
6 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
9 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
10 | Le’Andria Johnson – Christmas Best

Like I said last week, I’m expecting this line-up, or some variation of it, to hold for a while.

Anyone buyin’ music right now???

2011 is just about over. Don’t enter 2012 without checking out our Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Year. And get ‘em!

In no particular order…

1. Andraé Crouch – The Journey
He’s not a legend just because of his pleasing personality. He has consistently made phenomenal music for the entire Body of Christ, across the globe. This project is just the latest in his sprawling catalog of must-have music. You must… have it.

2. Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
It’s no secret that we love D. Lawrence at GospelPundit.com. He just does gospel music RIGHT. And with this album, he continues in excellence. Great music, great messages.

3. Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
This trendsetter and tastemaker of gospel music didn’t push the envelope as far as he has in the past, but he still gives us plenty to chew on and enjoy.

4. Mary Mary – Something Big
It’s almost like this sister duo knew how monumental their year would be, with award after award and a reality show in the works. The title is almost prophetic… it’s their soundtrack, and ours, too.

5. Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
The looooong-awaited solo debut of this “man of standard” debuted at #1 and has experienced great sales for months. It’s not just cuz he’s hilarious– it’s cuz his album rocks.

6. Kim Burrell – The Love Album
To the chagrin of many, one of gospel’s most recognized and celebrated voices delivered her much-buzzed about “secular” album. It’s still gospel… and she sang the daylights out of every single track.

7. Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
With this project, we got Dorinda doing what she does best– a well-produced and current sound laced with traditional influence and familiarity.

8. Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
He may be Christian music’s most well-known hip-hop artist at this point, and rightfully so. His music cuts, inspires, educates and equips. Get on board.

9. Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
This long-awaited debut album offered a more soul/R&B vibe than many might have predicted, but her vocal performance and passion on each track is undeniable.

10. Claude Deuce – Wanna Be Winans mixtape
This was both creative and incredibly well-done. And, perhaps best of all, free for downloading!

Congrats to Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock, whose debut EP, Thank You, debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week!

Labelmate Le’Andria Johnson follows at #2 with William McDowell landing at #3 from his #1 spot for the past four weeks.

Here’s the full top 10:

1 | Amber Bullock – Thank You
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | William McDowell – Arise
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Lecrae – Rehab
6 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
9 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
10 | Le’Andria Johnson – Christmas Best

That’s juuuuust about all we’re getting in terms of new releases until the new year, so I’m expecting this line-up, or some variation of it, to hold for a while.

C’mon, William McDowell! Show ‘em! Lol

He’s still #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, for the fourth week in a row, and he’s been there since the debut of his newest project, Arise.

Here’s the full top 10:

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Genita Pugh – My Purpose
9 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
10 | Le’Andria Johnson – Christmas Best

Shout-out to Le’Andria, with two albums in the Top 10. Her Christmas project had a limited release last week, so she made a pretty strong showing and I expect it will rise with the full release this week.

Also, looking to see how Amber Bullock fares this week with her debut EP, Thank You. I reckon she might hit #1…

William McDowell remains at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart for the third consecutive week, with his newest project, Arise. Le’Andria Johnson follows at #2, with a Marvin Sapp compilation from Verity rocketing from #10 to #3.

Also, indie artist Genita Pugh debuts at #9 with her latest album, My Purpose.

Check out the full top 10:

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
9 | Genita Pugh – My Purpose
10 | Kierra Sheard – Free

I don’t have Genita Pugh’s project, but I took a listen at Amazon.com and it ain’t half shabby. Check it out–

Kudos to worship artist William McDowell, whose latest project, Arise, just debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart! The live set is a follow-up to As We Worship: Live, which features the radio hit “I Give Myself Away.”

Maurette Brown Clark’s The Sound of Victory also debuts in the top 10 this week, landing at #7.

Here’s a full snapshot of the top 10:

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
6 | Kierra Sheard – Free
7 | Maurette Brown Clark – The Sound of Victory
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Nevels Sisters – It’s My Time

Which of these are you still planning to purchase?

Shout-out to Christian hip-hop artist Shai Linne, whose new album, The Attributes of God, debuts at #5 this week on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. His songs are cleverly steeped in theology– they’re deep, but accessible– and I love that. You can check out this project right here.

Le’Andria Johnson continues to rest at the #1 spot on this week, followed by Jessica Reedy’s From the Heart at #2 and Kierra Sheard’s Free at #3.

Here’s a glance at the Top 10 at Billboard:

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
3 | Kierra Sheard – Free
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Shai Linne – The Attributes of God
6 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
10 | Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s – Living On The Lord’s Side

It will be interesting to see how the new releases from William McDowell and Maurette Brown Clark fare on the charts next week.

It’s like her sales are unstoppable! Lol

Le’Andria Johnson returns to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, after being bumped to #2 last week by Kierra Sheard’s new project, Free.

Kierra lands at #2, followed by Jessica Reedy at #3.

Most likely a result of the Stellar Awards nominations concert and results, Isaac Carree sees a sales jump, from #6 to #4, and Preashea Hilliard re-enters the chart at #8.

This week’s Top 10 at Billboard:

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Kierra Sheard – Free
3 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
4 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Preashea Hilliard – Live Out Loud
9 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
10 | 116 Clique – Man Up

Next week should also be interesting, with the anticipated new release from The Nevels Sisters hitting stores this week.

Congrats go out to Kierra Sheard, who debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week with her new album, Free. She also landed at #40 on the Billboard 200! This is her first #1 debut since her 2006 This Is Me album. Check out our review of Free right here.

Also debuting in the top 5 this week is Micah Stampley’s latest project, One Voice. You can read our review of Micah’s project here.

By the way, it’s pretty dope that three young women hold the #1, #2 and #3 positions at Billboard this week!

Here’s a snapshot at this week’s Top 10:

1 | Kierra Sheard – Free
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Micah Stampley – One Voice
6 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
9 | WOW Gospel 2011
10 | 116 Clique – Man Up

I’ll be interested to see if Le’Andria Johnson will rebound to #1 again next week– aside from Jessica Reedy’s debut and, now Kierra’s, she has reigned at #1 since her album came out the first week of September.