So… I was looking at the Billboard chart last week and I noticed that Karen Clark Sheard’s latest project, All In One, had decreased in sales a bit, which is utterly ridiculous.

I don’t know how many albums I’ve done this for in the past, but lemme say this one good time– if you do not have this project, you are missing out on some INCREDIBLY good music.

I believe it is her BEST project since her 1997 debut, Finally Karen.  And I’m not kidding.

So, do yourself a favor, while the digital album is ONLY $5 until the end of August at Amazon.com… click here and “git you” a copy.

I’m sooooo not playing.  That is all.

Umm… Did anyone watch the Soul Train Gospel Experience on gmc a couple of weeks ago?

I DVR’ed it and just watched it over the weekend… I feel a little duped!

I thought it was gonna be a 60-minute compilation of the greatest gospel moments on Soul Train.  Turned out to be a 1996 episode of Soul Train that featured Kirk Franklin, but not until you endured a bunch of scantily clad girls grinding to 90′s R&B artist Mona Lisa lip-synchin’ on stage.

I’m sure it was a licensing issue–couldn’t get the footage of just Kirk without buying the whole episode, or maybe Don Cornelius wouldn’t allow slicing and editing of the episodes (in copyright law, we’d call that a “derivative work”) without getting a bigger financial cut of the pie… WHATEVER the reason, I wish I had known that upfront.

With more installments of Soul Train Gospel Experience coming, I’m gonna have to more carefully consider whether I’ll subject myself to 40 minutes of Shemar Moore dancing in leather pants (it was the 90′s, remember?) just to see 5 minutes of Karen Clark Sheard demolishing the vocals.

Sidebar: It was good to see J Moss hosting the gmc set.  Whoo hoo!

Anyone else watch it?  What did you think???

I’m actually REEEEEALLY excited for this– gmc is airing a special program called Soul Train Gospel Experience this Sunday, August 1st at 8pm ET.

The program will feature the best gospel performances from the hit show Soul Train, including performances by BeBe & CeCe Winans, Al Green, Take 6, Karen Clark Sheard, Mary Mary and more.

I can only imagine how classic some of the clips will be– kudos to gmc for the innovative throwback programming.

*glares at another network who perpetually drops the ball… and you know who you are!*

Okay, who’s tuning in???

Just one of those cool TV tributes– this one’s to Aretha Franklin a few years back. It features BeBe Winans, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Micah Stampley, Twinkie Clark on one organ, Warryn Campbell on another, capped off by Mary Mary.

EVERY ONE OF ‘EM delivered great vocal performances. And all the while, the Queen of Soul bopped her head in approval.

Peep the video here–

Dope, right?!

Word has it that Marvin Sapp took home a BET Award last night– he won in the category for Best Gospel Artist.  I think we all called this one and could’ve seen it comin’ a mile away.  But I’m THRILLED for him!

Also nominated in the category were Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin presents Artists United (for Haiti Relief song), Tamela Mann and The Anointed Pace Sisters.

By the way, did anyone catch the show???

An obvious highlight for the gospel industry was Kirk Franklin’s performance of “Are You Listening?” with Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Kim Burrell, Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark Sheard.  Everyone was in great voice and looked great and all that.  I could’ve used a BIT more Karen Clark Sheard on the ad libs– but couldn’t we all?

But before all that happened, we had another dope-for-gospel type of moment. I was thrilled to hear Alicia Keys, in the middle of her medley of hits, introduce Kim Burrell, who joined Keys in singing “If I Ain’t Got You” (Burrell changed the lyrics to say ”if it ain’t you, Jesus… if I ain’t got you, Jesus…”).  It was an incredible moment– the audience went BANANAS as if they, too, were die-hard Kim fans since the days of her indie release of Try Me Again (y’know, with the short haircut on it).  I’m glad for where God’s taking her.

(An aside: El DeBarge wasn’t doing gospel, but that medley ministered to my VERY SOUL, so… yeah.  Just needed to say that cuz I grew up on DeBarge.)

OKAY, tell me what you thought of the show, if you caught it, and blah blah blah…

Go!

Word has it that the BET Awards will feature a handful of gospel artists that I’m pretty sure you folks will enjoy…

Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Fred Hammond and Karen Clark Sheard have been announced as performers on this year’s annual awards broadcast, which will air LIVE this Sunday, June 27th at 8pm ET/7pm CST on BET.

Who WASN’T tuning in before, but WILL BE now?!

A couple of weeks ago, GospelPundit.com contributing writer Mia Paylor wrote her first editorial in her new series, Purchase Or Pass, regarding Jason Champion.  You guys loved it so much (and so did I), that I figured we need to hear from Mia again, sooner than later.

So, without delay, here’s Mia’s… policy… on purchasing music. *giggling*

*     *     *

Jesus said we should forgive 77 times. But at $10 each, I can’t afford to forgive $770 worth of disappointing CDs!  Once I hit $20, you’re CUT from my “MUST BUY” list. My most common disappointment is unmet expectations…and my most recent encounter with it involves Byron Cage.

Byron Cage’s self-titled GospoCentric debut is a CLASSIC. With production headed by Kurt Carr, this CD impacted how Praise & Worship was done…PERIOD. What praise team didn’t sing “The Presence of the Lord is Here”…and beg to cut at least two modulations?! The power of God, a seamless flow from high praise to reverent worship, top-notch background vocals, and well-written, perfectly arranged…very church-friendly songs were all present on this CD. Surely, I’d get more releases like this from Byron. My expectations were sealed!

Already familiar with Isaiah Thomas’ “I Will Bless the Lord”, I didn’t rush out to buy Byron’s 2005 release, An Invitation to Worship (produced by PAJAM). After hearing “We Love You”, which sounds like Byron’s a featured guest on J. Moss’ song, I opted to pass on it altogether. Both songs were nice. I just couldn’t imagine how they fit together on the same CD.

But, I did purchase Byron’s 2007 release, Live at the Apollo (also produced by PAJAM), when I found out Kim Burrell was featured on it. It had its highlights…specifically, “Royalty”, “Anyhow” and “If You Never.”  But, where did the seamless flow go? Where were the well-written, church-friendly Praise & Worship songs?

So, this time, my good friend, Cynthia Jones (make-up artist extraordinaire), had to convince me to give Bryon’s most recent release, Faithful to Believe (produced by Aaron Lindsey), a listen. She said that she shared my reservations initially, gave it a shot anyway and was pleased with the CD.

So, I downloaded it…and it’s definitely a step up from the last two releases. “I Give You Praise” is a nice Praise & Worship song. “Simply Yes” and “I Can’t Hold It” are soul-stirring choir selections. And “Lord, You are My Everything”, with Karen Clark-Sheard and Pastor Marvin Winans, is a churchy treat. But, WHERE, OH WHERE is the PLETHORA of songs that praise teams everywhere MUST learn? And why are the background vocals lacking precision?

If Byron hadn’t been marketed as “The PRINCE of Praise”, I’d be at peace with my post Byron Cage purchases. Instead, I’m longing to have my princely expectations met. If my expectations were set in error, tell me!

Artists should use the formula that catapulted their recording career while preparing to record subsequent projects. I think that would decrease the likelihood that CD-buying supporters will be disappointed with what an artist offers as it relates to their future CDs style, flow, lyrics, and overall production.

I’m willing to purchase Byron’s future projects. But, first, I have a question. What should I expect from a Byron Cage CD?! Depending on the answer, I’ll ignore my $20 cut-off limit, tweak my expectations accordingly and prepare to buy the next release.

*     *     *

I hear you, Mia.  I will say that I enjoy his most recent release more than his previous two… but there’s nothing like that first one on GospoCentric!

What do you folks think?

Stumbled across this THROWBACK video footage featuring Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard and Donald Lawrence performing “Heaven” (from the Finally Karen album).

THIS is why I love gospel music– it’s moments like this that are captured, perhaps never to happen again, that make my giddy for gospel.

Check it out–

How awesome was that?!

The intense competition that has marked this season of BET’s Sunday Best was still in full effect during last night’s episode. The theme for the evening– songs that pay tribute to gospel in cinema– was rather creative and, for the most part, the contestants stepped up to the challenge.  Before they got their turn to shine, however, the incomparable Karen Clark Sheard opened the show, reminding the nation why she’s one of gospel’s favorite female vocalists.

With a signature performance that only she can pull off, Karen Clark Sheard sang, squalled and riffed on “Prayed Up,” the single from her latest album, All In One. My only disappointment was that it was performed to a track instead of with the in-house band.  Musical director Stanley Brown produced much of Finally Karen, so it seems it would’ve been a great musical reunion of sorts. In any case, Mrs. KCS gives 100% every time and, even with a track, her performances are electrifying and captivating.

Up next were the Sunday Best finalists.  Judges for the night were Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams and Tina Campbell, with Kim Burrell once again assisting as vocal coach during the finalists’ rehearsals.  I was particularly excited to get some longer songs from them, now that there are fewer vocalists, but disappointed that some of the selected “gospel songs” on cinema were actually just “songs” on “gospel-tinged movies.” Womp womp…

In any case, here’s the blow-by-blow on each contestant:

Tiffany Carlin-Laird – “Joyful, Joyful”
Tiffany’s got such a stage presence and charisma– she’s mesmerizing.  This was not her best performance, and it was clear, but even on her “bad” day, she was greater than most. Donnie picked up on both the fact that she tripped and that she was hoarse, but noted how professional and capable she is, despite all of that.  In my opinion, she demonstrated that she was one of the best in this competition since her audition– she was consistent and never failed to show us the best of her gift.

Durward Davis - “I Believe In You and Me”
This is one of those “this isn’t a gospel song– it’s an R&B song by the Four Tops that was used in the nightclub scene of a church-based movie.”  No matter… Durward’s voice is so smooth, he still drew me in.  He does a great job of working a song– starting simply, then leading listeners on a journey before building and smashing us to pieces.  That said, this performance was a bit forgettable to me, not because he didn’t do well, but because he didn’t do anything particularly memorable.  It seems Durward doesn’t always create “a moment,” and these competition shows are all about being able to point back to those types of moments.

Martha Buries – “Will You Be There”
Another tune that wasn’t a gospel song, but became one last night. Honestly, Martha has a really great voice, but the song was tentative until halfway through, when she grabbed the mic off the mic stand.  Her confidence, or lack thereof, has been a recurring topic of critique– from coach Kim Burrell to the judges.  It’s all in the eyes and it is unsettling for audiences.  When the audience thinks you’re not confident, it’s hard for them to get with you.  I love that Tina Campbell encouraged her, explaining that she’s better than she thinks she is– incredibly true.  I am excited for her to realize and own it.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - “He’s All Over Me”
Great song choice for him– we got to see him on an upbeat tune.  I will say this upfront– if any other contestant forgot the second half of an entire verse, they’d be cut, regardless of how much singing and steppin’ they did for the rest of the song.  That said, I think the judges are more interested in showcasing the power of God in this 79-year old contestant (and his more-than-impressive vocal ability and agility) than in nitpicking over a misstep or two.  And I can’t be mad at that.  Plus, to put it bluntly, this industry hasn’t really cared much about forgotten lyrics– I can pull out studio albums from the 1980′s on which our legends completely mumbled through the lyrics, pressed the song to wax anyway, and put it in stores, like “here ya go!!!”  We bought ‘em and they’re “classics” to this day.

LeAndria Johnson – “Speak Lord/God Is Trying To Tell You something”
It was yet another display of LeAndria’s awesome vocal ability. This particular performance was a little more haphazard than her others, but she’s still the one to beat in this competition.  She’s one of those singers to which we inherently pay close attention– always curious to see what the next line is gonna be, how she’s going to deliver the next verse, or what riff she might throw in the next time around.  LeAndria snatches our attention and makes us wait for her every move.  She’s a consummate professional.

Before the judges narrowed the competition from 5 to 3, songstress Lalah Hathaway took to the stage to perform one of my faaaave Phil Collins songs– “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now).”  From tone to delivery, Lalah Hathaway is simply unrivaled, so it’s always great to see her.

At the end of it all, only three could continue to next week– LeAndria Johnson, Elder Goldwire McLendon and Durward Davis.

Last season, I knew who my top two would be, and could even name a favorite to win.  This time, not so much.  In fact, as I type this, I’m realizing that Tiffany was my favorite.  Shucks!

In any case, I’m inclined to say it’ll be down to LeAndria and Elder McLendon, and the public will pick LeAndria when it’s all said and done.  But we’ll see…

What did you think of this week’s episode???