‘Member how we talked about the Greatest Hits album from Men Of Standard?  And how I kinda suggested that you could skip the Greatest Hits cuz you need to just go’n and buy EACH AND EVERY album anyway?

Ok, don’t do that.

Still buy every album, but get the Greatest Hits album, too.  It’s featuring two NEW tracks– “Always Remember” by Andraé Crouch and “When Your Life Was Low” by Joe Sample.  I’m excited to hear both of ‘em, but I’m already drooling over the Joe Sample re-make because the song has GOT to have one of the most hauntingly beautiful melodies ever.

For those of you who’ve never heard the song, I’m THRILLED to post the version below.  For one, it’s relevant to the post cuz it’s being re-made by MOS (I’m interested to hear it from the perspective of GOD singing to us, if that’s how they approach it)… plus, I’ve been dying to sneak a little jazz/soul into the site by any means necessary (heheheeee!).  And any time I can feature Lalah Hathaway on lead vocals (with Joe Sample on piano),  you KNOW I’ma do it.  It’s my blog.

AND, while we’re at it, click here for an oh-my-goodness-she-may-not-even-be-human video of Lalah singing this song.  [And if you want to own the whole album on which this song is featured (you sooooooo need to), it's Joe Sample & Lalah Hathaway-- The Song Lives On.]

Okay, THAT’S IT!  This is a Men Of Standard post, for cryin’ out loud!!!

Get the album(s).

Men Of Standard has gotta be one of the greatest contemporary gospel groups, but they definitely don’t get their due, in my opinion.  They’re my modern-day Winans!

Anyway, their most recent offering, Surrounded, was an awesome album that I think some of you may have Slept On.  The project featured production from Warryn Campbell, Nisan Stewart and Gerald Haddon.  It also had some great guest spots– Kirk Franklin (“Latter Rain”) and Tye Tribbett (“Yours”).

Stand-out tracks also included “Power,” “Cover Me,” “I Need You,”… actually, the WHOLE PROJECT is a stand-out!

Here’s the title track, “Surrounded” for your listenin’ pleasure:

Did anyone else love the album like I did?  Anyone wanna come clean and admit that they were snoozin’ a little bit?  Holla at me!

Oh, and shout-out to DCov for suggesting that I cover this album. ‘Preciate ya!

Word has it that Lowell Pye (of one of my faaaaaavorite gospel groups, Men Of Standard) is preparing for the release of his long-awaited debut solo project, titled The Beginning.  The album, produced by Asaph Ward, is due in August of this year, with the first single expected to be released in June.

I cannot WAIT!  Anyone else???

Word has it that a Men Of Standard Greatest Hits album will be released in May.

Personally, I think you need to purchase EACH of their albums because there’s no way that a compilation is really gonna cover enough material.  The singing that they do… the SONGS that they do… maaaaaan.  My favorite album from them is prolly Feels Like Rain… but I dunno cuz I really love ‘em all.

Which is your fave???

Word has it that Isaac Carree (John P. Kee & New Life/Men Of Standard/Kirk Franklin) is joining the cast of BET’s Sunday Best as a backstage correspondent.

He’s hilarious and personable, so I think he’d be a great addition to the team.  Kudos!  Lemme find out BET is doing it even bigger this time around!!!

Have y’all heard of Brian Courtney Wilson?  He’s an artist on Spirit Rising Music, one of the Music World labels, owned by Matthew Knowles.

His debut album, Just Love, is a good first offering and I’m interested in watching him develop as an artist.  His voice is unique– reminiscent of those amazing crooners that have been leading The Temptations in their more recent years (from Ali Ollie Woodson to the present), kinda guttural, but smooth.

The style of songs reminds me of stuff from Men of Standard, Youth Edition (similar-styled all male group from Chicago in the 90s), and maybe some of Deitrick Haddon’s stuff.  My concerns, though, are that some of the songs sound a bit dated, many of the songs are in the same mid-to-slow tempo, and some of ‘em don’t build when I was hoping they would.  For the songs that don’t do it for me, though, his utter sincerity tends to make up for it.  He’s not doing this for show or to have achieved some selfish pursuit– he is singing for God, to the glory of God, and that’s rather refreshing.

Standout tracks are “All I Need,” a sincere worship track with some ad libs that almost took me IN, “Already Here,” a cleverly written worship song, and “Waiting To Turn,” the type of old school, Isaac Hayes-ish throwback his voice was kinda made for. Like I said, good first offering and someone worth watching. Make sure you check him out!

Listen here to a clip of “All I Need”: 

What do you think?

So, I have to admit that I hadn’t heard much about the Nevels Sisters until I read a press release yesterday, announcing the release of their new album, Beautiful.  I thought it was a debut, but their bio indicates otherwise– they’ve been recording since 1984.  Turns out, they were the first winners of Gospel F.O.C.U.S., a nationwide gospel talent competition airing on The Word Network.  I didn’t have cable back then, so…

Anyway, a line in their bio caught my attention: “The four biological sisters are one of the hottest groups to hit Gospel in a long time.  Easily drawing strong comparisons to The Clark Sisters…”

I could see that.

But after listening to the album, produced by Tommie Walker (Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans), I believe the similarities are much more subtle than one might assume.  Sure, they’re four ladies who sing a lot in unison before breaking into unique harmonies.  But, the style of music is not Clark-esque.  They’re not really doing traditional gospel, or even modernized traditional gospel.  They’re more like an urban praise & worship– some of the songs have a sound that could easily translate to a Men of Standard, Virtue or Trinitee 5:7 album, in terms of style.

There’s no denying that these ladies are really good vocalists.  Both the lead vocals and background vocals display some great agility and even better color and tone.  I listened through snippets of each of the 17 tracks (good Lawd!), and enjoyed the song choices.  My faves: “Clap Your Hands,” a beat-laden praise & worship track kinda reminscent of the Clark Sisters’ “You Brought the Sunshine”; “Unbelievable,” just a good song of gratitude; ”I Wanna Bless You” and ”There’s Only One,” two songs that praise teams want to include in their repertoire.

All in all, I really like ‘em.  I wish I had seen or heard more about them before the day of their album’s release.  Many people probably don’t know much about them.  But if they don’t take off, that will be the reason; not because the album doesn’t deliver.

Check ‘em out!