Last week, it was Richard Smallwood. This week, it’s Dawkins & Dawkins.
Bonnerfide Radio will host the online listening party for the duo TONIGHT at 8pm ET!
Tune in to hear their new album, From Now On, before it hits stores on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.
After a hiatus and period of restoration, hip-hop artist The Ambassador returns to the gospel marketplace with Stop the Funeral to solid sales and a #6 debut on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. Congrats!
Also, after two weeks at #2, Kirk Franklin’s Hello Fear regains its #1 position, and Earnest Pugh’s Earnestly Yours falls to #2, followed by Mary Mary’s Something Big at #3.
Trin-i-tee 5:7′s latest project falls from #3 to #7 this week and Times of Refreshing, by Pastor James R. Adams jumps from #17 to #4.
The full Top 10 is right here:
1 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
2 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours
3 | Mary Mary – Something Big
4 | Pastor James R. Adams – Times of Refreshing
5 | WOW Gospel 2011
6 | The Ambassador – Stop the Funeral
7 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – Angel & Chanelle
8 | Lecrae – Rehab
9 | Tedashii – Blacklight
10 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon
As I mentioned last week, I’m very interested to see where Richard Smallwood lands on the charts this coming week. If you haven’t already gotten the album, check out my review and listen to the snippets to see if you wanna grab it!
Pioneer… consistent… mainstay… teacher… classical… foundational…
Those are just a few words that sum up “the maestro” Richard Smallwood, one of gospel music greatest living treasures. And on his new album, Promises, (in stores today, July 19, 2011), Smallwood continues to demonstrate these qualities like few can.
Spurred along by the lead single, “Trust Me,” Richard Smallwood’s 15th album is a 15-track collection of music that is consistent with the Smallwood brand, but welcoming of new styles and approaches to “classic Smallwood.”
My immediate favorites on this project include:
– “Facts Are, Truth Is,” written by Donald Lawrence. The collabo was such a no-brainer that I’m slightly hoping for a full album of Lawrence and Smallwood-written, arranged and produced tunes– can you IMAGINE?! The sheer bliss of the track is further secured by Vision vocalist Charisse Nelson-McIntosh, known for her now-famous leads on earlier tunes like “Anthem of Praise” and “Thank You.”
– ”Mender,” which is an instant classic to me. It’s what you WANT Richard Smallwood & Vision to sing, and it goes JUST like you want it to go.
– “Sow In Tears,” another classic that just sounds RIGHT. The chords and vocal performance from Vision remind us why they’re one of gospel’s most respected ensembles.
Other notable tunes include the jazzy “Praying for Peace,” which features Lalah Hathaway (whose father, the late Donny Hathaway, was a classmate of Smallwood’s at Howard University) and “Unchangeable,” which feels like a well-done homage to a 90′s urban choir cut.
Fans of Smallwood’s classical side will enjoy tunes like the single, “Trust Me,” and “God of Promises,” all of which are woven with rich orchestration and arrangements, as well as his signature piano. You will also enjoy the feel-good rousing chorus “I’m Forgiven,” and the remake of the Hawkins-classic “Is There Any Way?”
Perhaps what I like most about this album is that, though Promises is Smallwood’s first musical offering since his beloved mother passed in 2005, he’s not out of touch or in any way “too late.” On the contrary, Richard Smallwood has sculpted contemporary gospel music for decades and, as such, any visit from the Maestro is a welcome one. He picks up where he left off– with solid tunes that are familiar enough to catch on to, but challenging enough to embarrass your church choir if you’re not careful. 
Check out snippets and purchase this album right here–
Hey folks, don’t forget to tune in to Bonnerfide Radio tonight, where host Gerard Bonner will provide an online listening party for Richard Smallwood’s new project, Promises.
The listening party starts at 8pm ET. Tune in to http://www.BonnerfideRadio.com!
MUST TUNE IN. I repeat– must. tune. in.
Bonnerfide Radio is hosting an online listening party for Richard Smallwood on Monday, July 18 at 8pm ET. You’ll get to hear the full album and chat about it… I would even reckon that the maestro, himself, would pop in… perhaps. 
The album, Promises, is available NOW for pre-order on Amazon (click here), but if you pre-order it from Richard’s online store at Verity, you’ll also get an exclusive behind-the-scenes DVD of the making of Promises.
Don’t forget– Bonnerfide Radio (http://www.BonnerfideRadio.com) on Monday, July 18th at 8pm ET.
Who’s tuning in???
If you’re like me, you’re eager to hear the new album from the “maestro” himself– Richard Smallwood. Well, the wait is almost over, with his new album, Promises, finally to be released on July 19th.
The project, Smallwood’s 15th album, was recorded in a small live setting in the DC area last fall. Perhaps most significantly, Promises is the first album since the passing of Richard Smallwood’s mother in 2005. He cites that he hadn’t even written a song since then, thinking that “the gift had dried up.”
The album’s lead single, “Trust Me,” is already available on iTunes. Featuring the award-winning ensemble, Vision, the single carries the signature Smallwood sound. Other highlights include the Walter Hawkins classic-turned-tribute “Is There Any Way,” “Praying for Peace” featuring Lalah Hathaway, and the Donald Lawrence-penned “Facts Are, Truth Is.”
Can’t wait!!!
Hey folks– just a little heads-up that “Trust Me,” the new single from the incomparable Richard Smallwood, is available for download at iTunes NOW.
The song was recorded live with his group, Vision, and will be featured on his upcoming album, Promises, due in stores this Summer.
Haven’t heard it yet? Take a listen–
And click here to get it!
GospelPundit.com continues its prayer series this week, adding a new name to The Prayer List– Jojo Pada.
Jojo Pada, CEO of Ignition PR, is one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after publicists in gospel music. Having worked in-house at Motown Cafe, as the head of publicity at Verity Records and Light Records, and as an indie consultant for Light Records and EMI Gospel, her clients include practically every artist in gospel music– including Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, Commissioned, Richard Smallwood, the Clark Sisters, VaShawn Mitchell, and many others. Let’s lift her up…
Father, thank You for the life of Jojo Pada. Thank You for being a Sustainer– a God who clearly had a plan for Jojo since before she was born, and a God who was committed to keeping Jojo, and using her despite anything that threatened to stop her.
Lord, I pray for continued success for Jojo– not only in the practical sense, but spiritually as well. I pray that her spiritual “success” would look like a heart that is perpetually molded to resemble Yours. I pray that it would look like a heart that continues to hunger and thirst for righteousness, that stands for justice, that lives a life of boldness, for Your glory.
I pray that the decisions Jojo faces would be guided by Your Truth, Lord.
I ask that You allow the many gifts and skills that You’ve invested into her to be used to the utmost, for Your purposes. I pray that she would continue to be a trailblazer in this music industry, an example of excellence among her close peers and those who watch from afar.
God, I pray that You would assure Jojo that all of her prayers have been heard, that her heart’s desires have been considered, and that You have orchestrated Your very best life for her to live– and I pray that she would find unbelievable rest, comfort and joy in that, and in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Okay, fam– please join me in lifting up our sister, Jojo Pada, in prayer. Post your prayers in the comment section below.
Word has it that Richard Smallwood & Vision’s live recording, scheduled for this Sunday, November 14, 2010, will be streaming LIVE at VerityRecords.com.
The recording is for his upcoming album, Promises, and begins at 6pm ET. The final project isn’t due in stores until March of 2011, but you’ll get a special opportunity to pre-order that night!
Who’s tuning in???
Word has it that Promises, the upcoming release from musical mastermind Richard Smallwood, has been pushed back to March 1, 2011.
*wipes tears away* I know, folks… we’ll have to wait a little longer.
But this I know– it’s gonna be good. He and Donald Lawrence were tweetin’ about a tune that Donald wrote, called “Facts Are Truth Is,” for the new project. Daniel Weatherspoon mentioned that he was working on the album, too. I can only imagine who else is involved.
Excited???
