I kinda knew you all would vote this way…

Which January 26th release are you most excited about???

James Fortune & FIYA – 63% (110 votes)

WOW Gospel 2010 - 23% (40 votes)

Anthony Evans – 8% (14 votes)

The Mighty Clouds Of Joy – 6% (10 votes)

I think I probably agree.  James Fortune & FIYA are probably gonna bring some significant heat with their newest project, Encore.

BUT, I wanna caution you all to not simply dismiss the other projects– EACH ONE is gonna be good.  WOW Gospel features the greatest gospel songs of the past year– you want those.  Anthony Evans is incredibly underrated in the gospel industry, but he’s very popular in CCM… we need to embrace him on “this side,” cuz he’s a gifted worshipper with a phenomenal voice.  And The Mighty Clouds… if you haven’t listened to their single on the PunditPlayer, please do so now.  CLASSIC and great.

Don’t forget, each of these albums are in stores as of TODAY. You can preview tracks and buy ‘em by clicking any album below:

Which ones are you buying???

And don’t forget to vote in the next survey on the sidebar, which asks:

Of the nominees, who do YOU want to win the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album?

Dunno if it’s more monotonous for me to report it, or for you to read it… but the top 5 spots on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart haven’t really changed much.

BeBe & CeCe Winans remain at the top, followed by Fred Hammond, then Mary Mary.

Tamela Mann drops just a bit, from #4 to #5, and Hezekiah Walker & LFC’s Souled Out jumps from #6 to #4.

For some reason, Israel Houghton’s The Power Of One fell from the #5 spot to #14, but I think it’s just an issue of market correction– he may have gotten a large push somehow last week and he’s simply returning to the regular spot for his sales figure.

I’m ready for new music from James Fortune & FIYA, WOW Gospel 2010 and The Mighty Clouds Of Joy at the end of this month, just to see if the new releases can shake things up a bit.

This year, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy are celebrating 50 years in the gospel music industry– a HUGE feat!

You’d think that after 50 years, the group would just let compilation albums abound and they’d slow down or retire… Not so.

Their newest album, At The Revival, features new tunes produced by famed mainstream producers Raphael Saadiq and Devante Swing.  At all times, though, their music remains traditional and true to what their fans have loved about ‘em.  It’ll be in stores on January 26, 2010.

You be the judge– I’ve just added their newest single, “He’ll Fix It For You,” to the PunditPlayer.

Click here to listen!

I’m not even a huge quartet fan, but I know good singing when I hear it– this is a solid effort from the Clouds and I kinda can’t stop listening to it!

Whatd’ya think???

Word has it that legendary gospel group, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, will be releasing a new album in early 2010, followed by another compilation project later that year to celebrate their 50 years in the industry.

At the helm of production for the NEW project?  Singer/songwriter/producer (and former member of 90′s group Tony! Toni! Toné!) Raphael Saadiq and Devante Swing of 90′s group Jodeci.  Despite the “young blood,” the album is said to maintain the classic Mighty Clouds sound.

QUITE a combination… what do you guys think?

AWESOME!!!

Folks, I’m telling you now– tune in to Gospel Music Channel THIS Sunday at 8pm ET… they’re showing the concert film, Oh Happy Day.

In case you don’t know what it is, it’s a live concert featuring Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family, The Clark Sisters, Shirley Caesar, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, and Rev. James Cleveland.

The original broadcast aired on PBS years ago, but kudos to GMC for the good gospel programming in celebration of Gospel Music Heritage Month.

Take THAT, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman!

I don’t know how many people outside of Chicago were aware of the PBS special Going Home To Gospel, hosted by Patti LaBelle, back in 1991 or so.  It was taped at Chicago’s historic Quinn Chapel and remains one of my favorite television concert specials EVER.

It featured music from Patti LaBelle, Albertina Walker, Ricky Dillard & New G, The Barrett Sisters, DeLeon (back when she was a teenager), Edwin Hawkins, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Calvin Bridges (where’s HE these days?), and many more.

One of my absolute favorite performances from the show was Patti LaBelle’s rendition of “He Cares” by Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers.  PLEASE watch it here:

CRAAAAAAAAAAAAZY, right?!