Shirley Murdock’s new album, The Journey, is a 17-track collection of music with an underlying theme of encouragement running through them. It’s solid, though perhaps not astounding, as a demonstration of great vocals and heartfelt ministry.

With Grammy Award winner Cedric Thompson at the helm of production (Donald Lawrence,Karen Clark Sheard, LeJuene Thompson), The Journey is the culmination of the first live recording of Murdock’s career. And it’s packed with powerhouse vocals from favorites in gospel and mainstream music, including Kelly Price, Beverly Crawford and Regina Belle.

Standout tracks on The Journey include the urban soul-tinged groove “It’s In Your Hands,” ”Upward Way” featuring Regina Belle, and “Lord You Reign,” a building and beautiful worship chorus.

Also, look out for “He Is the Rock,” on which Beverly Crawford outright shines with Murdock, the piano-driven “Keep Lovin’ Me,” which features the incomparable Kelly Price on guest vocals, and the project’s inspiring first single, “Dream.”

Given her success as a touring mainstream artist, it seems that a live set like this would’ve come earlier. Murdock is a natural as she interacts with the audience. Her sweet and genuine personality translates beautifully to this album and leaves you just plain old enjoying her.

My only qualms with the project are that some of the songwriting could have been a bit stronger and, at the height of some of the singers’ ranges, there was audio distortion in the mix. Still, Murdock’s vocals do a great job of making a lot of the songs work well and it’s a pretty good offering.

The Journey hits stores on October 18, 2011 (Tyscot Records), but you can listen and pre-order it right now, right here–

It feels like Uncommon Me, the debut solo album from 20-year industry vet Isaac Carree, took FOREVER to get here. But it finally “got here” SO powerfully last week that it debuted at #1 on both the Billboard Gospel Albums chart AND the Christian Albums chart! Congrats, man!

If you still don’t have that album, check the review right here, then get it!

Also debuting high this week is gospel hip-hopper PRo, whose new project, Dying To Live, lands at #2. Listen to snippets/buy it right here.

Finally, Tyscot’s Deitrick Haddon compilation, titled Deitrick Haddon: The Writer & His Music, has debuted at #7.

The rest of the top 10 shakes out like so…

1 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
2 | PRo – Dying to Live
3 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
4 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
5 | WOW Gospel 2011
6 | Mary Mary – Something Big
7 | Deitrick Haddon – Anthology: The Writer & His Music
8 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours
9 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon
10 | Lecrae – Rehab

Now, if I were a betting man, I would say that Dorinda Clark Cole’s I Survived will debut at #1 next week. And rightly so.  If you don’t have it yet, click here to read my review and get it!

Tyscot Records is prepping for the August 23rd release of a big Deitrick Haddon compilation– Anthology: The Writer & His Music.

To be released in Deluxe Edition, the project comes as a CD/DVD, featuring songs and music videos from the span of Haddon’s time with Tyscot Records, such as “Anybody Here,” “Chain Breaker,” “Rise & Be Healed” and more.

Dope album artwork, too…

Tyscot artist Shirley Murdock will record her first live CD/DVD project on April 28, 2011 in Charlotte, NC (location TBD).

Word has it that the evening will feature special guest artists… should be a great time.

Visit http://www.tyscot.com for updates!

This Tuesday, May 25th, CoCo Brother will release a compilation album, CoCo Brother Live presents Stand 2010 on Tyscot Records.  It’s available for pre-order now by clicking here.

One of the songs featured on the project is a cover of the popular song, “Moving Forward,” featuring Joann Rosario Condrey and Tye Tribbett.  And I love it!

Aside from the fact that Joann is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated female vocalists and worshippers in gospel music, I’m liking the pairing with Tye Tribbett on this and the arrangement is tight.  You don’t have to take my word for it, though… for your listening pleasure, I’ve just added the single to the PunditPlayer.

Just click here to take a listen and lemme know what you think!!!

Heads-up, good folks… Popular radio personality and host of BET’s Lift Every Voice CoCo Brother is releasing a compilation album on Tyscot Records, entitled CoCo Brother Live presents Stand 2010.

The project features tracks from Israel Houghton, Joann Rosario Condrey, Tye Tribbett, James Fortune, BeBe Winans, Canton Jones, Smokie Norful and more!

The project hits stores on May 25th, but is available for pre-order starting NOW.  Click here to purchase!

Anybody gonna grab it? Sounds like it could be really great.

Yesterday, a new video was posted on TyscotTV, the YouTube channel for Tyscot Records.  It’s the concept video for the Anointed Pace Sisters’ new song, “If I Be Lifted Up.”

The track is the first single from their upcoming album, Access Granted, which is due in stores this fall.  I’m LOVIN’ the song cuz these sisters are SINGING (as usual).

Lemme know what you think!

Folks, I’ve got a great developing artist you need to check out– Kevon Carter.  I think he’s got a great voice– nice tone with an impressive range.  He’s also a songwriter with placements on albums by Dewayne Woods, Chicago Mass Choir and Kevin Vasser.

His single, “I Can,” features vocal production by Dewayne Woods and is a rousing anthem that declares, simply, that “I can” do all things through Christ.  By the end of the track, I kinda felt like running a marathon.  Just “kinda,” though, cuz I’m not big on running.

His full album, Philippians 4:13, with production by Daniel Weatherspoon (Donald Lawrence and Shekinah Glory) and Loren McGee (The Clark Sisters and The Murrills), will be out soon.  In the meantime, listen to his single, “I Can” here:

And make sure you check him out at his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/kevoncarter.

Whatd’ya think???

Is it just me, or is Bishop Leonard Scott (founder of Tyscot Records) THE HAPPIEST Christian to ever sing about Jesus Christ on a national stage?  I never get tired of watching him cuz he’s so sincere!

PLEASE watch the video… even a portion:

Word has it that Ann Nesby has signed with Tyscot Records.  I was gonna say “you’ll remember her from Sounds of Blackness,” but the fact is that she’s had FIVE solo albums since she left Sounds of Blackness in 1995 (wow… that means that their first hit, “Optimistic,” came out in 1991… don’t you feel old?!).  Anyway, seeing that it’s been 13 years since she left, maybe you’ll know her from somewhere else.

She’s expected to release her album, The Lula Lee Project, in the Spring of 2009.  At first, I wondered who the heck Lula Lee is… turns out it’s a nickname… or moniker… or something.  Anyway, I look forward to hearing it.

In the meantime, an older video for your viewing pleasure.  Gotta love YouTube: