Think again...

If you think gospel music is all about foot-stomping, choirs singing and tambourines ringing, then think again. Some of you may already be familiar with what my generation calls a non-traditional sound of gospel thanks in part to artists like Mary Mary and Tonex who have broken the the mindset of what gospel music can be. Below are some artists that aren't your typical gospel artists, you all may already know them, if not, get ready to be blessed by them.

Kim Burrell

Everlasting Life

(courtesy of Neo-Souljah ...thanks!)

Montrel Darrett

Chronicles of the Soul

Think, Anthony Hamilton singing gospel music. Montrel's sound along with his message should appeal to those who like Neo-Soul.

Joann Rosario
More More More

If you like Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, and Cece Winans, then you'll be filled by Rosario's voice as she ministers songs such as "Serve You Only" for example. Believe me, you'll listen to this album from beginning to end.

Here's another one (this was a request):

Micah Stampley

The Songbook of Micah Stampley
(courtesy of Andrae...thanks!)

Old School Friday I

Kirk Franklin and the Family
Kirk Franklin and the Family

Tracklisting:
1. Why We Sing
2. He's Able
3. Silver and Gold
4. Call On The Lord
5. Real Love
6. He Can Handle It
7. A Letter To My Friend
8. The Family Worship Medley
9. Speak To Me
10. Till We Meet Again

Growing up, my mom had the radio tuned to a gospel station every Sunday going to and from church. It wasn't really until I heard Kirk Franklin & The Family's "Why We Sing" that made me turn into an avid gospel music listener and brought me a little closer in my walk with God. Their album, was the first gospel album I'd ever owned (bought it on cassette tape) and nearly fifteen years later, I still wear this album out (I've since bought the cd, since the cassette tape wore out :-) ), which is also the reason why I chose this album to start old school Fridays with.

Kirk Franklin is today's Thomas Dorsey and Walter Hawkins of gospel music. Before this album, Kirk had been in the gospel industry for awhile composing songs for GMWA (Gospel Music Workshop of America) National Mass Choir and the Dallas Fort-Worth Mass Choir to name a few, but his self-titled debut album, made him a stand out artist. I can't really pick a few songs as my favorite because they all are, it's just one of those albums that you can listen to from beginning to end. I've also included the other album Kirk Franklin recorded with The Family below (wish they'd reconcile their differences and come back with another album to bless the masses with). Enjoy and be blessed!

Here ya go...

Kirk Franklin & The Family

Whatcha Lookin' 4

Some gospel pearls...

Take It Away - Rev. Earnest Davis Jr. And The Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir

Troubles Don't Last Always - Rev. Timothy Wright & The Chicago Interdenominational Mass Choir

Say The Word - Benedict College Gospel Choir

That's When You Bless Me - L.A. Mass Choir

I Won't Complain - Florida A&M University Gospel Choir

Gain The World - James Hall & Worship and Praise

Fully Committed - Kingdom

The Shepherd's Song - Mississippi Children's Choir

As always, if you have been blessed by any of the artists presented, please go out and purchase their albums. That's it for now, look out for more tomorrow.

Dorinda Clark-Cole - Dorinda Clark-Cole

Tracklisting:
1. If It Had Not Been For The Lord
2. No Not One (with J. Moss)
3. I'm Coming Out
4. I'm Coming Out (reprise)
5. You Can't Take My Joy
6. Show Me The Way (with The Clark Sisters)
7. You Can't hurry God
8. It's Not Me
9. I'm Still Here
10. Nobody Like Jesus
11. You Don't Have To Leave Here
12. You Don't Have To Leave Here (reprise)
13. You Can


Best known as one of the Clark Sisters, one of gospel's most influential groups, the beautiful and talented Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole steps out in the footsteps of her other sisters, Twinkie, Karen, and Jackie, and presents her self-titled debut solo album. One word describes this album...awesome! The song that ministers to me, is I'm Still Here. My own life has really been a roller coaster ride so to speak, I've even had some real close calls to death (a bad car accident and dealings with my health), but, "I'm still here [and] it's by the grace of God" as Mrs. Clark-Cole sings. As she was penning that particular song, she wrote it from her own experience, at a time when she was dealing with serious depression, to the point where she was contemplating suicide. However, with the help of God and her family she overcame it and wrote this inspiring song. To me that's what make this whole album speak to me, because it's all about staying encouraged and never losing faith in God and in yourself. So from me to you all, here's Dorinda's first solo album, I hope the words being sung sincerely minister to you all. As always be blessed.

Here's a few more...

The Quiet Time Players - Worship & Praize: 10 Instrumental Interpetations

Fred Hammond - Purpose By Design

Various Artists - Men of Gospo Vol. 1

LFT Church Choir - Recorded Live at Love Fellowship Tabernacle

Tracklisting:

1. I Will Bless The Lord
2. Do You Know Him
3. Glad To Be Alive
4. He's Holy
5. Teach Me
6. King of Kings
7. Sho' Nuff
8. Hold On
9. He'll Be There
10. Help Me To Pray
11. Find Somebody
12. You Kept Me
13. The Invitation


What a great debut album by the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir, I mean really, what else would you expect? This choir is Hezekiah Walker's church choir, from the church he pastors, Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church, in Brooklyn, New York. If you're a Hezekiah Walker fan like I am, you'll love this album from beginning to end. The album starts out with the energized, I Will Bless The Lord and will really having you blessing Him as this whole album ministers to you.

When I first bought this album (wow...that was like over five or six years ago?!) I was excited to see what song offerings would be shown on here, because if you're familiar with Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, you're familiar with the songs composed by the usual suspects but New York's finest, Eric McDaniel (Come Home), Melvin Crispell (I'll Be Satisfied), and David Frazier (I Need You To Survive) to name of few who've constantly wrote spirit-filled songs for that choir. This time, we have not only them but Joeworn Martin (the minister of music at Hez's church) and Craig Wiggins (the head director of the LFT Church Choir) bring forth their talents through their moving compositions. I was also surprised to hear the choir covering Sho' Nuff, which was penned by John P. Kee, and recorded on V.I.P. Music & Arts Seminar Choir's album, Stand (Kee's annual workshop choir). All in all a great album, enjoy!


P.S.
If this album was a blessing to you, then please go a out and support the choir's ministry by purchasing their sophomore album, "Love Is Live!" on Verity Records. While you're at it, why not support the album mentioned as well, Stand , recorded by V.I.P. Music & Arts Seminar Choir also on Verity Records.

Here's a few more...

New Direction
Rain

Byron Cage
An Invitation To Worship

J. Moss
The J. Moss Project

Donnie McClurkin-Donnie McClurkin

Tracklisting:

1. Stand
2. Just A Little Talk With Jesus
3. Holy, Holy, Holy
4. Search Me, Lord
5. Jesus, The Mention Of Your Name
6. Speak To My Heart
7. Here With You
8. Yes, We Can, Can
9. We Expect You



Although this isn't Donnie McClurkin's first gospel album, this was his first album as a solo artist. Those who know the gospel music scene know that he first started out with The New York Restoration Choir. I didn't listen to them that much growing up, but I did know their song, Speak To My Heart which Pastor McClurkin penned. I tell you, my middle school gospel choir back in '90-'91, would tear that song up! That's why I purchased the album to hear how he updated the song, and I must say it's well done. This to me, is his best album, it has something for everyone. Even your Mo-Mo (lol...as most of us Southerners call our grandmothers) will be saying, "now this is what we sang our chu'ch songs in my day" while tapping her feet to Search Me Lord. My favorite is Stand. The first time I heard this song, it moved me, words can't even describe the feelings I felt. To this very day this song encourages and inspires me to not give up and just keep on doing my thing...well my thing according to how God would want me to. So I hope that this blesses and ministers to you.

Welcome

What's up? I've wanted to do a gospel blog that's dedicated to gospel music for some months now, which by the way is my number one love (I have over 200 gospel cds alone)! I saw a few good blogs but none that offered gospel music to their visitors until I came across Keke's blog over at Keke's Gospel Blog, http://kekesblog.blogdrive.com . She didn't have too many albums there, so I started to help her by sharing some albums I had (and look now girl, your site has grown by leaps and bounds!). I later thought, why don't I just go ahead and take that plunge and start my own since I see that there are many people out there who love God's music just as much as me and would like to share as well, so here I am (whew...what a run on sentence!). I'd like to thank Sean over at Sean's Hangout, http://seanshangout.blogdrive.com , Etienne at Etienne Evolution, http://tripleespot.blogspot.com , and most of all Keke for inspiring me to go ahead and start this blog. :-)

I'm going to start out by posting the albums I've shared on Keke's site. If you all have any requests, I may be able to fill them, but there are no guarantees. And as 2 Corinthians 2:27 says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. " So this site has to go two ways, alright?! I would like to have people comments and for them to also share whatever they can if they have been blessed by a post or anything. Remember Luke 6:38 "Give and it will come back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." Also please be patient with me, it'll take awhile for me to get things going, I'm new to this whole thing and don't really know what to do (i.e. formatting and all those technical things), but I'm trying. So, enjoy and be blessed!

Lilmama

P.S.

Please feel free to email me sometimes at thegospelfillup@yahoo.com if you want to send music, sermons, or anything to share.