Justified In Light: The 2020 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Quarter - Gospel

The final set of ties is a three way tie. Gospel, Hard Rock and Rap are tied with ten entries apiece. These are only tied in the third place position however.

Gospel/R&B

• Anthony Brown and Group Therapy - 2nd Wind: Ready
• Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 1 EP
• Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 2 EP
• Travis Green - Broken Record
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Smile (Live)
• Donnie McClurkin - A Different Song
• Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP
• Noel Robinson - I Surrender 
• Kanye West - Jesus Is Born (ft Sunday Service Choir)
• Kelly Wright - The Love Train

It still seems strange typing Kanye's name in Gospel, but God does Amazing Things. Next up is Hard Rock. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Wolves Unleashed: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Gospel

The True Gospel is here. Urban Gospel, not that Southern Stick In The Mud Stuff. Jesus had fun, y'all. Let's get to it.

Gospel/R&B

• Kurt Carr - Bless Somebody Else
• James Fortune - Dream Again
• Travis Green - Setlist, Volume 1
• John P. Kee - I Made It Out
• JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise - Miracle Worker
• Keyondra Lockett - The Heal Reloaded: The Journey Continues
• William McDowell - The Cry: A Live Worship Experience From Chattanooga
• VaShawn Mitchell - Elements
• Gene Moore - Tunnel Vision
• V. Rose - Forth
• Various - Hitsville: A Motown Gospel Celebration
• BeBe Winans - Need You

Live Recorded Album is next. 18 Entries for that one. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Chaotic Symphonies: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Qtr - Gospel

What would a quarterly wrap be without a tie. And we get it out of the way right away. It's a two way tie, and first up is Gospel Music.

Gospel/R&B

• Kirk Franklin - Long Live Love
• Gloria Gaynor - Testimony
• Byron Juane - Hopeful Soul EP
• Karlos Nichols - Be Alright EP
• Titus Showers - Who? EP

And we are underway. I know there are a lot of the older folk out there who say, "Gloria Gaynor is Christian?" Yes, she's come a long way from "I Will Survive". The second part of our tie is Hard Rock and Metal. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Reckoning: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Gospel

The three largest genres this quarter remain. First up is the REAL Gospel Music, not that Southern Pretender. A dozen entries mark the quarter. 

Gospel/R&B

• Casey J - The Gathering
• Beverly Crawford - The Essential Beverly Crawford, Volume 3
• Todd Dulaney - To Africa With Love
• Evan and Eris - Seasons
• Alex Holt and Free Worship - Grace. Mercy. Love
• Donald Lawrence - Goshen
• William Murphy - Settle Here
• The Recording Collective - Gospel Volume 3: Yes and Amen
• K-Ross - Son
• The Tommies - The Tommies Reunion
• Various - Lift Every Voice and Sing, Volume 1
• Various - WoW Gospel 2019

Except for Evan and Eris, this is a Veteran Heavy Quarter this time around. We hit a double quarter with our next genre. The Penultimate Post is Live Recorded Album with 16 entries. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Gospel

Gospel Music is next as part of our four way tie for "last" among our single genre posts. Let's not waste any time debating Gospel/SoGo.

Gospel/R&B

• Lisa Page Brooks - My Life
• Christon Gray - Clear The Heir
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Heart.Passion.Pursuit
• Tamela Mann - Us Against The World
• Joshua's Troop - Another Chance

We are halfway through this first tie. Our third entry is Rap and Hip Hop. Until Next Time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Backmasking Number Nine: The 2018 Platinum Vinly Awards 4th Qtr - Gospel

Gospel Music (the REAL kind) accounted for 15 entries this quarter. That's two full years worth of entries in just one quarter. With that kind of show it is obvious that a great amount of judging will be needed.

Gospel/R&B

• Jor'dan Armstrong - BLSD EP
• Jor'dan Armstrong - 2 BLSD EP
• James Fortune - James Fortune: The Collection
• Koryn Hawthorne - Unstoppable
• Israel Houghton and New Breed - Road To DeMaskUs
• Brent Jones - Open Your Mouth and Say Something
• Tori Kelly - Hiding Place
• Lexi - Just Listen: The Remixes
• Keyondra Lockett - The Heal
• Will McMillan - My Story
• Jonathan McReynolds - Make More Room
• Jonathan Nelson - Declarations
• Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir ft Shawn Cotterell - It's Not Over (Live)
• Bishop Leonard Scott - Jesus Loves Legacy
• Bryan Andrew Wilson - This Time EP

We've got a mix of veterans and newcomers and 5 Perfect 5's this quarter. And one perfectly named album. Koryn Hawthorne (her debut) looks to be quite unstoppable. The winner this quarter is Modern Worship with a Whopping 22 entries. What a way to end PV9. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Don't Stop Believing: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Qtr - Gospel

Gospel Music (the right kind) is the next genre up in our third quarter wrap. They had eight entrants this past quarter. Let's get right to it.

Gospel/R&B

• Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - I Am Reminded (Live)
• Maranda Curtis - Open Heaven
• God's Chosen - God's Chosen
• Javen - Grace
• Amante Lacey - Original Songs and Stories, Volume 1
• Lexi - Just Listen
• Jason Nelson - The Answer
• Leon Timbo and Northern Lights United - Invitation To Worship, Volume 1

A lot of fresh blood in this category. That's good for the future. A tie is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Musical Industrial Complex: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr (Jan - Mar, 2018) - Electronic Gospel

Continuing with our rollout (late) of the 2nd Quarter Nominees, we have our second of three multi genre posts. This time we have Electronic-Industrial and Gospel/R&B. Let's get right to it.

Electronic-Industrial

• Future of Forestry - Union
• Narrow Skies - Awakening
• Salt of The Sound - Lent, Volume 1 

Gospel/R&B

• Bee Ardoin - The Truth About Waking
• Todd Dulaney - Your Great Name 
• Jonathan McReynolds - Make Room
• Various Artists - WoW Gospel 2018

One more multi-genre post to go. Instumental Rock and Alternative are last to go, and then it is all single genre from then on.

Falling Rocks: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Gospel

Now that we are done with our multiple-genre posts as we reveal the 1st Quarter entrants into the #PlatVnyl9 Pool we move to the single genre. We go from least to greatest. The Minimum Bar Needed is Five Entrants. That bar was met by Gospel/R&B. All the others exceed it. Let's get to it.

Gospel/R&B

• Tomi Malm - Walking On Air
• Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir ft Shawn Cotrell - It's Not Over (Live)
• Tye Tribbett - The Bloody Win (Live) 
• The Walls Group - The Other Side
• C-West - Hide and Seek

Next up is a three way tie. Live Album, Adult Contemporary and Pop all had seven entrants. None Had Six. So there will be no beastly trio this time around. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Diamond Rain: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Gospel

Tied for "Last Place" among the single genre posts is Gospel. Of course nine entries is nothing to sneeze at. And if you do sneeze at a pool entry you have a really weird allergy. Let's get to it. 

Gospel/R&B

• Anthony Brown & Group Therapy - A Long Way From Sunday
• Ricky Dillard & New G - 10
• Todd Galberth - Decrease
• Deitrick Haddon - Deitrick Haddon and Hill City Worship Camp
• Koryn Hawthorne - Koryn Hawthorne
• Le'Andria Johnson - Bigger Than Me
• Ruth La'Ontra - I Got You (Live)
• Bryan Popin - I Got Out
• Anita Wilson - Sunday Song

Adult Contemporary is next with 11. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Venus and Mars are Alright: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Quarter - Pop Gospel

Sometimes I like tweaking my fellow Christians just a bit. It's so easy to get a rise out of them. Last quarter I did it by combining Alternative Rock and Gospel Music as "Alternative Gospel". Since Gospel is once again among the lower represented genres I will combine it with Pop Music this time to make Pop Gospel. I can just here it now "I will not accept a watered down Pop Gospel". Like I said, It is so easy.

Pop Music

• Lauren Alexandria - Victorious In Love
• Mandisa - Out of the Dark
• Mass Anthem - Through People Like Me
• Willow Stephens - Willow Stephens 

Gospel/R&B

• James Fortune and FIYA - Dear Future Me

Yes these are short, but that's the way it goes. Our final multi genre post is next, and then things start to pick up. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Copernicus Rocks: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr: Instrumental Alternative Gospel

I can see some heads exploding with this title. Sometimes I like to tweak my audience (He Left Jesus, He's in favor of an Alternative Gospel. It really is too easy to egg on the easily offended). This multi genre post is comprised of Instrumental Music, Alternative Rock, and Gospel and R&B. (Urban Gospel - You should worry if it was Southern Gospel). Anyway, let us get on with it.

Instrumental Music

• Rivers and Robots - Still, Volume 1

Gospel/R&B

• Anthony Evans - Back To Life
• Ce Ce Winans - Let Them Fall In Love

Alternative Rock

• Acceptance - Colliding By Design
• Hearts Like Lions - If I Never Speak Again
• Devin Shelton - Sensation
• Young Fox - Sky Beats Gold       

Our third and final multi-genre post is next. 4 this time. Children's, Electronic, Metal, and Remix. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Siren: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - The Megapost

We have come to the end of the first quarter for #PlatVnyl8. Things are really moving fast. It was a pretty lightweight quarter this year, which was propped up by a heavy number of Christmas Releases. As is our custom here at The Night Beat, we begin by grouping the genres that had less than 5 entrants in a quarter into a single or multiple posts. There were 7 such groupings and we will put them into two megaposts. Let us begin.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Rend Collective - Campfire II: Simplicity

Gospel/R&B

• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa

Alternative

• Tenth Avenue North - Followers 

Live Recorded Album

• Hillsong -Let There Be Light (Live)
• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa
• Toby Mac - Hits Deep Live

And so it begins. Only one comment here in introduction to this quarter's "cutesy" title. I don't mean siren as in police, but in female singers who lured mariners to their destruction with their enchanting voices. So this quarter is dedicated to Natalya Rose Piette, Georgia Napolitano, Lisa LaVie, Autumn Guzzardi, and Kayla Reeves. They are the lovely "sirens" of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. What voices. But no, I don't expect they are leading anyone down to perdition. One more thing. Since VaShawn Mitchell appears twice in this post alone, I have put the regular album link on Gospel and the Deluxe one on Live. One more megapost to go. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Dove Wrap: 2016 Edition - Album Results

Well, this is one of those delayed posts I was talking about. I will progress through the results as I covered them. So that will be Album, Song and The General Field. I will link the prediction posts to save room here, and I hope that I can finish this in one post.

We start with the Album of The Year Awards. Like I said in that post, an album is more important than a song in that it is more difficult to make. We begin with Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Album of The Year. I shocked all of my regular readers when I picked Hillsong Open Heaven/River Wild. You see, I am a regular critic of the Church as it has spawned such a crop of copycats that it has almost wrecked the Modern Worship genre. Plus the fact that for the past few years the releases have had a "mailed in" quality, lacking fire. But I liked this one. It was the best Hillsong release in years. However the Dove Awards liked Amanda Cook and Brave New World better. (Score: 0/1)

Next up was Worship Album of The Year. I went with Let It Echo by Jesus Culture. The Doves went with Hillsong. Hillsong United and Empires. I panned the album for #PlatVnyl6 and it Missed The Mark. (Score: 0/2).

Moving On to Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album. I felt that the best album of the available choices by far was Kirk Franklin Losing My Religion and to my surprise so did the Doves. (Score: 1/3). I guess even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

The final Album Award that I made a pick for was Pop/Contemporary Album of The Year. They had a full slate of albums for this one, and it was difficult for me to pick. Of course they had Hillsong United here as well (a Miss The Mark for the PVA's) as well as This Is Not A Test by Toby Mac, an excellent album, though not particularly Pop. Perhaps Dance, Perhaps Rock, and Perhaps Rap, but not Pop. I went with Big Daddy Weave and Beautiful Offering. Well I may have felt that Toby Mac was miscast here, but not the GMA. They said This Is Not A Test. I guess I failed here. (Score: 1/4) 0.250 after the album portion of my predictions. 

Remember when I said I wanted this to be done in one post. Yeah, me neither. Wishful thinking. The Song Award recap will be next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Perfect Scale: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter: Instrumental Gospel Folk Children

Do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do. That's the scale in question, just sayin. (What were you thinking I meant?). The musical reference is to announce that, for I believe the very first time ever (at least since the current genre expansion) had a quarter with at least one entry in every genre. Actually, that's part of the reason for the delay. I found out that NewReleaseToday and other sites aren't exactly reliable sources when it comes to Children's Music. So I had to do my own digging on Amazon. I found a bunch, including four for this quarter. The genre will be updated as the days go on, beginning with this one.

As is our custom, we roll out the quarters in ascending order starting with multiple genre postings for the orphan genres (those that don't make 5 entries. We have two of these this quarter). As is also our custom, these will be linked to Amazon for easy purchase to support The Night Beat. Do it. On to the nominees.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - God's Highway

Instrumental Music

• Salt of The Sound - Meditations, Volume 2
• Adam Young - Miracle In The Andes

Gospel/R&B

• Eddie James - Magnify
• Donnie McClurkin - The Journey (Live)
• Tamela Mann - One Way
• Candy West - Candy West Live

Children's Music

• Bible Jams - Bible Jams, Volume 1
• Colin Buchanan & Karen Pang - Living On The Rock
• Keith and Krysten Getty Kids - Getty Kids Hymnal: In Christ Alone
• Village On The Rise - Knowing God

We are off and running. One more multi-genre posting to go and then we are on to the single genre posts. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Seven Soundtrack: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Quarter - Gospel

Gospel Music is next in our single genre postings. It had nine entrants this quarter, and shared that number with both Hip Hop and Rock. From this point on all of our genres had enough entries in one quarter to fill a finals. It makes judging worthwhile. On to the entrants.

Gospel/R&B

• Trisha Alicia - Pieces
• Tim Bowman Jr - Listen
• Myron Butler and Levi - On Purpose
• Shirley Caesar - Fill This House
• Todd Dulaney - A Worshipper's Heart
• Deon Kipping - Something To Talk About
• William Murphy - Demonstrate
• Micah Stampley - To The King: Vertical Worship
• Various Artists - Motown Gospel Presents 1 Mic 1 Take

Not much to say this time around, except that sometimes things are worth the wait. Myron Butler was setting vaporware records with On Purpose. I think the album is about six months late. All is forgiven once you listen to it. Hip Hop is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter - Gospel/R&B

We continue our revelation of the Pool Eligible Entries for the second quarter of #PlatVnyl7. Gospel had a dozen eligible releases this quarter. That would almost take care of two final awards. That's why we put all things into a pool and judge them a second time, so we can avoid one quarters dominating the year. On to the entrants.

Gospel/R&B

• Regina Belle - The Day Life Began
• Jarmel Evans and Worship Forever - Eternal
• Christon Gray - The Glory Album
• Jarmone - Leap EP
• Marc Jay and the J Crew Band - I am God EP
• Deon Kipping - Place Called Victory EP
• JMoss  - GFG Reload
• William McDowell - Sounds of Revival
• Jonathan Nelson - Fearless
• Noel Robinson - Outrageous Love
• Various - WoW Gospel 2016
• Virtue - Fearless

That's a pretty good list for one quarter, but two genres got much more than that. Rap is one of them, and it is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Mistletunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Gospel/R&B

We move on to Gospel, Black Gospel, Urban Gospel, The Real Gospel. Southern Gospel Music, according to us here at The Night Beat, is neither Gospel nor Music. All we will agree is that it is Southern. Supposedly Southern Gospel, like a lot of Christian Music, was an alternative to some popular mainstream music of the era. For the life of me I cannot figure out what that would be. Polka Perhaps? Before you polka lovers, (all 3 of you), decide to write a nasty letter, I am of Polish Extraction, and when I was growing up there was a Polka Music Show on The Radio. Talk about torture. When your hit songs are "Roll Out The Barrel, Roll out The Barrel of Fun" and "She Likes Kielbasa Better Than Fish" you know you are scraping the bottom of the musical barrel. We shall go to the list.

Gospel/R & B

• Alache - The Chronicles Of The Mrs
• Bri (Briana Babineaux) - I'll Be The One
• Kirk Franklin - Losing My Religion
• Deitrick Haddon - Masterpiece
• James Jackson & Atlanta Praise - Nothing but High Praise

Two more perfect albums with this genre. One was almost expected. I never just simply hand out a 5 on reputation, but you almost could with Kirk Franklin. He very rarely disappoints. James Jackson is new to me, but is really good. Our final tie with five is Dance music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Gospel

Gospel Music (also known as Urban Gospel) is the only real Gospel Music out there, according to the authorities known as the WENC Night Beat. Not that I'm picking on whether Southern Gospel is really gospel, I'm not sure it is even music. Enough of my soapbox preaching. On to the entrants.

Gospel/R&B

• Uche Agu - The Glory Experience (Live In Houston)
• Tash Cobbs - One Place Live
• Geoffrey Golden - Kingdom...Live!
• Israel and New Breed - Covered: Alive In Asia
• John P. Kee - Level Next
• Bridgett Kern - No One Greater
• Jonathan McReynolds - Life Music: Stage Two
• Karen Clark Sheard - Destined To Win

Anytime you can get a full final in one quarter you know you're doing well. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Gospel

Gospel Music tied with Adult Contemporary for 7 entries in the pool for the third quarter. It's cause for rejoicing, but when it gets tied with Modern Worship I'll really dance. Let's get with it.

Gospel/R&B

• As One - As One
• Cornell Burton, Jr - The Singles EP
• Lonnie Hunter and Structure - #GETITDONE
• Freddy Rodriguez - Amazed
• Marvin Sapp - You Shall Live
• The Showers - The Showers Family Group
• Richard Smallwood - Anthology Live

It was a good showing with a bunch of new artists, or at least new to me. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.