By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

For music aficionados, and especially those like me who are critics, the end of the year triggers an unshakable impulse to post a best-of list.

It’s in our DNA.  We can’t help it.  Honestly.  There’s no twelve-step plan for recovery, and if there were, we’d post the best-of twelve-step programs around the country.

The albums, songs, and historic reissue on The Black Gospel Blog’s Best of 2013 list are not necessarily chosen for their sales or popularity, but for their musical quality, as determined by TBGB.  Only music serviced to TBGB qualify for the list.

Here goes.  Let the discussion begin…


Best of CDs:
  1. Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers – Bless This House (Verity Gospel Music Group)
 (the rest in alpha order by artist)
  1. Sho Baraka – Talented Xth (Lions and Liars Music)
  2. Alvin Darling – Waiting Right Here (Emtro Gospel)
  3. Denita Gibbs – Without You (Audiostate Entertainment 55)
  4. The Jones Family Singers – The Spirit Speaks (Arts + Labor)
  5. North Carolina Community Choir – A Story to Tell (Malaco)
  6. Joshua Rogers – Unconditional (Music World Gospel)
  7. Monica Lisa Stevenson – Live in Atlanta (Puretonez Productions)
  8. Various Artists – Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix Volume VI (Worldwide Music, Inc.)
  9. Whosoever South – Goin’ Home (Pitbull Productions)
 Best of Songs:
  1. Battle Hymn of the Republic – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (Brooklyn Tabernacle Music)
 (the rest in alpha order by song title)
  1. God Is On Our Side – Andrae Crouch (Riverphlo)
  2. He’ll Carry You – Mississippi Mass Choir feat. Luther Barnes (Malaco)
  3. Love Never Fails – Micah Stampley & Sheri Jones-Moffett (Motown Gospel)
  4. More to Life – Joint Heirs feat. Andale’ (self-release)
  5. Never Let Go – Erica Reed (Eden)
  6. One – Tim Dillinger feat. Reba Rambo-McGuire (Suxxess)
  7. One on One – Zacardi Cortez (Worldwide Music, Inc.)
  8. Unknown Hymn (Come to Jesus) – Micah Stampley (Motown Gospel)
  9. Without You – Denita Gibbs (Audiostate Entertainment 55)
  10. You Love Me – Pastor Dan Willis (Dan Willis Ministries)

 Best Historic Reissue: 

  1. Various Artists – I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel from the Nashboro Label, 1951-1983 (Tompkins Square)
Enter the title or artist into the TBGB search box to learn more about any of these selections.  Congratulations to everyone on the lists!

TBGB Music Hour Best of 2013 Playlist:

God Is On Our Side – Andrae Crouch
Without You – Denita Gibbs
Never Let Go – Erica Reed
Love Never Fails – Micah Stampley & Sheri Jones-Moffett
One – Tim Dillinger feat. Reba Rambo-McGuire
We’ve Gotta Put Jesus Back – Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers
More To Life – Joint Heirs feat. Andale’
One on One – Zacardi Cortez
Unknown Hymn (Come to Jesus) – Micah Stampley
He’ll Carry You – Mississippi Mass Choir feat. Luther Barnes
Get Your Soul Right – Fireside Gospel Singers
You Love Me – Pastor Dan Willis
Battle Hymn of the Republic – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

One Comment

  1. ML January 8, 2014 at 11:37 am - Reply

    It’s funny how different records people can choose. Here’s my best of list for 2013:

    1. Tye Tribbett: Greater Than
    2. The Relatives: The Electric Word
    3. Robert Randolph Presents: The Slide Brothers
    4. Hezekiah Walker: Azusa The Next Generation
    5. Fred Hammond: United Tenors

    And of course the marvelous Nashboro Gospel Box, I Heard the Angels Singing!

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.