Journal of Gospel Music’s Best CDs, Singles and Historic Reissues of 2025

By Robert M. Marovich

As is our custom for this time of year, the Journal of Gospel Music presents its “best of” lists in the category of singles, albums, and historical reissues.

The recordings were not chosen as “best of” based on sales, chart status, promotion, voting, fan popularity, number of likes or retweets, committee decisions, throwing darts, reading tea leaves, arm twisting, or anything other than 1) JGM or Living Blues magazine (where I also do reviews) was serviced with the music for review and 2) JGM believes these releases best represented gospel/sacred music in 2025 in terms of overall music quality.

Artists whose music does not appear here: these lists were compiled from the releases that came across the JGM desk during 2025 and those I reviewed for Living Blues magazine during the same year. I appreciate you all, but I had to narrow down the lists to a select few.

Best Single:
“Church” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat. John Legend (Motown Gospel)

The Rest of the Best (in alpha order by title):
“10,000 Reasons” – Forever Faithful (Independent)

“Blessings” – Yolanda Adams (Epic Records)

“Breathe On Me Again” – God’s Child’ren (Independent)

“Help” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Capitol Christian Music Group)

“I’m Standing With You” – Katie Cloyd (Independent)

“I Know I’ve Been Blessed” – Armstead Ford & Calvin Ivy (God’s Harvesters)

“In This Place” – Mervin Mayo (Tyscot)

“Near” – The Beautiful Gate Music (Independent)

“Promise Keeper” – Regina Vandereijk (Royal Increase Music)

“Thousand Tongues” – Amy Hillis (Amy Hillis Music)

Best Album:
The Lord Is There (Deluxe Edition) – Regina Vandereijk (Royal Increase Music)

The Rest of the Best (in alpha order by title):
’92 – SEMAJE (Maje Entertainment / Tyscot)

Altar Call – Various Artists (Death Row)

By the Riverside – Lynda Randle (Gaither Music Group)

God Did It – Mervin Mayo (Tyscot)

House of David: Season One (Music inspired by the Prime Video Original Series) – Various Artists (Capitol Christian Music Group)

Love is the Only Key – McCrary Sisters (Independent)

Parchman Prison Prayer: Another Mississippi Sunday Morning – Various Artists (Glitterbeat)

Praise in the Choir Stand – Brent Jones (JDI Entertainment)

Strange Things Happening – Kid Ramos feat. Brian Templeton & Johnny Ramos (Nola Blue)

Best Historic Reissue:
West Coast Black Gospel, 1940-1973: Won’t Have to Cry No More – Various Artists (NarroWay)

The Rest of the Best (in alpha order by title):
Before This Time Another Year – Georgia Sea Island Singers (Featuring Bessie Jones & John Davis) (Lomax Archive)

Just Over the Hill: Rare Recordings 1949-1972 – Clara Ward (Gospel Friend)

Sacred Songs Vol. 1 (1937-1978): The Deepest Sorrow – Various Artists (Lomax Archive)