PRAYZEHYMN Online | where gospel music lives [The Compilation Madness]

By J. MATTHEW COBB
Founder, Editor-In-Chief of PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment
Updated: September 5, 2006

HAVE YOU EVER seriously analyzed your music library and noticed that the bulk of your compact discs contain one or two big hits on it...and that's it? And have you ever wondered if there was a quick fix to end that frustration. Before you stone the idea of rushing to the "Various Artists" section at your closest music store, we want to advise you that the idea of purchasing just any compilation can bite you in the butt and in the pocket. Just a kind reminder: all compilations aren't consumer friendly. And they can also be nerve-wrecking disappointments. Just to hear the same songs recycled from one collection to the next can be a killer headache. Plus who can forgive those irritable short radio edits and those pesky misleading album titles. So before you pull out the bucks to hunt for the greater of the greatest hits, we want to advise you that there are some projects that shouldn't be ignored. Whether you are an extreme gospel collector or just in need of a good introduction to some serious gospel hits, this guide should satisfy.

REV. MILTON BRUNSON'S THOMPSON COMMUNITY SINGERS: 50 BLESSED YEARS Probably one of the better compilations from the famed community choir, it contains a lengthy set of throwbacks that are aimed to please. "Safe In His Arms", "Rise Up And Walk", "The Holy Ghost", "Jesus Is A Rock", "I Guess You're Wondering", "Over And Over And Over", "It's Gonna Rain" and "God's Got It" are here. A few edits may be irritating, like on "Thank You", but the collection features most of the hits from this legendary ensemble. 1998 Word

GOSPEL BLOCKBUSTERS Half of the music features some of Verity's best, but there's actually a good dose of stunning favorites from memory-lane and other labels. And they all are hits: BeBe & CeCe's "I'll Take You There", Donald Lawrence "A Message For The Saints", Andrae' Crouch's "Take Me Back", Aretha Franklin's "Walk In The Light", Dottie Peoples' "On Time God" and Kirk Franklin's "Stomp" are here. It's not one of the greatest assembled pieces of gospel music history, but it is satisfying.Assembled by TIME Life. 2003 Verity

SUNDAY MORNING One of Malaco's successful made-for-TV packages, this collection is loaded with familiar hits from the Malaco and Savoy music label. Strong cuts include the Jackson Southernaires' "Power", Rev. Timothy Wright's "Yes, I'm A Believer", DFW Mass Choir's "Another Chance", the Canton Spirituals' "Fix It Jesus", Dorothy Norwood's "Shake The Devil Off", Mississippi Mass Choir's "Your Grace And Mercy" and Rev. Milton Brunson's "Available To You". A strong set of traditional and soulful contemporary gospel. 2CD 1996 Malaco

SHIRLEY CAESAR GREATEST GOSPEL HITS A delicate collection covering most of the memorable gems in the vaults recorded by the First Lady of Gospel. It focses on her reigning tenure at Word Records, from 1983 to 2000. Includes "Sailin' On The Sea Of Your Love" (featuring duet with Al Green), "Jesus", "No Charge", "Hold My Mule", "I Remember Mama", "Stand Still" (featuring John P. Kee), "He's Working It Out For You" and "Heaven". It's not complete, but it's the first serious look at her recording career in compilation form. 2003 Word

M2K GOSPEL 2000 A 2-disc offering too hard to refuse. It exposes the musical brilliance captured at GospoCentric during their successful run on the charts. Features music from Kurt Carr ("For Every Mountain"), Kirk Franklin ("Silver And Gold" Remix, "Revolution"), Stephanie Mills ("Power Of God"), God's Property ("Stomp"), Walter Hawkins ("Marvelous"), the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir ("Shabach"), Lawrence Matthews ("Do Not Pass Me By") and Trin-i-tee 5:7 ("God's Grace"). 22 favorite songs in all. 2CD 2000 GospoCentric

THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GOSPEL Loads of oldies bound to revive the hearts of gospel collectors make their presence here. Nicely assembled, this three-disc collection covers seasoned offerings from the Golden era to the modern successes in contemporary gospel music today. It isn't the greatest of the greatest hits, but the songs are a delicate roadmap to gospel's best artists and some of their strongest material. Includes the Ward Singers "God Is Able", James Cleveland's "Touch Me" and Sounds of Blackness' "Optimistic". 3CD 2004 Nascente

DR. CHARLES G. HAYES & THE COSMOPOLITIAN CHURCH OF PRAYER CHOIR: THE COLLECTION This stellar church choir has delivered some of the greatest hits during their career. Most were recorded on the Savoy label. While this project leaves a few of their fiery cuts, this is a delicate presentation of them at their best. Features "Jesus Can Work It Out", "They Thay Wait Upon The Lord", "Step Back, Let God Do It", "Is He Satisfied With Me", "Resting In Jesus", "The Bridegroom Cometh" and "I'll Never Forget". 2001 Savoy

LIVING THE GOSPEL: GOSPEL GREATS Need the hits and just the hits? This project assembled by Time Life is a worthy start. Not a dry track presented and it's equally balanced with crossoverwinners and gospel standards. It open with the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" and runs through favorites from Shirley Caesar, Al Green, the Commodores, Andrae' Crouch, the Winans, Walter Hawkins, Rev. Milton Brunson/Thompson Community Singers, the Mighty Clouds of Joy and Douglas Miller. 2002 Time Life Music

WOW GOSPEL 1998 This project is loaded with hits from 1998 and some from previous years. Since this was the first installment in the infamous gospel collection series, more jams made its way to this set. Some of the edits here were irritating, but two compact discs crammed with hits including Oleta Adams' "Holy Is The Lamb", Hezekiah Walker's "Jesus Is My Help", Richard Smallwood's "Total Praise", GMWA's "Order My Steps", William Becton's "Be Encouraged", Yolanda Adams' "The Battle Is The Lord's", John P. Kee's "Stand", and Rev. Clay Evans' "I've Got A Testimony". This collection is a definite winner. 2CD 1998 Verity

MAHALIA JACKSON: THE ESSENTIAL MAHALIA JACKSON To see the Queen of Gospel make her face on an Epic/Legacy project is a dream come true. This double-disc journey is packed with Mahalia Jackson's greatest hits. Songs like "In The Upper Room", "Come On Children, Let's Sing", "How I Got Over", "Trouble Of The World", "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Let The Church Roll On", the moving "You'll Never Walk Alone" all are available here. Timeless classics remastered - with class. 2004 Legacy

SAVOY GOSPEL CLASSICS Savoy goes back some years, so don't think this album covers the classics from their entire catalog. Instead, this short retrospective collection (12 songs) is befitting and honors the rich legacy from this historic instiution in Gospel music. Songs like "Who's On The Lord's Side", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "It Is For Me", "He's All Over Me", "Please Be Patient With Me", "Speak To My Heart", "Jesus Can Work It Out" and "When God Is In The Building". With It's kinda short, but it is a worthy experience. 2004 Savoy

ANDRAE' CROUCH: THE DEFINITE GREATEST HITS This remarkable legend has so many hits that even three discs isn't enough. But this is a great start. "My Tribute", "I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me", "Soon And Very Soon", "Take Me Back", "Jesus Is The Answer", "It Won't Be Long" and "Bless His Holy Name" all cover this three-disc collection. We are not sure if the packaging here was well planned and thought of, but the idea of piecing together a three-disc collection of Andrae Crouch's hits is certain to draw attention. 3CD 2005 Compendia

REV. JAMES CLEVELAND SINGS WITH THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHOIRS The King of Gospel defined the art of choir music like no other artist before his time. And since Savoy and Malaco assembled and re-released this project, most of Cleveland's most remembered and noteworthy performances were captured here. Songs include "God Has Smiled On Me", "Jesus Is The Best Thing", "I Don't Feel Noways Tired", "Peace Be Still", "In God's Own Time" and "Lord Help Me To Hold Out". An impressive package filled with goodies. Wish it had more history and photos in the linear notes. That would've been cool.
1980 Malaco/Savoy

MALACO'S GREATEST GOSPEL HITS, VOL. 2 Malaco's Greatest Gospel Hits Volume One was okay, but Volume 2 was better and tighter. Featuring massive hits from Vanessa Bell Armstrong ("He Looked Beyond My Faults"), the Williams Brothers ("Sweep Around"), Ricky Dillard ("More Abundantly"), Walter Hawkins ("Thank You"), Willie Neal Johnson ("I'm Yours Lord"), Florida Mass Choir ("Thank God For The Blood") and Rev. James Moore ("He Was There All The Time"). Plus, these are the full length songs. No surprises, no gimmicks; just the hits. 1995 Malaco

GOSPEL THE ESSENTIAL ALBUM This album recycles some of the cuts from the Beginner's Guide To Gospel, but the rest is quite divine. Aretha Franklin's "Old Landmark", Dorothy Love Coates' "Get Away Jordan", Mary Mary "Shackles", Sam Cooke's "Nearer To Thee", Shirley Caesar "I Won't Be Back", Albertina Walker's "I Can Go To God In Prayer", Norman Hutchins' "Battlefield" are wonderfully received. The order of the songs going from a 1960s classic to a modern Billboard hit can be quite depressing, but the songs are still worth having. 2CD 2003 Manteca

HEZEKIAH WALKER & THE LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHOIR: NOTHING BUT THE HITS Fourteen of Hezekiah Walker's stronger cuts throughout his extensive recording career make landfall on this "Nothing But The Hits" package. What makes this one so unique is that there's no album fillers here and that all of the cuts are best remembered as being renowned contributions to Gospel music. LFC jams like "Power Belongs To God", "Jesus Is My Help", "Second Chance", "Clean Inside", "I Will Go In Jesus Name" and "How Much We Can Bear" are a joy to hear on one disc. The remix of "99 1/2" is also a plus. Would have been better if a few songs from "Focus On Glory" appeared here. 2003 Verity

TOP 20 GOSPEL: VOLUME 1 Album title misleading? Probably so. But this effort from Tyscot Records is genius. Twenty cuts stretched out on two discs with a good share of information in the linear notes on the artist and the featured song. The popular independent label showcases some of their popular hits on this organized compilation. Songs like John P. Kee's "Jesus Is Real", Indiana State Choir's "How Majestic", Trinity Temple's "Holy One", Ron Williams' "Hallelu, Hallelujah", Melvin Dawson's "Jesus Stepped In", TETREC's "Everbody Don't Know" and Oscar Hayes' "None But The Righteous" are joyous masterpieces to hear time and time again. 2CD 1997 Tyscot

WALTER HAWKINS MEGA 3 COLLECTION This 3-disc set assembles Love Alive I, II and III together. All of the unedited cuts from all three albums are featured here. If you remember these albums well, you can recall there was barely a dry track present and most will agree that these were honorable, timeless collections from Walter Hawkins. Lynette can be heard on "There's A War Going On" and "Be Grateful", Tramaine delivers on "Changed" and "He's That Kind Of Friend" and Walter inspires on "Lord I Love You" and "Follow Me". If you dont have any of the individual Love Alive projects, purchasing this box set will cut the work in half. 3CD 2002 Compendia

THE WINANS THE VERY BEST OF THE WINANS Mail all applause to Rhino. This exclusive contribution, featuring music from both the Light and Quincy Jones' Quest catalogs, gives a colorful, honest look at one of the most influential groups in all of Gospel music: the Winans. Cuts from the early years ("Restoration", "Uphold Me", "The Question Is", "Tommorrow") are well chosen, while "Let My People Go", Teddy Riley's "It's Time", "Payday" (featuring R. Kelly) and the unforgettable "Ain't No Need To Worry" (featuring the legendary Anita Baker) delivers enough impressive music for even the toughest critic. 2002 Rhino/WEA

GOSPEL'S GREATEST HITS Hearing this collection resembles a trip in a time machine through the many hits that have made Light Records one of the greatest musical empires in gospel history. Popular cuts including New Jersey Mass Choir's "Hold Up The Light", Douglas Miller's "My Soul Is Anchored In The Lord", Walter Hawkins' "Changed", Chicago Mass Choir's "He That Believeth", Andrae' Crouch's "Soon And Very Soon", Commissioned's "Ordinary Just Won't Do" and Vickie Winans' "We Shall Behold Him" are present, while neat additions from the Williams Brothers, the Clark Sisters, the Christianaires, Danniebelle Hall, the Winans and the L.A. Mass Choir help complete this 2-disc celebration. 2CD 1994 Light

TESTIFY! THE GOSPEL BOX Resembling the look of a hardcover Bible, this collection stretches across the deep of the timeline of Gospel music; pulling out jubilee-styled tunes, traditional gospel groups and quartets, spirited choirs and funky contemporary gospel jams. There's lots to pick out here and is divided into three discs of history going in a peaceful chronological order. The enclosed 70-page book and the songs from Mahalia Jackson, the Staple Singers, James Cleveland, Walter Hawkins, Shirley Caesar, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dorothy Love Coates, Take 6, Inez Andrews, Andrae' Crouch, John P. Kee and Donald Lawrence make this offering a collector's dream come true. 3CD 1999 Rhino

SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS: THE VERY BEST OF The classic contemporary urban sounds of the ninties were defined by this extraordinary ensemble. And this collection brings home all of the hits from their brilliant and successful run. "Optimistic", "Testify". "I Believe", "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright", "I'm Going All The Way" and "Hold On (Change Is Comin'" are all here. The linear notes from music historian David Nathan are detailed and very entertaining. Would have been even greater if there one or two dance remixes from those bigger hits. Like the one of "Optimistic" from Frankie Knuckles. But, it's all good. 2001 A&M

GOSPEL'S TOP 20: SONGS OF THE CENTURY Such a big title to live up to, but New Haven Marketing comes close to achieving the impossible dream. On two discs, this collection rambles through some of the more recognized songs of gospel radio. It's not a bad appeitizer at all. Songs such as the Mississippi Mass Choir's "Your Grace And Mercy", Richard Smallwood's "Center Of My Joy", the Clark Sisters "You Brought The Sunshine", Shirley Caesar's "No Charge", Walter Hawkins' "Goin' Up Yonder" and Andrae' Crouch's "My Tribute" define the strongest highlights. What is so strange is that the first disc features modern hits while the second one contains the older classics. Shouldn't the latter come first? 2CD 2001 New Haven

BACK TO CHURCH Years after this "Made For TV" special aired and people are still raving about the hits that were captured here. Malaco Records was truly on top of their game with this release. Hits from the Winans ("Tommorrow"), the Williams Brothers ("Sweep Around"), Rev. James Cleveland ("I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan", "This Too Will Pass", "God Is"), Georgia Mass Choir ("Come On In The Room"), O'Neal Twins ("Jesus Dropped The Charges"), Rev. Timothy Wright ("Who's On The Lord's Side"), Myrna Summers ("Magnify Him"), Keith Pringle ("No Greater Love") and a pile of other gospel greats add wonders to this explosive 33-track project. 2CD 1989 Malaco

OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
We perish because of the lack of knowledge. Get schooled.

TIMELife Music - Check out the incredible compilations from TIME Life ranging from soul to pop, from R&B to gospel.
Rhino Records - The retro folks. Creators of the Billboard gospel compilations, Chicken Soul albums, Shirley Caesar's Greatest Gospel Hits and the big "Testify! The Gospel Box" set. Check 'em out!
Malaco Music Group - No escaping the power of the MALACO. Hot compilations and cool "Made For TV" specials to dig into.
New Haven Records - The small label with the big vision. Trust us. They have a number of great compilations to look through.