What Groups Are Worth Having in Your Gospel Music Collection?

If you're looking to buy gospel music ensembles, these are the top four I would recommend that you have in your music collection:

1. Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ

The album that sticks out in my mind would be Speak Those Things: Pages of Life Chapter 3. It was taped here at Chicago's Navy Pier and I was able check it out live. I've since seen song clips on YouTube and am glad for that service to be able to relive that concert. Fred Hammond is known for his bass playing and singing ability. He started playing bass for The Winans and was a part of the group known as Commissioned. He later branched out and formed the group Radical For Christ.

Other albums from this group that I recommend: Pages of Life: Chapters 1 & 2, The Inner Court, The Spirit of David, and Purpose by Design.

2. Richard Smallwood & Vision

What I liked about Richard Smallwood was that he is a classically-trained pianist. His songs have more of a classical feel to them than your traditional gospel sound and I think that's what makes him unique. What I loved about Vision was their blend, their cohesion, and if you've ever heard them you'd know their sound is unmistakable. They have a sound that makes impact, and with Richard Smallwood leading the way, they have made a number of great albums.

The ones I recommend would be: Adoration: Live in Atlanta, Healing: Live in Detroit, and Persuaded: Live from Washington, D.C.

3. Take 6

Take 6 has been singing for almost three decades. They started in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama. They integrate R&B and jazz influences into their songs and have collaborated with such notables as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Quincy Jones, Brian McKnight and more. What makes this six-man ensemble so unique is that for one it's a six-MAN ensemble. They split up the parts well and make this uncanny harmony that would tickle the ear of any music lover. The other unique factor is that most of their music is done a capella, or without accompaniment. They're like a one-man band with six parts.

My recommended albums to get would be: Take 6, Join the Band, So Cool, So Much 2 Say, and Brothers.

4. Israel Houghton & New Breed

This is by far, in my opinion, the best group to mix gospel with contemporary Christian styles. One song it seems like they're going one way, the next song it seems like they're going another. Musically they'll keep you guessing... lyrically they have you wondering how they're able to write like that... together, they're one good group going very very far in the gospel music industry.

My recommended albums for them: Alive in South Africa, Live From Another Level, A Deeper Level, and New Season.

Sources:

Fred Hammond, Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hammond

Take 6, Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_6