The most underrated gospel artist out there...

[LaylaMonroe]

This was recorded in 1997.  Dude is so far ahead of his time, it just baffles my mind... so underappreciated... so talented... so amazing.

Whew.

James Hall and Worship & Praise "He Reigns"

[JustBritt]

You know what I realized.... I know a 'few' oldies in gospel but don't know who sings them. Like the Clark Sisters for instance. When I became obsessed with Karen I just started listening to some of the Clarks old songs and was like, "What??? I didn't know they sung this".

[LaylaMonroe]

Young people. 

 

j/k. I'm sure I went through that phase as well. *shrug*

Anyway... another AMAZING composition.

James Hall and Worship & Praise "Great Is Our God"

[churchyreal]

I kind of think he's underrated too but I don't think he's got the appreciation and attention he probably deserves because of how complex his music is. To play his music, especially if you are a beginner or intermediate (I consider myself intermediate) requires A LOT of practice, A LOT!

[LaylaMonroe]

Since I'm not a musician, I don't consider complexity as a hindrance to enjoyment. On the contrary, that's one of the things I love most about him... his stuff is just so unusual and extraordinary... it's definitely not the typical gospel choir stuff, and rarely can anyone name a choir that can be compared to JH/WAP.

We're doing three of his songs for our Convocation this weekend. Maybe that's why TJ has been so MIA lately. 

[JustBritt]

LOL.

[churchyreal]

Since I'm not a musician, I don't consider complexity as a hindrance to enjoyment. On the contrary, that's one of the things I love most about him... his stuff is just so unusual and extraordinary... it's definitely not the typical gospel choir stuff, and rarely can anyone name a choir that can be compared to JH/WAP.

We're doing three of his songs for our Convocation this weekend. Maybe that's why TJ has been so MIA lately. 

LOL!!!

[B3Wannabe]

Since I'm not a musician, I don't consider complexity as a hindrance to enjoyment. On the contrary, that's one of the things I love most about him... his stuff is just so unusual and extraordinary... it's definitely not the typical gospel choir stuff, and rarely can anyone name a choir that can be compared to JH/WAP.

We're doing three of his songs for our Convocation this weekend. Maybe that's why TJ has been so MIA lately. 

Mane! Don't get me started on Ricky Dillard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, you're right, James Hall tops my list.

Oh...Can we say CHOIR ROBES!!!!!!!

When is the last time I saw a choir robe? Man people used to have choir robe envy!

[LaylaMonroe]

Mane! Don't get me started on Ricky Dillard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, you're right, James Hall tops my list.

Oh...Can we say CHOIR ROBES!!!!!!!

When is the last time I saw a choir robe? Man people used to have choir robe envy!

I love Ricky, but I hate when people compare the two.

I love Ricky. So I'm going to leave it at that.

And yes, I SOOO miss wearing choir robes! LOL! I just miss singing in the choir, period. This weekend will be the first time I'm singing in a choir in several years; I'm SOOO stoked!!! 

[SirTJ]

We're doing three of his songs for our Convocation this weekend. Maybe that's why TJ has been so MIA lately. 

Uh, yeah. I've never had to hit the rewind button so much in my life. 

James Hall is gifted, no doubt, but speaking from a business standpoint, his material isn't very marketable, which is why he isn't mainstream, I believe. His music is an acquired taste and people who like it are usually "choir" people who are deep into the church scene. Those people only really make up like 15% of the market, though, maybe less. Most people will walk around the house singing "No Weaponnnn...formmmmed against me.....shall prosper..." before they walk around singing "HOW GRE- GRE- GRE- GREAAAAT THOOOOOOUUUUU ARRRRRRRTTTTT!!!"  , which separates a mainstream artist like Fred Hammond from James Hall. People like Fred, Kirk, Smallwood, etc. achieve the goal of having simple, sweet, catchy, and, most importantly, memorable melodies/structure with personable lyrics. That's what most gospel-buyers want.

But that's just my analysis. I've been wrong before.

[churchyreal]

Uh, yeah. I've never had to hit the rewind button so much in my life. 

James Hall is gifted, no doubt, but speaking from a business standpoint, his material isn't very marketable, which is why he isn't mainstream, I believe. His music is an acquired taste and people who like it are usually "choir" people who are deep into the church scene. Those people only really make up like 15% of the market, though, maybe less. Most people will walk around the house singing "No Weaponnnn...formmmmed against me.....shall prosper..." before they walk around singing "HOW GRE- GRE- GRE- GREAAAAT THOOOOOOUUUUU ARRRRRRRTTTTT!!!"  , which separates a mainstream artist like Fred Hammond from James Hall. People like Fred, Kirk, Smallwood, etc. achieve the goal of having simple, sweet, catchy, and, most importantly, memorable melodies/structure with personable lyrics. That's what most gospel-buyers want.

But that's just my analysis. I've been wrong before.

That's kind of what I was thinking as well.

[LaylaMonroe]

Uh, yeah. I've never had to hit the rewind button so much in my life.  

James Hall is gifted, no doubt, but speaking from a business standpoint, his material isn't very marketable, which is why he isn't mainstream, I believe. His music is an acquired taste and people who like it are usually "choir" people who are deep into the church scene. Those people only really make up like 15% of the market, though, maybe less. Most people will walk around the house singing "No Weaponnnn...formmmmed against me.....shall prosper..." before they walk around singing "HOW GRE- GRE- GRE- GREAAAAT THOOOOOOUUUUU ARRRRRRRTTTTT!!!"  , which separates a mainstream artist like Fred Hammond from James Hall. People like Fred, Kirk, Smallwood, etc. achieve the goal of having simple, sweet, catchy, and, most importantly, memorable melodies/structure with personable lyrics. That's what most gospel-buyers want.

But that's just my analysis. I've been wrong before.

ROFL!!!!! I love How Great Thou Art, but I told Elder Warren I may have to sit that one out. I can't seem to catch it to save my life, and missing two rehearsals in a row didn't help any. And don't get me started on that change between Thy Name Be Praised and Blessed Be the Name... WITW???  

But yeah, I think your analysis may be right, especially the part in bold.

James is a genius... putting his stuff on a Walmart shelf is like putting a college algebra textbook in Toys R Us.  

[B3Wannabe]

ROFL!!!!! I love How Great Thou Art, but I told Elder Warren I may have to sit that one out. I can't seem to catch it to save my life, and missing two rehearsals in a row didn't help any. And don't get me started on that change between Thy Name Be Praised and Blessed Be the Name... WITW??? 

But yeah, I think your analysis may be right, especially the part in bold.

James is a genius... putting his stuff on a Walmart shelf is like putting a college algebra textbook in Toys R Us. 

Um....I think you stretched it there!


Oh...I am a choir person. I'm a congregational and choir person.....but anyway. The first thing I ALWAYS ask a musician to play is "Praise the Lord everybody" or "God is a good God".

[6stringapprentice]

A lot of folks stand James Hall. That heavy NY vibrato is an acquired taste and is very addicting because once you hear it you will be singing like that for the rest of the day. His last cd "won't it be wonderful" was absolute squirrel nuts. John Peters, Dwayne Wright, Eddie Heyward. HA AA AA AA OW GREEYEYEYEYEYEYE  EYEYEYEYEAT THOU ARRRRRRRRRR   (high pitched- OHHHHH) YEEEES MIGHTYEYEYEYEYEYYE YEEEEES GLORYUsUSSUSUSUSS YEEEEESS AWWEEESOME YOU ARE WORRRR URRRR THEEYEYEYEYE.

[6stringapprentice]

cant stand my mistake

[lulu_nickles]

 

[LaylaMonroe]

A lot of folks stand James Hall. That heavy NY vibrato is an acquired taste and is very addicting because once you hear it you will be singing like that for the rest of the day. His last cd "won't it be wonderful" was absolute squirrel nuts. John Peters, Dwayne Wright, Eddie Heyward. HA AA AA AA OW GREEYEYEYEYEYEYE  EYEYEYEYEAT THOU ARRRRRRRRRR   (high pitched- OHHHHH) YEEEES MIGHTYEYEYEYEYEYYE YEEEEES GLORYUsUSSUSUSUSS YEEEEESS AWWEEESOME YOU ARE WORRRR URRRR THEEYEYEYEYE.

Yeah, on second thought, I'm definitely not sitting that one out. I love that song. I'm just gonna have to go into worship when we get to the part I don't know. LOL 

[churchyreal]

Yeah, on second thought, I'm definitely not sitting that one out. I love that song. I'm just gonna have to go into worship when we get to the part I don't know. LOL 

LOL you doing the baptist move......LOL! When you don't know a song, just start worshipping and shouting.....LOL!

[sjonathan02]

Uh, yeah. I've never had to hit the rewind button so much in my life.  

James Hall is gifted, no doubt, but speaking from a business standpoint, his material isn't very marketable, which is why he isn't mainstream, I believe. His music is an acquired taste and people who like it are usually "choir" people who are deep into the church scene. Those people only really make up like 15% of the market, though, maybe less. Most people will walk around the house singing "No Weaponnnn...formmmmed against me.....shall prosper..." before they walk around singing "HOW GRE- GRE- GRE- GREAAAAT THOOOOOOUUUUU ARRRRRRRTTTTT!!!"  , which separates a mainstream artist like Fred Hammond from James Hall. People like Fred, Kirk, Smallwood, etc. achieve the goal of having simple, sweet, catchy, and, most importantly, memorable melodies/structure with personable lyrics. That's what most gospel-buyers want.

But that's just my analysis. I've been wrong before.

Rich in truth, young sir especially the portion in bold.

[T-Block]

You're right Rue Rue. In the past few years, I've just started to take more notice of James Hall's music. That is, now that my skills are getting better and my understanding of music is growing. His music isn't for your average gospel listener. Gospel has to be in your blood to appreciate his music.

Uh, yeah. I've never had to hit the rewind button so much in my life. 

You ain't lying man. On that doggone song I helped you with, I had to rewind, turn up the music, rewind some more, pull out my theory knowledge and everything. James Hall is a straight up BEAST. There is no music like his music anywhere. His music flows in and out of keys like they going out of style. And the harmonies, OMG.

Just like with any other music, once you understand the pattern, it becomes a little easier to play.