Off-topic: DVD rights

When a film is released that includes copyrighted material, rights must be obtained to include that material before the film can be released. Songs, archive footage, even cultural references often require separate permission before the final project can be put out to the public. Those clearance rights are often translated to video releases, but sometimes, they aren't....

The first time I noticed this was when I bought a DVD for A Muppet Family Christmas. At least half of the songs used in the original TV broadcast of this special were omitted from the DVD release (often quite conspicuously), resulting in uneven performances and edits. Another Muppet release, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, originally featured narration by Kermit The Frog throughout. The original DVD release of this TV special kept most of this intact, but for the "special edition" DVD, all traces of the famous green one were removed due to the fact that Disney now owns the classic Muppet characters and refused to license his use to HIT Entertainment for the DVD release.

It's not just children's releases. National Lampoon's Vacation originally included two instances of the Pointer Sisters' classic, "I'm So Excited." For the DVD release, these were removed and replaced with "Little Boy Sweet," which was only used once in the theatrical (and VHS) releases of the movie. I don't really see any reason for this edit, as "I'm So Excited" is used quite often in other productions.

The most recent example of this, I found on the upcoming DVD release of the George Lucas bomb Howard The Duck (considered by many to be one of the worst movies ever made....to me, it's just a guilty pleasure!!). Clips of Daffy Duck originally used in the theatrical and VHS releases are included here, but his voice (played by Mel Blanc) has been removed.

A common connection with each of these films is the fact that they were originally released BEFORE DVD's became the industry standard for home entertainment. Perhaps these older productions included copyright clearances that included VHS releases, but failed to include any future technological advances, resulting in separate clearances needed before the DVD versions can be released. Changes in management at different companies between then and now can cause the original decision makers to be completely absent from current negotiations, which means that the person who originally said "Yes, you can use it" is probably long gone, leaving someone else who has little-to-no interest in whatever project is in question to grant or deny permissions.

Regardless of the politics and legalities involved, the end result is a production that is less than what the original directors and producers intended and cheats the viewers out of what they initially enjoyed, no matter how subtle.

To tie this into SG, it would be the equivalent of Word Records releasing "Step Into The Water" with a different tenor singer dubbed in because Kirk Talley disputed the use of his voice on the original track....it just wouldn't be right.

Who is that bass singer?

I am curious....listening to the GVB's "Still The Greatest Story" CD, I simply cannot believe that Bill Gaither is singing the bass on some of those songs. "Reaching" in particular has a much fuller, solid-sounding bass singer in the mix. If it is indeed Bill (and ONLY Bill), then why does he sound so much different both before and after this album? Any ideas?

The Gospel Music Stock Exchange

Given our current economic "crisis," talks of bailouts, bankruptcy, foreclosures, and recessions, an interesting thought hit me. What if gospel music acts could be traded publicly like a stock market? What groups would have the highest shares? Which ones would be the most likely to make the most profit? What groups would be the "gospel Googles" (groups you wish you would've invested in early on and watch their profits soar)?

I have my opinions on what the obvious ones would be, but I wanna see what everyone else can come up with first, then I'll share mine....

A year-end observation (or several)

I don't track my readership on a daily basis. I have a counter on the site that I check probably once every two-three weeks just to satisfy my own curiosity. I don't even remember when I started keeping track of site stats, but for what it's worth, here's the totals I have to date:

Total Visitors: 27,821
Total Hits: 31,631

The majority of the site hits are results of Google searches (since Blogger, my site host, is run by Google, that's not a big surprise), followed by personal bookmarks from repeat readers. I also see a lot of visitors coming from enLighten's website for News & Views (shout out to Marlin and the gang!!). The rest of the referring sites vary from week to week, although I do repeatedly see some common pages (I often see Averyfineline on the list, as well as Swain's Musings).

I can sincerely say that I am repeatedly humbled and honored that so many people would take the time to see (or even care!) what I have to say on this form of music that I hold such a passion for. I do not take a single reader for granted, whether they linger, comment, e-mail, or just take a peak to see what is going on. Through this little site, I have made some good friends, gotten the opportunity to speak directly to artists, producers, and other "insiders" in the industry, and I'd like to think, made my own little impact on SG music, no matter how small it may be.

So, as another year comes to a close (and unless a huge, earth-shattering piece of news comes to light in the next week and a half), I plan on taking a small break from the blogging world to enjoy Christmas with my growing family, celebrate the birth of Christ and thank God for all of the blessings He has sent my way. Thanks to everyone who has allowed me the opportunity to have my voice be heard, and rest assured, I'm not going far and won't be gone very long!!

Christmas download #3

For all of you last-minute shoppers (especially the dads who like to wait until Christmas Eve on their way home from work to do their Christmas shopping), here is the final download from my Christmas project. "Gotta Find That Gift" was actually written during the summer, and sat around for several years before it finally surfaced on Spirit Of Christmas.

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/gottafindthatgift.mp3

Hope you have enjoyed these special downloads, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"God Walks The Dark Hills"

This is one of my all-time favorite performances from the NQC. This was a part of the Remembering The Greats DVD that was recorded in 2006 (I believe that was the year). I don't know if the acapella ending was spontaneous or rehearsed, but either way, it is amazing. Thanks to dannyfunderburkfan for posting this clip!

"When God Ran" hits #1?

It's been reported that "When God Ran" by the Kingsmen has hit #1 on the Singing News chart. If so, this is quite an interesting occurrence - a song that came from the contemporary field has hit #1. Has there ever been another time that a song from CCM has been covered by a SG group (and subsequently charted at #1)? This may just be a first for the Singing News....

Song Of A Lifetime DVD

This past NQC, Phil Cross hosted a showcase called "Song Of A Lifetime." The showcase is now available on DVD. It looks like an intriguing production with a lot of top-notch writers and songs, not to mention some of today's best artists.

Below is a preview Cross has put together:



For more information, visit http://www.philcrossmusic.com/.

The Standouts of 2008

As another year reaches an end (15 days left!!), I thought I'd have a mini award ceremony of sorts. I'm not gonna do a best album, best baritone, best bus driver, best truck stop, etc.; instead, I just want to know one thing:

What artists, songs, labels, events, etc., stood out for you during 2008?

This can be anything from a memorable performance to a landmark recording to....whatever!! If it truly stands out in your mind from the past year, it qualifies!!

I will say that Gold City, as a whole, has stood out to me over the last year. They have been seeing quite a bit of change over the last several years, but 2008 saw a new lead singer AND the return of a live band, if only in the trial stages. Since Tim Riley's retirement, GC has been going through a rebuilding period, and they seem to be doing all the right things, and if 2008 is any indicator, I think they're set to come back in a big way.

I have more nominations, but let's see what you have to offer first.....

Singing News site errors

Has anyone else been having as hard of a time accessing the Singing News site as I have lately? In the last week or so, I've had more server errors than I've had successful hits on the site.

HD Preview of GVB Reunion

Below is a preview of the GVB Reunion project. If you click on the video clip, you can go to YouTube and watch it in HD. I don't care what people feel about the abilities of each singer today, this is easily one of the most anticipated Gaither titles in recent history, and with a release date of January 27th, it will make for quite a birthday present for me (my b-day is the 30th).

SG branching out

The Kingsmen currently hold the #2 slot on the Singing News Top 80 chart with a cover of the Phillips, Craig & Dean song, "When God Ran." In 2006, Gold City had a popular album cut with another PC&D hit, "Mercy Came Running." Both songs were recording rather faithfully to the original cuts; some could even argue that the only real differences between the originals and the covers is the addition of a bass vocalist.

Elsewhere, Brian Free & Assurance are at #14 with "I Believe God," a song that could easily fit on K-Love with it's overly-slick production and heavily-processed vocal mix. This may even be part of Daywind's plan for the group, as a recent press release indicated that they consider BFA among the more contemporary-sounding acts on their label.

Other artists within the top half of the chart include the Booth Brothers, the LeFevres, and Karen Peck & New River, all groups who have been pushing the boundary ever-so-slightly toward more progressive music within SG (and getting high praise for their efforts). Could this be a sign that Southern Gospel music is, little by little, adjusting itself to reach a wider market, or is today's SG audience more into the modern sounds than previous generations?

More important than talent

Every now and then, I like to browse through the Jobs sections at different sites to see what's available in what areas. It seems the most popular job postings are for tenor singers, with bass singers a close second (understandable, as those two are probably the more unique voices compared to a lead/baritone singer). The majority of these ads can be summed up as follows:

"Looking for versatile, solid singer who can hear harmonies, can travel every weekend, and is willing to work for pennies."

Granted, some higher-profile gigs have been listed from time to time, but more often than not, the jobs posted are for local or regional groups who can barely afford the gas to get from date to date. I guess for the young, ambitious start-ups, this is not a problem, but if you're looking for something other than a hobby, it's gonna be hard to find something worth while on some of these postings.

One in particular caught my eye, and I think it's a sign of just how far gospel music has come, for better or worse:

"Ministry minded a must. More important than talent."

I am NOT saying that a mind and heart for ministry is not essential to a successful gospel group. The whole point of singing the gospel, at least in my mind, is to minister to those who have come to hear you; it's what separates us from the secular music. What ALSO separates us from secular music, unfortunately, is the severe lack of quality and talent. If you are lacking in talent, then I would think that your ministry would suffer as a result.

Just think....if you went to see The Weekend Warriors at a church and their tenor singer gave a wonderful testimony, followed by a hack job on "Somebody Touched Me," what do you think people are gonna remember? If you say his testimony, I have two words for you....

Kurt Young.

Grammys (or is it Grammies?)

Last year, a non-southern gospel artist (Ricky Skaggs and the Whites) walked away with the Grammy for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel album. This year, we have the following nominees....

• Room For More, Booth Brothers
• Lovin’ Life, Gaither Vocal Band
• Steps To Heaven, Charlie Louvin
• Hymned Again, Bart Millard
• Ephesians One, Karen Peck & New River

That's 3 full-time SG artists against 2 "outsiders." Bart Millard's lead singing duties with MercyMe may give him an advantage with the RIAA, and Gaither's name alone could be the weight they need to get the Association's attention, although I am surprised that Lovin' Life made the cut while other projects (i.e. Gold City's Moment of Truth) didn't, but then again, I'm not a voting member of the RIAA, so that explains THAT!!

I DO notice, however, that two of the nominees are Daywind artists, and if I remember correctly, KPNR was nominated last year (I don't know if the Booth Brothers were or not, but I don't think they were), which means that Daywind must be REALLY sinking some money into promoting their artists! Millard is on Curb/Word, a subsidary of Warner Music Group, so they've got plenty of push already, and Gaither's empire is far from invisible, so to see TWO Daywind artists nominated is quite impressive!!

UPDATE/EDIT: Thanks to Chris Unthank for updating me....Bart Millard (and MercyMe) are on INO Records, which is currently distributed under the Provident-Integrity (which itself is under the massive Sony/BMG umbrella). What I was thinking of is the fact that INO Records was previously distributed by Word, and in fact, Curb Records issued a commercial CD single of "I Can Only Imagine" back in 2002. Since that time, INO has switched distribution and is now with Provident/Integrity/Sony/BMG. Either way, Millard has a massive company behind him, which is my original point.

Christmas Download #2

Here is the link to this week's download from my Christmas project, Spirit Of Christmas. This is a different take on a classic carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Click on the link below to download this song, and as always, comments are welcome!!

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/merrygentlemen.mp3

N'Harmony's debut in Ireland a success

Looks like N'Harmony is off to a good start, according to the press release below....

Friday, December 5, 2008
N'Harmony Completes Successful Northern Ireland Tour

NASHVILLE, TN (Press Release) – N'Harmony recently appeared in Northern Ireland as part of their first tour in over six years. While in the UK, N'Harmony enjoyed 3 great nights of concerts and were even given a personal tour of the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast. Also appearing on the concerts was Rev. William McCrea, who was debuting his latest release "In Christ Alone" produced by Shane Dunlap.

Shane stated, "The Emerald Isle has always been near and dear to my heart." He continued, "The people there are very warm and truly enjoy southern gospel music." All of the members of N'Harmony left feeling the same way. Plans are already underway for a return trip in May of 2009.

N'Harmony is booked exclusively by the Dominion Agency. Call 910-484-6996 to schedule a concert in your area. For more information, please visit www.dominionagency.com or www.nharmonymusic.com.

Congrats guy!! Here's hoping that 2009 is even more successful.

The Baritone

"He sings baritone, a tone nobody can bear!!" - Duane Allen

A discussion on another forum brought up an interesting point regarding group members and their importance within a quartet. The topic started out as "unenviable positions;" group members who leave a "larger than life" legacy when they depart from a gig and the ones who have the unenviable task of taking their place. The obvious ones were posted, such as David Phelps, Danny Funderburk, Michael English, Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Jim Hammil, etc., but what I found quite interesting is that, with maybe one exception, no one mentioned a baritone singer!

Everyone jokes (well, half-jokes) that a quartet is usually based on their "bookends," meaning the tenor and bass singers. Next in line is that "great lead singer" who can sing the pretty melodies, rock the uptempo spirituals, and belt out the power ballads with their amazing range. Very rarely, however, does one mention the "glue" of the group. When was the last time someone said, "Man, he sure was a great baritone!!"?

The first name that will probably come to mind for everyone is Mark Trammell. Mark served as baritone singer for the Cathedrals for nearly a decade, and later spent several years doing the same for Gold City. Mark had (and still has) a range that belies his position, and more often than not, would sing well into the lead/tenor range during his Cats years, but it was his solid blend that helped define the sound of both of these groups during his tenures with each.

Whenever someone mentions the "glory days" of Gold City, they always name the same four singers: Brian, Ivan, Tim, and Mike LeFevre. Mike was probably not the greatest soloist, and more often than not played a support part for the other three "stars," but he could blend with a rainbow checked shirt on shag carpet (yes, I just made that metaphor up!!), and he was NEVER showy. When it was his time to sing, he'd step up, get the job done, and head back to his spot. When Mike left, he was replaced briefly by Steve Lacey, then Trammell (after Stacey moved to the lead position for a short period). Lacey had a better solo voice, and could still easily blend with the group, but he also seemed to want more of a spotlight, whereas LeFevre just seemed to be happy doing what he was doing.

One of the best baritones (and most often overlooked) was Glenn Allred of the Florida Boys. Glenn joined the group in the 50's and was a mainstay until the group's retirement last year. Even in his last years with the group, he still had an amazingly strong (and solid) voice. When other singers his age began to show their miles, Glenn was keeping up with the young'uns, as evidenced with the FB's a capella rendition of "Stand By Me." VERY few singers can have that kind of longevity and still keep their voices intact!!

There are others, of course, who deserve to be on this list (the first that comes to mind is Doy Ott), but I am going to leave it to the readers to add to this "baritone tribute."

Special Download for Christmas

Thanks to Wavemakers Media (my production company), I will be offering an exclusive, full-length mp3 from my Christmas project, Spirit Of Christmas, each week until Christmas to everyone who visits this site!! You don't have to register for anything, and you don't even have to give your e-mail address; all you gotta do is click on the link and start listening. All I ask is that you give your comments on the songs after listneing to them (if you feel so inclined). And if you like what you hear, you can download the song digitally at the bottom of this page, or you can order your own CD copy by e-mailing kyle@wavemakersmedia.net.

The first song available for download is my rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain." Click on the link below to start the download.

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/gotellit.mp3