Christian Retailing

Avalon; Bart Millard; Songs of Worship Print Email
Written by Cameron Conant   
Friday, 16 January 2009 03:41 PM America/New_York

Avalon GHitsAvalon: The Greatest Hits (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG) features a collection of 15 of the most popular songs from the well-known Christian pop quartet. The album releases Feb. 10 and includes such favorites as “Testify to Love” and “Can’t Live a Day.” One new tune—“Still My God”—is also featured. The new release is the veteran group’s second greatest hits album.

Bart Millard of the GRAMMY Award-winning group MercyMe made his “Grand Ole Opry” debut in late November. Millard sang “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” from Hymned Again (INO Records/Provident-Integrity), a 2008 solo project, as well as “Finally Home” from All That Is Within Me (INO Records/Provident-Integrity), the 2007 album from MercyMe. The “Grand Ole Opry” is a weekly performance by country music stars that began in Nashville in 1925 as a radio broadcast and is today the longest-running radio program in the U.S.
 

 

friend of GodIntegrity Music releases Songs 4 Worship Gospel: Friend of God on Jan. 6. The 15-track compilation album includes songs by gospel giants Marvin Sapp, Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and many others.  The “Songs 4 Worship” series, which includes dozens of compilation albums, has sold more than 9.5 million units total to date.

Crystal Aikin’s debut, self-titled album comes out Jan. 13 from Verity Records (Provident-Integrity). Aikin is a Tacoma, Wash., resident and the 2007 winner of Sunday Best, a gospel competition on the TV network BET.

Jeff and Sheri Easter’s Southern gospel career is chronicled on Miles and Milestones (Spring Hill Music Group/EMI CMG), a 15-song compilation of country, bluegrass and Southern gospel tunes.  Tracks include “Carry Me,” “One Way” and “Speak to the Mountain.” The Easters, who have won several Dove Awards, have been part of the Gaither Homecoming family of artists for nearly 15 years. The album releases Jan. 27.