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The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! - performed by 100 Voices.

On 25 and 26 this year, London’s famed Abbey Road studios played host to the cream of the UK’s gospel singers, recording together for the first time under the name ‘100 Voices’. The mammoth session is now being released, with the 30 tracks featured comprising The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever!

The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! has been produced by Gordon Lorenz, who in 1982 put together the series of five albums, Your 100 Favourite Hymns, which are still the biggest selling 'religious' recordings in the UK. Gordon also holds the record for the greatest number of albums made by one producer – in excess of 750 – and has worked with a stream of international stars ranging from Shirley Bassey to Charlotte Church, Atomic Kitten to Howard Keel, Gloria Gaynor to Anthony Newley.

In addition, Gordon has achieved enormous success as a songwriter – indeed, the first composition he submitted to a record label became a million-selling British Christmas 1980 No.1 - There's No One Quite Like Grandma; the song also led to him receiving an Ivor Novello award – which is regarded as the most prestigious song-writing accolade in the UK.

Featured Choirs

A native of Liverpool, who currently lives in Wales, Gordon is a former member of The Salvation Army and in recent years has worked extensively on Official Recordings for The Royal Family, such as the music for H.M. The Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Celebrations and the H.M. The Queen's ‘Golden Jubilee Recording’, which featured The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral.

Pictured (right): The Peoples Christian Fellowship Choir (London)

The choirs featured on The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! are: Urban Voice (from Manchester), The Roy Johnson Singers (based in Leeds), The Liverpool Philharmonic Gospel Choir, The Peoples’ Christian Fellowship Choir (London) & the One Voice Community Choir (Preston). With choristers Tyndale Thomas and David Daniel (please find further biographical information on each overleaf) leading, in just two days the gathered singers performed a host of celebratory songs including such favourites as: Kumbayah, Amazing Grace, Oh Happy Day, You've Got A Friend, Lean On Me, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

Tyndale Thomas has been performing gospel music in the UK, Europe and America for over twenty years. Born in Birmingham, he grew up in Manchester with his minister father, his evangelist mother and his seven brothers and sisters; his father was also a songwriter, and all of the children were encouraged to perform from an early age.

The siblings would sing together as a group, and with his father moving from area to area to set up churches the family would often provide the basis of the congregation!

He was a founder member of two of the first contemporary Gospel Choirs in the UK, firstly ‘The Challengers’ who were set up by the church and members of his family; they achieved success by playing unusual venues including nightclubs such as The Fridge in Brixton and the Band on Wall in Manchester - as well as making several TV appearances including BBC TVs Wogan and The Rock Gospel Show.

Word

He also went on to help form The Merry Bell Gospel Choir who became one of the first UK choirs to record an album, for the Christian label: Word; previously almost all gospel recordings were imported from the USA.

Although his first exposure was as a singer, Tyndale also writes, arranges and produces music and has worked with such internationally acclaimed artistes as Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Edwin Hawkins and Andre Crouch in both Britain and Europe. Since 1996 he has also been a director of the Liverpool Philharmonic Gospel Choir and is a founder member of Urban Voice, who comprise soloists and choir directors.

Pictured (left): David Daniel (plus 3 members of the London choir).

Since 1999 he has been director of the One Voice Community Choir as well as working with numerous other choirs and groups around the country. He has also recorded a solo album, ‘Genesis’, which is due for release alongside an accompanying songbook. In addition, Tyndale is one of twelve songwriters from around the UK who have contributed to a ‘sing’ book (a songbook which features an accompanying CD providing complete instructions including warm-up exercises etc on how to perform each track) of youth music, which will be available shortly.

Musical Upbringing

Born and raised in Islington with his brother and two sisters, David Daniel was literally surrounded by music all the time, as their father was so enamoured that he set up speakers in every single room in the house. David’s elder sister played piano - so from a very early age he would harmonise with her - while his younger siblings, a choir-singing sister and drum-playing brother, followed their lead .

David learnt trumpet at school (joining the London School Symphonic Band) and joined his first choir when he was eight, the newly formed ‘under 13’s’ group of The Peoples Christian Fellowship, later graduating to the main body of the choir.

In the early 80’s he joined ‘Clarity’, one of the first gospel jazz-funk groups in the UK, dividing his time with them between singing and playing trumpet. Although just out of his teens, he was noticed and asked to be one of the founding members and lead singers with The London Community Gospel Choir in the mid eighties, featuring on their first album 'Gospel Greats'.

Gospel Music Awards

During that period David won several awards for his vocals, including one from the 1985 Gospel Music Awards - which was voted for by the general public - as well as the BBC-sponsored Stevie Wonder Award in 1986. After receiving this David was part of the choir which backed Wonder on the track ‘Free’ from the 1987 ‘Characters’ album, and even now he still sings alongside the other vocalists who made up that original choir when the artist performs in the UK.

David left the choir to go solo – going on to tour Europe with some of the biggest names in contemporary gospel music, such as Graham Kendricks, and to work in the studio with a wide range of Christian artists.

However, the LCGC was to have a great influence on his life as he renewed an earlier brief acquaintance with a soloist from the choir, Donna, who was subsequently to become his wife. She gave her total support as David did a degree at the London Bible College before he answered the calling to become a Pastor with The Peoples Christian Fellowship.

Pictured (right): One Voice Community Choir (Preston)

Together they sing in their church’s choir, which apart from appearing throughout the UK contributes to David's Sunday services. David still oversees the music within the church while his cousin, Ruth Lynch, is the choir’s director and his elder sister Sharon is the pianist. Although it is difficult to combine his duties as a pastor as well as a musician at the same time, David finds that the choir provides a way to reach out to the wider community and give hope to people in difficult situations.

Praise Comes First

The choir also released an album last year: Praise Comes First, which scaled the gospel charts and was nominated for a GEM award for 'Choir of The Year'. The choir have more concerts across Europe supporting this release planned throughout this year.

The full track-listing for The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! shapes up like this:

CD1

1. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands (Medley)
2. One Day
3. Shout To The Lord
4. You've Got A Friend
5. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
6. Shackles (Praise You)
7. Jesus Is The Answer
8. Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Since I lay My Burden Down
9. Amazing Grace
10. Put Your Hand In The Hand (Medley)
11. Here I Am To Worship
12. Mary Don't You Weep
13. I'll Fly Away
14. The Old Rugged Cross
15. Oh Happy Day

CD2

1. Blessed Assurance
2. Lean On Me
3. Light A Candle
4. Motherless Child/Hold On Just A Little Bit Longer
5. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
6. Down By The Riverside
7. Here My Cry O Lord
8. Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho
9. Blessed Be Your Name
10. Precious Lord
11. There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
12. Soon And Very Soon
13. This Is My Desire
14. Steal Away
15. Kumbyah/reprise Blessed Assurance

The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! is the latest in the hugely successful The Best…Ever! series of releases; these CD’s – each of which features a different music genre - have already generated sales in excess of 20 million in the UK alone.

The Best Gospel Album In The World...Ever! is out now - as a double CD - from EMI/Virgin.

All photos by Max Dodson. Copyright EMI Music LTD.

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