Thanksgiving – Southern Gospel Style
It’s hard to believe that December is just around the corner, and pretty soon we’ll be sharing Christmas selections on WBTX. But…Thanksgiving comes first. It’s been our “tradition” to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to begin our Christmas music. There are hundreds of southern gospel songs perfect for the week of Thanksgiving, encouraging us to reflect upon, and be thankful for, the many blessings we’ve received throughout the year.
This month, I’d like to share my “Top 5 Southern Gospel Thanksgiving Songs”. And, in keeping with the “Gospel Vault” theme, all these selections are pre-2000.
(5) “In Everything Give Thanks” – Jeff & Sheri Easter
Sheri Easter and the late Aaron Wilburn teamed up to write this great up-tempo number that appears on Jeff & Sheri’s 1993 CD, The Gift. Just over a decade later, Charlotte Ritchie (who toured with Jeff & Sheri for many years) recorded the song on her Bridges Over Blue CD, and the song became a top-ten hit for Charlotte on the Singing News Southern Gospel chart.
(4) “So Much To Thank Him For” – Melody Trio
If you’re not familiar with the Melody Trio, no worries! They formed in the late-80s in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, and consisted of RL and Linda Jones, and Tim Hughes. Their country-gospel style was similar to that of the McKameys, Primitive Quartet, and the Spencers. The Melody Trio’s recording of this song entered the charts in late 1995. Around the same time, the Spencers recorded the song on their CD Where Are The Children.
After sitting “dormant” for a number of years, one of today’s popular mixed groups, the Mylon Hayes Family, recently recorded the song on their album Sing His Praise! This recording is very faithful to the original and, in fact, is their latest single to southern gospel radio (just in time for Thanksgiving!).
(3) “I Thank My Savior For It All” – Happy Goodmans
This is a fantastic up-tempo quartet-style number written by Lee Roy Abernathy that appears on their 1976 album, 99 44/100% Goodmans (the title a reference to Ivory soap’s popular slogan at the time). Howard Goodman takes the lead on this recording, joined by Vestal, Sam, Rusty, and Rusty’s daughter, Tanya. It remains a southern gospel “standard”, and has been re-recorded by many groups since. I also recommend the Wilburns recording of the song from their 1995 CD, Blessings.
(2) “Thanks” – Nelons
To many, this is the “quintessential” southern gospel Thanksgiving song, and I could not agree more! Released in 1987 on their album of the same title (Thanks), Todd Nelon takes the verses, while Kelly Nelon and Karen Peck (their soprano at the time) simply “soar” on the chorus.
The song was written by Carroll McGruder of the McGruders, a very popular (and high-energy) group in the late 80s and early 90s. The McGruders first cut the song in 1986, and later included the song in a medley on their legendary live recording Come Fly With The McGruders, released in 1990.
(1) “Jesus, We Just Want To Thank You” – Bill Gaither Trio/Cathedrals
My #1 pick for Thanksgiving has to be this rather simple “chorus” written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Chances are, you might even find this in your church’s hymnal (especially those published in the late 1970). The Bill Gaither Trio (Bill, Gloria, and Bill’s brother, Danny), first recorded the song in their 1975 album of the same title, and this recording also features a beautiful recitation from Gloria.
Less than ten years later, the Cathedrals recorded the song on their 1982 album Something Special (which also contained their very first #1 song, “Step Into The Water”). The Cathedrals’ version is very similar to that of the Gaither’s, and also includes a recitation, delivered by their longtime bass singer, George Younce. Whenever I work a Thanksgiving day shift at WBTX, I always “sign-off” with this song.
Those are my “Top 5 Southern Gospel Thanksgiving Songs”. Be listening for those, and many more, on WBTX during the week of Thanksgiving!
Then…it’s on to the Christmas music!
