The Paynes – “I’m a Jesus Fan” (1984)

The Paynes – “I’m a Jesus Fan” (1984)

With “It’s Out of This World” being released so late in 1982, the Paynes did not release a mainline album in 1983, but rather released an independent recording filled with hymns and favorites called, “A Payne Family Tradition”. The album was totally produced by the...
The Paynes – “Ready or Not” (1982)

The Paynes – “Ready or Not” (1982)

For the next group in this series, I want to take a few weeks to focus on a group called the Paynes. I came to appreciate this group during my teenage years in the 80’s, and though their time as a full-time group was relatively short lived compared to many of the...
The Hemphills – “Hits” (1989)

The Hemphills – “Hits” (1989)

The last recording the Hemphills released before coming off the road is this wonderful culmination of hit songs spanning their entire musical catalog. I remember talking with them in the summer of 1989 and this album was already in the works, and they were probably...
The Hemphills – “Celebration” (1989)

The Hemphills – “Celebration” (1989)

After “Revival” was released in 1987, it would be 2 years before the Hemphills would release a new album. During this time, the group left RiverSong Records and joined ranks with their friend Bill Traylor on his new label, Homeland Records. With renewed excitement,...
The Hemphills – “Revival” (1987)

The Hemphills – “Revival” (1987)

One of the most popular albums in the Hemphills’ discography was this gem from 1987 titled, “Revival”. Featuring a classy cover shot of the group, the soft pastel color pallet of the cover perfectly contrasted the vibrant colors of their last 2 album covers. By the...