The Urban Hymnal

The Urban Hymnal
The band and several cheerleaders lined up on bleachers
Studio album by
Aristocrat of Bands
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)[1]
Recorded2022[2]
VenueTennessee State University campus, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
GenreGospel
Length31:39
Producer

The Urban Hymnal is a 2022 debut[2] album by Tennessee State University (TSU) marching band Aristocrat of Bands (AOB).

Recording and release

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The album came about when Sir the Baptist visited the TSU campus and saw AOB performing. He suggested that he could record the group during an artist residency,[3] and the recording took place on campus, with final editing being completed in mid-2022.[2] Dallas Austin came in to produce the album with Sir.[4] Word spread in the Gospel music community, leading to several established pop Gospel artists appearing on the album, as well as faculty and staff of the university.[2] The Aristocrat of Bands submitted the recording for Grammy consideration in August 2022, in the category Best Gospel Roots Album.[2][5] The band promoted the album by performing at the half-time show of a Tennessee Titans game.[1]

Reception

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Jewly Hight of WNXP named this the album of the week for September 27, 2022, praising the showmanship on the recording and how difficult it is to capture on record.[6]

Track listing

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  1. "Turner’s Overture – I’m So Glad" – 1:02
  2. "Dance Revival" – 3:06
  3. "FLY (Y.M.M.F.)" – 3:28
  4. "Going Going" – 3:21
  5. "Alright" – 3:58
  6. "Me Too" – 5:15
  7. "Jesus Loves Me" – 1:16
  8. "Purpose" – 4:16
  9. "Blessings on Blessings" – 3:58
  10. "Alma Mater" – 1:59

Personnel

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Guest artists

  • Dallas Austin on "Dance Revival", production
  • Jamal Bryant on "Alright"
  • Jekalyn Carr on "Dance Revival"
  • ChurchPpl on "Dance Revival", "Going Going", "Me Too", "Purpose", and "Blessings on Blessings"
  • Dubba-AA on "Going Going" and "Purpose"
  • San Franklin on "Purpose"
  • Glenda Glover on "Turner’s Overture – I’m So Glad"
  • Edward L. Graves on "Alma Mater"
  • Derrick Greene on "Alma Mater"
  • Fred Hammond on "Me Too"
  • J. Ivy on "Alright"
  • Larry Jenkins on "Alright" and "Alma Mater", production
  • John P. Kee on "Alright", "Me Too"
  • Donald Lawrence on "Blessings on Blessings"
  • Reginald McDonald on "Alma Mater"
  • James Sexton on "Alma Mater"
  • Kierra Sheard on "Going Going"
  • Sir the Baptist on "Dance Revival", "Going Going", "Alright", "Me Too", "Purpose", and "Blessings on Blessings"; production
  • Mekayla Smith on "Alright"
  • W. Crimm Singers on "Me Too"
  • Louis York on "Blessings on Blessings"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Weir, Grayson (September 26, 2022). "Tennessee State's Legendary Marching Band Makes History During Titans Halftime Show, Gets the Entire Stadium Dancing in the Aisles". Outkick. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "TSU's Aristocrat of Bands Submits Application to the Grammy Nomination Committee for its 'Urban Hymnal' Album". The Tennessee Tribune. September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Hight, Jewly (September 27, 2022). "How to fit a top-tier HBCU marching band and the gospel tradition onto one album". NPR. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Allen, Matthew (September 15, 2022). "Dallas Austin, Sir The Baptist talk TSU marching band collaboration for gospel roots album 'The Urban Hymnal'". theGrio. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ^ McCarthy, Darby (August 29, 2022). "TSU applies for Grammy consideration". WTVF. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Hight, Jewly (September 27, 2022). "Record of the Week: The Aristocrat of Band's 'The Urban Hymnal'". WNXP. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
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