Now, I don't mean 4-color vs. black and white colors. I'm referring to CD covers that have bright colors, or least, colors that don't lean to black, brown or some other dark earthy-tone?

The other day, I walked into a Christian bookstore and went to the Southern Gospel music section. When I finally found it, the first eight CDs I picked up were all dark in color. In fact, if you were to set them back about 20 feet or so, you'd think they were the same CD if you just gave them a quick glance.

At the NQC, I was handed four CDs the first hour the exhibit hall was open. Musically, all four were just fine, but the covers were identical in the sense that they were dark, and again, a little distance between the eyes and the CD would cause you to think they were the same.

Before you think I'm saying these CDs were ugly, think not. They are good looking covers...but they all rely heavily on black and brown colors. And there seems to be dozens of these on the market right now.

The truth of the matter is this: something different too often becomes something the same. In Southern Gospel music, when an artist finds a new photographer, graphic designer, etc., and puts out a product that is a little different from what's out there now, it's not long before you see a sizable line of others using those same photographers, graphic designers, etc. This doesn't mean anything is necessarily wrong...it just means that we tend to rely on the phrase, "I want something that looks like (insert favorite group or CD here) for this new project," too much.

Is this an artistic phase Southern Gospel is going through right now? Of course. There might even be market research somewhere that says consumers respond more to products designed in such manner and if that's the case, then so be it. Further, in the grand scheme of things, this whole thing is an issue worthy of little space on the net.

But it sure would be nice to see a little more color.

***One little post script here: My buddy, Tim Lovelace, is another one who's questioned the use of dark colors. He may have went to the extreme, though.

His new CD, "Away Fly I'll," features bright orange, bright green and bright purple. You may need sunglasses to look at it, but one thing is for sure: You'll have no problem finding it on a bookstore shelf.

Come to think of it, that's exactly what Tim wanted. Hmm...