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Starting my gospel playlist this morning is this fine lp, released sometime in the 1960s, recorded at historic Progressive Baptist, South Wentworth Ave, Chicago:
I need this today.
Happy Sunday. My gospel time today kicks off with this high-energy 1980 set from Philadelphia's Stars of Faith, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Just great.
And continuing the journey with sitar, tabla, and tamboura. The first raga on this record "expresses the yearning of a longing soul," as Ravi wrote in the liner notes.
I've been out enjoying this fantastic day so I'm just starting my gospel playlist. First up is this 1979 rocking gem from the late, respected South Side pastor Clay Evans and his church choirs....
... The notes on the back of the album cover mention that it took Fellowship MB years to complete construction of their church building.
What they don't say is that the project was held up by Mayor Richard J Daley bc Rev Evans welcomed Martin Luther King to speak.
What they don't say is that the project was held up by Mayor Richard J Daley bc Rev Evans welcomed Martin Luther King to speak.
In honor of the recent release of @bobdylan's 39th (!) studio album, I'm starting my gospel hour today by going back to this 1979 gem, the start of his "Christian period" trilogy....
Now playing: the great Mahalia Jackson. This record is from 1972ish.
Just a morning when I'm reminded again that we've got so much work to do.
Now playing in our home - a welcome dose of joy from 1966:
Now playing in our home - a welcome dose of joy from 1966:
Now playing: This exuberant 1979 record from the Mighty Clouds of Joy, featuring touches of 70s soul, funk, and even a little disco.
I just picked up this copy -- never played before, still sealed. Everyone who took a pass on this album missed out....
I just picked up this copy -- never played before, still sealed. Everyone who took a pass on this album missed out....
Now playing: this grooving, joyous 60s outing from Philly.
The copy I just picked up has a handwritten note on the cover: "Not this type of audience on FM or AM. PULL ASAP."
The audience at our residence thinks it's the kind of record you have to turn up and play again.
The copy I just picked up has a handwritten note on the cover: "Not this type of audience on FM or AM. PULL ASAP."
The audience at our residence thinks it's the kind of record you have to turn up and play again.
Happy Sunday to you. My playlist today starts with The Soul of the Gospel Harmonettes from 1964....
... led by singer and songwriter Dorothy Love Coates. As the notes on the back cover point out, she was a civil rights activist who worked in Birmingham with MLK.
Just put this 1968 collection on the turntable -- "Pray On," fabulous gospel singing driven by Pops Staples' ringing guitar.
"It had all started that cold winter day in 1951 when they began harmonizing."
Happy Sunday! A good time for Brother Joe May of Macon, Miss., via East St. Louis, Ill. "My Soul Will Live" indeed.
"Soon, as soloist, he became known as 'The Thunderbolt of the Middlewest.'"
Started today's gospel time with this homage to the beloved late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Heartfelt freedom songs with a dose of 80s schmaltz....
Happy Sunday, everyone.
From 1971 -- the best album-release year in history, IMO, tho that's another conversation for another time -- this one is excellent:
From 1971 -- the best album-release year in history, IMO, tho that's another conversation for another time -- this one is excellent:
Simply on another plane.
Happy Sunday afternoon.
Now on the turntable: the great Albertina Walker, joining the choir from Christ Universal Temple on Chicago's far South Side, 1984.
Now on the turntable: the great Albertina Walker, joining the choir from Christ Universal Temple on Chicago's far South Side, 1984.
"Music has always been the great messenger to and from the soul."
No one could replace the genius of Sam Cooke. But the Soul Stirrers carried on after he left ... and were still a fine group.
Recorded in Chicago in 1966, released on Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess:
Recorded in Chicago in 1966, released on Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess:
The back of the jacket explains how the Soul Stirrers regrouped after previous members were "baited into the Rhythm and Blues field."
Absolute classic from 1971:
"But they are not professionals...." Even better.
Happy Sunday. Now enjoying the time in 1966 when the great Lou Rawls went back to his singing-in-church roots ...
Great record to play on a Sunday afternoon when it seemed the sun never came out -- the stirring 1976 debut by national treasures @SHoney73, with a cover shot by @MPoKempner:
Happy Sunday afternoon.
Now on the turntable, from Della Reese and the Christ Universal Temple Choir, South Side of Chicago, 1970s(?)....
Now on the turntable, from Della Reese and the Christ Universal Temple Choir, South Side of Chicago, 1970s(?)....
Among visitors to the church: the mayor, Dick Gregory, Jimmy Carter's sister Ruth, and of course actress/singer Della Reese, who "because she has always been a positive thinker, immediately felt at home."
Ok, enjoying a little country gospel from 1957 this morning. Happy Sunday.
Going old school -- with the CD player -- for some beautiful Qawwali (Gawwali) music.
Happy Sunday. Somewhere it's warm.
Happy Sunday. Somewhere it's warm.
"Of myself, I am but a courier..."
It's a bit chilly out - a good day to put some vinyl on the turntable.
From 1976, recorded live at Mt Eagle Baptist on Chicago's South Side:
From 1976, recorded live at Mt Eagle Baptist on Chicago's South Side:
"Both as a person and a personality we use the word 'Dyno-mite' to describe Ernest Franklin," said Bill "Doc" Lee of @WVON1690.
