GOSPEL SOUL VA - Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 1 & 2 [2011] (2 x CDs)

GOSPEL SOUL

VA - Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 1 & 2 [2011] (2 x CDs)

Vee‑Tone’s two‑volume Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers series, compiled by Mark Lamarr, offers a compact and vivid survey of mid‑century gospel recordings, the kind that carried devotion with rhythm and urgency. Drawn from the 1950s and early 1960s, these sides capture quartets, family groups and church ensembles at full intensity, recorded in small studios where voices, handclaps and guitar lines rose together in praise. Both discs present gospel not as a quiet reflection but as a driving force, shaped by conviction and the energy of live worship.

Volume 1 opens with Reverend Crum & His Mighty Golden Keys on Don’t You Know Me Thomas , a short burst of harmony that sets the tone for the set. The Famous Ward Singers, The Kelly Brothers and The Famous Davis Sisters follow, each bringing a different shade of gospel fire. The National Independent Gospel Singers of Atlanta appear with Jesus Is A Waymaker , a track built on steady rhythm and rising vocal lines. The sequencing moves quickly, keeping the listener inside the space where testimony meets movement, and where the message is carried by the strength of the ensemble.

Volume 2 continues with the same clarity of purpose. Voices of Jordan open with It’s Getting Late , followed by The National Independent Gospel Singers of Atlanta on Walk Along With Me. Utah Smith’s Two Wings brings the unmistakable sound of electric guitar evangelism, while Marion Williams’s Packin’ Up adds her unmistakable vocal presence. Sister Rosetta Tharpe appears with I Saw The Light, and The Swan Silvertones contribute He Won’t Deny Me, giving the disc a balance of raw field energy and polished ensemble work. The closing track, Our Trust In God by Voices of Jordan, returns the set to its central theme of faith carried through collective sound.

The two volumes form a small but authoritative window into gospel’s most fervent era. The performances are direct, the harmonies are strong, and the spirit is unmistakable. These collections preserve the moment when gospel’s drive and devotion were captured on tape with honesty and fire, leaving a record of voices that sang with purpose. (B)

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Track lists

Vol. 1

01 Reverend Crum & His Mighty Golden Keys - Don't You Know Me Thomas 1:45

02 Radio Four - How Much I Owe You 2:26

03 Rev. Gatemouth Moore & His Gospel Singers - In The Morning 4:22

04 Famous Ward Singers - I'm So Glad 2:42

05 Kelly Bros. - He's The Same Today 2:48

06 Famous Davis Sisters - Jonah 1:57

07 Original Five Blind Boys - My Robe Will Fit Me 2:06

08 Gospel Chordettes - I Can't Believe It 2:12

09 Mighty Gospel Giants - Jesus Will Meet Me 2:19

10 National Independent Gospel Singers of Atlanta, Georgia - Jesus is A Waymaker 3:33

11 Hightower Brothers - Finally Made it In 2:33

12 Marie Knight - I Put My Trust in Thee 2:12

13 Sensational Nightingales - Will He Welcome Me There 2:52

14 Drinkard Singers - When I Rise in The Morning 2:56

15 Rev. Kelsey - I'm A Royal Child 2:27

16 Stars of Faith - Jesus Gave Me Water 2:54

17 Prof. Chas. Taylor - Pay Day (Put Our Time In) 2:17

18 Original Five Blind Boys - I'm A Soldier 2:26

19 Rev. Gatemouth Moore & His Gospel Singers - Take The Lord Along With You 2:37

20 Grace Gospel Singers - Get Away Jordan 2:23

21 Voices of Jordan - Shake My Mothers Hand 2:30

22 Happyland Singers; Blind Boys of Alabama - Goodbye Mother 2:47

Vol. 2

01 Voices of Jordan - It's Getting Late 2:25

02 National Independent Gospel Singers of Atlanta, Georgia - Walk Along With Me 1:47

03 Grace Gospel Singers - Higher 2:55

04 Reverend Crum & His Mighty Golden Keys - All Over Me 2:08

05 Utah Smith - Two Wings 2:35

06 Hightower Brothers - Come By Here 2:22

07 Rev. Gatemouth Moore & His Gospel Singers - By and By 2:21

08 Joy Harmonizers - He's A Mighty Rock 1:57

09 Marion Williams - Packin' Up 2:58

10 Gate City Singers - Prayer Changes Things 2:58

11 Marie Knight - The Storm is Passing Over 2:04

12 Sister Rosetta Tharpe - I Saw The Light 1:51

13 Kingdom Bound Singers - Standing By The Way 2:01

14 Swan Silvertones - He Won't Deny Me 2:28

15 Rev. Gatemouth Moore & His Gospel Singers - Leaning on The Everlasting Arm 4:44

16 Famous Davis Sisters - What He's Done for Me 2:20

17 Happyland Singers; Blind Boys of Alabama - I've Been Born Again 2:51

18 Soul Seekers - Something's Got A Hold of Me 2:36

19 Sensational Saints of Ohio - Ain't That A Shame 2:37

20 Radio Four - Blood Done Signed My Name 2:57

21 Charles Taylor   The Charles Taylor Singers - I Must Live Until Morning 2:53

22 Voices of Jordan - Our Trust in God 2:24

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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