Sunday, November 28, 2021

VA - A Stranger I May Be, Savoy Gospel (1954-1986) [2000] (3 x CD's)

 

SAVOY GOSPEL

VA - A Stranger I May Be, Savoy Gospel (1954-1986) [2000] (3 x CD's)

An extensive, sumptuous survey of surely the mightiest Gospel label of them all. Sixty-one gems of stomping, rollicking, desolate, ravishing gospel music, intermingling with soul, blues, doo-wop, jazz, r&b, disco and boogie. Covering 1954-1966, the first disc is infused and incandescent with the hurting, surging indignation of the Civil Rights movement. Twenty-four heart-stopping scorchers by giants like the Staple Singers and Jimmy Scott, alongside less celebrated names like the Harmonising Five of Burlington, North Carolina, and teen-group the North Philadelphia Juniors, culminating triumphantly with slamming, sanctified versions of Hit The Road Jack and Wade In The Water. The second disc presents sublime crossings of gospel with the soul, funk and jazz of the Black Power era. Twenty rapturous cuts dot dazzlingly between Muscle Shoals soul, screwed breakbeat, Mizells-style fusion, disco and proto-house. Triumphant re-workings of Sly Stone, Donny Hathaway and Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters will have listeners throwing their pew cushions into the air. The third disc selects fierce funk, rapturous soul and transcendent disco and boogie, loaded with roaring choirs, rocking horns and popping bass guitars, super-charged with celebration and affirmativeness, from the years leading up to Savoy's acquisition by Malaco. Drawn from nigh-impossible-to-find 78's, sevens, twelves and LPs, hardly any of these recordings perhaps none have been reissued since their first release. The third disc opens with a stupendous onslaught by Edith Moreno which only appeared as a tiny handful of blank-label promos. Presented as a sixty-page mini-book, perfect-bound, with CD's suspended in card sleeves; beautifully designed, with stunning, rare photographs and original Savoy artwork. Sound restoration and mastering were done at Abbey Road

It's about the Savoy Records Base from Newark New Jersey and the founder. Also about the Gospel Producers how the sound was changed back in the day. Packets well can go in your bag and travel with you 60 pages of Gospel History and 3CD's Set to listen to it also gives a platform of history for the quartet groups back in the day. Well put together. (Amazon)

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Track lists


CD1  

01 Famous Ward Singers I'm Getting Richer 2:18

02 Harmonizing Five I Don't Need Nobody But The Lord 2:21

03 Sensational Six Let Freedom Ring 2:28

04 Gospel Harmonettes Specials How Much More 3:07

05 Christones Lord, It's Me 2:17

06 Staple Singers Low Is The Way 3:00

07 Swindell Brothers Trouble Of Mine 4:10

08 Roberta Martin Singers I'm Glad I'm A Witness For My Lord 2:37

09 Jimmy Scott Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 3:10

10 Shirley Caesar And The Caravans He First Loved Me 2:52

11 Blind Boys Of Alabama On Some Day 2:22

12 Hightower Brothers He That Believed 2:56

13 North Philadelphia Juniors There's Something Within Me 3:01

14 Selah Singers The Wicked Race 2:47

15 Ward Singers Let The Train Roll Easy 3:04

16 Stars Of Faith Mean Old World 2:56

17 Marion Williams Get Your Business Right 3:04

18 Gospel Cavaliers Are You Listening 2:38

19 Caravans Mercy 3:16

20 Eddie Williams And The Crusaders They Won't Believe In Me 3:26

21 Davis Sisters Earnestly Praying 2:28

22 Gospel Chimes My Jesus Love Just Bubbles Over 2:31

23 Angelic Gospel Choir It's The Holy Ghost 2:20

24 Angelic Choir Wade In The Water 2:52


CD2

01 Artistic Sounds Give It Up 3:46

02 Holy Lights Of Baltimore, MD I'll Be Satisfied 2:52

03 Swan Silvertones Trust In God 3:12

04 Gene Martin A Little Bit Of Faith 3:04

05 Myrna Summers Have A Talk With God 3:39

06 James Cleveland And The Southern California Community Choir I Want To Thank You Master 2:40

07 Betty Hollins What A Time (When All God's Children Get Together) 4:22

08 Metro Tones Get Together 3:49

09 World Wonders He Made A Way 4:01

10 Brooklyn Skyways Dark Clouds 2:32

11 Sister Ida Maxey Do Lord 2:50

12 Thornes Trio You Don't Love God 5:04

13 Mildred Clark And The Melody-Aires Hold On, I'm Coming 3:41

14 Highway QC's If You Fail, Try Again 4:06

15 Gospelaires Of Dayton, Ohio What Will Tomorrow Bring 3:08

16 Holy Lights Of Baltimore, MD Keep On Singing 3:34

17 Exciting Supreme Highlights Drowning In The Sea Of Sin 3:55

18 James Moore I Thank You Master 4:58

19 Prof. Charles Taylor And The Charles Taylor Singers Been Good To Me 3:39

20 Brockington Ensemble God Is God (He Won't Change) 6:51


CD3

01 Edith Moreno Get Ready For Judgement Day 4:14

02 World Wonders The Cost Of Living (Is Very High) 3:09

03 Helen Hollins Singers He Gave It To Me 3:48

04 Solomon Burke I Know He Lives In Me 4:43

05 Gospelaires Of Dayton Ohio God Helps Those Who Help Themselves 6:40

06 Genobia Jeter Things Have Got To Get Better 4:56

07 Lady Lois Snead With The Interdemoninational Mass Choir Of Atlanta  I Found Out What You Mean To Me 2:58

08 Charisma Protected 3:47

09 Stan Lee Revue Make Every Day Count 3:34

10 Sensational Williams Brothers Sunday 4:45

11 Holy Lights Of Baltimore, MD It's Getting Late 3:43

12 4th Of May Pass It On 4:13

13 World Wonders Ain’t It Good To Be Here 3:31

14 James Cleveland And The Cleveland Singers Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere 4:06

15 Hollywood Stars Come On Jesus 3:58

16 Steele Family Show His Love 5:06

17 Glenn Jones And The Modulations It's All Right 6:37

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12 comments:

  1. Thank you very nuch!
    Have a blessed advent season!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Never mind the music, the striking artwork is by one known only as "Harvey." Harvey is thought to (possibly) be Savoy label founder Herman Lubinsky. All Savoy (gospel & jazz) record jackets featuring Harvey art can be found here: http://www.harveyalbums.com. A second site offers a critical assessment of Harvey's gospel-related art: https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Harvey_The_mysterious_cultfollowing_designer_of_gospel_album_sleeves/37762/p1/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sitarswami,
      Thanks for the informative links.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  3. I have not been hitting the blogs like I once did. Too much to download, not enough time to listen. Anyway, thanx for posting this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi imnokid,
      I hear you. Need to be choosy. You stopped at a good one.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  4. Thanks. So much powerful gospel quartet in this compilation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Flatspin,
      This one has been up for a long time now. Glad it is still active.
      You found a great one here.
      Cheers.

      Delete