Your Favorite Gospel Blues?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: TinDor
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:58 PM

Rev Gary Davis "If I Had My Way"

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: marlin
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 04:57 PM

Check this out! Blind Willie Johnson-The Biography, see the lyrics at http://www.lulu.com/content/704585

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Tweed
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:26 PM

I got a copy of "God's Got it" here a while back.
Reverend Jackson passed away last summer sometime.

Case Quarter

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 04:12 PM

I have een trying to help edit a decent article on Wikipedia about the origins of, history of and noted practitioners of the Sacred Steel musical Tradtion. if anyone would like to help, here is a link to the article stub:

Sacred Steel (musical tradition) Wikipedia stub

YOu do not have to be a registered memer of Wikipedia to make edits but registration is free. If you do register, you can join any one of the various music projects that exist there or just skip around and edit what you like. If you need help with formatting, let me know via PM.

To make new sub headings you use this

==what you want heading to read==

That's about all you really need to know for basic editing. Citing sources is a bit more complicated. There are several ways to to do it. The easiest is:
[web-adddy of site_title of article]

I can then change the ref formula a little to make automatic lists of the sources.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:52 AM

And at the link just above, the next song also in that program:

Reverend Charlie Jackson: What a Time

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:49 AM

Hear Rev. Edward W. Clayborn: Jesus Is Sweeter Than Honey in the Comb for some wonderful guitar work! Program archived here:

WFMU, thanks to their great search feature.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:19 AM

Stewie's recommended song above (Rev. Charlie Jackson: Wrapped Up and Tangled Up in Jesus) can be heard on this archived program:

WFMU

They have a GREAT search function.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 12:29 PM

refresh

Subject: Arch radio: God Moves On The Water
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 03:57 PM

Hear another version of Blind Willie's song God Moves On The Water, performed by Dave Moore and Radoslav Lorkovic, archived on A Prairie Home Companion.

~Susan

Subject: Sacred Steel, online concert link and songlist
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 01:58 PM

See and hear a later blues gospel style HERE, in an online concert (aud/vid) at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage.

The Campbell Brothers (with vocalists Katie Jackson and Denise Brown) showcase sacred steel guitar as evolved in the Church of God (Holiness Pentecostal). The sound of this group is more urban-blues.... the intro remarks do not specifically label this as blues gospel, but you will think sometimes you're hearing BB King.

The two steel guitars emulate vocalizations you might have heard in the spirituals that underlie this genre. There is also spontaneous, Spirit-filled dancing where you can see what evolved from the "shouts" of the spirituals.

The Campbell Brothers create a unique, steel-guitar driven music, dubbed 'sacred steel', that's a soul-stirring blend of gospel, electric blues and rock. From the Library of Congress' series, Homegrown: The Music of America.

The Campbell Brothers, Chuck, Phil, and Darick, are an anointed group of accomplished guitarists with instruments tuned to the key of the Holy Spirit. These musicians were raised in the "sacred steel" style, a rare music tradition rooted in the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal church, commonly known as the House of God. The steel guitar was introduced to church services by Willie Eason in the late 1930s. His single string passages that imitated the African-American singing and shouting voices remain the signature sound of the Keith Dominion steel guitar style. The goal of a good steel player in the church is to use the guitar to mimic voices, to sing lines of the hymns, and to provide praise music that pushes the congregation closer to feeling the Holy Spirit.

Songs included, track times and titles approximate:

00:02 Remarks about steel guitars in church music
02:45 I Feel Good (Something about the Name of Jesus makes me feel good)
07:02 I'll Fly Away [with steel solo]
13:27 Didn't It Rain? [with scat singing]
18:23 Summertime (Miles Davis) [Instr.]
23:18 Put a Little Love in Your Heart
28:00 (Hallelujah) The Storm is Passing Over
35:15 (We'll) Understand It Better/(By & By) Going to See the King) [instr/dance ending]
41:45 Instrumental duet ending for above track [bass & treble leads on two steel guitars]
43:00 I'm Going Home on the Morning Train/Get Right Church Let's Go Home [train effects]
50:08 Pass Me Not (o Gentle Savior)[pedal intro]
58:30 Remarks, "praise music" (Spirit dancing)
59:22 Jump for Joy [instrumental]

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 12:07 PM

Try this link instead.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 12:05 PM

I'm really diggin' these guys a lot, right now.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:48 AM

There is a new musical touring, called "Crowns", based on the book of the same name, that is about the lives, dreams, and aspirations of a group of black church women, presented by way of a discussion of the hats that they wear to church. The music is all gospel, (including many of those sung by Sister Shirley) and is absolutely incredible--Was in Atlanta, is in DC now(but sold out) and will open in Chicago in March--

Subject: Blind Willie Johnson Songs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:46 AM

By And By I'm Going To See The King ~ John The Revelator ~ Let Your Light Shine On Me ~ Lord I Just Can't Keep From Cryin' Sometimes ~ Nobody's Fault But Mine ~ Trouble'll Soon Be Over are all at http://home.t-online.de/home/alexx/enter.htm.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ON ME and MOTHERLESS CHILDREN are here already in the DT. A lot of oothers are in the threads, with discussion.

Oh, I just found what I had. There are four documents, from various sources, and with vcaryoing amounts of detail (album source etc.). The contents would need to be compared before posting them. Then they would need to be compared with threads to avoid duplication.

If you would like my files I'll be glad to send them. If you want to take on posting what's missing here and indexing all of them at Mudcat, you'd need to contact Joe Offer for instructions on how to proceed.

Me, I just use what's on my 'puder or in the DT and threads as I need them when I want to work up a specific song.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:27 AM

Mine are all mixrd in now with other stuff-- no separate folder as I had hoped.

Harry's US, UK, and German sites are all unavailable at the moment.

www.harptab.com/lyrics/a16.shtml has:
Bye And Bye, Goin' To See The King
God Don't Never Change
God Moves On The Water
In My Time Of Dyin'
It's Nobody's Fault But Mine
Jesus Is Coming
Lord, I Just Can't Keep From Crying
Mother's Children Have A Hard Time
Soul Of A Man

www.coversproject.com/artist/Blind+Willie+Johnson lists songs he's covered and his songs that others have covered.

hotburrito.20m.com/blues/blindwilliejohnson.html has bio, discography, and songlist.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:05 AM

Roberto,

They ARE, but I think they come from the perenially-inaccessible Harry's Blues. I have the gospel ones, maybe all of them. PM me an email address and I'll look around.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Roberto
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:41 AM

Thank you very much, Brian. I used to have a booklet, from a Folkways lp devoted to Blind Willie Johnson, but I've lost it. Do you know, or somebody knows, if Blind Willie Johnson's texts are available, on line or printed?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 08:32 AM

Here you go Roberto

The Soul of a Man - Blind Willie Johnson

I'm going to ask the question
Please answer if you can
Is there anybody's children can tell me
What is the soul of a man?


Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?


I've travelled different countries
Travelled to the furthest lands
Couldn't find nobody could tell me
What is the soul of a man


Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?


I saw a crowd stand talking
I just came up in time
Was teaching the lawyers and the doctors
That a man ain't nothing but his mind


Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?


I read the Bible often
I try to read it right
As far as I can understand
It's nothing but a burning light


Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?


When Christ taught in the temple
The people all stood amazed
Was teaching the lawyers and the doctors
How to raise a man from the grave


Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 08:11 PM

From Atlantic records, now available on cd, a Blind Willie McTell recording called, "Atlanta Twelve String", has some of my favorite gospel songs, like, "I Got To Cross The River Jordan", "Ain't It Grand to Live a Christian", "Pearly Gates", "You Got To Die". Sung and played by Willie alone, they comprise half of a very unique recording. The rest of what's there might be best described as "devil's music", featuring songs like, "The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues", "Kill It Kid", "Motherless Children", "Broke Down Engine". This is one of favorite recordings.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 04:22 PM

RE: Blind Boys of Alabama-- please continue that part of this discussion HERE, where you will find a nice surprise waiting for you in about a half hour! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,stumd3
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 02:47 PM

ANYTHING by Washington Phillips. He is a soulful man and his recordings are among my most favorite by anyone. Also, of course, Blind Willie Johnson positively sends shivers.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Raptor
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:01 PM

Jerry was it awwsome?
Raptor

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Roberto
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:46 PM

The Soul of a man, by Blind Willie Johnson (and his wordless Dark Was The Night). Can somebody post the text of The Soul of a Man?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 11:00 AM

We just went to hear the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Rap..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Raptor
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 10:27 AM

Has anyone mentioned The Blind Boys of Alibama?


Raptor

Subject: Sister Shirley Online Concert Track List
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:12 PM

For above concert, here are the songs included. Times are approximate.

00:00 Do Lord
04:40 Remarks about blues, gospel, blues gospel, and Dorsey
05:30 I'll Fly Away
10:20 Jesus on the Mainlie
15:40 Going Over the Hill (also recorded by Mahalia Jackson)
Sounds like it must be a spiritual; chorus alternating with familar floating verses
21:55 Glory Glory, Hallelujah (Since I Laid My Burden Down) Did you ever notice the tune is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"????
27:00 If It Wasn't for the Lord, Where Would I Be? (He's Everything to Me)
32:20 I Belong to the Band, Hallelu (made famous by Gary Davis) Features the guitar player and GREAT camera shots of delta blues picking style
36:30 Just a Closer Walk With Thee. She says it's a New Orleans song, and that she also does it sometimes Dixieland Style.
41:10 I Shall Not Be Moved
44:30 You Got to Move
48:50 When the Saints Go Marching In
54:00 Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (a spiritual)

~Susan

Subject: Sister Shirley Gospel Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 09:36 PM

Archived audio/video live concert at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage:

SISTER SHIRLEY

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Angie
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 05:36 PM

The soundstrack to " Oh Brother Where Art Thou" is fab.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Angie
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 05:34 PM

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 02:58 PM

Gary Davis or Terry/Mcghee - Beautiful City Leadbelly - Meeting At The Building.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 02:46 PM

I'm enjoying a new e-mail correspondence with Jerry Zolten, and I look forward to meeting Jerry at the upcoming Folk College weekend at Clarion College, PA where he will present a lecture on the Dixie Hummingbirds (!!!!).

It turns out that Jerry produces the Fairfield Four. He writes that he has just done a special solo project with Isaac "Dickie" Freeman, the Four's bass singer, titled Beautiful Stars. Jerry said that the CD "treads a fine line between blues and gospel." Quoting from the website linked above, Zolten, a communications professor at Penn State University, was the person who spearheaded the Fairfield Four's return to recording in the '80s, after folk historian Doug Seroff reunited the original version of the pre-1950 quartet for a gospel festival.

When Beautiful Stars was originally released on the Dead Reckoning label, the indie release garnered rave reviews in the mainstream press... Such acclaim brought the album to the attention of Lost Highway, which had released the O Brother soundtrack. The label decided to re-release the album, thereby providing the commercial clout that its association with Universal Music can bring....

Hear sound samples and an interview HERE.

Wotta world!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 07:51 AM

Yeah!

Fire = Holy Spirit

So, Pentecostal?

~S~

Subject: ADD: WRAPPED UP AND TANGLED UP
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 02:36 AM

My favourite is one of a brace of sides recorded by evangelist Rev Charlie Jackson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, some time in the 1970s. The first part is a kind of talking blues against a strong electric guitar line with Rev Charlie mouthing and moaning with the crescendo climaxing in his screaming of the word 'fire' in a manner more suggestive of possession by Satan than Jesus.

WRAPPED UP AND TANGLED UP

I went to fishin' one day
And I put my hook out in the water
And something got a hold to it
And tried to get loose
When I pulled it up
There was a big fish on the hook
He was twistin' and turnin' there
Tryin' to get loose
But the hook had him there
And he couldn't get loose
And I said I wished the Lord
Would hook me one day
Like this hook, how I hooked this fish
And, ooh!, one Friday evening
He came into my soul
And He hooked me with His spirit
Ever since that day
A song come into my mind
I had to say like Jeremiah say
'Cos a fi----ire keep on burning
Shot all up in my bones
And I couldn't hold my peace
I told my mother, but that wasn't enough
I told my father and I told my sister
And went on and told my brother
What was wrong with me
And this is what I told them in a song

I said, Lord, know that I'm wrapped up, tangled all up in Jesus
And I don't want to get loose
Wrapped up, tangled all up in Jesus
And I don't want to get loose

Go and tell my mother, I don't want to get loose
Go and tell my mother, tonight, that I don't want to get loose
Go and tell my mother, now, that I don't want to get loose
Wrapped up, tangled all up in Jesus
And I don't want to get loose

Jesus got his hook in me
I don't want to get loose
Jesus got his hook in me
And I don't want to get loose
Jesus got his hook in me
I don't want to get loose
Wrapped up, tangled all up in Jesus
And I don't want to get loose

Source: transcription of Rev Charlie Jackson 'Wrapped Up and Tangled Up' on Various Artists 'Get Right With God: Hot Gospel' Gospel Heritage HTCD 01.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 09:41 PM

Train a' Coming

People Get Ready

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 03:43 AM

I'll bet a good blues player/singer could make "This Ol' House," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Wade In The Water," and "Standin' In The Need Of Prayer, " (as well as a number of other gospel songs and spirituals) into blues gospel with no trouble.
I can even hear "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" in my head with the blues harp wailing, as a great gospel blues song.
And how about "Peace In The Valley" and "Were You There?"
A lot is in the feeling and delivery of the artist.

Genie

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 05:16 PM

CLICK HERE for a related thread-- Blues Related to Spirituals.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 04:55 PM

I think my favourite is the aforementioned Blind Willie Johnson "God Don't Never Change" with a close second going to Son House's version of "John The Revelator".

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 04:28 PM

Hey Sed! Long time no see!

See the thread "African-American Spirituals" permathread--too-- whole lotta shakin' goin' on.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,steve sedberry
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 03:56 PM

I'be only heard Pearly Brown sing this song. I really like Pearly's version and this one is good too. re: GOD DON'T (N)EVER CHANGE

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 09:54 PM

(BSEG) heh heh heh heh.... WAH-HOO!

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 04:12 PM

Thanks, Benjamin!

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 04:10 PM

Or THIS...

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Benjamin
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 04:08 PM

Susan, sorry it took so long to respond.
The first two titles in my last post were Blind Willie Johnson (I think I got the names right) and the last one was Roosevelt Graves with his brother.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 04:01 PM

We're also doing THIS tonight.

~Susan

Subject: ADD: OH GLORY, HOW HAPPY I AM
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 02:34 PM

Also for tonight:

OH GLORY, HOW HAPPY I AM
(Rev. Gary Davis, edited and last verse Susan O. Hinton)



CHORUS:
O, Glory how happy I am, O, Glory how happy I am
My soul's been washed in the blood of the lamb, Glory, hallelu!

I know something that's mighty swell
A sweet little story that I love to tell
Jesus saved my soul from Hell
Glory, hallelu!
When I had no home to claim
I began to call on Jesus' Name
Saved my soul from sin and shame
Glory hallelu!

Out in the darkness I could not see
But Jesus came and He rescued me
Claimed me and gave me the victory
Glory, hallelu!
You see, when I was out in the world of sin
I had no one to call my friend
Jesus came and he took me in
Glory, hallelu!

One day while Jesus was passing by
He set my sinful soul on fire
He made me laugh and he made me cry
Glory, hallelu!
When I could not understand
Jesus stretched out a lending hand
Led me away to the promised land
Glory, hallelu!

He took my feet out of the miry clay
He put them up on the rock to stay
Now I thank God that I can say
Glory, hallelu!
He took me through His open door,
Said, "Go in peace and sin no more!"
He led me away to the upper bright shore
Glory, hallelu!

So stand back Satan, get out of my way
I don't want to hear another word you say
I'm on my way up the King's highway
Glory, hallelu!
I'm fire-baptized and Holy-Ghost-filled
Out here to do my Master's will
I must keep going, I can't be still,
Glory hallelu!

Some day in Heaven I'll see His face
Thank him from the heart for His saving Grace
Thank Him for feet to run this race
Glory hallelu!
And then all around me, I hope to find
Every single soul of this humankind
Eyes wide open, no longer blind,
Glory hallelu!


CHORDS:

CHORUS:
(C)O, Glory how happy I am, (F)O, Glory how (C)happy I am
(F)My soul's been washed in the (C)blood of the lamb, Glory, (C)hal- le- (C)lu!

(C)I know something that's mighty swell
A sweet little story that I love to tell
(F)Jesus saved my (C)soul from Hell
Glory, (G)hal- le- (C)lu!
(C)When I had no home to claim
I began to call on Jesus' Name
(F)Saved my soul from (C)sin and shame
Glory, (G)hal- le- (C)lu!


SOURCE:
Riverlark Music CD, RL CD 102, OH GLORY, HOW HAPPY I AM, the sacred songs of Rev. Gary Davis, Andy Cohen. SH

Subject: Add: I'M GLAD I'M IN THAT NUMBER
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 02:08 PM

More for tonight's service!

I'M GLAD I'M IN THAT NUMBER
(Rev. Gary Davis, Edited and additional verses, Susan Hinton)


I'm glad I'm in that number,
In that holy number!
I'm glad I'm in that number,
Goin' up to God.
I'm glad I'm in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

I feel good in that number,
In that holy number!
I feel good in that number,
Goin' up to God.
I feel good in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

So I'm marchin' in that number,
In that holy number.
I'm marchin' in that number,
Goin' up to God.
I'm marchin' in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

And I hope you're in that number,
In that holy number!
I hope you're in that number,
Goin' up to God.
I hope you're in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

Do you want to be in that number,
In that holy number?
Do you want to be in that number,
Goin' up to God?
Do you want to be in that number,
In that holy number?
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

Let's take them in that number,
In that holy number!
Our brothers in that number,
Goin' up to God.
Our sisters in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

The we'll all be in that number,
In that holy number!
We'll all be in that number,
Goin' up to God.
We'll all be in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

We'll praise Him in that number,
In that holy number!
Be shoutin' in that number,
Goin' up to God.
Go dancin' in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.

Praise God! I'm in that number,
In that holy number!
I know I'm in that number,
Goin' up to God.
Praise God I'm in that number,
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.


CHORDS:
I'm (C)glad I'm in that number,
(G)In that holy number!
I'm (G7)glad I'm in that number,
(C)Goin' (G7)up to (C)God.
I'm glad I'm in that (C7)number,
(F)In that holy number,
(C)Goin' up, (G)goin' up to (C)God. (F, C)

SOURCE:
Riverlark Music CD, RL CD 102, OH GLORY, HOW HAPPY I AM, the sacred songs of Rev. Gary Davis, Andy Cohen.

SH

Subject: Add: chords for the above song
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 02:04 PM

FOR THE ABOVE--

GOD DON'T NEVER CHANGE


CHORDS:

CHORUS:
Yes (D)God (G)is (D)God,
God don't (G7)never (D)change...
(A7)He's (D)God
Always (A7)will be (D)God.

(G7)God before cre- (D7)a-tion,
(G7)God when Adam (D7)fell.
(G7)God way up in (D7)heaven,
(G7)God way (A7)down in (D)hell.

SH

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 10:46 AM

DJH, I will send you one. Click the link at the top of this page where it says Personal Pages.

And read abbout it in the FAQ thread too at the top of the thread list.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: marty D
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 01:08 AM

Merle Travis' I am a Pilgrim. Wonderful.

marty

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: gus C
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 11:26 PM

hey WY,
I just tried but have no clue how to personal message someone.- djh

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 11:07 PM

Where'd everybody go?!?

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 07:35 AM

I guess I'll have to count the floating verses for Swing Low Sweet Chariot that got going one memorable day in the car. I didn't know then that sort of singing had a name, floating verses, but I know why it's called floating, for sure. I think it was about two hours worth, and it warn't none too sanitized as to musical form... the longer it went on the bluesier it got. Call it a blues whine, as opposed to a stomp! I can't remember any of the verses, either, but life hasn't been the same since.... I guess I musta been praying too. All that's left of the day is a happy glow with an even loopier grin than usual. Reckon it was another Holy Ghost zap, and if anyone tells you that you can only get that once, well, nope!

DJH, come on over. You and me and Hardiman (my husband) and Dharmabum (a regular visitor) will whip us up a batch of the Real Deal. Any luck we catch Mmario here too. Better come early enough in the week to get a good church set worked up we can all play and sing. Haul out the old bass distortion pedal and turn us all loose. After all it is Pentecost season.

*G*

PM me for directions.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 05:19 AM

Charlie Patton singing Prayer of Death

I been 'buked an' I been scorned.
I been 'buked an' I been scorned.
I been 'buked an' I been scorned, Lord.
I seen trouble, jus' as sure as you're born.

Brian

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: gus C
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:31 AM

WYSIWYG,
We should get together.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: gus C
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:28 AM

I am with WYSIWYG on the subject of the Blues and Spirituals not being mutually exclusive. Breathing is spiritual, so is everything else. Trails and tribulations occur in every life whether you are Job or a blind sharecropper.
The blues is NOT about sorrow.9/10ths of the time It is about grinning in the face of your troubles or even not necessarily about your troubles at all.The old country Bluesmen frequently sang of their troubles as if in conversation with the Lord "I'm troubled, LORD , I 'm Troubled carrying a heavy load , LORD, LORD....."- Charlie Patton, "stones in my passway" - Robert Johnson, or especially Blind Willie Johnson and Rev. Gary Davis who employed Blues music under spiritual lyrics on most of their songs.
Gospel music itself started as a contrived form invented for the profitable selling of new song books and the Baptist preachers also wanted to usurp the power of the elder women of the congregation, who led the congregation in the singing of spirituals. The spirituals were the parishoners favorite part of the ceremony. Members of Louie Armstrong's band were commissioned to invent Gospel and it was not popular with the congregation until the amazing Mahalia Jackson came along. Most Gospel songs are just Jazzed up Spirituals.
Blues and Spirituals were shared a repertiore, prior to the invention of Gospel.Although the Blues was frowned upon by the church as the Devil's music, A Bluesman was just as likely to play "When I Lay My Burden Down" as "Going Back Down South", Depending on the day of the week.It was only when Gospel was invented that the 2 forms became inextricably seperated.
Sorry for the long winded explanation, I know am preaching to the converted with most folks who chose to read this thread, but, my heart goes out to those who never heard or understood the Gospel Blues. I just wanted to enlighten them as to what they are missing.Maybe now their curiosity will be peaked to "let the light from the lighthouse shine on them, Oh let it shine on, let it shine on........." Blind Willie style.
- djh

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 11:34 PM

Ok that does it. Midnight raid, over at ddw's. Who's in on this with me?

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 11:14 PM

Josh Whites's Paul & Silas is another that comes to mind..

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: ddw
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 10:27 PM

If you think the two are mutually exclusive, listen to:

Josh White, particularly his version of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
or Big Bill Broonzy's "This Train" or "Hush, Somebody's Callin' Me"
or Misissippi John Hurt's "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep" and "Prayin' On The Old Campground"
or bunches of things by Rev. Gary Davis.

If I were at home and could flip through my records and CDs, I could probably name a hundred more pretty easily.

The songs are gospel/spiritual in content, but the form is blues.

david

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 10:11 PM

Oh the longer I am around, the more genres I find have their gospel sub-genre or overlap. Blues gospel, yes. All day long, today, lovely.

I do have an essay from a book from 1940 that sez what is the diff between blues and spirituals, and how they are mutually exclusive, but I think it's wrong.

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 09:43 PM

I'm with pattyclink --- blues? gospel? I think Mahalia Jackson said that in blues there is no hope as opposed to gospel where there is hope.

For bluesy sound --- Mahalia Jackson singing "There is a Balm in Gilead"

For gospel --- medleys --- New Born Again/Standin' in the Need of Prayer --- We Shall Walk Through the Valley/Precious Lord (Take My Hand)

(New Born Again and We Shall Walk Through the Valley are in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal)

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 08:31 PM

Patty,
When a blues singer does Jesus On The Mainline, you get Gospel Blues.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 08:30 PM

Patty,
When a blues singer does Jesus On The Mainline, you get Gospel Blues.

dw

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 05:21 PM

Thanks dwditty!

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: pattyClink
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 05:01 PM

Gospel is Gospel, and Blues is Blues, I don't know of a Gospel Blues genre. Well, there's always something new...

"White Wings" is fine old Gospel.

"In my wildest dreams" is a newer one that has a great melody/harmony structure..only heard it on the radio. Anybody have a link to lyrics/tune, please post it?

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:48 PM

BTW, on a recent weekend a friend from Eastchester Presbytarian had this book. Got everyone singing.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:47 PM

Hey WYSIWYG and DJH, I'm right over the line in CT. WYS (as in the WIZ), just search on Songs of Zion. It's there.
Click Here for Songs of Zion
dw

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:32 PM

Hey DJH, I think you oughtta just come over and visit for a bit. Can ya get away? Weekend or longer? Have us a songwriting frenzy.... campfires.... laffs. I know hubby Hardiman would love it.

E-mail me. [e-mail]

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:26 PM

DJH, we are an hour south of Elmira NY. Come on over. It's a small congregation within a bigger, more traditional one. Hahhh! Trad = folk? Not in this context... What do we mean by traditional now?!?!?! Sunday AM is regular Episcopalian broad church. Saturday night is Come As You Are. As should all things be including Sunday mornings...... hmmm... hard to keep the paradigms straight here.

It helps to be married to a pastor raised on Chicago's south side. *G*

[e-mail]

~Susan

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,djh
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:21 PM

oops, that was me in the last post, accidentally incognito.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 04:14 PM

WYSIWYG,
I am in Rockland county NY. 25 miles North of NYC. If that is not near you I am going in the studio with the band next week to start production on an album that will contain a couple of my Blues Spirituals.I can't wait. Where are you , I wanna attend your church.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 03:58 PM

"He Never Said A Mumblin' Word"   —   Lead Belly.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 03:53 PM

Sure be nice if a MudVolunteer would close that parens for me. *G*

~S~

Subject: Add: God Don't Never Change
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 03:51 PM

Benjamin, I dunno any of those! Who wrote/did them?

Here's my version of "God is a God" or "God Don't Never Change."

GOD DON'T NEVER CHANGE
by Blind Willie Johnson & Traditional
(Edited and last verse by Susan O. Hinton)

CHORUS:
Yes God is God,
God don't never change...
He's God
Always will be God.

God before creation,
God when Adam fell.
God way up in heaven,
God way down in hell.

God in the middle of the ocean,
God in the middle of the sea.
God in the green green forest,
God in all we see.

Spoke right up to the mountain;
Said, "How great I am.
Want you to get up this mornin',
Skip around like a lamb."

God in the middle of the happy time,
God in the misery.
God when we tell Him our troubles,
God in the victory.

God in the time of sickness,
God in the doctor too.
In the time of the influenzy
He truly was God to you.

God up in the pulpit,
God way down at the door.
He's God in the amen corner,
God all over the floor.

Made the stars to shine by night,
The sun to shine by day.
Made the moon to show the light,
The sun to show the way.

The whole creation all His own,
His promises never fail.
The earth His footstool, heaven His throne,
His love and power will prevail!

God in the power of the Spirit
God in the love of the Son.
God in the mighty Father,
God all three in one.


SOURCES:
CD, Yazoo 1058, "PRAISE GOD I'M SATISFIED" track titled "God Don't Never Change," (Blind Willie Johnson), and American Negro Songs, spiritual titled "God is a God." John W. Work; Dover Publications; 1998, Mineola, NY. (orig. 1940 Crown Publishers, Inc., NY.


SH

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Benjamin
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 03:20 PM

Let Your Light Shine On Me!
Church I'm Fully Saved
Woke Up This Morning

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 02:46 PM

dwditty, now yer makin' me drool. And I have an Amazon gift certificate pending online but I don't think it will credit Max. Who is the author or editor, in case there is more than one in that title?

DJH, where you at? I want to learn your songs. Me, I add verses. Haven't made up any yet.. have to listen to more first, then they will pour out I think.

Hardiman does a PALMS OF VICTORY blues-style instead of southern gospel. Well I did the arrangement, but he sings it while I bang on the autoharp in seventh chords. Well he doesn't sing it, he growls it very energetically. I found three versions and edited and wrote verses till it told a whole story. Congregation loves it. I must have posted it already....?

Today, Blind Willie Johnson is "up." We had also bought a book of spirituals at Hogeye, and dang if one of Willie's isn't related to one in there, with more verses. I'll post it in a bit, here. I'm hoping for more overlaps like that, as we work through the songbook. (The song titles do not always transfer, so I can't just look them up.)

Yesterday and the day before it was Rev. Davis, and I did some operatin' on one, and posted the verses in a thread titled "I Will Do My Last Singing in This Land."

Any tapes I get will go in the Gospel Tape Library... do you-all know about that project BTW?

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: GUEST,DJH
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 02:10 PM

Anything by Reverand Gary Davis.
The time I went Blind
Children of Zion
Fred and Annie Mae Mcdowell 'WHEN I LAY MY BURDEN DOWN' 'KEEP YOUR LAMP TRIMMED AND BURNING
Blind Willie Johnson 'come and go with me','JOHN TH REVALATOR', 'CITY OF REFUGE', and every other song he recorded
Jaybird Coleman 'Im GONNA CROSS THE RIVER JORDAN'
I could go on all day , I LOVE the Gospel Blues!
Anyone here write their own Gospel Blues? I write about one a month, it's good for the soul.

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 02:06 PM

Oops. The real name of the book is "Songs of Zion" Available through your friendly Mudcat connection to Amazon.com. They're all in there...music, words, and, in some cases, guitar chords. Check out Hush, Hush...

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 01:52 PM

Heard all those listed so far except these:

"Hush, Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name" (who???!) (LOL! I mean, BY whom?) (*G*G*)

"Ain't No Grave can Hold My Body Down" sung by Bosie Sturdivant

Words here somewhere? You have 'em?

We do three new pieces EVERY WEEK, on average. Our people are tune hounds! C'mon..... I need SONGSHEETS....

~S~

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 12:29 PM

........I'd tearrrrrrr this building downnnnnnnnn....

"Ain't No Grave can Hold My Body Down" sung by Bosie Sturdivant.....whoooeeee!

Rick

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: mousethief
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 12:25 PM

If I haaaaaaaaaad my waaaaaay......

Subject: RE: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 12:01 PM

Hush, Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name
Since I Lay My Burden Down
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Jesus is on the Mainline

to name a few. Get a book called Zion Songs. It's great.

dw

Subject: Your Favorite Gospel Blues?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 11:57 AM

Thanks to the good folks at Hogeye Music in Evanston, IL, who set me up with some good CDs a few weeks ago, I am wallowing in new material for church!

I have a short list of favorites developing.... and just three CDs... and a tape on the way (thanks ddw!)...

What do YOU like? I want to learn them ALL.

If your favorites are posted here, how about a link? And if not, how about posting them, with a link to their source?

Chords couldn't hurt! (Keep 'em simple for autoharp and country blues style arrangements please!)

(Hee hee... giggligligliglglglglglglglllll.... just think of our next MudGathering here! That'll be a Saturday Night Service to remember! LOL!)

~Susan