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Beaut small label gospel compilation

25 Jun 02 - 10:45 PM (#737041)
Subject: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Stewie

This is to draw attention to one of those little gems that are likely to slip through the cracks unnoticed. 'Hillbilly Gospel 1948-1958' Flyright FLY CD 64 is a lovely and important issue. It is a sampler of 24 tracks by 23 different outfits, reflecting the varied styles of rural, southern gospel that found their way on to small, independent labels and artist-owned labels. Of the 23 groups, I was familiar with 3 only: The Caudill Family who offer a remarkable rendition of 'Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down'; Alton Delmore and Brown's Ferry Four with 'Gonna Row My Boat'; and Blue Ridge Quartet who close the CD with a rousing gospel-boogie, 'Hard Times Will Soon Be Over', complete with rockabilly guitar break. Of the unknowns (to me), there is not a bum recording in sight, but the ones that really stand out for me are: Rebels Quartet 'Peace Like a River; Ernest Martin & His Gospel Melody Makers 'The Golden Rule'; a beautiful acapella 'We Will Know' by Ray Lanham and His Gospel Quartet; Tennessee Harmony Boys 'I'm a Millionaire'; and a guitar and harmonica instrumental, 'Jesus Hold My Hand', by Bill Porter and Howard Seratt. The compilation has recordings from all over the south and, although very different, is right up there with classic gospel compilations such as Document's 'Kentucky Gospel', Heritage's 'Get Right With God', Revenant's 'American Primitive Vol 1' and Trikont's 'Prayers From Hell'. Anyone with an interest in downhome gospel would be mad to let this slip past. As Bruce Bastin indicates in his excellent notes that 'Hillbilly Gospel' is only a small sampler of what is available, hopefully further CDs will follow.

--Stewie.


25 Jun 02 - 10:55 PM (#737049)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Stewie

Although it should be evident from the CD title and the artists mentioned above, I omitted to point out that the compilation is of white gospel groups only.

--Stewie.


26 Jun 02 - 12:21 AM (#737095)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: wysiwyg

Hm-- I seem to have a Rebels Songbook I acquired along the way as a gift from someone who thought it worthless.

There are also a lot of great cuts to hear or download at DOVESONG from the early days of southern gospel and mountain gospel, as well as black gospel. The Blue Ridge Quartet is in there among them.

~Susan


26 Jun 02 - 01:11 AM (#737116)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Stewie

Susan, thanks for the link.

--Stewie.


26 Jun 02 - 01:16 AM (#737117)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: wysiwyg

It's another gem from Masato, actually. *G*

~Susan


26 Jun 02 - 08:23 AM (#737270)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Thanks for the tip, Stewie. I'll try to find it. I'm sure that there were black hillbillys too. I think they called them the n word, though. It sounds like a great CD! Probably produced in Holland (see thread on Foreign Folk Music.):-)

Jerry


26 Jun 02 - 09:12 AM (#737299)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: masato sakurai

I purchased it a few weeks ago, and heard most songs for the first time. The CD with sound clips is HERE.

~Masato


26 Jun 02 - 10:30 AM (#737329)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Just ordered it...:-)

Jerry


30 Jan 07 - 04:15 PM (#1952838)
Subject: RE: Beaut small label gospel compilation
From: Bee

Rousing this thread because I was looking for information about The Rebels gospel quartet, and wondered if any catters know more than I've been able to find from Google, which is that they existed, pretty much.

I saw The Rebels in a concert hall in Florida, Tampa or Orlando, 1957, when I was six years old, and have never forgotten them. It was likely the first time I saw live singers on stage, and I was spellbound. They were wonderful.

I note Stewie, above, had assumed they were white, but if it's the same group on his compilation album, they were black.