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Folklore: Old Gospel (Recordings) Hard to Find

15 Feb 05 - 01:13 PM (#1410644)
Subject: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Brief extract:
Robert Darden, Baylor University and author of "People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music, bemoans the scarcity of old gospel, including Clara Ward, the Sensational Nightingales, Sallie Martin, the Georgia Peach and others (NY Times, Feb. 15, 2005).
Document, Collectables and other small labels have released a few, but these companies lack the wide distribution of major labels and depend mostly on mail and internet orders. Early gospel labels are mostly owned by the large corporations, who have released only a few classic albums on compact disc.
Prof. Darden asks that music historians get involved and encourage major labels to form alliances with archivists like the Smithsonian and Rounder, and the Library of Congress.
Each day, master tapes deteriorate, get lost, or are simply tossed out. "It would be more than a cultural disaster to forever lose this music. It would be a sin."
"Each time I do a radio interview and play a classic gospel song, the phone lines immediately light up. The callers need to discuss what this music has meant to them. They invariably ask where they can buy it and most of the time I have to tell them they can't."
OP-ED Contribution


15 Feb 05 - 01:30 PM (#1410668)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: sed

So true! That old music can be really wonderful!

Recently James D. Vaughn's grandson, James D. Walbert and his wife Eileen sent me a collection of songs including six from the Vaughn Radio Quartet (which included Walbert's father, W.B. Walbert) with Jim Walbert playing piano. The recording came from The James B. Vaughan (Gospel Music) Museum in Lawrenceburg, TN but may have been mastered by a DJ in Mississippi. I'm not sure. There was some digital distortion on the recording. True, not everyone notices it. That's something else that needs to be a concern as many people are trying to make copies of old recordings without understanding the modern problem of the very distracting digital distortion. If we can teach each other more about audio archiving techniques then more music will survive. We can't really expect large companies to be all that interested. It may be up to us.

There's alot a person can do with a good turntable and adequate knowledge of their computer sound card and sound recorder. I'm learning as I go and making lots of mistakes.

Order James D. Walbert's, The Piano, via James D. Vaughn Museum, 25 Public Square, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

In 2003 it cost $12.00 for 27 selections.

Steve Sedberry
Radio Station WUWG
1601 Maple St.
Carrollton, GA 30118
USA


15 Feb 05 - 01:50 PM (#1410707)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: sed

Oops! I mispelled Vaughan.
Correct spelling is "Vaughan."


15 Feb 05 - 02:18 PM (#1410749)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

You can hear it all on Sinner's Crossroads radio, archived online at WFMU. I've posted about it a lot of times so a Mudcat search should turn up a link. (Their archives can be searched by artist, too.)

No shortage here-- we sing it in church. Also see thread on "Great black gospel you can do" with specific songs AND links to WFMU show dates.

~Susan


15 Feb 05 - 03:08 PM (#1410806)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

The programs are fine, but what needs to be addressed here is the preservation and archiving of material in the hands of the majors.


15 Feb 05 - 03:11 PM (#1410812)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

You can preserve it yourself, tho, using Total Recorder while the archive plays. Also some of the really rare stuff is now on the CD set "Goodbye Babylon" and its publisher wants to do more.

~S~


08 Mar 05 - 03:35 PM (#1429969)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: sed

VAUGHN


08 Mar 05 - 09:50 PM (#1430217)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

And to repeat- how can one get material which is locked away in the storerooms of the majors without their cooperation? Other than breaking in and taking it. I can't record and "preserve it myself."

It is not all in the hands of Sinners' Crossroads. Recordings of the Quartet Sed mentioned, e. g., are not there. I haven't checked current price and availability. Sed, do they have an email address?


08 Mar 05 - 11:36 PM (#1430244)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

I think they were at Dovesong, but that MP3 library is down for a few more months.

Q, have you heard about the "Goodbye Babylon" collection?

~S~


09 Mar 05 - 12:02 AM (#1430254)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: GUEST,martha woida

I am looking for a song with these lyrics:


Way back in them hills where she left me to wonder
it was on the old prairie where the sky was all gray
she was a jewel on earth God rest her in heaven
she would brighten the kingdom around Gods great throne


09 Mar 05 - 07:18 PM (#1431047)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

I think that's a common one done in Bluegrass gospel....let me look...


09 Mar 05 - 07:30 PM (#1431053)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

well, I found this in a tribute to Dale Evans:

"Dale, Like the old song says "A Jewel on Earth, a jewel in Heaven, she brightens God's kingdom, around his great throne" I'm sure you do. You were a wonderful role model to us girls growing up in the late 50's/early 60's. We ALL wanted to be your friend & now we know we all are!"

I can hear someone in my head singing it...like Bill Monroe, maybe?


09 Mar 05 - 07:42 PM (#1431058)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

ok...found it here

        



The Precious Jewel

Way back in the hills when a boy I once wandered
Buried deep in the grave lies the one that I love
She was called from this earth a jewel for heaven
More pricious than diamonds more precious than gold

A jewel here on earth a jewel in heaven
She'll brighten the kingdom around God's Great Throne
May the angels have peace God bless her in heaven
They've broken my heart and they've left me to roam

When a girl of sixteen we courted each other
She promised someday to become my sweet wife
I bought her the ring to wear on her finger
But the angels they called her to heraven one night

This world has its wealth it's trials and troubles
Mother earth holds her treasures of diamonds and gold
But it can't hold the soul of one precious jewel
She is resting in peace with the heavenly fold


09 Mar 05 - 07:48 PM (#1431062)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

with that title, I found that Roy Acuff has done it


09 Mar 05 - 07:54 PM (#1431068)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

and you can hear it on Rose, the Record Lady's pages

here, I think (page 18 in her Real Country archives list)it requires you to have Real Audio or some program that will play RealAudio files.


09 Mar 05 - 08:02 PM (#1431072)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

and it 'may' be that this link will work directly, if you have the program.


09 Mar 05 - 09:03 PM (#1431114)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Jerry Rasmussen

I empathise with you, Q: There is a great wealth of material that will most likely never be heard again. Every once in awhile I run across a CD on some unfamiliar label, but it's very eratic, and if you don't happen to see it when it comes out, it will be gone before you blink your eyes. I just picked up a Fairfield Four CD, The Road To Glory on the Fuel 200 label. I have a couple of other CDs of there's that I don't believe are available any longer, and a wonderful video of them. Same with groups like the Radio Four (I picked up one of there albums on CD and doubt that it is still available. Unfortunately, businesses are called businesses because they are in business to make money. Whatever ends up being preserved will be through the love of smaller companies that are satisfied to limp along. And, they tend not to stick around too long.

One group that is grossly under-represented on CD is one of the most famous and popular of all time... the Soul Stirrers. I have a friend who has a dozen albums, none of which have been reissued. I am aware of and have everything of theirs that is currently available on CD but it THEY are so ignored for reisues, what hope is there for the smaller groups?

Jerry


09 Mar 05 - 10:44 PM (#1431177)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Bill, I swear, you did SUCH a good job on that request-- I may make up a title and chorus sometime like it's a real request, just to see what you come up with!

Be afraid. :~)

And I will want sheet music too!

~Susan


10 Mar 05 - 11:23 AM (#1431570)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

*grin*...well, a few lines echoing in my head, plus the wondrous technology of Google and the nice folks who DO those web pages made it work. What was interesting was that it was one I had heard and Rita hadn't!

and...lookee here at what I found from one of the links in my search ...a page of links to various old country music, one of which is http://www.garyscountry.com/ which has a dozen Gospel songs by ** Esco Hankins**, as well as other stuff...

Now I ask you, ain't technology amazin'?

(and it's YOU who should be afraid of what I might concoct just to confuzzle such a request!)


10 Mar 05 - 11:41 AM (#1431590)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Bill, let's grab us a Nashville practice room and wrote us some gospel songs!

~S~


10 Mar 05 - 12:32 PM (#1431637)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

but....I'm still overwhelmed by all the ones done BEEN wrought! (and you'd have to do all the lyrics, anyway!....I can't be trusted)


10 Mar 05 - 12:55 PM (#1431652)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Trusted.... Well Bill, we're all sinners. :~)

~S~


10 Mar 05 - 04:15 PM (#1431777)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

I'm flawed, imperfect and often a bit dense , but I don't think I'm a 'sinner' ;>)


10 Mar 05 - 04:57 PM (#1431815)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Ah Bill, if you only knew. You define "sinner." :~)

Well, enough of that eh!

(Do you think people know we're jes' funnin'?)

~S~


10 Mar 05 - 05:04 PM (#1431826)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: Bill D

(they better!)

"Oh, sinner man, where ya' gonna run to; all on that day?"

Run to Susan's, WYSI, won't ya' hide me?

hey..I can write 'em!


10 Mar 05 - 11:48 PM (#1432019)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Hide me over in the rock of ages--
Rock of ages cleft for Bill.....

~S~


13 Mar 05 - 09:29 AM (#1433606)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel Hard to Find
From: wysiwyg

Wings Over Jordan-- recordings held by the majors, or (where I found them) in a university collection? Unfortunately it's not an online exhibit. Anybody here have any recordings?

~Susan


13 Mar 05 - 05:52 PM (#1433860)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Gospel (Recordings) Hard to Find
From: masato sakurai

Catalogue of Japan's P-Vine label. Click on red characters to see English titles. Many interesting limited-edition albums are now out of print and not listed.