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Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk From Shreveport's Jewel Label

Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk From Shreveport's Jewel Label magazine cover

Continuing Harmless's policy of exploring all areas of Black Music we now turn our attention to the much under-explored area of U.S. independent Funky Soul and Gospel music which is currently one of most exciting areas of record collecting.

One of the greatest labels for funky Gospel releases was undoubtedly Jewel Records from Shreveport, Louisiana founded by Stan The Record Man Lewis in 1963 from his original tiny record store, Stan s Record Shop. From such humble beginnings sprang a recording empire which also included the Paula, Ronn and Soul Power labels.

Jump forward some 50 years to 2012 and suddenly the Jewel Gospel catalogue is being fiercely mined by collectors across the planet due to the sheer amount of quality funky Gospel records which are still being found. We invited serious DJ s, Record Collectors and all round funky Gospel addicts, the UK based David Hill and US based Greg Belson, to compile 2 CDs of some the best funky Gospel and Spiritual Soul from the Jewel archives. Added to this combination we also have collector and historian Chris Menist on sleeve notes duty for the 16 page booklet which also includes a variety of label and album scans.

Also, as a timely inclusion, we re also delighted to include one of the rare records which made it into John Peel s legendary 7" record box the sensational "No More Ghettos In America" by Stanley Winston proof positive that Jewel's funky Gospel sound found supporters right across the spectrum!

Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk HURTXCD119

th_SpiritualSoulPackshot.jpg

CD1

1. The Meditation Singers Trouble's Brewin'

2. BPS Revolution Brotherly Love

3. Soul Stirrers I'm Trying To Be Your Friend

4. Ernest Franklin Trying Times

5. The Hopson Family Prayer Will Take You There

6. Chimes Woke Up This Morning

7. Albertina Walker Mama Said, Thank You

8. The Brooklyn All Stars If Loving God Is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right)

9. Keith Barrow Everything's Gonna Be Alright

10. Dorothy Norwood He's A Friend

11. The Brooklyn All Stars I'm So Glad You're Mine

12. Leomia Boyd and the Gospel Music Makers 'Need More

13. The Southerners Jesus Is Real To Me

14. The Traveling Echoes The Golden Gate

15. The Violinaires The Upper Way

16. Roscoe Robinson Do It Right Now

17. Clarence Fountain This Little Light of

18. Soul Stirrers Crying On The Mountain

19. Armstrong Brothers Far Away From God

20. The Meditation Singers A Change Is Gonna Come

CD 2

1. Armstrong Brothers Can You Treat Him Like A Brother

2. Bill Moss & the Celestials You've Got To Serve Somebody

3. The Southerners I'll Wait For the Lord

4. The Meditation Singers Good Old Gospel Music

5. Roscoe Robinson There's a Creator

6. Mighty Sons of Glory Don't Forget the Bridge (That Brought You Over)

7. Dorothy Norwood There's Got to Be Rain In Your Life

8. Soul Stirrers Lord, Oh Lord, I Believe

9. The Meditation Singers I Love My Jesus

10. The Silver Gate Quartet of North Carolina Watch That Rogue

11. The Fantastic Violinaires I'm Not Worried

12. The Hopson Family Hello Sunshine

13. Dorothy Norwood Come and Go With Me

14. The Traveling Echoes I'd Like To Know

15. The Spiritual Interns He Walks With Me

16. The Brooklyn All Stars In The Ghetto

17. The Violinaires Message To My Friends

18. Dorothy Norwood Winding Up

19. Rev. Oris Mays Nobody Can Turn Me Around

20. The Travelling Echoes God Don't Change

21. Stanley Winston No More Ghettos in America

Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Spirit-Spiritual-Soul-Gospel/dp/B007O3VO2Y/ref=sr_1_11?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1337623606&sr=1-11

Ian D :D



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Greg Belson

Posted

Thanks so much for the feedback Robert.............very pleased that so many of the tunes connected with you, so here's looking forward to CD 2 ;)

Greg Belson

Posted

First aired on 28th June 2012

Here's the 13th installment of The Divine Chord Gospel Show which appears monthly on dublab.com. The one year anniversary broadcast!

For this anniversary show, the 1st segment is dedicated to low slung gospel funk courtesy of Shelton Kilby out of Los Angeles, The Crownseekers on the desirable Rosemont label & the epic workout by the Sons of Truth

In the 2nd section, we highlight tracks from a brand new compilation I've been working on. 'Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul & Gospel Funk from Shreveport's Jewel Label' available on Harmless Records.

To close, we head back to gospel funk territory with an incredible version of 'Elijah rock' by Camille Doughty & a simply sublime cover by Nat Townsley Jr.

Feel free to join the facebook group 'The Divine Chord Gospel Show' for updates. Thanks for listening!

https://www.mixcloud.com/gregbelson/divine-chord-gospel-show-pt-13/

Roburt

Posted

Greg, still can't get CD1 out of the CD playa .... think I'm gonna drive the wife mad !! (nowt new there then).

Greg Belson

Posted

I'm so dozy, yes that's the one, thanks hugely. If Greg knows of any Dave Hamilton Gospel not on there I'd love to hear about them. Cheers Ady

Hey Ady....I'm not by my collection at the moment, but from memory the only 45's I have filed are the ones seen on Scotts excellent site. If I think of any different titles, then I'll be sure to let you know. Cheers!

Ady Croasdell

Posted

Hey Ady....I'm not by my collection at the moment, but from memory the only 45's I have filed are the ones seen on Scotts excellent site. If I think of any different titles, then I'll be sure to let you know. Cheers!

Hi Greg,

The problem is I can't read those labels and can only hear the tunes and Scott ain't got back to me so any help would be very appreciated.

Cheers

Ady

Greg Belson

Posted

Hi Greg,

The problem is I can't read those labels and can only hear the tunes and Scott ain't got back to me so any help would be very appreciated.

Cheers

Ady

Ah, gotcha Ady......I won't be able to go through my collection until early September, but I can definitely help you out when I get back to LA.

Ady Croasdell

Posted

Ah, gotcha Ady......I won't be able to go through my collection until early September, but I can definitely help you out when I get back to LA.

That's fine Greg, it's a long term project and I'll tell you what info I've accumulated by then too if you nudge me.

Cheers

Ady

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

I knew we should have given this longer pre-promotion. It's selling better in it's 2nd week than last week and it's at it's highest Amazon ranking today. Good news. It's actually just beginning to make some real sales progress now. Hopefully we'll start getting some reviews too........

Ian D :D

Sunnysoul

Posted

Ian, is there going to be a vinyl release ?

Roburt

Posted

Still not managed to get CD1 out of the player.

......... Hopefully I'll get to hear CD2 sometime soon

I'm away for 4 days from Saturday, will have to put CD2 in the car .... sorted !!!).

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

Still not managed to get CD1 out of the player.

......... Hopefully I'll get to hear CD2 sometime soon

I'm away for 4 days from Saturday, will have to put CD2 in the car .... sorted !!!).

C'mon Roburt. "Holy Spirit" Volume 2 will be out before you've even listened to CD2 of Vol 1! :lol:

Ian D :D

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

Really interesting the way this release is selling. As of today it's at it's highest Amazon ranking yet after 2 weeks on release:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007O3VO2Y/ref=s9_simh_bw_p15_d0_g15_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=1WVX06GVWAMYCHCBY9G3&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=234852867&pf_rd_i=229816

Now No.1298 might not seem like a big deal, but one out of every 1300 people who are buying on Amazon today, are buying an album full of Gospel Music from 40 years ago, which is kinda exciting.

Also I think the radio and press are beginning to kick in now and we have some pretty stunning reviews heading our way which have kicked off with a thumbs up from "In The Basement" which is usually a good sign.

So the story's just beginning on this I think. Great to finally meet Greg Belson this week. I'm hoping to catch one of his gigs whilst he's over here.

Ian D :D

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

Ian, is there going to be a vinyl release ?

Yep. We're gonna a release a cute Jewel 45:-

A. BPS Revolution "Brotherly Love"/B. The Meditation Singers "Trouble's Brewin'"

We thought that this was a nice pairing 'cos BPS Revolution is probably the most sought-after and hardest to find these days and the Meditation Singers has never been on a 45 before (previously just on LP). Hopefully we should have 'em in a few weeks. 500 only (and I mean 500 LOL) so make sure you get one. The first Jewel 45 release since the late 70's and what a double-sider!

Ian D :D

Greg Belson

Posted

Yep. We're gonna a release a cute Jewel 45:-

A. BPS Revolution "Brotherly Love"/B. The Meditation Singers "Trouble's Brewin'"

We thought that this was a nice pairing 'cos BPS Revolution is probably the most sought-after and hardest to find these days and the Meditation Singers has never been on a 45 before (previously just on LP). Hopefully we should have 'em in a few weeks. 500 only (and I mean 500 LOL) so make sure you get one. The first Jewel 45 release since the late 70's and what a double-sider!

Ian D :D

Fantastic news that the 45 has been approved......again, looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Guest john s

Posted

Yep. We're gonna a release a cute Jewel 45:-

A. BPS Revolution "Brotherly Love"

That's the only track on the whole thing that I've already got on 45. :facepalm:

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

That's the only track on the whole thing that I've already got on 45. :facepalm:

And that's one of the rarest. You should be happy John! :lol:

Ian D :D

Roburt

Posted

Will the 45 be available from Amazon .... & when will it be issued ?

Kris Holmes

Posted

And that's one of the rarest.

this widely contradicts the boxes of unplayed stock coming out of texas a few years back, but ok then. also one of the ones i have on 45 too :D great track :thumbsup: meditation singers on 45 should be cool though. will definitely buy it regardless

Roburt

Posted

The Violinaires were featured in the BBC TV 'Imagine' documentary tonight on Falsetto singing.

Roburt

Posted

Spent the last 4 days touring around the south coast (everywhere from Hastings / Battle thru to Brighton) ...

... in that time got to listen to CD2 quite a bit & some of the tracks have already hit home.

Just have to extract the CD from the car, put it on in the house where I have the CD booklet & track listing

.... then I'll know which tracks I now have to seek out on vinyl.

Greg Belson

Posted

this widely contradicts the boxes of unplayed stock coming out of texas a few years back, but ok then. also one of the ones i have on 45 too :D great track :thumbsup: meditation singers on 45 should be cool though. will definitely buy it regardless

Yeah, I wouldn't say that the BPS is one of the rarest.......but definitely one of the most desirable. I thought maybe we could have gone for the Keith Barrow cut which hadn't been on 45 before, but to get 'Trouble's brewin' for the first time on the format, backed with such a solid track by BPS, makes for a nice package.

Greg Belson

Posted

The Violinaires were featured in the BBC TV 'Imagine' documentary tonight on Falsetto singing.

I managed to catch that! Pretty awesome stuff!

Autumnstoned

Posted

I missed it - was listening to Eddie Hubbard on BIR. This is a pretty decent tune from the Violinaires.

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Spacehopper

Posted

big thanx for giving me your copy from the car at go go children saturday greg!...some oh soooooo soulful tunes on there...beautiful...and so different than what i buy on vinyl....only gospel i have is kindly shepherds and cassietta george...so far!...great packaging and notes too

dean

Greg Belson

Posted

big thanx for giving me your copy from the car at go go children saturday greg!...some oh soooooo soulful tunes on there...beautiful...and so different than what i buy on vinyl....only gospel i have is kindly shepherds and cassietta george...so far!...great packaging and notes too

dean

Thanks alot for the comments, Dean.....glad that you're diggin' the comp. Really pleased with how it turned out, complete with Chris Menists thorough sleeve notes. I managed to squeeze in 4 gospel cuts on Saturday, two of which were first time spins......brilliant to see the dancefloor respond so positively!

Spacehopper

Posted

That's the only track on the whole thing that I've already got on 45. :facepalm:

and shares the same lyrics as pat kellys reggae classic 'talk about love'....maybe coinsicidence but cant help thinkin marley may have heard keith barrows 'everythings gonna be alright' too..not just the lyrics but the hammond organ behind has a feel like marleys live gospelish version of no woman no cry...well known fact jamaican producers travelled to the states and brought back 45s to 'adapt'

a few reminded me of early 70s stax stuff too...faves for me so far....roscoe robinsons theres a creator...great vocals and keys and then that sax comes in from no where!....dorothy norwood'gotta be sunshine'...brooklyn allstars top version of in the ghetto...and one defo for today driving round the sw...hopson familys 'hello sunshine' !!

dean

Roburt

Posted

Are the Hopson Family the same outfit as the Wash Hopson Singers (45 on UK Action back in the60's).

Kris Holmes

Posted

Yes, Wash Hopson Singers on the Songbird 45s, also The Hobson Family on the Select-O-Hit 45s/HSE LP & then finally The Hopson Family on the Jewel 45s/LP.

Ian Dewhirst

Posted

Mmmm. A really interesting phenomenon seems to be happening unless I'm going nuts. This is the second time in the last few weeks that I've seen a track from this album covered-up and selling for big money. The first one was the Billy Womack c/u for £500 and now the Southside Movement c/u for £1000.
 
Makes me wonder if someone bought the CD and then found the singles and covered 'em or just co-incidence since both songs are pretty good, although not the best on the album by far). Compiled by our own Greg Belson with Dave Hill. Corker of an album and still in stock though will be deleted later this year. Just buy it!
 
CD1
 
1. The Meditation Singers - ‘Trouble's Brewin''  from the LP 'A Change Is Gonna Come' Jewel LPS 0048
2. BPS Revolution - 'Brotherly Love' Jewel 214
3. Soul Stirrers - 'I'm Trying To Be Your Friend' from the LP 'Strength Power and Love' Jewel LPS 0084
4. Ernest Franklin - 'Trying Times' Jewel 181
5. The Hopson Family - 'Prayer Will Take You There' - from the LP 'On The Mainline' Jewel LPS 0092
6. Chimes - 'Woke Up This Morning' Jewel 211
7. Albertina Walker - 'Mama Said, Thank You' Jewel 185
8. The Brooklyn All Stars - 'If Loving God Is Wrong (I Don’t Want To Be Right)' from the LP 'Walk Tall' Jewel LPS 0078
9. Keith Barrow - 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright' from the LP 'Keith Barrow' Jewel LPS 0075
10. Dorothy Norwood – ‘He's A Friend' Jewel 262
11. The Brooklyn Allstars - 'I'm So Glad You're Mine' from the LP 'Ten Commandments' Jewel LPS 0103
12. Leomia Boyd and the Gospel Music Makers - 'Need More Love' from the LP 'Changed' Jewel LPS 0185
13. The Southerners - 'Jesus Is Real To Me' Jewel 124
14. The Traveling Echoes - 'The Golden Gate'  from the LP 'In Memory of Laura' Jewel LPS 0035
15. The Violinaires - 'The Upper Way' from the LP 'Presenting The Upper Way' Jewel LPS 0053
16. Roscoe Robinson - 'Do It Right Now' from the LP ‘He Still Lives In Me’ Jewel LP 0066
17. Clarence Fountain - 'This Little Light of Mine' from the LP ‘Soul Gospel’ Jewel LPS 0030
18. Soul Stirrers - 'Crying On The Mountain' Jewel 253
19. Armstrong Brothers - 'Far Away From God' Jewel 216
20. The Meditation Singers – ‘A Change Is Gonna Come' from the LP 'A Change Is Gonna Come' Jewel LPS 0048
 
CD 2
 
1. Armstrong Brothers - 'Can You Treat Him Like A Brother' Jewel 216
2. Bill Moss & the Celestials - 'You've Got To Serve Somebody' Jewel 270
3. The Southerners - 'I'll Wait For the Lord' Jewel 103
4. The Meditation Singers - 'Good Old Gospel Music' from the LP 'A Change Is Gonna Come' Jewel LPS 0048
5. Roscoe Robinson - 'There's a Creator' from the LP 'He Still Lives In Me' Jewel LPS 0066
6. Mighty Sons of Glory - 'Don't Forget the Bridge (That Brought You Over)' Jewel DS 280
7. Dorothy Norwood – ‘There's Got to Be Rain In Your Life' 'He's A Friend' Jewel LPS 0134
8. Soul Stirrers - 'Lord, Oh Lord, I Believe' from the LP 'Strength Power and Love' Jewel LPS 0084
9. The Meditation Singers - 'I Love My Jesus’ from the LP 'Alright' Jewel LPS 0071
10. The Silver Gate Quartet of North Carolina - 'Watch That Rogue' Jewel 141
11. The Fantastic Violinaires - 'I'm Not Worried' from the LP 'Presenting The Fantastic Violinaires' Jewel LPS 0096
12. The Hopson Family - 'Hello Sunshine' from the LP 'On The Mainline' Jewel LPS 0092
13. Dorothy Norwood - 'Come and Go With Me' from the LP 'He's A Friend' Jewel LPS 0134
14. The Traveling Echoes - 'I'd Like to Know' from the LP 'In Memory of Laura' Jewel LPS 0035
15. The Spiritual Interns - 'He Walks With Me' Jewel 126
16. The Brooklyn All Stars - 'In The Ghetto' from the LP 'Walk Tall' Jewel LPS 0078
17. The Violinaires - 'Message To My Friends' Jewel 243
18. Dorothy Norwood - 'Winding Up' from the LP 'At Her Best' Jewel LPS 0118
19. Rev. Oris Mays - 'Nobody Can Turn Me Around' from the LP 'The Milky White Way' Jewel LPS 0032
20. The Travelling Echoes - 'God Don't Change' from the LP Looking and Seeking Jewel LPS 0025
21. Stanley Winston - 'No More Ghettos in America' Jewel 149
 
 
Ian D  :D




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