Gospel Tracks on the up ...

[Roburt]

Most soul singers started out in the church singing gospel & lots went back to sacred music after their time doing secular stuff. It's always been there & has enjoyed periods of increased interest with soulies. From the likes of the Gospel Classics "More Love" being a biggie on the UK soul scene to "Oh Happy Day" making the pop charts & through to modern soulers getting into Donn Thomas's "How Can I Help But Love You" and more, gospel has had it's supporters. When the Staples went big on Stax and ABC took over Duke / Peacock in the 70's, gospel's profile increased. Later on, the long running CD series 'WOW GOSPEL' (which featured a compilation of the best tracks released each year) did good business for over 20 years.

But, thanks to DJ's like Greg Belson and interest from specialist reissue labels, gospel tracks seems more popular than even at the moment. With lots of 45's & LP's being recorded and pressed up in limited numbers and mainly sold at live concerts, there are plenty of rare items to lust after & chase. Just about the rarest release on the UK Chess label has to be the gospel comp album 'A Christmas Dedication From ..'. There are hundred's of US gospel 45's that would catch on if they were more widely known, many being rare items on obscure indie labels (many attached to individual churches or to the folk running choirs). There are even decent UK released gospel 45's and albums to go after on labels such as Chess, Atlantic, Action and more.

It would be good to get a few recommendations from Soul Sourcers with regard to which tracks they play on a regular basis.   

   

[Roburt]

Plenty of decent gospel takes on soul songs. Lots of them being great versions of those songs  ... 

CLARA WARD Dead End Street

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zCVTutlvuM

 

[Clee93]

I don't think people realise how many big rare soul sounds are actually gospel tracks to be honest.

Edited 17 hours ago by Clee93

[Geeselad]

I always say I don't like it, then the legend that is Gospel Bob, Robert Cornock, blows away with one of his sets again. The very best to play this genre IMHO 

[Greg Belson]

In 2023, I was asked to play a set rooted in Gospel in the Main Room at the Rugby Soul Allnighter. So, I assembled a box of 45's I thought would work the floor for the audience, including what can be regarded as 'evergreens', rare spins, new discoveries etc, next to a few secular tunes I generally like to play. John Manship DJ'ed before me, so it was quite the honor to take over the reins in such esteemed company.

Here's my playlist...I'll be returning again this June with more Gospel for the main room, so hopefully see some of you there.

Cheers!

Rugby Soul Allnighter – Main Room - 17th June 2023 – Greg Belson Set - 12 til 1am

Blind Billy – Nothing But The Holy Ghost (Crown Ltd)
Freedom Gospel Singers – You Better Be Ready (Studio 7)
Southern Trumpets – Good News (Better World)
Dixie Nightingales – I Don’t Know (Chalice)
The Golden Crowns – Where Could I Go (Crown’s Labor)
Holy Disciples – Trying To Make A Hundred (Song Bird)
The Soul Stirrers – Don’t You Worry (Checker)
Fantastic Singing Jubilees – Trust In Him (Checkar)
Bobby Jones & New Life – Jesus Is Just Alright With Me (Free Spirit)
The Swan Silvertones – If You Think Your God Is Dead (Try Mine) (Hob Is Gospel)
United Sounds – It’s All Over (Baby) (United)
Willie Dale – Let Your Light Shine (Lovie D)
The Sacred Four – Somebody Watching You (Champ)
The Voices of Nashville – This Heart Of Mine (Creed)
The Master Keys – I Done Got On The Right Road (Co-Op)
Spiritual Four – If You Think Your God Is Dead (Sendus)
Re-Vells – I Want A New Love (Trent Town)
Swindell Brothers – Nobody’s Fault But Mine (Rae-Cox)
Frisco Singers – Ain’t No Sun Since You Been Gone (Chess)
Rance Allen Singers – Let’s Get Together And Love (Reflect)
Tones of Joy – Seeking For God (Sonic)
Beverly Wheeler with The Cameros – Don’t Shake My Tree (BSC)
 

[Roburt]

Above I stated lots of gospel acts cut for church based labels or tiny indie labels. But they don't always stay that way.

Maceo Woods started out as the pastor at a little local church. After developing the church's choir, he recorded them and put out an album. A copy of this found it's way to Stax. They licensed it for national distribution and signed Maceo Woods up. Next thing, he's a nationally known top gospel artist.  

[Gaz T]

 

this is a very good R&B screamer 

sort of uptempo mod R&B with obvious gospel lyrics  and backing 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Gaz T

[Roburt]

A gospel guy who crossed over to find mainstream success ... 

Edited 8 hours ago by Roburt

[Garswood]

A couple of tracks I have, think you could call them call them gospel 

 

 

[Clee93]

21 hours ago, Geeselad said:

I always say I don't like it, then the legend that is Gospel Bob, Robert Cornock, blows away with one of his sets again. The very best to play this genre IMHO 

The first time I met Gospel Bob he told me a story about someone asking where he got his name from and he told them that he was born in the deep south of America and his dad was a pastor who had to flee the country or something to that power

[Valleysoul]

I'll hold my hands up and admit that I don't have the depth of knowledge that most folks have on here. But these are are few I've heard over the past few years. All album only tracks that have appeared on a few playlists too.

 

[Roburt]

I believe Greg Belson will attest to the fact that there are still decent gospel 45's & LP's out there to be found. This, despite, many of them being pressed up originally in small numbers & never making it into normal record shops. For many years (around 40+ I'd guess), most UK cratediggers chasing stuff in the US would ignore gospel releases. I know lots of UK dealers picked bits up when buying in bulk but (many times) they struggled to sell the gospel items that came their way. Many moons ago, I bought some gospel 45's off Richard Domar (dealing with him was an experience in itself). He must have remembered my 'interest' coz when he sold up he contacted me. He said if I took every gospel 45 he still had, he'd give me a great deal. To be fair to him, he did as well (though he snuck in a couple of 45's by white Christian singers that were truly awful). When Contempo (B&S) were doing their soul packs back in the early 70's, I recall them having Peacock & Nashboro gospel 45's and including these with the US soul 45's that went into their 'packs'. They probably had Chess gospel 45's too that went in soul packs, but I can't recall them having Vee Jay or Savoy gospel items in stock.  .   .    .     . NOT  "Shake, Me, Wake Me" ...

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Roburt

[Johndelve]

1 hour ago, Roburt said:

I believe Greg Belson will attest to the fact that there are still decent gospel 45's & LP's out there to be found. This, despite, many of them being pressed up originally in small numbers & never making it into normal record shops. For many years (around 40+ I'd guess), most UK cratediggers chasing stuff in the US would ignore gospel releases. I know lots of UK dealers picked bits up when buying in bulk but (many times) they struggled to sell the gospel items that came their way. Many moons ago, I bought some gospel 45's off Richard Domar (dealing with him was an experience in itself). He must have remembered my 'interest' coz when he sold up he contacted me. He said if I took every gospel 45 he still had, he'd give me a great deal. To be fair to him, he did as well (though he snuck in a couple of 45's by white Christian singers that were truly awful). When Contempo (B&S) were doing their soul packs back in the early 70's, I recall them having Peacock & Nashboro gospel 45's and including these with the US soul 45's that went into their 'packs'. They probably had Chess gospel 45's too that went in soul packs, but I can't recall them having Vee Jay or Savoy gospel items in stock.  .   .    .     . NOT  "Shake, Me, Wake Me" ...

 

Yes, out there, no question, but prices have gone up drastically over last few years.