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.   

   

  On 22/01/2025 at 09:24, Garswood said:

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

 

 

Used to have both, but the Cliff Gober was so badly recorded it needed a very good sound system to manage it. Brilliant track though. I also rate the Spiritual Four version of 'If You Think Your God is Dead'

Edited March 3Mar 3 by Paul-s
Site multiple posted

My Playlist from Dean Andersons TNT Soul Show - 11th January 2018 (which has now mysteriously been taken down 🤔).

Quite a lot of gospel in there!

 

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  On 03/03/2025 at 10:13, Paul-s said:

My Playlist from Dean Andersons TNT Soul Show - 11th January 2018 (which has now mysteriously been taken down 🤔).

Quite a lot of gospel in there!

 

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Where was this played? Dean Anderson’s show? Can it still be heard? Can’t find it? 

  On 03/03/2025 at 14:48, DeborahM said:

Where was this played? Dean Anderson’s show? Can it still be heard? Can’t find it? 

Yes, its weird. The others are all available, but mine isn't. All that comes up is 

Is Dean on here? Maybe he can ink us up?

 

  On 03/03/2025 at 10:00, Paul-s said:

 

Edited March 4Mar 4 by Dylan

  On 11/02/2025 at 15:02, Kev John said:

This next track came to me  a few years ago lots of plays @ FTMNTC 

 

I have a copy of this available if anybody needs it drop me a PM

gospel travellers “Jesus is watching you” hi sign ex cond

 

Edited March 4Mar 4 by Dylan

Must have been great to go along to an actual gospel concert when the groups were in their prime. We went to a couple of House Of Blues Gospel Brunch's about 25 years ago but they are quite 'staged events'.

Edited March 19Mar 19 by Roburt

  On 03/03/2025 at 14:48, DeborahM said:

Where was this played? Dean Anderson’s show? Can it still be heard? Can’t find it? 

Yes, its weird. The others are all available, but mine isn't. All that comes up is 

Is Dean on here? Maybe he can ink us up?

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Paul

Edited March 6Mar 6 by Paul-s

  On 04/03/2025 at 15:10, Paul-s said:

Yes, its weird. The others are all available, but mine isn't. All that comes up is 

Is Dean on here? Maybe he can ink us up?

 

Here it is, with playlist:

Deans show in 2018 can be found here: Loads of gospel on there.

https://www.paulsadot.com/blog-native

One I love (and it features Teddy P) ... ....

 

Can't see anyone else mentioned them, but apologies if I've missed it. it's not like soul fans to opt for the obscure and ignore those who had mainstream success is it🤣🤣. Any road, surly they deserve a mention

 

 

 

 

 

As well as the Mighty Clouds, Rance Allen, the Winans, Sound of Blackness, Marvin Sapp, Smokie Norful and Donnie McClurkin also merit a mention.

Maybe too modern for many on here, but I have always enjoyed this slow-stepper, "Til I Met Thee", from Cody ChestnuTT, which comes with a well made short film, too.  

 

  On 06/03/2025 at 19:33, Kesalocasoul said:

As well as the Mighty Clouds, Rance Allen, the Winans, Sound of Blackness, Marvin Sapp, Smokie Norful and Donnie McClurkin also merit a mention.

Maybe too modern for many on here, but I have always enjoyed this slow-stepper, "Til I Met Thee", from Cody ChestnuTT, which comes with a well made short film, too.  

 

Singer from the Roots fantastic voice

A song titled used in gospel & soul genres ... 

 

Edited March 16Mar 16 by Roburt

 

 

Lots of the gospel tracks put up on this thread are up tempo dance items ... NOT the Mildred Clark just above though ...

here's one that also doesn't qualify as a dancer; to me it has more of a deep soul feel to it ...  

 

Edited March 18Mar 18 by Roburt

In the 50's / 60's, lots of soul songs were 'developed' from popular gospel songs.

By the 70's / 80's, the situation had completely changed around & gospel acts were doing their versions of soul songs. The likes of Rance Allen and Maceo Woods certainly following this path. But lots of other gospel acts also did the same ... 

 

I got into Genobia Jeter via her 80's LP Genobia' (RCA) plus met her & her husband Glen Jones @ a Southport weekender.

But she was making gospel records well before she crossed over to soul ... 

 

Two artists who went from secular to sacred on the same Light Records label:

Beau Williams and a great version of the Sam Cooke classic from 1991:

 

... and former Heatwave frontman Johnnie Wilder, Jr. with this from 1988: