The Blood…

Not always the most pleasant subject, theme of the precious blood of Jesus has always been a part of gospel music. Rather than ignore the subject because it might not still well with some people, I just want to say that some of my favorite songs, musically, revolve around the subject. So…

I’m going to make one big post with a playlist of all the songs I have related to this subject and move on. Don’t pass these songs by…and don’t get hung up on lyrics; these are just great songs. Period.

(And don’t miss the old school country version of Pastor Woodrow Hayden’s “I Know It Was The Blood” starting at 4:40 of the track.)

  1. The Blood Still Works The KACP Mass Choir 10:28
  2. The Blood Still Works Malcolm Williams & Great Faith 4:12
  3. Nothing But The Blood Wilmington Chester Mass Choir 7:59
  4. Nothing But The Blood Rev. Gerald Thompson 6:17
  5. Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers 3:52
  6. I Know It Was The Blood Va-Nu Hymns 6:09
  7. I Know It Was The Blood Pastor Woodrow Hayden 6:19

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

I Will Sing Praises

I’ve edited this song from none other than the master, Richard Smallwood, to contain only the ending vamp creating the world’s simplest, most infectious, most singable, praise and worship song ever. The song just says “I will sing praises, praises unto you.” That’s it. Add in a whole bunch of modulations, and viola! What more does one need in a song? Betcha can’t listen without joining in singing…just pick a part, or try them all.

Happy Sunday morning!

  1. I Will Sing Praises Richard Smallwood and Vision 3:37

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Redeemed

This song features one of the most unique gospel singers you will ever hear, the late Rev. James Moore. No one has a voice like this or makes the sounds he does. (James starts at 5:15…that’s one reason the track runs 11 minutes!)

  1. Redeemed Rev. Gerald Thompson and The Oklahoma State Fellowship Choir 11:00

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

As an aside, I just happen to catch an American Idol audition a couple of weeks ago. The guy’s name was Tank Johnson, and, after he was through singing, Harry Connick told Tank that his voice reminded him of James Moore’s. NOW…I do admire Harry Connick as a musician, but when it comes to references to gospel singers, I don’t think he has a clue. Listen to this snippet below of Tanks’ audition and Harry’s comments and tell me if what you hear is anything at all like the performance James Moore delivers on “Redeemed”. I think not.

  1. Tank Jackson 0:35

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Use Me Lord

A two-fer today. This simple song is from Rev. Clay Evans, one of my favorite gospel artists. He doesn’t have a lovely voice, it’s rough and gravely, but he always picks great songs and the choirs that back him up are always top notch.

  1. Use Me Lord Rev. Clay Evans 7:43

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Now I’m Saved By His Grace

Happy Friday! Even if you’re not a big believer in salvation or being saved, you can’t help getting pulled into this song. Real deal traditional gospel. The soloist’s voice is a bit strident and shrill at times, but that doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the song. I love these older less than perfect live recordings because they really do capture the essence of gospel music.

  1. Now I'm Saved By His Grace D. R. Curry Memorial Choir 6:56

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Tell It To Jesus

Some choirs just have IT. It’s not high production value or incredible voices, it’s the spirit that is so immediately evident. Here’s another classic gem from Chicago’s famous Lighthouse Baptist Church Evangelical Choir recorded in 1983.

  1. Tell It To Jesus Rev. Jerry Goodloe & the Evangelical Choir of Lighthouse Baptist Church 4:08

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Gotta Serve Somebody

A remake of Bob Dylan’s 1979 classic, featured in the 2001 movie “Boycott”. LOTS of funk here, including a complete horn section and a funky Stevie Wonderesque Clavinet.

  1. Gotta Serve Somebody Beverly Crawford 4:53

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Psalm 27 – The Lord Is My Light

This song has long been a staple of the Boston Community Choir and JVOI has had the opportunity to sing it jointly with a couple of choirs we have sung with. Unfortunately it has never become a bone fide part of our repertoire. I think it’s time to revisit that.

To me, this song has one of the best, most difficult, most fun to get right, and most infectious vamps of any song I know (starting at 1:46). The varied syncopations in the alto and soprano parts are daunting, but when it all comes together under the striding bass bottom and the tenors, it’s vocal magic.

  1. Psalm 27 - The Lord Is My Light Chicago Mass Choir 4:53

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

and, just for fun, here’s another rendition of the song

  1. Psalm 27 - The Lord Is My Light The Galilee Mass Choir 3:58

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray

Back to some more roots gospel from the Smithsonian Folkways collection. This is as raw, basic, and good as it gets.

This isn’t an old recording; it just sounds that way.  The female lead singer is Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock and now curator of the Community Life Division of the Smithsonian Institution.

  1. Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray Bernice Johnson Reagon 1:49

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

As an added bonus today, free of charge, I’ve included a link to a video of Bernice Johnson Reagon speaking with Bill Moyers on the subject, “The Songs are Free” where she explains how music has been used throughout black history to empower and show solidarity.

There’s Power in His Name (Pts 1 & 2)

This song by Yvette Flunder just keeps going and going and for good reason; you can’t get enough of it.  She is such a powerful singer and her City of Refuge choir is terrific.

Rev. Dr. Yvette A. Flunder (born July 29, 1955 in San Francisco, California) is an American preacher, singer, and senior bishop of the City of Refuge UCC in Oakland, California.

  1. There's Power In His Name - Pts I & II Yvette Flunder & C.O.R.P.E. 10:40

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Flunder was raised in the Church of God in Christ. In 1984 she began singing and recording with Walter Hawkins and the Love Center Choir.  She was later ordained by Hawkins. In response to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, Flunder founded several not-for-profit enterprises in the San Francisco Bay Area providing services for people affected by HIV: Hazard-Ashley House, Walker House, Restoration House and the Ark of Refuge, Inc., which later became the Y. A. Flunder Foundation.

In 1991, she founded the City of Refuge under the United Church of Christ, “in order to unite a gospel ministry with a social ministry”. Flunder earned a Certificate of Ministry Studies and a Master of Arts in 1997 from the Pacific School of Religion, before earning her Doctor of Ministry degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2001. In 2000 she founded the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a trans-denominational coalition of Christian churches who “desire to celebrate and proclaim the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ”.

Flunder’s spouse is Shirley Miller, the niece of Walter Hawkins; they have been committed partners since the mid-80s.
[Source:Wikipedia]