He’s Worthy

Another fine song from Donny Harper’s New Jersey Mass Choir, one of many gospel songs with different tunes and lyrics titled “He’s Worthy”. I may have mentioned this fact before but it’s a strange irony that it should be a white pop record that would make an American gospel choir a household name around the world. Nevertheless, it was New Jersey Mass’ 1984 collaboration with Foreigner on their internationally massive hit “I Want To Know What Love Is” that first brought the New Jersey Mass Choir to most people’s attention. (See 2:50 in the linked YouTube video…it’s a great perfromance.)

 

  1. He's Worthy New Jersey Mass Choir 4:26

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Running For Jesus

Another one of those songs that I have no idea where I found it but that I have come to love. I have no idea who Evangelist Melody Green & The NV Praisers are and can’t find anything on the net about them, but no matter, this is just a wonderful, simple, traditional quartet style song that has been given a more contemporary treatment with a strong bass line, electronic keyboard and a nice guitar backing. The voices are the real deal.  The only problem with this song is the vamp at the end could be a lot longer.

 

  1. Running For Jesus Evangelist Melody Green & The NV Praisers 4:53

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Changed

There are a handful of gospel songs, both traditional and contemporary, that have been become staple gospel classics. You’ll find them performed by choirs of all types in concert or as anthems in church. “Changed” is one of these songs.

Written by Walter Hawkins and released on Hawkins’ 1975 “Love Alive” album (one of the key gospel albums of the 70’s), this song features Tramaine Davis Hawkins, Walter’s wife. Tramaine’s family moved to Berkeley CA when she was young and it was in Berkeley that she became involved with singing with the Hawkins. She was one of the choir members on Edwin Hawkins’ seminal crossover hit “Oh Happy Day” in 1969.

 

  1. Changed Walter Hawkins and Tramaine Hawkins 7:51

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When Sunday Comes

This is a wonderful version of Duke Ellington’s “When Sunday Comes” performed by Pastor Daryl Coley who sadly passed away at age 60 in May of this year. One review of this song summed it up succinctly saying, “… the incomparable vocal stylings of Pastor Daryl Coley brings ‘When Sunday Comes’ to another dimension of musical excellence”. This cut appears on an album from Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers.

 

  1. When Sunday Comes Daryl Coley with Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers 8:08

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Victory Shall Be Mine

This is a different version of this song than most people know; that version goes: “Victory is mine, victory is mine; Victory today is mine…” (It seems I haven’t gotten around to posting that version yet. Maybe that version is just titled “Victory Is Mine” All in good time. There are just too many good songs to post, and two other versions of the song can be found in the “Related” section at the bottom of this post.)

 

  1. Victory Shall Be Mine James Cleveland & The Salem Inspirational Choir 6:22

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This is a James Cleveland composition I stumbled upon not long ago and I really like it. As a matter of fact as I listen to it again a I write, I’m lovin’ it! It has so many riffs and chord progressions that just sound like a Cleveland song. (And that must be minister Keith Pringle in the background starting at 2:32 doing some great fill work.). The only fault I can find with the song is that it seems to fade out before the song actually ends and I long to hear what happens after the fadeout.

Happy Weekend! It looks like a couple of gorgeous fall days are on tap. A good time for a little road time to get some apples and see the foliage before it’s gone.

Everything Will Be Alright

One of James Cleveland’s best known songs, this cut is fun because it is the first time he played the song in public.  It’s wonderful it got recorded.

 

  1. Everything Will Be Alright James Cleveland & New Jerusalem Baptist Church Choir 8:39

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God Is My Everything

This is a classic song from The Chicago Mass Choir. The song starts out with a sort of southern gospel quartet feel to it with drums, clapping,  the added simple guitar riff, and then some bass before the choir joins in.  This choir is top notch; their execution is perfect.

 

  1. God is my Everything Chicago Mass Choir 6:44

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Joy

This song, performed by Milton Biggham’s incredible Georgia Mass Choir, was written by none other than a young Kirk Franklin. In the video on YouTube of this song he is seen directing the choir…as only he can do, as well as help sing the lead. (and he can SANG). Over the years this song has become a gospel classic.

 

  1. Joy Georgia Mass Choir 6:37

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Say No

As I have said before, I’m a bit of a sucker for youth choirs, and one of the very best for the past 34 years is Walt Whitman’s Soul Children of Chicago

“Just Say No” was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. “War on Drugs”, prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in illegal recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. The slogan was created and championed by First Lady Nancy Reagan during her husband’s presidency. The “Just Say No” slogan was the creation of Robert Cox and David Cantor, advertising executives at the New York office of Needham, Harper & Steers/USA in the early 1980s.

 

  1. Say No Walt Whitman & The Soul Children Of Chicago 4:52

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The phrase “Just Say No” first emerged when Nancy Reagan was visiting Longfellow Elementary School in Oakland, California,in 1982 and was asked by a schoolgirl what to do if she was offered drugs. The first lady responded by saying, “Just say no”.

This song, aimed directly at young urban listeners, was The Soul Children’s way to try and help support the “Just Say No” campaign.

I’ll Fly Away

One of the very best gospel composers ever, Thomas Whitfield often doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.  I’ll make a point of posting more of his work; it’s brilliant.

 

  1. I'll Fly Away The Thomas Whitfield Company 3:55

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