We’ve Come This Far By Faith

  1. We've Come This Far by Faith New Hope Baptist Church Choir 6:03

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YouTube is filled with videos of this song, but of the many I checked out, this one grabbed me, probably because of a.) the Hammond B3 organ, and b.) the small size if the “choir”…5 voices I believe. But it’s REAL and it’s beautiful.

AND if you want to see how a church processes in to this song, watch this video (with the world’s longest intro…a minute and a half of just cool striding in and wonderful hats!!)

 

Oh Lord, I Love You

  1. Oh Lord, I Love You Pilgrim Tabernacle Choir 3:39

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A nice song from The Pilgrim Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn NY from 1986. It takes until about 3 minutes into the song for the full choir to really kick in, and when they do it’s a beautiful thing.

The Pilgrim Baptist Church (the church’s real name…not sure why the album had “Tabernacle” on it), was first located at 600 Stone Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Under the leadership of Bishop Roy E. Brown who joined the church in 1968,, the church was moved several times to larger and greater facilities. The church today now includes a radio & television ministry; a school, Pilgrim Christian Academy; a bible school, and The Pilgrim Theological Institute.

Rejoice

  1. Rejoice Donald Vails Choraleers 3:06

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it.” A wonderful classic song from “back in the day” from one of my favorite gospel greats, Rev. Donald Vails and The Choraleers.

My Heart Belongs To You – Extended

  1. My Heart Belongs To You Christ Tabernacle Choir 10:11
  2. My Heart Belongs to You bgv Christ Tabernacle Choir 3:42

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On my walk with Jack this morning…yes, it was a brisk 10 degrees with a nice breeze…this song came on my iPod. It just grabbed me in a special way. No, it’s not gospel, it’s a contemporary christian song written by a guy named David Binton. But it’s lovely and I love the harmonies, and I thought I’d post it on the blog. What I had missed while walking however was the STORY that follows the song…that is actually more powerful than the song itself.

So, I edited the story a titch and added the music back in after the story ends, just because it seemed right. Enjoy.

No Other Name

  1. No Other Name Arkansas First Jurisdiction Mass Choir 5:00

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As I listened to this song the other day, I knew that I wanted to post it on this blog, but my first impression was to edit out the part that talked about “not Buddha, not Confucius, not Elijah…Mohammad”; I thought that in these days of strained relations between religious factions that those lyrics were exclusionary and not necessary. But then I stopped and took another listen and that part felt right in a song titled “No Other Name”. “Jesus, oh precious Jesus. Jesus He’s sweet I know. There is NO OTHER NAME under heaven…”

WHAT-EVER…the point I’m making is the song is what it is…pure gospel that uplifts Jesus. That’s what the genre is about. And I DO love this song, with or without lyrics that might be totally politically correct or not.

I Know The Lord (Will Make A Way Somehow)

One of the beauties of gospel music is that it is music of the people. It’s written and designed to be sing-able by all because of the marvelous and simple “call and response” and repetitive style. And it always works; whether sung by the brilliant Chicago Mass Choir or some small pickup community choir in rural America, the SPIRIT that the music evokes is always palpable. The choir in this recording may be a bit pitchy and rough, but the soloist surely can “sang” and the song is real gospel.

  1. I Know The Lord (Will Make A Way Somehow) North Country Community Gospel Choir 5:13

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Never Gonna Leave You

Nice contemporary song from Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale.

 

  1. Never Gonna Leave You 4:46

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Yes, everyone has a story, and Sharon Riley is no exception.

For close to two decades Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale has established itself as Canada’s premier gospel group. In the aftermath of a terrible car accident in 1990, Sharon Riley was left to reevaluate her life. …”It was devastating. I woke up in the hospital, and it was a total miracle of God that I even survived,” she said. “I was totally unable to walk. Both legs were severely damaged. I had to learn to sit up, remain sitting, stand up and eventually walk again.”

Although she was physically broken, Sharon’s spirit and her faith would not be diminished. While still recovering, she began to take part in a Toronto-based gospel ensemble that would eventually become known as Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale. “The core group was a mixture of friends I’d worked with before, and other talented people who heard about the choir and wanted to participate,” said Sharon. Still recovering from her accident, Sharon drew strength from the group and she was genuinely honoured by their willingness to look past her disability: “I started the group when I couldn’t even walk and watched the evolution over the years into a successful group.”

But what is success or evolution without change? Original members have left, new members have joined, and a new youthful pulse has been added to the group. Founding members have grown older, but after 19 years their enthusiasm has not diminished. “I believe there’s many more years for Faith Chorale. It’s not over; it’s just the beginning,” says one long-time choir member.
(Edited from copy taken from http://faithchorale.com)

I Smile

Kirk Franklin…my hero! My new VERY FAVORITE song! I can NOT stop singing this to myself, especially the last part (3:00 & 4:09) that goes:

Oh oh oh, you look so much better when you…
Oh oh oh, you look so much better when you…
[SMILE!!]

I can’t help but smile a BIG smile as I’m singing!

 

  1. I Smile (Live) Kirk Franklin 4:53

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And don’t miss the video…it’s brilliant!!

https://youtu.be/Z8SPwT3nQZ8