If Jesus Can’t Fix It

Last night as I drove home from JVOI rehearsal, this song came on and it knocked my socks off.  Why hadn’t I heard this before??  Whatever the reason, I had to share it with you all. It’s my new “favorite song”!

The first version is by Ms. Le’Andria Johnson who, not surprisingly, won BET’s “Sunday Best” gospel singer competition.  This woman can SING and her album “The Experience” is beautifully produced.

 

  1. If Jesus Can't Fix It Le'Andria Johnson 5:59

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The second version, the original as it were, is by The venerable Mississippi Mass Choir from an album they recorded live with James Moore at Jackson State University in 1995.  Also a remarkable recording! 

  1. If Jesus Can't Fix It Mississippi Mass Choir 6:04

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Just As Soon

It’s amazing what I come across stored in the inner recesses of my computer.  Here is a wonderful recording from The Geoff Hicks Inspirational Choir from 2000, just after the choir was first formed.  LOTS of energy, LOTS of great piano work from Geoffrey Dana Hicks and LOTS of great drumming from Ken White!  One of the fun things about this cut is that the person singing the lead hadn’t had much time to rehearse and sings the alto part she knows rather than the usual melody. I kind of like the switch up. The lead gets a little pitchy on some of the notes (glorrr-ray), but it gives it an authentic touch.  It’s a great song.

 

  1. Just As Soon Geoff Hicks Inspirational Singers 3:08

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Right Now Let The Savior Bless You

Absolutely classic James Cleveland.  Everything about this song is soooo James Cleveland…his solo voice, the somewhat strident sound of the choir, the piano part, the format of the song. This is “The King of Gospel Music” at his very best.

 

  1. Right Now Let The Savior Bless You James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir 5:02

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What Is This?

ANY song from Walter Hawkins and The Hawkins Family is good…by definition.  Walter was one of the very best at writing contemporary gospel songs that could pull at your heartstrings and make you weep.  To wit: “What Is This” from 1980.

 

  1. What Is This Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family 6:12

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Something About The Name Jesus

“Young people, there’s nothin’ wrong with dancin’ for Jesus

But we can’t forget where we come from…
So if you don’t mind
Let’s have a little o’ church right now
Thank you, Jesus.  Listen”

Classic Kirk Franklin reaching out his young followers to remind them not to favorite traditional gospel from back in the day.

I THOUGHT I’d posted this song before…but I don’t think I actually did, so here is a treat.  Kirk Franklin did a version of Something About The Name Jesus and looked up an over the hill, quasi-forgotten gospel singer named Rance Allen.  Rance’s style is unique in all the world, full of grunts, squeals, and high falsetto notes. The one song, featuring Rance Allen, revived his career and put him in a prominent place on the gospel map once again.  This song is one of my favorites.

And notice the wonderful stereo effects throughout the song as voices come from the left and right, but mostly at the start of the song when the clavinet or Wurlitzer piano plays…the sound bounces back and forth from side to side beautifully.

 

  1. Something About The Name Jesus Kirk Franklin 6:10

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Near The Cross

Frank Williams sing lead on this wonderful song from The Mississippi Mass Choir. This is one of those songs you MUST let develop and listen to the whole way through because the ending vamp (starting at 5:00 and going on for almost another 5 minutes!!) is spectacular…promise! 

 

  1. Near The Cross Mississippi Mass Choir 9:33

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You’ve Been So Faithful

Another of my favorite songs! I don’t know exactly why this song grabs me, but it does…it is powerful without being over the top…I think it is the duets and the harmonies. Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy it too.

 

  1. You've Been So Faithful Eddie James And The Phoenix Mass Choir 6:05

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Lord We Thank You

Everyday is a good day to thank the Lord, and Sunday is an especially good day for it.  Here is Frank Williams’ fabulous Mississippi Mass Choir with a classic from 1989.  Give the song time to develop; after the nice opening solo the song builds as the full choir gets involved leading to wonderful crescendo as the song goes heads to the end.  Not to be missed.

 

  1. Lord We Thank You Mississippi Mass Choir 6:43

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We’ve Come To Worship You

Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers (“The Tommies”) never fail to please, and this is The Tommies at their best!  This song is not only great and sung well, but the END OF THE SONG is not to be missed.  SOOOO powerful…they hold the last notes seemingly for ever…okay, 11 seconds which seems an eternity…and they are so strong.

Take a listen. I think you’ll agree this is a “keepa”.

 

  1. We've Come To Worship You Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers 6:21

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Wash Me

I love John P. Kee.  A reformed thug and drug dealer from Durham North Carolina, Kee turned his life around and became an international gospel sensation in the 1990’s. His choir is always excellent and several of his family members are in his band. Kee always brings his all to every performance.

 

  1. Wash Me The New Life Community Choir featuring Pastor John P. Kee 4:05

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