Allright

  1. Allright Southeast Inspirational Choir 4:29

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Another great song from The Southeast Inspiration Choir, the choir that brought us “My Liberty” and introduced the world to Yolanda Adams.

Ain’ta That Good News

  1. Ain'ta That Good News Rev. Ernest Davis, Jr. & The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir 5:07

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A wonderful updated version of the old spiritual “Ain’ta That Good News”.  Almost 40 years ago The Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir sprang to life as an offshoot of The Philly Mass and Victory Chorale Ensemble of Philadelphia.  Their recordings are extensive and all are great.  Check em out on YouTube if you get a chance.

Breathe On Me

  1. Breathe On Me John P Kee 5:04

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From John P. Kee and his New Life Community Choir comes this beautiful gospel ballad lead by singer Shelia Lakin. This is almost two separate songs, with the solo verses making up the first part, and the one minute vamp with the entire choir led by John P. Kee that starts at 3:49 as the other part. It’s all good!!

Lord We Praise Thee

  1. Lord We Praise Thee GMWA Mass Choir 4:53

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I thought that by now I would have posted all my “favorite” songs, but it seems that’s not the case because I just stumbled across this song. If there is one criticism I’d make about the song it is that, even at 5 minutes long, I’m always left wanting more. I can’t get enough of it and I wonder what went on after the fade out at the end.

Oh, and the drum work!  Starting at 2:43 as the altos pick up their part of the vamp, the drummer is marvelous with perfectly timed cymbal crashes, rim shots and the like right through to the end.

The Lord Is Blessing Me (Yet again!)

  1. The Lord Is Blessing Me Gospel Legends featuring Milton Biggham 6:19

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Some of the “old songs of the church” just never get stale. Case in point, “The Lord Is Blessing Me”.  Just about a year ago I did a post with two versions of this song, but I found this version and just wanted to share it will all of you.

This recording was part of a CD/DVD package put together by Milton Biggham, one of the founders of the MALACO gospel music label and founder of the Georgia Mass Choir.  He gathers several “gospel legends” together for a weekend of spontaneous singing and let the tape roll.  This is an example of what happens when you let a room full of great gospel singer go at it.  If you watch the video, you can see that everyone is standing in a group “having some church”…nothing fancy, and they just sing when given the cue.  Since all the songs featured in the collection are “old songs”, these folks know them as well as their name.

Pick a note and join in and sing along; it will make your day!!

I Belong To God

  1. I Belong To God 1st Louisiana Jurisdictional Mass Choir 9:47

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I Belong To God was first recorded by U.N.A.C. Workshop Choir, (U.N.A.C. stands for The Church of God in Christ United National Auxiliaries Convention. Now called AIM, it is COGIC’s big annual Convention featuring daily workshops, and nightly services with LOTS of great music) under the direction of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark on their 1982 release, “A Song Is Born”.

This revamped version of song was a welcomed update to the original and comes from the 1st Louisiana Jurisdictional Mass Choir’s 1999 album, “I Belong To God”.

 The song starts off with a great funky groove with a popping baseline then goes into a part by part build of the intro phrase, “I Belong To God” finally breaking into the verse.

Vanessa Gatlin wouldn’t have had it any other way, being both the composer of the song, as well as the Jurisdictional Minister of Music and choir director of the choir at the time of this recording.

Make Me Better

  1. Make Me Better Dianne Williams and Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer Choir 6:15

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A great singer, here is Ms. Dianne Williams singing “Make Me Better” with Charles Hayes’ Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir.  A frequent lead singer for the choir, Dianne helped define what came to be known as “The Cosmo Sound”. This album was recorded in Chicago in 1982

The Finishing Line

“Pick yourself a winner who has never lost a race; God always comes out a winner at the finishin’ line.” – Dorothy Love-Coates

  1. The Finishing Line Marvin Williams 3:58

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Here is a remake of a classic song written and recorded by Dorothy Love-Coates, one of the great woman of gospel.  The lyrics are so great.

This version is by a guy named Marvin Williams who I came across on YouTube a while back.  His About page simply says, “A fun loving guy who loves to sing and bang on the piano. I love vintage gospel footage and traditional gospel music.”  If you like his sound you can find lots of songs by Marvin on his YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/user/MrVarnellWilliams/videos.

One More Chance

  1. One More Chance Ricky Dillard and New G 5:55

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From Ricky Dillard and his group “New G” which was orginally called “The New Generation Chorale” before they thought that felt a bit too staid and old school.

Yes, I’m confused here.  The album is titled “Unplugged…The Way Church Used To Be”, but this cut, which I double checked came from this album, is anything but “unplugged” and “old skool”.  Go figure.  But Ricky Dillard rarely follows the rules; his music is always creative and beautifully and perfectly delivered by his singers.

I Love Jesus

  1. I Love Jesus Albertina Walker and the Lighthouse Evangelist Baptist Church Choir 4:26

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Another great old song from Rev. Jerry Goodloe’s Evangelical Choir of The Lighthouse Baptist Church in Chicago IL, and Ms. Albertina Walker’s home church for many years.