CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Good Gospel Music
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Good Gospel Music

post #1 of 19
5/15/08 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 
Recently I've been getting REALLY into old gospel music. Stuff like "I'm Going Home" from Cold Mountain or "This Song of Love" from the Anthology of American Folk music. There's something very honest and joyous about the untrained voices and sloppy* arrangements. "This Song of Love" doesn't sound like a somber set of pretty voices going through the motions, it sounds like a bunch of people having a party. And if you honestly believe that Jesus has forgiven your sins and loves you unconditionally, you SHOULD be overjoyed. So even though I don't believe in God, it strikes me as music that comes from a very pure and honest emotion, and honesty in music IS something I'm interested in.

Thing is, I've been exposed to very little of it. I know it's a long shot on these boards, but could anyone reccomend me some recordings or compilations of good gospel music?
Reply
post #2 of 19
5/15/08 at 9:43pm
American Primitive: Raw Pre-War Gospel Vol. 1 and 2 are both pretty great. It even has some excerpts of old sermons. They are both fascinating and great sounding, the ultimate in low-fi.
Reply
post #3 of 19
5/15/08 at 9:46pm
Get Willie Nelson's "The Troublemaker". Fantastic versions of ol timey gospel standards.
Reply
post #4 of 19
5/15/08 at 9:46pm
The only Gospel I really know of is The Blind Boys of Alabama, and that was only because of their cover of "Way Down in the Hole" from The Wire. I've heard some other stuff from them and it's pretty good.
Reply
post #5 of 19
5/15/08 at 9:51pm
Also Emmylou Harris' Angel Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Will The Circle Be Unbroken trilogy. Can't forget Johnny Cash. He has several decent albums, but they're a little too nashville sound for my taste (think Elvis style). The Rick Rubin compilation My Mother's Bible is the best bet!
Reply
post #6 of 19
5/15/08 at 10:26pm
The Cash album is actually called My Mother's Hymn Book.
Reply
post #7 of 19
5/15/08 at 10:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams View Post
The Cash album is actually called My Mother's Hymn Book.
Yes, that's the one. (Thanks!) Beautiful, haunting album.
Reply
post #8 of 19
5/15/08 at 10:47pm
Yeah, I do love his version of "I Shall Not Be Moved."
Reply
post #9 of 19
5/16/08 at 1:54am
Johnny Cash all the way.

HYMNS BY JOHNNY CASH
HYMNS FROM THE HEART
GOSPEL ROAD
GOSPEL VALLEY
MY MOTHER'S HYMN BOOK (from Unearthed)

Some of these contain a couple repeats, and many songs in the rest of his body of work have a spiritual tone to them (WARNING: they can drive ya to tears).

EDIT: I'm also a fan of the King's output.
Reply
post #10 of 19
5/16/08 at 10:35am
THE GOSPEL SOUND on Sony is a good place to start. I don't think there is much overlap with the ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN FOLK. Amazon conveniently sells it as individual mp3s if you want to listen buffet style.

http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Sound-V...0942911&sr=8-1

You should also give a listen to Mahalia Jackson, the most (justifiably) famous gospel singer of them all. She's got a big voice, maybe not as raw as you are looking for, but incredibly emotionally direct. Her 1958 live recording from Newport Jazz is great. Youtube has a bunch of clips...

up tempo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_LPVXPdkH0
slow and soulful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDARozfKC_k
Reply
post #11 of 19
5/16/08 at 1:54pm
Some that I'd reccomend:

The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama - The Sermon. This one's as raw and rough as it gets. Sample "Fix It, Jesus" and see what I mean.

The Staples Singers - Uncloudy Day. This is before they signed with Stax and started recording more mainstream soul music. "Tell Heaven" is epic.

Blind Willie Johnson - The Complete Recordings (or something like that). Old, old, old gospel, or maybe just blues with religious themes. Incredibly raw.

If you know the Anthology of American Folk, my two favorite songs on the gospel side are Blind Willie Johnson's "John the Revelator" and "Judgement" (can't recall the name of the artist on that one), just to give you an idea of what type of gospel I like. For smoother stuff, which I'm not as knowledgeable about, groups like The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Trumpeteers and the Soul Stirrers are good starting points.

And by all means, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOmRm0-acJw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaBN...eature=related
Reply
post #12 of 19
5/16/08 at 2:30pm
Wow!!!
Thanks. Never heard of her. I just got blown away!
Reply
post #13 of 19
5/16/08 at 3:47pm
There's this strange song on my iPod, "God Don't Like It" by Elder A. Johnson. I can't remember where I got it, but apparantly it's available on this CD. I swear to God, it sounds like The White Stripes.
Reply
post #14 of 19
5/16/08 at 4:22pm
The Carter Family. Their songs won't all be gospel, though there's plenty that will be, but they'll all be good.
Reply
post #15 of 19
5/16/08 at 6:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Elvis View Post
Wow!!!
Thanks. Never heard of her. I just got blown away!
Sister Rosetta periodically turns up on the Chud boards to blow our minds. She's awesome.
Reply
post #16 of 19
5/16/08 at 6:35pm
I'm betting that you end up coming back here in a few months asking for good choir and orchestral music, and all I can say is try to find a copy of Ode for St. Cecilia's Day by Handel.

Here is a poor quality excerpt
Reply
post #17 of 19
5/16/08 at 10:10pm
Gospel music is terrifying.
Reply
post #18 of 19
5/17/08 at 12:22am
Quote:
For smoother stuff, which I'm not as knowledgeable about, groups like The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Trumpeteers and the Soul Stirrers are good starting points.
The Soul Stirrers are essential gospel. That's where a little unknown by the name of Sam Cooke got his start.

Their best songs:
"Amen"
"Nearer to Thee"
"Come, Let Us Go Back to God"

The latter was used in The Ladykillers.

I'd check out Clara Ward too. She had a group, the Ward Singers (naturally), known for a semi-famous rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

The Pattersonaires do this heartbreaking number called, "How Long Oh Lord How Long." Sure, gospel music may not be as original in it's song-titling as say, Of Montreal or the Smiths, etc. etc. But there's a comfortability in the familiarity of these tunes, some of which have be appropriated in secular soul music by people like Ray or Curtis Mayfield. It's beautiful music.
Reply
post #19 of 19
5/17/08 at 3:12am
The Louvin Brothers have to be mentioned, even though their music might be more country-ish than what your looking for, Patrick. "Satan is Real" is brilliant, album cover and everything. You probably already know "This Christian Life" from The Byrds.
And Edwin Hawkins has some pretty good stuff, too.
Other than gospel, the Roots 'N Blues Retrospective 1925-1950 CD box set is just so fucking fantastic, ranging from folk to blues to sermons and some weird fun songs. It's a blast.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Music
CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Good Gospel Music