Gospel

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

Evangelist Eva L. Orange – Mother Don’t Look Back Go Forward

This record came out on the Tropical label out of Miami (better known  for Frankie Sea & The Soul Riders). Most of it consists of a sermon but the album is bookended by a couple of songs on each side. The most unusual is the one opening side A, with its raw, lo-fi sound. It […]

The Witness Four – The Witness Four

The Witness Four were a Auckland, New Zealand based Gospel group from around 1969-1970. This LP is a private release on their own Damascus label and was recorded at Zodiac Studios in Auckland sometime around 1970. The LP is a mix of gospel, folk, pop and jazz. The members of the group were: Bruce McGrail […]

All Nations Pentecostal Church Of Holiness

This is an excellent feel good Gospel LP out of 1970s Wisconsin. I like the fact that it only has one sermon & the other six tracks are great uplifting songs. I’m not usually a fan of stuff with big choirs but the strength of the soloists & the band on this are for some […]

Kenneth Moales – Serve The Lord

I haven’t been able to google much about Kenneth Moales’ recording career. I believe this was his ensemble’s first LP & is probably from the early 70s. Moales is still apparently a respected evangelist & pastor, but I have no idea if he has other records or not. This would be a great LP but […]

Lefon Andrews – Friendship With

This is another inexplicable find from my favorite neighborhood thrift store (SEE ALSO: Joseph – Merry Christmas to You). I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, but I was stirred to action when I learned that said thrift store closed forever this past weekend. I am sad. Seriously, that store was like a […]

The Followers – Gospel Meeting

Normally I am not a big fan or hunter of gospel records.  The gospel field is so incredibly huge & filled with so many records that are so awful that it is pretty tough to know where to start. So I guess I am a dabbler at best when it comes to gospel records. I […]

The James Herndon Singers – This Business of Living

I’ve bought tons of gospel records in the past few years, some good and mostly bad (or too choral or lo-fi) But this one is by far my favorite and one I come back to the most often. It just has the pefect mix to me of soulful vocals, sublime backing female vocals, solid drumming […]

Kurt Van Arsdel – Golden Loneliness

Private press californian gospel LP from 1981. On the back cover Van Arsdel looked so much like the bearded Dennis Wilson that I had to give it a spin. I know this is the first pressing because it says so on the label, helpful. You can google Kurt van Arsdel and find his webpage, but […]

Shaw Singers: Yesterday and Today

‘Nuther really cool homemade gospel rarity from down south. What makes this one especially interesting is that one side consists of very crude almost home-recorded sounding piano and vocal duets, while the other is slightly more produced and features a backing band. I’m assuming this split is referenced in the “Yesterday and Today” title. Both […]

Ellison Family: Roots Of My Soul

I know nothing about the Ellison Family, so, rather than write nothing, I’ll tell you how I came to posses this record. (cue hypnotic music/enter flashback scene)… A couple of months ago I took a trip to find records disguised as going back home to visit my family (it’s OK, they don’t read my website). […]

L’Evangile Selon Saint Luc et les Recits de l’Enfance St. Matthieu St. Luc

A 1963 edition from the Office Catholique Du Disque with sleek cloth-bound good looks, chunky 24-page papyrus booklet insert and 5 discs all in superb condition despite coming from a dank junkshop corner amongst other stuff that was badly water-damaged. Imagine my delight when I open the box and see the fine print: Musique – Pierre […]

Pin Points – No Dressing

Stock cover, late 70’s, DIY looking from Southeast Washington DC, the song titles stood out, looking mostly gospel, with “It’s Got To Be That Dope” raising curiosity. The sounds impressed, gospel, modern soul, drum and rap. With further research i discovered their web site, Pin Points is an activist inner city theatre group that works […]

Marlin Wallace and The Corillions – Songs Of Divine Inspiration

incredible DIY release, variety of styles showcased by thiis rail riding hobo, including some straight Ozark gospel, folky xian protest & heartfelt honest pleas for redemption. Recorded from 1975-8 in Springfield Missouri, featuring top notch studio musicians now working in Branson and members or garage/retro rockers the Skeletons/Morells. This is the real deal, the infamous […]

Wilson Brothers: Jesus Will Lead You

One of my more exciting finds as of late. Extremely raw home-made gospel lp by these four bay area brothers and their dad. While this is far from a total Shaggs style freak-out, it has an absolutely amazing and infectious energy to the whole thing that reminds me of a lot of my favorite amatuer […]

Lost & Found Dept – Let’s Just Praise The Lord

This record comes with pretty much everything you could ask for in a Private Press Gospel album. There’s the ugly chicks, long haired dudes, tubby inbred looking dudes and a bus within which to travel and spread the word. Just as well then that there’s a choice cover shot that incorporates all the ugliness of […]

Norman Ezell / Resurrection Day

Easily one of the greatest record covers of all time, making use of a painting called ‘Rapture’ by Charles Anderson. I also found a different shitty gospel record using the full, uncropped artwork on the cover. Just off to the left of the picture you see here? A 747 smashing into a skyscraper.

Diann Franklin – Celebrate (Daystar)

This comes from a live 1983 concert in Baltimore, MD. Musically, this is gospel soul with a ‘modern’ feel to it. “Even So, Come, Lord Jesus”, with it’s Revelations-based lyrics, moves me as she lets her sweet voice really belt it out. Also, for someone who is celebrating, Diann looks a little worried on the […]

Mel-Vonne: Be Still (Celesta)

Absolutely stunning! Really it’s the only words that I can come up with for this record. Released in 84 it’s a Modern Soul Gospel burner that is quite unfuckwithable in my opinion. Melvin & Yvonne (Mel-Vonne get it?), handle the vocals, the writing of the tunes, and the producing duties. Great backing band too with […]

Quinn Harris – My Mother Said

Sometime between the late ’70s, when he recorded Statements, and the late ’80s, when My Mother Said was released, Quinn Harris lost his mojo. I want to say that this LP isn’t all bad, I mean, it could possibly be of some interest to fans of cheesy, Christian modern soul, but to say that it […]

The Sons of Truth – A Message From The Ghetto

Here’s one of my favorite gospel records. This came out in 1972 on The Gospel Truth label, which was a subsidiary of Stax. Every track on here is very soulful, definitely keep an eye out for this one. The Sons Of Truth: “Give It Up”