Various Artists: A Stranger I May Be: Savoy Gospel 1954—1966
"...The first of three volumes surveying surely the mightiest Gospel label of them all..."
- A1 Famous Ward Singers: I'm Getting Richer
- A2 The Harmonizing Five: I Don't Need Nobody But The Lord
- A3 The Sensational Six: Let Freedom Ring
- A4 The Gospel Harmonettes Specials: How Much More
- A5 The Christones: Lord, It's Me
- A6 The Staple Singers: Low Is The Way
- B1 Swindell Brothers: Trouble Of Mine
- B2 The Roberta Martin Singers: I'm Glad I'm A Witness For My Lord
- B3 Jimmy Scott: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
- B4 Shirley Caesar & The Caravans: He First Loved Me
- B5 The Blind Boys Of Alabama: On Some Day
- B6 The Hightower Brothers: He That Believed
- C1 North Philadelphia Juniors: There's Something Within Me
- C2 The Selah Singers: The Wicked Race
- C3 The Ward Singers: Let The Train Roll Easy
- C4 The Stars Of Faith: Mean Old World
- C5 Marion Williams: Get Your Business Right
- C6 The Gospel Cavaliers: Are You Listening
- D1 The Caravans: Mercy
- D2 Eddie Williams & The Crusaders: They Won't Believe Me
- D3 The Davis Sisters: Earnestly Praying
- D4 The Gospel Chimes: My Jesus Love Just Bubbles Over
- D5 The Angelic Gospel Choir: It's The Holy Ghost
- D6 The Angelic Choir: Wade In The Water
The first of three volumes surveying surely the mightiest Gospel label of them all.
Stomping, rollicking gospel music, intermingling with raw soul, searing blues, hard-rocking doo-wop and jazz, and storming r&b.
Infused and incandescent with the hurting, surging indignation of the Civil Rights movement, here are twenty-four precious scorchers by giants like the Staple Singers and Jimmy Scott, alongside devastating sides by less celebrated names like the Harmonising Five of Burlington, North Carolina, and teen-group the North Philadelphia Juniors, culminating triumphantly with slamming, sanctified versions of Hit The Road Jack and Wade In The Water. Drawn from nigh-impossible-to-find 78s, sevens and LPs, hardly any of these recordings have been reissued since their first release.
Presented in a gatefold sleeve, with full-size booklet; beautifully designed, with stunning, rare photographs and original Savoy artwork. Sound restoration and mastering at Abbey Road; pressed at Pallas.
Co-curated by Greg Belson, compiler of Divine Disco; with deep, extensive notes by Robert Marovich, author of A City Called Heaven: Chicago and the Birth of Gospel Music (University of Illinois), and host of the award-winning radio show Gospel Memories.