I had a long talk with a former Methodist minister last night at a wedding that I attended. His family had been heavily involved in the Civil Rights movement, and he had followed in his father’s footsteps as a socially conscious minister before ceasing his preaching after the church began, in his words, to tilt right, to force ministers to sign pledges, and to emphasize scriptural literalism (as opposed to a more enlightened, educated approach to scripture).
He seemed quite sad about it. I feel the same way sometimes about the Catholic Church. Although I’m agnostic, I vastly prefer a fiery “you’re going to hell if you don’t commit to social justice” form of liberalism to the calm “my conservative colleague has a good point blah blah blah” style of neoliberalism that is in fashion today among many serious people.
Anyway, sometimes on Sunday mornings I feel bad that I don’t go to church anymore, so I thought I’d start doing religious music on Sundays. I mean gospel music and that sort of thing, not the Bach stuff that all you totebaggers love. Any good recommendations? A friend has me listening to Sister Rosetta Tharpe these days.
lamh35
You can never go wrong with some Mahalia Jackson if you’re into classice Black gospel.
If your into white evangelical gospel music, then I’m stumped.
If your into a more modern take on gospel (with more R&B/hip hop twist) you should check out Mary Mary.
And of course you can’t go wrong with modern gospel artist like Yolanda Adams
I’m at work though, so I can’t link to all the videos, but someone else surely can.
Oh and Whitney Houston’s “Preaher’s Wife” soundtrack has a good bit of gospel music where she sings with Shirley Ceasar and some big AA church choirs.
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@lamh35:
The name I always hear is Mahalia Jackson. What would you recommend by her?
Mark S.
I don’t. Though I am a tad curious because I’ve heard Pope Benny has changed the Mass a bit.
But not curious enough to go.
Southern Beale
Oooh there’s a lot of good gospel music. I’ll have to think about it for a minute.
I always loved Bruce Cockburn’s gospel days. I think he’s gotten away from that now, though.
Here’s one I love, more country/bluegrassy. Mindy Smith, Come To Jesus.
Santa Fe
If you want to sample some seriously old school Christian music, dip in to the Orthodox Christian music offerings streaming from Ancient Faith Radio.
http://ancientfaith.com/
The Orthodox do know how to chant.
Fluke bucket
Maybe this will help smooth over the rough patches caused by the Sunday morning dick pictures.
Aaron Cohen
I’d definitely recommend The Caravans, Clara Ward, Marion Williams, and a new compilation of Chicago’s finest: The Gay Family, “God Will Take Care Of You.” I also recommend a recent book on Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace” album (full disclosure: I wrote it).
piratedan
since my family roots trace back into sw west-by-god virginia… Hazel has always resonated with me…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkt4dznOkoQ
MikeJ
Al Green. Let’s Stay Together.
Used to go to his church every now and then when I lived in Memphis.
ColleenMary
Tom Conry–his CD “The Fire Within the Night” is one of my favorites. Also Bernadette Farrell–her “God Beyond All Names” is quite wonderful. And check out the Iona Community–they put out some very neat peace-and-justice music, much of it drawn from around the world, lots of African and South American stuff. VERY cool.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
Or you could do Saturday evening guitar mass, Monsignor Doug.
Amanda in the South Bay
@Santa Fe:
The Orthodox are no better than the RCs at being reactionary with regards to social issues. Just prettier with incense and icons.
Doc Sportello
Great idea.
You can’t go wrong with anything from Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace, which Wikipedia tells me was the best selling album of her career. My personal favorite is Wholly Holy, written by Marvin Gaye.
Dre
Sam Cooke did gospel before he branched out.
Amanda in the South Bay
Seriously, why not Bach or Palestrina? Its like you’re trying too hard to align your personal tastes with your political views. Lots of non totebaggers who’ve never heard of David Brooks like “traditional” classical/religious music.
mij
hey. in addition to Mahalia, try sam cooke & the soul stirrers or cece winans/donnie mcclurkin for more recent stuff.
PorterSprings
Here is a post-modern version of the old Appalachian classic “I’ll Fly Away” by the two ladies of Rising Appalachia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqaMQirDOss
MttT
I like this idea.
karl
“not the Bach stuff that all you totebaggers love” — F&@# you, A$$#@&%!!!
That said, the Five Blind Boys are excellent (Mississippi or Alabama, it doesn’t matter, as long as they are blind and there are five of them) the older the recording, the better. Also (not too), the Soul Stirrers with R.H. Harris singing (pre-Sam Cooke) and the Jubilee Golden Gate Quartet.
These are pretty basic offerings, you may want to find some old live concert or compilation albums to get a sense of different performers and styles.
Good luck you Bach-hating bastard. I hate you but I forgive you.
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):
Oh. My. God. I miss those so much!
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@karl:
I don’t hate Bach. I just think that he isn’t blog appropriate.
Jerzy Russian
Elvis Presley has some nice gospel tunes, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b98YFK5Oubo (Peace in the Valley)
divF
@karl:
Why not the Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke ?
danielx
I’ll Fly Away…as recorded on Mahoney’s Last Stand by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood. A capella.
nellcote
-Aretha
-Aron Neville
Jewish Steel
1) I don’t think you are using neoliberal correctly here.
2) Bach sails over the heads of totebaggers. I think they’re more into Diana Krall or similar ear slurry.
3) Not that you deserve it for dissing my man JS, but here is the second best Sea Walking Jesus by Skip James. Folks should seek out the Arhoolie Hear Me Howling version if their interest is piqued. It’s transcendent. You xtians like transcendent, right?
Eileen
For an introduction to classic gospel music, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, there’s a Thursday night gospel show on wfmu.org called “Sinner’s Crossroads” (also available as a podcast). There’s also a great box set that came out in 2003 called “Goodbye, Babylon.”
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):
Do you think that Peace Is Flowing Like A River has pretty much the same tune as Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain? Or is that just me?
divF
Linda Tillery. Some of the songs she has recorded with the Cultural Heritage Choir are traditional African-American gospel.
Rex Everything
I’ll recommend Tamela Mann–check this out, starting around 3:20 (also her album _Best Days_ is SLAMMIN).
scooter
Bettye Levette
Wilson Pickette
im just loving on the stylistics right now
Porco Rosso
Like totebaggers never listen to this.
http://youtu.be/zSif77IVQdY
Schlemizel
I grew up in that same socially conscious Methodist environment. The Rev that confirmed me was arrested with Dr. King shortly after my confirmation. That caused a rift in the church between the socially aware & the ‘old guard’. It cost him is job.
I ran into the same thing later when I tried to bring my family up in the church (more for a societal standard than a deep belief). There was a huge effort to distort the bible so as to exclude gays. This was when I really learned how much the wingnuts hate that I knew more about the bible than they did & it was not good news for them.
Still, its growth from the days when Mark Twain labeled the Methodist church as “the secular arm of the KKK”
Nina-the-first
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzB3RVal_Iw&feature=related>Just a closer walk with thee from Coolhand Luke and here it is in it’s entity from Mahalia.
gbear
Not what you had in mind at all, but: ‘Church’ by Lyle Lovett
Schlemizel
BTW – if you find yourself near Minneapolis on a Sunday Please do yourself a favor and have breakfast at Hells Kitchen. Not only do they have live gospel music (usually Blues on Saturday if thats more to your taste) but the food is out of this world.
Try the Mahnomen porridge or the bread pudding and get a side of the Buffalo sausage bread. You’ll scarcely be able to walk (particularly if you try to eat the very rich bread pudding) but you will be satisfied and hear some great singing.
Alison
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ:
Ah, but what if someone has pictures of his dong?
red dog
Just listen to the soundtrack of “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” if you want to hear some the “Old Time Religion” music.I’m an athiest and yet enjoy this very much, particularly “Down By the River”
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ:
HA! I never thought of it- by the time I started listening to Willie, Peace Is Flowing Like a River had been erased from by mind. But now that you mention it…They are very similar.
So did you have Father Bill, too, the younger priest who gathered all the kids up to the altar during the sermon?
Heliopause
Yes. If you’re shutting out Bach because of some imagined socio-political association you are cheating yourself.
LGRooney
How about a little Bobby Bare?
Smiling Mortician
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ: I’d recommend almost anything. But her Trouble of the World is gorgeous.
Nina-the-first
Sorry about the links mess in #30: A closer walk with thee–
The first is from Coolhand Luke and the second is the full version by Mahalia Jackson.
Porco Rosso
Then again, you can never go wrong with Nina Simone.
http://youtu.be/Bn5tiuZU4JI
Sinnerman? I mean, come on…
http://youtu.be/If6i59NUfkk
MonkeyBoy
On the other hand you can have organ music from a church that is not religious but still inspiring.
Tocatta from Widor’s #4.
BGinCHI
Great post title. I can’t get the Gram Parson vocals from that song out of my head now.
Such a great song, and if you don’t own Sweetheart of the Rodeo shame on you.
Louvin Bros original is great too, and they have some cool gospel bluegrass.
TOP123
@Amanda in the South Bay: Amen!
bk
Am I the first to identify the title as coming from Sweetheart of the Rodeo?
lamh35
The father of the late Ambassador Chris Stevens pleads for his son’s death not to be exploited as part of the presidential campaign.
BonnyAnne
after joining the Catholic church rather spontaneously in my first year of college, I stopped attending it (or any other church) for years and years because what I heard and saw made me too angry. Just in the past month, I’ve discovered my local ‘anglo-catholic’ church — a combination of smells-and-bells Catholic liturgy and music with an Episcopalian mindset. Beautiful chanting, choir, and organ music, and weekly reminders from the married, female head priest (“Mother Margaret”) that the church supports WA state’s gay marriage referendum.
I can’t believe I’m going to church again — hell, I’m going in an hour and I’m looking forward to it — but it seems to be working so far, so I’m running with it out of curiosity as much a anything else.
Kay Eye
Iris DeMent’s “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” True Grit soundtrack, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anhPfU3WGXk; and “Let the Mystery Be,”her great sorting-out of her fundamentalist evangelical childhood; and “Mama’s Opry,” which explores the profound influence of that gospel music upon her life. Any Iris DeMent gospel song reaches beyond a literal meaning of the lyrics in a deeply human longing for that ineffable need for solace.
You take your comfort where you can.
Bruce S
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ:
Mahalia? Earlier Apollo label recordings – “In The Upper Room” being emblematic. There’s still some decent stuff on Columbia, but they did a number on her and a lot of it is very mainstreamed.
Amanda in the South Bay
What Doug is doing is no different than what conservatives do
When they interject politics into discussions of art. Like conservatives ascribing Catholicism into Tolkien, National Review’s list of the top conservative movies, etc. Or the conservative fetish for Mad Men.And it also sets up the hierarchy of “true progressive who cares about social justice listens to folksy gospel.”
Amanda in the South Bay
Sorry im on a phone and the spelling and grammar are all fucked up.
lamh35
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ: EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.
I have a soft spot for her version of “Precious Lord”. It’s the song she’s most known for I think and it’s also the song she sang at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.
Bruce S
Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes are about as powerful as classic gospel gets. Also close to MLK and the southern civil rights movement. Specialty Records was the essential label. A major influence on Little Richard – and her gospel songs – 99&1/2 Won/t Do, You Can’t Hurry God (Love), and That’s Enough were re-done as secular songs by Wilson Pickett, The Supremes and Ray Charles respectively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emqvkt0T-Y
PurpleGirl
Reggae: By the Rivers of Babylon by the Melodians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-5E6_qtXAw
TOP123
Billy Bragg & Wilco’s Woody Guthrie tunes had a couple, and the line “Jesus Christ for President” seems appropriate to this discussion…
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):
I think we had that at the church I went to near Boston, but not the one I attended in central New York.
Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ
@bk:
Yes!
NotMax
50-plus comments and no mention of Ethel Waters?
Tsk-tsk.
Mark S.
@Amanda in the South Bay:
He is a Manichean Monster. Don’t let the metrosexualism fool you.
jimbo57
“What Is The Soul of a Man?” By anybody. Been covered so many times, still a great song
jimbo57
“What Is The Soul of a Man?” By anybody. Been covered so many times, still a great song
Johannes
As a progressive Episcopalian, I do social justice, but not gospel music. (i leave that to la Caterina, who has a southern background.) No love for Benjamin Britten? Try “Rejoice In the Lamb.” Good for what ails you, and pro-cat, too.
forked tongue
I would suggest instead that you stop feeling bad about not believing in invisible superheroes who live in outer space, and personally, no matter how good the music is, gospel just pisses me off and makes me sad–not because I don’t believe, but because so many good people have put so much energy into a mass delusion. Yes, a lot of the music is good, but there’s always other also-good music to listen to.
BGinCHI
@Kay Eye: I love me some Iris DeMent. Saw her live with John Prine and won’t soon forget it.
Bruce S
@forked tongue:
A miracle! Commenter turns wine into water!
BGinCHI
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ: I guess that means you must be pie filtering me then. Sigh.
forked tongue
All due respect to Woody Guthrie, but Jesus wasn’t all that, actually. What he said that was good was not unique to him, and what he said that was unique to him was not good.
I like taking rich people down a peg too, but it must be admitted that “Sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor” is a lot easier to say when you believe the end of the world is around the corner. And the “Unless you believe in me, you’re going to hell” stuff was Not Edifying.
Bex
@BonnyAnne: Welcome to TEC where you don’t have to check your brains at the door.
Jay in Oregon
If you want good stuff to read on a Sunday, a fantastic essay by Brad Hicks on how Christianity in America got subverted into turning its back on the morals it claims to embody:
http://bradhicks.livejournal.com/118585.html
You can’t go wrong with Fred Clark over at Slacktivist, either:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2012/10/11/the-book-of-philemon-does-not-defend-slavery/
forked tongue
Yeah, that “Christian Life” song is great. You won’t lose a friend by heeding God’s call, because what is a friend who’d want you to fall?
Similarly, you won’t lose a real friend by heeding L. Ron Hubbard’s call… Reverend Moon’s call… Charlie Manson’s call… etc., etc.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
Pops Staples and his family kinda come to mind.
Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)
“Chant A Psalm”, Steel Pulse.
Spaghetti Lee
@Amanda in the South Bay:
Amen (heh) to that. Doug, I love ya, but you gotta stop seeing ‘totebaggers’ hiding in every shadow. They’re probably one-tenth as numerous and as powerful as you think they are.
@forked tongue:
Alright, we get the hint.
jayackroyd
Fuck you DougJ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI
Dies Irae
And I’m no flippin’ candy assed agnostic.
Atheist. But this is music!
lgerard
Don’t forget
the mighty James Cleveland
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=james+cleveland&oq=james+cleveland&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l10.362.3544.0.5618.15.7.0.8.8.0.163.729.4j3.7.0…0.0…1ac.1.2giqpum_SbE
PorterSprings
Ok then, not old time religion but here’s John Lennon singing “Imagine” there’s no religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgYAHHkPFs&feature=player_detailpage
I_D_Inuse
MMMDougJ,
As a long time Catholic, married only because I joined the church, and a believer in the value of Religion as an evolutionary necessity, I am here to say you cannot be a Catholic without being an agnostic…ask the Jesuits, Zen Buddhists, Episcopalians,Sufi’s on and on as we catalog the world history of religion.
Arlen Specter just died so I am going take a moment to reflect on a man who tried to keep his country from extremes, was he right, I do not know but he did what he thought right for his country,wrong he may be but he tried, which is more than most opportunistic politicians do.
May he rest in peace.
debbie
Emmylou Harris singing “Every Grain of Sand.”
Johannes
@MonkeyBoy: Nice one, my friend– we use it for Easter, Christmas and celebratory occasions.
Spike
I’m a hardshell atheist, but I’ll happily pile onto the “I’ll Fly Away” bandwagon with this rendition by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band, performed live on David Letterman’s show:
I’ll Fly Away
Yutsano
@jayackroyd: Do unfinished works count here? :)
burnspbesq
Even in the 20th Century, the best choral music was sacred.
Check out the Poulenc Gloria, the Penderecki St. Luke Passion, the Golijov St. Mark Passion, and the Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms.
Here’s a taste of the Poulenc. Not my favorite recording of it, but still good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2S5BguaZCA&feature=relmfu
hilzoy
(1) Aretha. In addition to (possibly in preference to) ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism’ has some absolutely killer versions of wonderful gospel songs: ‘Packing Up, Getting Ready to Go’ is just amazing. Also, backup (??!!) by Mavis Staples and Aretha’s sisters.
(2) Staple Singers. Freedom Highway, and Glory! It’s the Staple Singers!
Lots and lots of other good ones. Clara Ward, for instance.
jake the snake
Gospel, you talking Gospel? I’ll give you Gospel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBDZ3G4RCHc&feature=player_detailpage
hilzoy
Aha! Youtube of Aretha, “Packing Up”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlwL3CjeJdw&feature=relmfu
On that page, there are links to a lot of the rest of the album. ‘Surely God is able’ and ‘Jesus hears every prayer’ are excellent.
Staple Singers are less well-represented on Youtube. (Their gospel, at any rate; there are apparently infinitely many versions of ‘I’ll take you there’.) If you like gospel with beat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7hrruXF7K8
If you like rawer, older gospel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhtgZKC9tts
In neither case are these the best off the albums, but they’ll do in a pinch. ;)
Scott S.
@Kay Eye:
Can’t help it, but I can’t think of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” without thinking of this glorious duet.
Nikolita
I don’t listen to much gospel, despite being raised Anglican, but I’ve recently discovered Elvis’ cover of “How Great Thou Art” and really like it. (There’s also a master Elvis gospel playlist in the video’s comments.)
Another one I’ve had in my music collection for many years is 4Him’s version of “Be Thou My Vision”.
Blue Crab
Famous Blue Jay Singers.
Dixie Hummingbirds
If you want to delve more into vintage Black Gospel, WFMU’s Sinner’s Crossroads is the shit.
http://wfmu.org/playlists/CR
Another Halocene Human
Steeplejacking. It was all planned. It didn’t just happen. And they’ve destroyed the church in the process. Young people are turning away not just from organized religion but from Christianity itself in droves.
Another Halocene Human
Steeplejacking. It was all planned. It didn’t just happen. And they’ve destroyed the church in the process. Young people are turning away not just from organized religion but from Christianity itself in droves.
Another Halocene Human
@lamh35: I hope this gets more traction Monday.
Sick, sick, sick.
chrismealy
Sinner’s Crossroads is the best! DougJ, take it from your fellow Mekons fan, you will love it. I promise!
http://wfmu.org/playlists/CR
eemom
Farther along. Heard a cool a cappella version of this recently on XM which I haven’t been able to find, but this one is a trio of Dolly, Emmylou and Linda, and you can’t really go wrong with them.
Lyrics most a propos for teh politics. “then do we wonder why others prosper, living so wicked year after year.”
forked tongue
@eemom: Yes, that song is totally politically right on, if you think the answer is to wait until you pass the heavenly gate and see your dear loving savior.
dance around in your bones
Late to this thread as usual, but Mother McCollum ‘Jesus is my Air-O-Plane’
East Coaster
The group Sam Cooke sang with was The Soul Stirrers – excellent. I also highly recommend the Might Clouds of Joy – Joe Ligon is an amazing and far too unrecognized singer. If you want interesting white gospel (and are properly repelled by the Bill Gaither enterprise), look for the Cox Family, especially their releases with Alison Krause. And if you actually miss good preaching, I’d start with Rev. C. L. Franklin (Aretha’s father), especially his The Eagle Stirs Her Nest.
Bruce S
@Kay Eye:
Iris has a new album just out – originals and wonderful.
karl
@Metrosexual Manichean Monster DougJ: Hmm, not blog appropriate. I see what you mean — okay, no more Doug-hate.
Bruce S
Final note – you can’t have a gospel jamboree without Marion Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21egDjVqG6I&feature=fvwrel
karl
@divF: Everybody already knows Sam Cooke but not R.H. Harris. It’s a horizon-widening thing.
eemom
@forked tongue:
That kind of comes with the turf when you’re talking about gospel music, dumbass.
SBJules
The Fisk jubalee singers.
Patricia Kayden
I see others have recommended Mahalia Jackson. “Move On Up A Little Higher” is one of my favorite Gospel songs. And you can’t go wrong with Rev. James Cleveland’s “God Is” or “Peace Be Still”.
For more contemporary Gospel singers, try Yolanda Adams or Oleta Adams.
Bruce S
@karl:
Saw R.H. Harris sing with an original Soul Stirrers reunion (filmed for a documentary by Bruce Conner but never finished or released in any form unfortunately) about 25 years ago, and not to take anything from Sam Cooke who is my favorite male vocalist, but it was obvious that Cooke had learned most of his chops from Harris. It was kind of eery, but amazing to see the old master.
Delia
Emmylou Harris & Johnny Cash, Where The Soul Never Dies
Svensker
Late late to the party but:
Staple Singers. And Mavis Staples singing Hard Times Come Again No More. Absolute chills.
I recently discovered Lining Out Psalm Singing. Primitive Baptists doing it.
And here are the Scots Gaels doing it.
Absolutely haunting stuff.
Svensker
Here’s Mavis
Forked Tongue
@eemom:
No, I’m not dumb about it, I just despise it, that’s all.
Seriously, I am pretty dumbfounded that I seem to be the only one who finds singing the praises of Jeezus quite revolting, no matter how soulfully one does it.
forked tongue
@eemom: Hey by the way, dumbass, I wasn’t the one who extolled the political relevance of a taken-from-context line of a song the punchline of which is that injustices may never be corrected in this life but at least in the next one it’ll all be clear. You enjoy songs like this, fine, just don’t pretend that only dumbasses take issue with them.
Bruce S
@Forked Tongue:
Oh, put a sock in it.
maurinsky
Gospel music is great, but I can’t believe you dissed Bach like that!
Nice to see the mention of Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. I am a paid singer in a Catholic Church even though I long ago left the church as a participating member, this is one of my favorites to sing.
Just this week, we sang Vaughan William’s “Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge”, which is also fantastic to sing, so exciting.
We will be singing a gorgeous arrangement of “How Can I Keep From Singing” which is probably my favorite hymn ever, in a couple of weeks (arr. by Edward Tyler).
Other favorites: Bainton’s “And I Saw A New Heaven”; Gawthrop’s “Sing Me To Heaven”; “O Magnum Mysterium” by either de Victoria or Lauridsen, and pretty much anything for the organ by Herbert Howells or Olivier Messiaen.