27 track compilation exploring the gospel output of Chess’ sister label, ‘Lord Have Mercy’ shines a light on the often gritty, funky end of the Gospel sounds of the early to mid 60s. Charlie Brown’s ‘The World Is Watching’ is a galloping funker that barely registers on the Gospel scale while the haunting ‘Bless me’ from the Inspirational Singers sits at the other end, bordering on weird gear! Stevie Hawkins’ ‘Same Old Bag’ again takes its lead from southern funk, The Meditation Singers’ gritty ‘I’ve Done Wrong’ is punctuated by soaring call and response vocals, The Violinaires’ ‘Trying To get Ready’ is an uplifting, pacey handclapper, the slow burner ‘Soon I Will be Done’ by East St. Louis Gospelettes is a gem while the Meditations’ ‘It’s Wrong To Fight’ has seen plays on the Northern Scene. Lots of good tracks here that show the soul, funk and blues influences on groups rooted in gospel but straining at the leash!
Track listings:
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01 Crying Pity And A Shame by Salem Travelers
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02 It’s So Good To Be Alive by The William Singers
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03 You Need Faith by The Gospel Classics
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04 Troubles by Estella Burke
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05 The Whole World Is Watching by Charlie Brown
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06 Don’t You Worry by The Soul Stirrers
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07 Bless Me by The Inspirational Singers
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08 Lend Me A Hand by The Kindly Shepherds
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09 Same Old Bag by Stevie Hawkins
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10 Please Lord by The Messiahs Of Glory
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11 I’ve Done Wrong by The Meditation Singers
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12 Just To Behold His Face by The Masonic Wonders
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13 Trying To Get Ready by The Violinaires
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14 Soon I Will Be Done by The East St. Louis Gospelettes
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15 O John Behold Thy Mother by The Faithful Wonders
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16 Hold Out by Rev. Singing Sammy Lewis
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17 It’s Wrong To Fight by Meditations
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18 I’m Fighting For My Rights by Lucy Rodgers
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19 Lord Have Mercy by The Jordan Singers
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20 Lord Keep Me Day By Day by Gospel Six
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21 Lites by The Gospel Hi-lites
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22 Since I’ve Been Born Again by Martha Bass
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23 I’m Still Waiting For Jesus by The Jordan Singers
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24 I Don’t Know by The Violinaires
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25 Troubles Of This World by Salem Travelers
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26 Striving by The Soul Stirrers
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27 The Harvest Is Past by The Harmonizing Four
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