Sunday morning gospel: The Loopers--Good Times with the Loopers

I rescued today's selection from cassette tape, and since I can find no information at all concerning the LP, here (for compensation) is a scan of the cassette and case. If anyone has any data on this release--label, number, etc.--please feel free to share.

(Update: Bob has provided the answer--and a cover scan, to boot. Click here. Thanks, Bob!)

I taped this in 2001, four years before I gave any thought to blogging, or even knew what that word meant. It's one of many LPs I'd have kept, otherwise. But it's gone, with only this analog facsimile remaining. Which actually sounds quite nice in its digital rip, normal bias tape and all. It's one of a huge number of cassettes I made for John and Bev for car-stereo play, and it was lying in Bev's favorites box. I imagine God Walks the Dark Hills earned it a spot there--an absolutely great version. (Here, by the way, is the story behind the song's composer, Audra Czarnikow, and the group--the Hallelujah Minstrels--which first recorded it: Song Stories.)

A great playlist, beautifully done. This is the second time around at my blog for the Loopers as "the Loopers"--previously, we've known them as the Looper Trio and the Looper Family. But by any name, they're just as potent.

To the Loopers: Good Times with the Loopers.

PLAYLIST

TOURING THAT CITY
ONE DAY I WILL
I'LL FACE NOBODY'S RECORD....
THANK YOU FOR THE VALLEY
JUST FOR A DAY
LEAD ME TO THAT ROCK
GOD WALKS THE DARK HILLS (Audra Czarnikow)
HE'S COMING AGAIN
LOVE WILL ROLL THE CLOUDS AWAY
WHERE EVERYDAY WILL BE SUNDAY


(The Loopers--Good Times with the Loopers. Rite Record Productions, Inc. Cincinnati OH.)


Lee

78s for Saturday--Leonard Joy, Terrence Casey, Polydor Brass Band Orch.

"I blog, therefore I sit in front of my PC." Er, I mean, "I blog, therefore I am." Me, in Bev's office, my headquarters prior to the big move to the Media Room, once the uppermost of the two rooms that originally made up our house, circa 1850. (The Media Room, that is. Bev's office is a downstairs add-on.)

So, I haven't been blogging as much as I would be if I weren't zonked out by allergies. But mere human sinuses haven't a chance in our hot, humid weather--especially now that ragweed is here. One can only laugh. And laugh. And laugh. And continue laughing, even as the men in white coats suit one up for an extended stay in the Happy Home.

Now that you know I'm a traitor to the entertainment state (no love for Lucy, can't stand Imagine, etc.), you may not want to download these 78s from my collection and restored by my mouse and PC. Or my mass-amusement positions may not matter to you. No common thread in these 78s, except that about half are from 1930.

Poppies, by the way, is by Neil (Chlo-e) Moret, and in this recording sounds like Silent Sunday Nights on TCM. The charming Policeman's Holiday was composed in 1911 but, to my ears, has the sound of later pop-instrumental novelties. The one repeat in the playlist happens to be Ferde Grofe's marvelous arrangement of No More Worryin' for Paul Whiteman. The barbershop chorus is just one highlight. As far as I know, the cornet solo is by Henry Busse, vice anyone "hot."

The Polydor Brass Band Orch. makes me wish I'd heard such orchestras in person. From that period, I mean. Which would mean I'd no longer be here, but no arrangement is perfect....

To the 78s: Saturday 78s

US AND COMPANY--Leonard Joy's All String O., 1930. (Victor 22569)
I'LL STILL BELONG TO YOU--Same.
POPPIES (Japanese Romance--Neil Moret)--Polydor Brass Band (Polydor 22350)
RUSTIQUES (Rural Fantasy)--Terrance Casey, organ solo, 1930. (Columbia 2478-D)
POLICEMAN'S HOLIDAY (Montague Ewing)--Same.
RAMBLER ROSE--The California Ramblers, 1921. (Vocalion B-14275)
BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON--Dixie Marimba Players, 1930. (Perfect 15365)
NO MORE WORRYIN' (Arr. by Ferde Grofe)--Paul Whiteman O., 1926. (Victor 20007)
BROWNIE'S PARADE--IDYLL--Polydor Brass Band Orch. (Polydor 22350)


Lee

100 years of Lucille Ball?

Really?

I thought it only seemed that way....

(Rim shot)

(Occasionally, I like to live dangerously in the entertainment blogosphere by expressing irreverence for sacred cows like Lucy, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, etc.)

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: The Weatherford Quartet--Over the Moon (1963)

I previously shared this wonderful LP art (a gift from Diane Werts), but only now am I sharing the music. I should note that, prior to its sink cleaning, the vinyl looked pretty iffy, as far as a decent rip was concerned, but the post-dust and -grime disc didn't look nearly as phonograph-unfriendly. So I went ahead and ripped it. And save for a little distortion in some loud, full-quartet passages, the rip is a solid decent. Since two-adjective phrases are a cool thing at the moment, I'll leave that as is.

But how about the music, you ask? Superb, I answer. These Weatherford Quartet tracks are Southern gospel on the level of the Blackwood Brothers and the Stamps Quartet that recorded for Columbia in the 1950s. I especially like the title track. Of course, the phrase "over the Moon" doesn't seem so futuristic now, what with all the stuff we've sent past the Moon and around other planets in our solar system. I say "stuff," of course, because humans have yet to set foot on another planet. Having noted that, I'm not sure how many of our planets we can actually set foot on. Not the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. And aren't Venus and Mercury too hot, among other issues?

Anyway, exceptionally good Southern gospel for today's SMG, and now that I've heard the Weatherford Quartet of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, I'll know to snap up whatever else turns up by them. If Diane doesn't first! By the way, this must be a Rite Records pressing, given that "RITE" shows up in the dead wax, followed by some numbers. (The dead wax being the lead-out area.) Now we know.

To the music: Over the Moon--The Weatherford Quartet (1963)

TRACKLIST

Over the Moon
There Is a Change
I Know He Hears My Prayer
Round Up in Glory
Jesus Fills My Every Need
Jesus Holds the Keys
Heavenly Love
Love of God
When I Got Saved
Love Is Why
The Great Caravan
Do You Know My Jesus

The Weatherford Quartet--Over the Moon (Cathedral LPM-110-WQ; Akron OH)


Lee