Fabulous old-fashioned gospel music from Indiana's Paul Levin (mandolin) and Bob Findlay (guitar). This is another thrift gift from Diane (thanks, Diane!) and one I totally loved--plus, in my two hours or so of researching the song credits, I learned much about Hornet Song, the sixth track, a number copyrighted in 1925 by gospel music publisher Thoro Harris, but whose text dates at least as far back as 1913 (it appears in the Oct. 16, 1913 edition of the religious newspaper, Herald of Gospel Liberty). No clue as to the author, but the tune is from 1903's This Is Like Heaven to Me, by L.E. French. The link above takes you to scans of both words and music. It seems that Singspiration (whose label this happens to be) combined the text with French's tune in 1965 and copyrighted it accordingly. Seems like I just did a post about copyright shenanigans...
Hornet Song (with or without the The), is also known by its first line, When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God, and the number is associated with Paul and Bob, and with Mr, and Mrs. Floyd F. Lacy, whose 1925 recording I featured here.
Anyway, because Paul and Bob sound so much like the McCravy Brothers of South Carolina, a duo which recorded for a number of labels in the 1920s, I figured they must be from the South. Not so, but they could have fooled my northwest Ohio ears. (I guess they did, at that.) Like the McCravy duo, they seem like the template for modern bluegrass and bluegrass gospel, though by the time of this LP (1955, I'm almost sure) bluegrass--the 1940s type, anyway--was well established. And the songs, several of which proved challenging to trace, are classic "good ol'" numbers--the usual mix of vintage (1902's The Old Account Was Settled...), folk (Just a Closer Walk...), and more recent than you might guess (1948's I Want to See My Savior First of All).
I'm about to doze off, so I'd better call this an essay ("You're an essay") and leave you to the terrific offerings of Paul Levin and Bob Findley, who, like the Chuck Wagon Gang and the Lewis Family (among others), remind us that, in gospel at least, talent speaks louder than fancy productions.
A gem.
DOWNLOAD: Paul and Bob Present Gospel Harmonies (Singspiration LP 133; c. 1955)
Just a Closer Walk With Thee (Trad.)
Thirty Pieces of Silver (Stanphill)
Among the Lilies (Dora May Heltzel)
I Want to See My Savior First of All (John W. Peterson)
Peace, It's Wonderful (Thomas A. Dorsey)
Hornet Song (Tune: J.E. French, 1903)
It Took a Miracle (John W. Peterson)
Beyond the Sunset (Virgil and Blanche Brock)
Don't Forget to Pray (aka, Did You Think to Pray?) (Kidder-Perkins)
No Disappointment in Heaven (Lehman-Mays)
Meet Mother in the Skies (Unkown--Arr. W.S. Nickle)
The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago (Graham)
Lee
21 comments:
Honest, genuine, real, unpretentious, simple, heartfelt, golden.
Spirit unto spirit.
I will sleep in peace tonight.
Bless you for sharing.
Larry,
You described the music perfectly! Happy to share it with you.
I'm so happy this was a good one. Some of the records I send you are probably better left unheard, but I'll keep trying for the ones that work out so well. Thanks, Lee.
Diane,
Next Sunday will be another gospel gem you thrifted. A still-sealed LP, no less. All-out bluegrass gospel, this time. So, thank YOU! I imagine a lot of folks would be surprised that the Midwest is such a hot spot for old-time gospel groups, with so many based here and/or using local recording studios.
Thanks Lee, for this interesting album, one to unzip for future use, for sure. I haven't listened to every cut yet, but what I have heard, will definitely get some more plays LOL! IMHO though, I wouldn't call them southern, I'd call their style a starchy version of The Blue Sky Boys LOL, all due respect to Bill and Earl, you understand. I will give you this though, they do sound like The McCravys, although I haven't heard much of their material at all. P&B are a little slow for me personally, but their songs fit them well. The first place I ever heard Hornet Song, was Howard Jewell, only two other versions were your blog LOL! I am glad too, to find another version of It Took A Miracle, more of a starchy song too, associated with Bill Burr, but as said above, it fits them well. I didn't know Stanphill wrote Thirty Pieces, new one on me, thanks! Thanks again and although I'm more of a down-home kinda guy, I do appreciate this one and will enjoy and use it as the LORD and time permit. 'Til next, love and prayin' for ya!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Callcast: (563) 999-3967
Blog: http://www.brojoshowens.wordpress.com
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/preacher-friends
Josh,
Glad you like it so far! I, too, initally thought the tempos were a bit too slow, but as you note, the medium speeds go with their style. The duo makes the tempos work And I had to search like crazy to find the "Thirty Pieces" credit, though it was sitting there all the time at Hymary.org, which lists the Singspiration songbook containing it (which I might bid for on eBay). That's such a popular bluegrass and country gospel number, you'd think it would be more widely dispersed in the songbooks, but some numbers get limited printings, for some reason. I remember being amazed at how rarely "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" shows up in hymnals and songbooks, despite its huge popularity. "Whispering Hope" is another example, though of course that's a mid to late 19th-century number not intended as a hymn. "Circle" was first published by Charles Alexander, and then Homer Rodeheaver must have bought out all his copyrights. I saw a Howard Jewell CD on Amazon (with "Hornet Song"), and I'd never heard of him before. I'd love to discover the origin of the "Hornet" text--that it showed up, uncredited, in a 1913 religious newspaper suggests that it was already a "folk" hymn at that time. This also raises the question of when it was joined with the 1903 melody. It could easily have a late 19th-century origin. On YouTube, there's a video of a woman singing the song from memory, and it's presented as a folk number.
Anyway, I was a couple hours tracking down song info for this one, but I enjoy that kind of thing. Great, as always, to hear from you. I figured you'd find this duo pleasing.
Lee,
I meant to mention the connection of Hornet words and Heaven melody, but forgot LOL! Somewhere (dunno where anymore), I have (or had) a Howard Jewell album and I believe it was cut one thereon. I also connected the two songs, at least mentally, glad to see someone else did LOL! I'd like to bring out here, on Circle, the reason it's so popular, is not the first version, but the third, the Carter-style one, which IMHO, I can't stand. I sure wish more folk would sing the first and stick with it, but anyway. On Thirty Pieces, I'm sure you know, the melody for that, is On Top Of Old Smoky. Thanks again, love and prayin' for ya!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Callcast: (563) 999-3967
Blog: http://www.brojoshowens.wordpress.com
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/preacher-friends
Josh,
Thanks for the info. But I wanted to note that the Charles Gabriel "Will the Circle..." was very popular in its time, and it's a flip of the coin which "Circle" will end up on a gospel LP. I've heard both "There are loved ones in the Glory..." and "I was standing by my window..." on LP. The chorus melodies are very close, as are the words for the refrain. I still haven't figured out if Charles Gabriel ripped off a folk number (I'd hate to think so) or if this is simply two very similar numbers. As you know, so many thousands of gospel numbers were published, and so many passed through the oral tradition, that overlap is naturally going to happen. For a while, I figured the Carter "Circle" was taken from the Gabriel song, but then I got my late-20s black gospel version featuring the Carter lyrics. I still believe the title and chorus started with the 1907 Gabriel song, but I tend to think that, except for the chorus, the rest of the words are author-unknown--and likely African-American.
Lee,
First place I ever heard the first Circle, was from an Eddy (sp) Arnold 78, not my own, taped by a friend of mine, the tape long gone. The best version (I believe) I've ever heard of that song (and I've previously mentioned this) is The Spencer Family of Shiloh, OH, from sometime back in the late '70s. They put out an acapella album, which was (at least from what I saw) a huge crossover album, popular not only with Southern Gospel fans, but Bluegrass and Country ones, more than likely due to it's nature and choice of songs. Always been a big fan myself, of The Spencers, wish I could-a-seen this in person, but the one chance I had, dunno what came up, but something did. Stay safe, love and prayin' for ya!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Callcast: (563) 999-3967
Blog: http://www.brojoshowens.wordpress.com
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/preacher-friends
Just found your site via looking at the Claiborne Brothers at the World's Fair (Found a copy of the LP at a salvage shop and made a WAV recording for a friend to use as samples). This is really neat, the cover and label restos that you do and scanning the album art and sheet music. Keep it up! Gospel may not be everyone's cup of tea but the art form needs to be preserved.
Anon.,
Thanks for the kind words!
Brother Paul Levin preached to the teens at the Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, Tennessee each summer I was there as a camper (mid 60’s). We loved him! He had a little chorus about the word “Selah” in the Psalms. I just thought of it this morning, having forgotten it for years! Wish I could find it! He said Selah means to think about it— contemplate. The chorus said “…just think of that when you would question, think of that when you would fear — just think— what you’d do without Him if you didn’t have Him here! Just think of that, just think of that!!” I also loved The Hornet Song and never forgot it. I have a copy of a songbook full of the songs from Paul and Bob.
Mary Anne,
Thanks for sharing your memories! And "The Hornet Song" is one of my favorite gospel numbers.
Mary Anne,
Re: Selah, this the one you're thinking of?
"Just Think of That" – Sung by Lonnie Moore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIn4nKhDJUc
Can't remember who the first person was I heard sing that, but my favorite version I've heard thus far, is Melvin Aiken. I'd say he recorded it back when he pastored in VA (which is some time ago LOL), but our local station (WSOF) still playes it, as they do a lotta good ol' stuff and some good preachin' too, I might add! Hope this helps, love and praying for y'all!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
Wow!! Thank you so much! I’m still listening to Lonnie Moore. It is is certainly the right song. I feel pretty sure I just heard an abbreviated version, and almost certainly at camp. I’m thrilled to hear ALL the words! You just gave me a gift! 😊. Are you familiar with Theron Babcock and Hal Webb? This song also makes me think of some of Theron Babcock’s songs such as “I’m No Kin to the Monkey” and “You’d Better Do It” (song about Jonah—“…when God Tells You What to do, you’d better do it!). Thanks for making my day!! Just Think of That! 😊
Mary Anne,
Glad to be a blessing, any way I can, praise the LORD! I've heard the first name you mentioned and of the Monkey song, but that's all. I believe my wife went to Lonny Moore's church (was that Tabernacle in Nicholasville, KY) some, back when she was a kid, maybe early teenager. Again, so glad I made your day LOL, love and praying for y'all!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
Although I live in Indiana, I grew up in Macon, GA, so I understand "ya'll"!
:-) I had an unusually godly home. Faithful, consistent attendance at churches where the Bible was preached in truth and accurately. We had devotions every night we weren't already in church. I am forever grateful for my wonderful parents! We memorized lots of scripture, and God has brought those verses and passages to my mind "instantly" to fit various trials and situations in my life. Said I would "marry a preacher" when I was 8 years old, again told my classical music professor that I would use my music to play for my future husband's churches...and he was pleased. He had just asked me what I planned to do with my music. We were studying Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, and many others...but I "didn't skip a beat" with my answer. I truly believe I was called by the Lord. Saved at age 6 (during family devotions - story of Nicodemus), told by a veteran missionary that the Lord would use me in full-time service (age 8), etc. My daddy became an ordained minister of the Gospel when I was 14. He preached the truth and even wrote an outline for his "last" sermon when he knew he was about to die. I shared that with several...and I know for sure of a man who was saved because of that. My husband continues to preach expositionally and with no compromise. We've lived in 8 states...
Mary Anne,
Your upbringing sounds a lot like my wife's, including desiring a preacher for your husband and telling your teacher what you were gonna do with your talent. I'd be interested in more specifics, such as your husband's name and where y'all reside, etc, so if you'd like to continue this conversation privately, my email address is jjowens9395@gmail.com. 'Til later, love and praying for y'all!
Romans 11:33-36 KJB
Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
Hi Lee,
Please could you re-upload this album?
Thanks in advance,
Bob
Bob,
It's up now--I re-uploaded to pCloud. I have no idea why files go bad so often on workupload.
Thanks for doing this so quickly.
I had heard 'Thirty Pieces of Silver' and thought it would be good to get the full album.
Thanks again,
Bob
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