Sunday, August 22, 2021

Great Moments of Gospel Music: Dixie Echoes, Carl Story, Sego Bros. and Naomi, Sunshine Girls, more!

 





This 20-selection gospel special was mastered by no less than the Columbia Recording Studio, so I can't understand why they did such a bad job of it.  It took some work to level out the track volumes, but this material is generally of such a high quality, it was well worth the effort.  As ever, I had to remove some clicks "by hand" in my MAGIX program (after the file's trip through VinylStudio), but then I imagine the groove width on this vinyl was compressed a bit (assuming that's possible) to fit in all these numbers, which made the LP more susceptible to scratches.  Don't ask me what I mean by that, as my brain isn't clocking normally right now.  It's the high ragweed pollen count...  My body is filled with allergy meds, and I'm still sneezing.

Florida Boys, Sego Brothers and Naomi, Carl Story--how can we go wrong?  Answer: we can't.  Be on the ready for the extremely down-home singing of the McCormick Gospel Singers (Walking on Holy Ground), the not-quite-on-key bass voice solo that starts the Crusaders' Noah Built an Ark (prior to the terrific, upbeat harmony section), and the must-have-been-dubbed-from-vinyl fidelity of Just a Rose Will Do and Faith Is the Key (weren't J.T. Adams and the Men of Texas WORD artists?).  Today's label, Gospel Time Records, was a subsidiary of Spar Records, which explains the Spar look to the label (I love that sideways font!), and this thing has both a genuine culled-from-everywhere and sold-on-TV character to it, though there's no direct indication that this may have been a TV offer.  My favorite line from the notes: "Gospel music is simply an extension of the stories and the messages given to each of us in the biggest best selling book of all times, the BIBLE."  Okay.

Great Moments of Gospel was a series, I believe, and, in this case, the playlist is so delightful, I guess it doesn't matter from where Spar got its tracks.  Some were likely originally recorded by Spar, and others leased from elsewhere.  Who knows?  Just always remember that gospel music "is easy to understand and accept, because it is tied to the happiness as well as the trials and tribulations of living day to day."  This is a "Compatible" disc, which means it plays on both stereo and mono equipment, allegedly with equally excellent results.  But there may be a catch there.  The thing is, it's my understanding that monaural cartridges were bad news for stereo grooves, and because they were designed to "read" the horizontal groove plane only.  Now, I vividly recall my dad buying a stereo cart for our home's monaural, single-speaker rig in order to make things safe for playing stereo issues (in mono).  So, it may be that, Compatible or no, these Compatible records wouldn't have held up under a cartridge made for mono.  Maybe the missing qualifier is that you needed a stereo cart if you had mono gear.  Oh, well.  I'm not going to buy a mono cartridge to test things--I'll just take Spar's word.  That's the less expensive option.  No need to conduct a test.

To the budget (but first-rate) gospel...


DOWNLOAD: Great Moments of Gospel Music (Gospel Time 1017)


There's a God in Heaven--Sego Brothers and Naomi
The Richest Poor Man on Earth--Dixie Echoes
Noah Built an Ark--The Crusaders
Battle Hymn of the Republic--Florida Boys
Just a Rose Will Do--John Daniel Quartet
Peace of Mind--Georgians Quartet
The Whole World in His Hands--Wendy Bagwell and Sunliters
How Great Thou Art--Wally Fowler and the Oak Ridge Quartet
Ashamed--Sons of Song
Faith Is the Key--J.T. Adams and the Men of Texas
Oh Yes I'm Saved--Foggy River Boys
Heavenly Highway--Sunshine Girls
Above the Storm--Pine Ridge Boys
In That Old Fashion (sic) Home--Travelers Quartet
Hallelujah Amen--Clyde Beavers
Jesus Is Mine--Melody Men Quartet
The Lights of Glory--The Crusaders
Alone--Carl Story
Walking on Holy Ground--McCormick Gospel Singers
Rock of Love--Morris Family


Great Moments of Gospel Music (Gospel Time Records 5017; Spar Recording Studios)


Lee


9 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks, Lee! As someone who knows absolutely nothing about gospel music, I really appreciate your backstories and your opinions - you're an always amiable guide through unknown territory.

- Jeff M.

Lee Hartsfeld said...

Jeff,

Thanks for the kind words!

Buster said...

Thanks, Lee - nice lineup of artists!

A man for whom Christ died said...

Lee,
Haven't even taken the time yet to listen to your work on this album, but I've got it (the album itself) somewhere, LOL! From what I know of these things, these and other cuts from these, like your fake hits, made the rounds, that is, were issued and reissued on different albums, with different labels and so-on and so-forth. Right off the bat, Richest Poor Man features Hal Kennedy, the one who wrote God's Old Clock. Remember that one from a previous post? LOL! The The Dixie Echos are the original ones here, well, at least, the original Bass singer, the founder of the group, J.G. Whitfield, I remember his stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb notes, bless his heart, not quite like the Crusaders LOL! Yeah, I believe the John Daniel and J.T. Adams cuts were vinyl transfers, even on the others as well, along with some Spear Family cuts, Born Again and Suppertime, right off the top of my head. Take Up Thy Cross, is another one from Adams. The Sunshine Girls were from Bristol (don't know if TN or VA) and as far as I know, recorded only one album, Introducing. They also appear on the Tri-State Singing Convention album, recorded on June 13, 1965, live in Big Stone Gap, VA, that's how I knew they were from Bristol LOL! A friend of mine from the area told me once, that they used to sing on a TV broadcast, which I believe must have aired on Sunday mornings, sponsored by a local car dealer, who was a drunk most of the time. The program must have been taped at the station (maybe WCYB, Bristol), for, according to the liner notes of their album, Les Beasley of The Florida Boys, discovered them at a TV station and got them a contract (I believe it was) to record that album at Sun in Memphis. Several of their songs appear on these compilations, including, You've Gotta Have That Old Time Religion (my introduction to them), It Was His Love, In That Glad Tomorrow (which you've featured before up here), Am I God's Disciple (I believe that's the title) and Heaven (guessing there too). Oh and yeah, several of those songs were recorded by others, including the one featured here, Heavenly Highway, by The Looper Trio and twice by The Coleman Looper Family. It Was His Love and You've Gotta Have That Old Time Religion was also recorded by The Looper Trio. Other songs may have been recorded by them and others as well (I'm pretty sure of it), but I'm going off the top of my head and I've rambled on enough for now, more later, I'm sure LOL! Oh and I will say as well, that I don't believe these were sold on TV, just stores. In fact, I've seen two of these reissued on tape within the past thirty years and one on CD, around twenty years ago. Again, thanks Lee, love and prayin' for ya!

Romans 11:33-36 KJB

Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
Blog: http://www.brojoshowens.wordpress.com
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/preacher-friends

Lee Hartsfeld said...

Buster,

Thanks! This one does not disappoint.

Josh,

A late thanks for all the information! Always great to hear from you. Nice to learn about the Sunshine Girls--I especially enjoyed their track.

A man for whom Christ died said...

Lee,
Glad to help any way I can. Re: The Sunshine Girls, sorry, I elongated some of those song title and shortened others. Ya know, ever since I first heard Old Time Religion as a kid, I've enjoyed their sound/style, but every time I hear Heavenly Highway, I always wonder, why did she have to go that high D on the Bass? LOL! I believe I've mentioned the girls (to shorten their name for this post) in previous comments, probably about Looper Trio albums, since they did some of their songs. Oh and I was pleasantly surprised Lee, to see you almost totally fix the small segment of wow, on The Lights Of Glory from The Crusaders Quartet! I've heard that one ever since a kid as well, with that little dip, too. When I was a kid, I just thought someone put their finger on the record and slowed it down a little, but reckon it was a tape (as in master) issue. As I said, glad to see it almost totally done away with, in your post. Ever heard It'll Be Glory from The McCormick Gospel Singers? It's complete with some kind of special Flat-Top Guitar/Banjo (so someone told me years ago), a real Banjo, Piano and Bass. Others of their cuts that I remember off the top of my head (once again) are Behold, I Come Quickly (I believe that's the title), Love Your Neighbor (guessing a little again), What Will The Coming Of The LORD Mean To You (recorded by the LT as well) and one about Faith, can't quite remember that title, but the volume on it starts out low and the instruments include a Piano, Electric and Flat-Top Guitar, Bass and Drums. Oh and there's one other song, which includes more of their normal accompaniment, but I can't even remember part of the title at present LOL! Going for now, I've rambled on enough and besides, Daniel is reading over my shoulder LOL, so, 'til later, love and prayin' for ya!

Romans 11:33-36 KJB

Josh
Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
Blog: http://www.brojoshowens.wordpress.com
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/preacher-friends

A man for whom Christ died said...

Lee,
Here are some more cuts from The Sunshine Girls, which (I believe) predate their album release.

The Sunshine Girls - I Intend To Go Through
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfJ6MrngaFg

The Sunshine Girls -There'll Be No Bomb Shelters In Heaven (1962)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olAphSFUDCo

The Sunshine Girls Depart From Me (Hillbilly Gospel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMuLDZN_CKs

Sunshine Girls - Preach The Word
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AErqdDO6RA

These were in no particular order, just found by searching. According to the poster, they were from Bristol, VA. Enjoy, as I do, love and prayin' for ya and would also please appreciate more gospel posts, again.

Romans 11:33-36 KJB

Josh
Personal Podcast: http://www.jeremiah616.sermon.net
Phone Ministry: (563) 999-3967
TIBPF Podcast: http://www.tibpf.sermon.net

Lee Hartsfeld said...

Josh,

Thanks! And I hope to get back to my Sunday gospel posts soon--hopefully, this coming Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Lee,
Thought of these variations this evening, so thought I'd send 'em to you and the blog. Here's The Sunshine Girls' album.

The Sunshine Girls - Introducing... (1965, Tennessee Gospel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz6Z3XhAGk0&t=460s

Here's a later reissue of most of the album. I say most, because the last two cuts on the file, are at the very least, alternate takes and I'd personally say, totally alternate versions of the songs, given the all-around sound. Also, the last cut of the first album, is completely omitted. Oh and the silence is removed from between the cuts, but anyway.

Sunshine Girls Songs of Faith Southern Gospel Legends Series The Sunshine Girls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGWk9Fi-YoQ&t=85s

There ya have 'em, looking forward to more SMGs, ASAP, love and prayin' for ya.

Romans 11:33-36 KJB

Josh

Church Podcast: https://www.sermonaudio.com/pleasantviewky
Personal Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-old-paths--4074743
TIBPF Podcast: https://www.tibpf.sermon.net