SwingDJs

So one of my co-workers is wonderful woman who listens to contemporary, and occasionally, classic gospel music. She's played some stuff on her CD that I would consider dancing to and spinning.

Like last week she was listening to the soundtrack of "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" and there's a Mahalia Jackson song that I like. She's also pointed me in the direction of some music that would work well for WCS.

Anyway, has anyone else thought about playing gospel in a lindy/WCS setting or am I going straight to hell for even thinking about it.

Tina

I forgot to add that the only thing currently in my collection is some stuff from Sister Rosetta Tharpe that George from Austin was gracious enough to give me.

Tina

You should definitely check out some music by The Swan Silvertones. Lawrence gives a rave review to their album The Swan Silvertones/Savior Pass Me Not. I second it.

"Retro" Mike from Boston was also telling me about some great swinging gospel when we were chatting at NADC, but I can't remember the cuts he was talking about. I'll have to go ask him now.

I'm sure Greg will chime in with that killer gospel tune I've heard him spin on many occasions.

Jesse

Swinging Gospal is one of the areas I'm trying to get more material on. I sub on Sunday mornings about once per month and enjoy playing some swing gospal related music.

One of my favorties is an old Jack Teagarden session done with Van Alexander - "Swing Low, Sweet Spiritual". Nice swinging arrangements of Gospal songs.

The LP is hard to find, and the CD re-issue is only on Mosaic - The Complete Capitol Fifties Jack Teagarden Sessions (#168) (out of print).

Does any of the pro dance DJs have this? Suitable for lindy/swing dancing?

There's a great passage in a book I'm reading regarding gospel & jazz - I will have to find it when I get home.

I think a thread already exists on this, oh well, here is what I can remember.

First, the obvious, oft played stuff: Wade in the Water by Eva Cassidy. Gene Harris' "Little Light of Mine"

Other choices,
In addition to Sister Rosetta Tharpe's actual recordings (with Lucky Millinder and others), the tribute album, "A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Shout, Sister" came out last year. I play "Nobody's Fault But Mine" by Joan Osborne / Holmes Brothers often.




And finally, courtesy of Big Cash (Keith from New Orleans) - The Gospel Shag Anthology

JesseMiner wrote: I'm sure Greg will chime in with that killer gospel tune I've heard him spin on many occasions.

Jesse

It might be "This Little Light of Mine" by The Steeles (?). He played it as our warm-up to his WC class at SONH last year. I loved it so much that I searched high and low to find it.

Tina

Yup, that's the one! Great song!

Jesse

Gene Harris has scads of material as well. Big Cash has some local favorites as well. You might want to check out some of the Shag sites. Here's one I found with CD links www.waxmuseum.net/FeaturedCDIndex.html. I think Jonathan Bixby's old site - www.ARBSP.com - is kaput. Ducks used to have a CD review too...

For those of us in the South, we occasionally run into real fundamentalism where people complain if you dance to a religious song - no matter how it is arranged. Mind you, they are dancing in the first place and they don't complain about young girls dancing with 30 year old men or how much the regular music features drugs, alcohol, domestic abuse or murder.

Ah,

Kalman

Nate Dogg wrote:And finally, courtesy of Big Cash (Keith from New Orleans) - The Gospel Shag Anthology

Does anyone own this? There is listed only 8 tracks on the CD for $14.00 (CD Connection). Seems a bit high priced for 30 mins of music.

Jerry_Jelinek wrote:

Nate Dogg wrote:And finally, courtesy of Big Cash (Keith from New Orleans) - The Gospel Shag Anthology

Does anyone own this? There is listed only 8 tracks on the CD for $14.00 (CD Connection). Seems a bit high priced for 30 mins of music.

21 tracks.

I own it, I did not buy it new (I hardly ever do).

I don't play much of it, it is probably a better for DJs on the WCS side of the fence.

Nathan

Track Listing:
1. The Soul Stirrers Medley performed by Joe Simon - 5:37
2. Goin' Home to Jesus performed by Shaw Singers - 2:25
3. Heaven Bound performed by Jubilee Hummingbirds - 3:04
4. Swoop Down Jesus (Carry Me Away) performed by Southern Knights / Bill Pinkney - 2:48
5. I Go to the Rock performed by Miles, Raymond A. - 2:43
6. The Gospel Medley: Rough Side of the... performed by Janice / Harvey Fuqua / Moonglows - 5:38
7. Everyday performed by Shaw Singers - 2:48
8. When the Roll Is Called up Yonder performed by Fulmore Family - 3:04
9. Rough Side of the Mountain performed by F.C. Barnes - 5:21
10. I'm Travelin' Through This Land performed by Royal Ambassadors / Bennie Hill / Gracie Holiday - 3:03
11. Packin' Up performed by Zion Travelers - 2:27
12. Jesus Will Fix It performed by Wisdom - 3:24
13. I'll Fly Away performed by Flossie & The Singing Sisters - 4:10
14. Walk Out in Jesus Name performed by Shaw Singers - 2:24
15. Strange Things Happening Every Day performed by Ruby Andrews - 3:33
16. It's Gonna Rain performed by Coastline Band - 2:23
17. How Great Thou Art performed by Lori Stephens - 3:22
18. Will the Circle Be Unbroken performed by Nicki Ard / Holy Rollers - 4:23
19. He Works That Way performed by Shaw Singers - 2:17
20. I Need to Talk to Jesus performed by Leon Martin / Soldiers Of Joy - 4:13
21. Jesus Is Your Ticket to Heaven performed by J.D. Cash - 3:39

Lavern Baker - Precious Memories: Lavern Sings Bessie Smith

There's some great material on this album including:

* On Revival Day (one of my fave songs to lindy to right now)
* Everytime I Feel the Spirit
* Preachin' the Blues
* Somebody Touched Me

And I know it's non-gospel, but the song "Gimme a Pig's Foot" on the album is fantastic as well ...

A futher resource to contact would be Lucy Falkner of Vancouver - she occasionally does a "Gospel Hour" with her sets and it is just kickass.

My recent gospel favorite:

Nate Dogg wrote:...21 tracks.

I own it, I did not buy it new (I hardly ever do)....

Thanks Nathan for the track listing. This sounds like a great fit for my occassional need for Gospel combined with swing.

Jerry

jesus is just all right with me.