Church of the Good Groove--1st Anniversary Edition
A look into the tunes by James Cleveland, Sylvester, Dionne Warwick & others in this month's playlist
A year ago, I began compiling a monthly playlist called Church of the Good Groove for SoulandJazz.com.
My tastes are—shall we say—eclectic…and the ways that music from different genres and eras can converge has always been an emphasis of mine. I also tend to prefer the road less travelled—so the “usual suspects” are less likely to appear on my playlists. If people are already more than familiar with certain songs and artists…what’s the point!? My aim is to mix it up and surprise people.
So, for this June edition, my first anniversary with SoulandJazz.com, I wanted to reach back and grab some songs from the first year and share them again—-as well as throw in some others that might be new to you.
You can listen to the complete playlist here.
Here are a few highlights from this month’s edition:
Benny Cummings & the Kings Temple Choir—God’s Music Is My Life—God’s Music Is My Life—1974
I began the very first Church of the Good Groove playlist with this instrumental track by the late Benny Cummings—which is also the namesake for this newsletter.
There’s a lot to be said about this choirmaster from Long Island, New York who was a driving influence in the contemporary choir scene of the seventies and eighties. Ricky Dillard was deeply impacted by him, as were Hezekiah Walker and James Hall, the three of whom were the vanguard of choir directors in the nineties.
King’s Temple’s percussionist Rodney Plummer recalled to me in our 2017 interview, “That choir was so well trained. He drilled those people…he really trained them to the point where they knew the material [and] could sing it in their sleep. They were singers. They’d rather sing than eat. He was there with people that were up for somebody to coach excellence. They were willing to do what it took to get that out.”
Sylvester—Grateful—Step II—1978
I’ve twice covered Sylvester here—and there’s always so much to explore in his work. This past week, Craft Recordings announced that they will be releasing his 1979 concert at the San Francisco Opera House in its entirety for the first time on vinyl and compact disc—a dream come true for so many of us (read more about that here).
If you’re unfamiliar with Sylvester’s work, here a place to start.
Sylvester's Disco Heat: The Fantasy Years (1977-1981)
Sylvester—Disco Heat: The Fantasy Years (1977-1981)—The Second Disc/Real Gone Music (2023) “Another Sylvester compilation? How many times can they repackage the same music?” was the question I saw one online commenter ask upon the announcement of the release of
Loleatta Holloway—Strong Enough (Larry’s Remix)—12″ Single—1992
This was actually the very first new Loleatta Holloway music I ever purchased. Still in high school, I’d heard Loleatta for the first time via Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch’s “Good Vibrations,” and thus began my full immersion in her incredible body of work.
Last week, I shared about the forthcoming 5-CD box set, We’re Getting Stronger: The Gold Mind/Salsoul Recordings 1976-1982, that I was honored to produce and write liner notes for which will be released in July via Cherry Red Records. See more about that project in the link below!
The Two Tons, Loleatta Holloway & Reba Rambo
Hello friends, At the risk of repeating myself, 2024 is flying by at warp speed. We’ve been in our own swirl of vacillating weather—beautiful, sunny days are suddenly taken over with torrential rain and severe thunderstorms in the blink of an eye—and we’ve also had the cicada plague which has brought out skunks, snakes and all matter of vermin. So, it’s …
Tramaine Hawkins—Call Me—Tramaine—1979
Tramaine Hawkins was on the cutting edge from the very beginning of her solo career. Anybody shocked or offended by her #1 1985 Dance single, “Fall Down (Spirit of Love),” had clearly not been paying attention. “Call Me,” an unsung track from her 1979 solo debut, reminds us all that Tramaine already had her ear tuned to the dance floor…people just missed it!
Read more about this pioneering woman in one of God’s Music Is My Life’s most-read features!
New Time Religion: The Holy Ghost Falls Down in the Club
Writer’s Note: Thank you to A. Jeffrey LaValley, Loris Holland, Vassal Benford, Bennie Diggs and Preston Glass who shared their memories of collaborating with Tramaine Hawkins with me, and to David Nathan. Tramaine Hawkins is an artist whose music has simply
Revelation—Just Too Many People (Paul Simpson Re-edit)—Original from LP Revelation—1975
Michael Powell Ensemble featuring Johnella Hall—Think of His Goodness—I’ve Found a Friend—1972
Rev. Isaac Douglas—Send It On Down—Live In Concert—1980
All three of the above selections are connected to the New York Community Choir, a group I’ve been working on a book about for the past decade. Revelation was an off-shoot of the choir, envisioned by the choir’s founder Bennie Diggs. Along with choir co-founder, Arthur Freeman, Diggs added Philip Ballou and Arnold McCuller (also from the choir) and formed this even-more mainstream group that ended up touring with the Bee Gees, recording with Vicki Sue Robinson on her debut album and becoming one of New York’s in-demand session vocalists at the same time as Luther Vandross, David Lasley and Cissy Houston. Read more about these pioneers below.
"Dance, children, dance..."
Writer’s Note: Last week, I focused on Amy Grant’s Unguarded (1985), an album that caused a massive controversy in the largely white evangelical world. I’d planned on focusing, this week, on Tramaine Hawkins’ The Search Is Over, released in 1986. I realized, however, that I needed to go a little further back in time to set the stage for that story. Sinc…
Ray Curenton—Refuge and Strength—Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be the First—2023
Getting to work alongside my partner-in-life on this project is one of my most treasured experiences. His writing is thoughtful, personal, and unique. His vocals are spirit-filled and impassioned. His ideas as a musician and arranger are refreshing in a time when “new” music doesn’t even seem like music. Believer was the Journal of Gospel Music’s pick for Best Album of 2023 and SoulTracks.com said of it, “When an album sounds good, it is a treat. But when it sounds uniquely good, then that's something to cherish.”
“Refuge and Strength” is a go-to song for me in these troubled times.
You can hear all of these songs and more in this special first anniversary edition of Church of the Good Groove! In case you missed the link at the top, here it is again! I hope you enjoy!
I am in heaven!