Church of the Good Groove: The April Edition
A track-by-track breakdown of the tunes included in this month's playlist for SoulandJazz.com
The brand new Church of the Good Groove playlist that I curate for SoulAndJazz.com dropped this past Sunday and I thought it was a good opportunity to share some new materials and past articles that many of our newcomers may not have seen yet (Sidebar: It’s hard to believe we are approaching 1,000 subscribers!). You can listen to the playlist HERE!
THE PLAYLIST:
Arthur Baker & The Backbeat Disciples (featuring Leee John & Tata Vega)—Let There Be Love (New Vocal Mix)—12″ Single—1991
Putting Tata Vega and Leee John on the same track isn’t exactly intuitive, but the producer Arthur Baker did it and it WORKS! This is a less remembered-track, but one well worth dusting off. It opens this week’s playlist with a bang!
You can see Leee John in this spectacular interview with my friend
here (Are you subscribed to Craig’s Substack!?)I also wrote about Tata here a few years back and you can revisit that post below!
Tramaine Hawkins—Fall Down (Spirit of Love) (Vocal)—12″ Single—1985
If you’ve been here for any amount of time, then you know that I put a lot of weight on Tramaine’s 1985 #1 dance smash, “Fall Down (Spirit of Love)”. It is, in my mind, one of the most important gospel tracks of the eighties, and I present it this week it its original 12” form, which is longer and carries a lot more bass than the album version.
If you haven’t read my piece on this important moment in Tramaine’s career, then this is the time!
Bobby Jones and New Life—I Am Somebody—Come Together—1983
While anything related to Bobby Jones typically gets a wise crack from someone about his singing, I must point out that Dr. Bobby Jones importance rests in the messages he presented and the singers to whom he gave a platform.
He quickly and smartly capitalized on the success of Glenn Jones’ “I Am Somebody,” and brought this message of self-empowerment and self-possession to the gospel world. Led by Dr. Jones and the unsung Charles Miller, the only shame is that Word didn’t create a longer 12” mix and push this to the clubs.
Don’t miss my piece on Dr. Jones’ contributions from January of last year.
New York Community Choir—Try God—The Gathering—1980
I have not written much here about the New York Community Choir’s years at Myrrh Records (I’m saving that for the book!), but I included this track, “Try God,” from their 1980 album The Gathering, which DJ Walter Gibbons is said to have spun in the clubs when it was released. I’ve heard rumblings that Word/Curb may be releasing the choir’s Myrrh albums digitally, but keep hoping someone will confirm. Let’s pray it’s so.
In the meantime, don’t miss my article (the 6th most read article here!), drawn from my book research, about this often-overlooked choir.
Vanessa Bell Armstrong—What He’s Done For Me—Chosen—1984
There’s only ONE Vanessa Bell Armstrong. This album turns 40 this year and something special is in the works!
Sandra Crouch and Friends—We’re Waiting—We’re Waiting—1985
We’ve had a lot of discourse about Sandra Crouch here this month in the wake of her death. Don’t miss my article about her contributions to popular culture.
Lorraine Ellison—I’ll Fly Away—Lorraine Ellison—1974
Lorraine Ellison is probably most remembered for her heartwrenching performance of “Stay With Me” from 1966 (famously covered by Bette Midler in The Rose), but she was also a player in the carrying of gospel music into the world. She performed in the controversial gospel nightclubs in the 1960s (you’ll read more about this in my book) and one of her performances was captured on tape. You can hear it here.
James Herndon And The Herndon Singers—The Lord Will Make a Way—The Lord Will Make a Way—1969
I first heard this a little over a decade ago when someone uploaded it to YouTube. Led by Josephine Howard of The Caravans (Miki Howard’s mother), it is one of the most compelling performances committed to tape.
Reba Rambo—You’ve Got a Friend—Lady Live—1982
My feature on Reba is THE most read feature at God’s Music Is My Life. If you don’t know about this innovator of contemporary Christian music who brought R&B, disco, adult contemporary and gospel sounds together, make sure you read this feature.
Labelle—I Believe That I’ve Finally Made It Home—Moon Shadow—1972
Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) made some of the most incredible albums of the 70s. Period. But the Moon Shadow album will always hold a special place in my heart. Nona Hendryx’s writing was and is other-worldly yet entirely political and also entirely heart-centric, all at the same time. This song chronicles the longing for and finding of home in the midst of political, societal and cultural alienation.
Aretha Franklin—We Need Power (with Mavis Staples)—One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism—1987
Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples cover a Davis Sisters classic. Why this track doesn’t get more love is beyond me, but it’s one of my all-time favorites. Also, don’t miss the forthcoming Staple Singers Africa ‘80 release for which I wrote liner notes!