Church of the Good Groove: The March Edition/Bob Bailey Reissue News!
A look into this month's #COTGG playlist & news about 3 Bob Bailey reissues
Before We Get to the Playlist…
Back in 2022, I interviewed groundbreaking CCM artist Bob Bailey about his 1983 album, I’m Walkin’. It has become one of the Top 5 most read features of all time here at God’s Music Is My Life.
Last January, Bob and I began working to remaster his three classic solo albums and make them available in collectible CD formats and digitally. I’m thrilled to share that those projects are ready to share with you!
Each album is packaged in a deluxe six-panel digipak with 12-page booklets designed by Ray Curenton. The booklets include essays about the albums (Bob wrote one for each album, and I wrote an secondary essay for his 1988 self-titled release) and rare photographs from Bob’s archive.
This Wednesday, Bob will be streaming live from TalkShopLive, sharing stories and song from the three albums. Autographed copies of the CDs will be available via TalkShopLive!
Click here to watch live on Wednesday at 6 PM CST.
All three albums are streaming via the digital music platforms. You can also order copies of the CDS via Bandcamp. You can join Bob’s mailing list via his newly revamped website.
Church of the Good Groove
If you’ve been listening to 2025’s playlists, then you see/hear that I’ve been digging deeper in the crates. While the GMIML Radio Show focuses on traditional gospel, the Church of the Good Groove playlist looks more deeply into the contemporary sounds that pushed gospel forward in the (largely) 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
You can listen to this month’s playlist here!
James Bignon and God’s Children-- I Can’t Make It By Myself--I Can’t Make It By Myself --1982
The McDonald Sisters--Jesus Is All I Need--God Is Real--1981
The Sensational Williams Brothers--Natural Inclination--What’s Wrong with People Today--1974
James Cleveland presents… Betty Hollins--What a Time (When All God’s Children Get Together)--He’s Everywhere--1975
The Followers--God Said It--Meetin’--1963
John and Pam Morris--I Feel A Shout--John and Pam Together-- 1976
The Henry Jackson Company--I’m So Thankful--The Henry Jackson Company--1973
Charles May and Annette May Thomas--Satisfied--Songs Our Father Used to Sing--1973
The Fabulous Golden Tones--Jesus Is Real To Me--Take Care of Me Lord--1976
The Thornes Trio of Baltimore, MD.--You Don’t Love God--You Don’t Love God Like He Loves You--1978
Shirley Finney-- Lovely Day, Just a Little Talk with Jesus-- Pray Again--1978
Jean Austin and Company--Spirit Free--Jean Austin and Company--1977
Camille Doughty --You Better Mind --God’s Prescriptions-- 1978
The Salem Travellers--Jesus Is My Friend--Wait on the Lord --1974
The Gerald Sisters --Stranger in This World --Must Be Jesus--1975
The Canton Spirituals--This World--I’m Coming Lord--1980
In Case You Missed These Features…
1965-1985: Come On Children: The Evolution of Contemporary Gospel
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4 More Albums Turning 40 You Should Hear
Last month, I wrote about 4 of my favorite releases from 1984 that celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. When 2024 began, I made a list of albums I hoped to cover extensively. Time isn’t allowing me to do that deep dives that I would ordinarily do, but, again, it’s important to me to acknowledge that these albums happened.
Unwilling To Shut Up & Sing
“Keeper is my gospel album. Of all my product, that would be my ‘statement of faith’ record. Even though the early records are very, very specific about what the elements of my faith are, those are records of certainty. Keeper is a record of questions and mystery.”—Pam Mark Hall
"I feel a shout comin' on" Thanks, Tim!