Sunday Morning Music (5/23/21)

Happy Sunday, friends!

I had a lot of fun putting this week’s playlist together. I focused a bit more on the contemporary side of things than I usually do—or at least what used to be considered contemporary.

The oldest track on this week’s playlist, the 1979 live recording of “Perfect Peace” by Andrae Crouch & The Disciples, has so many memories attached to it for me. My mother had ordered the double 8-track and double album set at our local Christian bookstore “in advance.” I still remember how excited we all were when they called to tell us they had finally arrived. We played both the vinyl and the 8-tracks all the way out, including non-stop, offset only by the Barry Manilow Live album, on a road trip from Florida to South Carolina.

The most recent recording on the list is “Walk with Me” (a wonderful cover of Thomas Whitfield/Vanessa Bell Armstrong’s arrangement of the standard) by Tata Vega (an Andraé Crouch Singer from 1983 until the end of Crouch’s life).

As I was compiling the playlist, I read the sad news that Madeline Thompson of the Clara Ward Singers died yesterday. Ms. Thompson joined the Ward Singers in the 1960’s and kept the group together when Clara died in 1973. I’ve included “Come On In The Room,” on this week’s playlist from their last formal release in 1992 in memory of this gospel legend.

1. Come In The Room—The Clara Ward Singers (featuring Madeline Thompson)

2. The Storm Is Passing Over—John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir

3. John 3:17—Leon Patillo

4. Walk With Me—Tata Vega

5. I’ve Been Down That Road Before—The Williams Brothers

6. God’s Gonna Wipe All My Tears Away—The Truthettes

7. What He’s Done For Me—The Mighty Clouds of Joy

8. Perfect Peace—Andraé Crouch & The Disciples

9. Glad I Heard Your Voice—Sandra Crouch & Friends

10. Hang On In There—Daryl Coley

11. I Will Say Yes Lord—Dallas/Ft. Worth Mass Choir featuring Rev. Paul Jones & Linda Williams

    

    Madeline Thompson of The Clara Ward Singers

    

    The Truthettes

    

    Andraé Crouch