Artist: Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers
     Album: Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers
     Label: Specialty
     Years: 1951-58; release: 1991
     Format, bitrate: mp3 @ 320kps
     Time: 65:38
     Size: 126 mb

Gospel was Sam Cooke's rock. It provided the inspiration for his most awesome vocal performances and furnished the structure of his most significant compositions, from "Touch the Hem of His Garment" to "A Change Is Gonna Come." Cooke (1931–1964) began singing with the Soul Stirrers in 1950—this collection opens with his first recording, "Peace in the Valley," from the following year. Over the next six years, he created a magnificent canon of modern songs of devotion, each sparked by his intently focused, world-changing ad-libs. Where most gospel groups put the emphasis on the sonorous harmonies and the canted repetition of key phrases, Cooke shaped the Soul Stirrers around more personal declarations; his work really begins when he finishes with the verses. Throughout this collection, on the imploring "Nearer to Thee" and the more woeful "Mean Old World," Cooke shows a profound understanding of life and spirituality without ever trying to sound "deep." That's almost a magic trick, and it places these vocal performances among the most carefree, wondrous, life-affirming, graceful, aweinspiring, and galvanizing ever directed to the heavens.

     Artist: Ruth Brown
     Album: Gospel Time
     Label: Philips
     Year: 1962, release 1963
     Genre: Rhythm&Blues
     Format, bitrate: mp3/320 kbps
     Time: 30:45
     Size: 78 MB

     Gospel Time, Ruth Brown's first and only gospel album, was recorded in 1963 in Nashville under Shelby Singleton's direction, using country musicians. Ray Stevens of "Ahab the Arab" fame plays organ. Vocal backgrounds are by the Milestone Singers. The most impressive cuts are "Closer Walk With Thee," with soulful guitar licks from Jerry Kennedy and Harold Bradley; "Peace in the Valley," with nice piano triplets by Harold "Pig" Robbins; the beautiful "Walk With Me"; and a fabulous version of "Milky White Way." Brown even tries her hand at preaching in a rocking version of "Morning Train." This is a surprisingly fine album.

     Artist: Al Green
     Album: He Is The Light
     Label: A&M
     Year: 1985
     Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320kb/s
     Time: 35:08
     Size: 81,3 Mb

     Al Green suffered a slight lull in his gospel career with 1984's Trust in God. As a response, he reunited with producer Willie Mitchell, who admittedly preferred the secular to the gospel. At this point, Green was unwavering in his faith and presents a challenge for He Is the Light. &"Going Away" and &"True Love" are great updates of the classic 1971-1976 sound with Green's dulcet, anxious vocals above an updated version of the sound that made him famous. The cover of &"Be With Me Jesus" has Green in a playful mood despite the dire lyrics, and shows how Mitchell could coax vocals from Green no one else could. To Mitchell's credit, this album not only embraced Green's pop/gospel but also the newer sounds and styles Green had been working on in the '80s. The cover of the Clark Sisters' &"You Brought the Sunshine" features adroit synth work and fun vocals. On the flip side, &"Power," &"Building Up," and &"Nearer My God to Thee" are too cautious and quite boring. While He Is the Light finds Green in better voice than his last '70s efforts with Mitchell, it still has weak spots that prevent it from being a resounding success.

     Artist: Mahalia Jackson
     Album: Live At Newport 1958
     Label: Legacy/Columbia
     Year: 1958, release 1.01.1994
     Genre: Christian
     Format, bitrate: mp3/320 kbps
     Size: 91 MB

Mahalia Jackson(1911-1972) бесспорно считается лучшей исполнительницей госпел за всю историю этого музыкального жанра. Ее голос - мощный и низкий, и в то же время способный передавать тончайшие оттенки как формы, так и содержания песен.

     On a Sunday morning at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, Mahalia Jackson took the stage and gave a performance that was recognized by fans and critics alike as one of her finest. This album documents that concert, and captures her deep soulfulness, irrepressible exuberance, and the passion of her Christian conviction. Introduced to the audience as "the world's greatest gospel singer," Jackson upholds that claim, unleashing a style that draws from Bessie Smith as much as European church music.

     Artist - Golden Gate Quartet
     Album - Complete Works in Chronological Order Vol. 1-6
     Genre - Spirituals, Gospels
     Label - Document
     Years - 1937-1952, release - 2000
     Quality - MP3 VBR (128,192)
     Size: 72,2+74,2+85,7+78,8+61,4+52,6Mb

     Исторические записи одного из самых известных госпел-квартетов, сделанные в классическом его составе.

REPOST!

     Artist: Charlie Haden, Hank Jones
     Album: Steal Away
     Label: Verve/Polydor/PolyGram records
     Year: rec. Jun 29, 1994, Jun 30, 1994/rel. 1995
     Format: MP3@320 Kb/s
     Time: 65:20
     Size: 146.6 Mb
     AMG rating:

     Artist: Mahalia Jackson
     Album: Silent Night Songs For Christmas
     Genre: Gospel, Christmas Music
     Label: Columbia
     Year: 1962
     Format; MP3 256 kbps (LP-rip)
     Time; 40:23
     Size; 74.9 MB (with covers)
     AMG Rating:




Whether or not you like sacred vocal music, one cannot help but be moved by the power and passion with which Mahalia Jackson sings "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" and the spiritual "Go Tell it on the Mountain." Her rendition of "Silent Night, Holy Night" is simply inspirational. ~ Dennis MacDonald, All Music Guide

   Artist: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
   Album: The Original Soul Sister (4 CD Set)
   Label: Proper Box UK
   Release: 2002
   Format, bitrate: mp3, 256 kb/s
   Size: 321 mb (69mb+75mb+81mb+96mb))

   На самом деле я планировала запостить записи этой грандиозной певицы совсем не сегодня. Но неожиданно сегодня произошло не менее грандиозное событие для нашего Клуба и именно поэтому я бросилась терзать рапидшару... А теперь все вместе:

Nobody seems to love or understand you
and all the hard luck stories they keep on handing you
where somebody shines the light
You're coming on home tonight
Welcome Back, BlackBird!

     Artist: Mahalia Jackson
     Album: Recorded Live in Europe During Her Latest Concert Tour
     Label: Columbia/Sony
     Year: 1961
     Release: 2001
     Format: FLAC
     Size: 316 MB (covers)
     Time: 53:45




     Jackson is accompanied only by pianist Mildred Falls on these songs, recorded in Sweden on April 18, 1961. There's not much to distinguish these from other Jackson performances of the period, other than perhaps the sparse accompaniment, a slightly distant quality to the recording of the vocals, and a sense of event from a live audience that didn't have the opportunity to see Jackson nearly as often as Americans did. Her favorites "Elijah Rock" and "Down By the Riverside" are here, as are compositions by Thomas Dorsey and Clara Ward, and more unexpectedly Rodgers-Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone." The 2001 CD release on Columbia/Legacy adds two previously unreleased songs recorded a week later in France, "Didn't It Rain" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."
   ~ Richie Unterberger, AMG

   Artist: Blind Boys of Alabama
   Album: Go Tell it on the Mountain: Live in New York
   Year: 2003
   Format: DVD-rip | AVI/XVID, 720 x 576
   Audio: Mp3, 320 kbps
   Size: 1,17 Gb

      Synopsis
   The Blind Boys of Alabama have spread the spirit and energy of pure soul gospel music for over 60 years, ever since the first version of the group formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. Today, founding members Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter and George Scott joined by more recent arrivals Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie, Bobby Butler, and Tracy Pierce are on a mission to expand the audience for traditional soul-gospel singing while incorporating contemporary songs and innovative arrangements into their hallowed style.
   In December 2003, the band came to New York City to perform a special holiday concert at the famed Beacon Theater with Aaron Neville, John Medeski, Duke Robillard, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staples, Michael Franti (Spearhead), Robert Randolph (Sacred Steel player), and Charlie Musselwhite (Blues harmonica icon). This show aired on PBS in December 2004 as part of their pledge drive with the individual band members appearing in pledge breaks.

     Artist: The Blind Boys Of Alabama
     Album: Down In New Orleans
     Release Date: Jan 29, 2008
     Label: Time Life
     Genre: Gospel
     Styles: Black Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Contemporary Gospel
     Format: Mp3@320kb/s
     
     The Blind Boys of Alabama’s latest release, Down In New Orleans, has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album.
Released on January 29th, Down in New Orleans represents the band’s desire to bring hope to the still-storm-ravaged city and includes performances by some of New Orleans’ finest, including Allen Toussaint, The Hot 8 Brass Band, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. ”We may not be able to swing a hammer,” explains founding member Jimmy Carter, ”but we hope we can help inspire folks with a song.”
     Produced by Chris Goldsmith, The Washington Post said of the record, "Inspired and relevant, [Down In New Orleans] borders on the miraculous." USA Today praised the "rousing musical tribute to New Orleans," Rolling Stone called it ”A super weapon of roots-music uplift,” while the Toronto Sun gasped that the CD is ”Inspirational".

   Artist: The Golden Gate Quartet
   Album: 1941-1947
   Label: Columbia Jazz/Sony Music Media
   Year: 1941 - 1947
   Release 2003
   Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320 kb/s
   Time: 55:26
   Size: 128 Mb

   Pioneer Virginia gospel/pop quartet of the '30s and '40s. Calling their innovative approach to sacred hymns "jubilee" singing, the Golden Gate Quartet, propelled by Willie Johnson and William Langford, enjoyed massive acceptance far outside the church. Their smooth Mills Brothers-influenced harmonies made the Gates naturals for pop crossover success, and they began recording for Victor in 1937. National radio broadcasts and an appearance on John Hammond's 1938 "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall made them coast-to-coast favorites. By 1941 the Gates were recording for Columbia minus Langford, and movie appearances were frequent: Star Spangled Rhythm, Hollywood Canteen, and Hit Parade of 1943, to name a few. Some experiments with R&B material didn't pan out during the late '40s, and Johnson defected to the Jubilaires in 1948.
   AMG

     Artist - Golden Gate Quartet
     Album - The Spirituals and Gospels
     Genre - Spirituals, Gospels
     Label - TIM
     Years - 1946/1956, release - 2001
     Quality - MP3@256 kbps
     Size: 85,0+84,3+84,4 mb
     Total time: 47:27 + 47:06 + 47:05



     Я уверен, что немногие, из прослушавших
     этот великолепный альбом, останутся к нему
     равнодушными, вне зависимости от своих
     музыкальных пристрастий!

     Artists: Mavis Staples & Lucky Peterson
     Album: Spirituals & Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson
     Label: Verve France
     Original Release Date: Nov 5, 1996, release Date Mar 07, 2008
     Genre: Spirituals & Gospel
     Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
     Time: 54:41
     Size: 115.51 MB

     Альбом как для любителей госпелс и спиричуэлс (памяти великой Махэлии Джексон), так и для любителей органа "Хаммонд" ( Lucky Peterson). Классика жанра!

     Spirituals & Gospel is a beautiful recording. Mavis’ voice is no longer pure, it’s now patinaed with the pain and strains of years and years on the road, a road that was often up and down the rough sides of social mountains. And regardless of the fact that the bulk of Peterson’s recordings are soaked in the blues this man obviously spent some time in church, and he sure wasn’t sleeping.

     Artist:Take 6
     Album: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
     Release Date:1999
     Label: Warner Bros.
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/320
     AMG Raiting:
     Size:79.5MB






     The follow-up to the Grammy-winning "He Is Christmas", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" finds Take 6 at their finest...

     Artist: Take 6
     Album: He Is Christmas
     Release Date: 1991
     Label: Warner Alliance
     Studio/Live: Studio
     Mono/Stereo: Stereo
     Format/Bitrate: Mp3/320 kbit/s
     Size: 81 MB
     Time: 35:47

     This CD finds the somewhat miraculous a cappella sextet Take 6 emphasizing the religious side of the holiday season. One of the world's only gospel jazz groups, Take 6 uses advanced harmonies and sophisticated improvisations while always keeping "the message" in the forefront...(by Scott Yanow-AMG)

     Take 6 has always occupied a very special niche in the music world with their combination of gospel and jazz with an a capella take on the music...The song arrangements and the execution are authentic and unique. These guys are no two-bit operation; they really know what they're doing. They know what to keep of the familiar, and what to play with. ...(amazon.com)
     

     Artist: Grady Tate
     Album: Body & Soul
     Label: Milestone records
     Year: 1992
     Format: MP 3 @ 320 KB/s
     Time:46:51
     Size: 99.5 Mb
     

     Artist: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
     Album: Precious Memories
     Label: Savoy Records
     Release: CD - Oct. 14, 1997
     Genre: Gospel, Spiritual, R&B, Rock
     Format, Bitrate: MP3 256 KBit/s
     Size: 73 MB; 80 MB unpacked
     Time: 0.43:38

     Sister Rosetta Tharpe is widely acclaimed among the greatest Sanctified gospel singers of her generation; a flamboyant performer whose music often flirted with the blues and swing, she was also one of the most controversial talents of her day, shocking purists with her leap into the secular market -- by playing nightclubs and theatres, she not only pushed spiritual music into the mainstream, but in the process also helped pioneer the rise of pop-gospel. Tharpe was born March 20, 1921 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas.

     Artist:Donald Byrd
     Album: A New Perspective
     Label: Blue Note
     Year: rec. January 12, 1963/rel.1999
     Format: MP 3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time:40:55
     Size:88.6 Mb

     

     Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
     Album: Spirituals
     Release Date: Mar 13, 2001
     Label: EMI-Capitol Special Markets
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/320
     Studio/Live: Studio
     Mono/Stereo: Stereo




     Ella Fitzgerald поет Gospel