A Stranger I May Be: Savoy Gospel 1954-1966

The first of three volumes surveying surely the mightiest Gospel label of them all. Stomping, rollicking gospel music, intermingling with raw soul, searing blues, hard-rocking doo-wop and jazz, and storming R&B. Infused and incandescent with the hurting, surging indignation of the Civil Rights movement, here are twenty-four precious scorchers by giants like the Staple Singers and Jimmy Scott, alongside devastating sides by less celebrated names like the Harmonizing Five of Burlington, North Carolina, and teen-group the North Philadelphia Juniors, culminating triumphantly with slamming, sanctified versions of Hit The Road Jack and Wade In The Water.

Drawn from nigh-impossible-to-find 78s, sevens and LPs, hardly any of these recordings have been reissued since their first release. Presented in a gatefold sleeve, with full-size booklet; beautifully designed, with stunning, rare photographs and original Savoy artwork. Sound restoration and mastering at Abbey Road; pressed at Pallas. Co-curated by Greg Belson, compiler of Divine DiscoA City Called Heaven: Chicago and the Birth of Gospel Music (University of Illinois), and host of the award-winning radio show Gospel Memories.

CD 1: Famous Ward Singers - I’m Getting Richer / The Harmonizing Five - I Don’t Need Nobody But The Lord / The Sensational Six - Let Freedom Ring / The Gospel Harmonettes Specials - How Much More / The Christones - Lord, It’s Me / The Staple Singers - Low Is The Way / Swindell Brothers - Trouble Of Mine / The Roberta Martin Singers - I’m Glad I’m A Witness For My Lord / Jimmy Scott - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child / Shirley Caesar And The Caravans - He First Loved Me / The Blind Boys of Alabama - On Some Day / The Hightower Brothers - He That Believed / North Philadelphia Juniors - There’s Something Within Me / The Selah Singers - The Wicked Race / The Ward Singers - Let The Train Roll Easy / The Stars of Faith - Mean Old World / Marion Williams - Get Your Business Right / The Gospel Cavaliers - Are You Listening / The Caravans - Mercy / Eddie Williams and the Crusaders - They Won’t Believe In Me / The Davis Sisters - Earnestly Praying / The Gospel Chimes - My Jesus Love Just Bubbles Over / The Angelic Gospel Choir - It’s The Holy Ghost / The Angelic Choir - Wade In The Water

CD 2: The Artistic Sounds - Give It Up / The Holy Lights of Baltimore, MD - I’ll Be Satisfied / The Swan Silvertones - Trust iI God / Gene Martin - A Little Bit Of Faith / Myrna Summers - Have A Talk With God / James Cleveland And The Southern California Community Choir - I Want To Thank You Master / Betty Hollins - What A Time (When All God’s Children Get Together) / The Metro Tones - Get Together / The World Wonders- He Made A Way / The Brooklyn Skyways - Dark Clouds / Sister Ida Maxey - Do Lord / The Thornes Trio - You Don’t Love God / Mildred Clark And The Melody-Aires - Hold On, I’m Coming / The Highway Q.C.s - If You Fail, Try Again / The Gospelaires Of Dayton, Ohio - What Will Tomorrow Bring / The Holy Lights Of Baltimore, MD - Keep On Singing / The Exciting Supreme Highlights - Drowning In The Sea of Sin / James Moore - I Thank You Master / Prof. Charles Taylor And The Charles Taylor Singers - Been Good To Me / The Brockington Ensemble - God Is God (He Won’t Change)

CD 3: Edith Moreno - Get Ready For Judgement Day / World Wonders - The Cost of Living (Is Very High) / The Helen Hollins Singers - He Gave It To Me / Solomon Burke - I Know He Lives In Me / The Gospelaires Of Dayton Ohio - God Helps Those Who Help Themselves / Genobia Jeter Things Have Got To Get Better / The Lady Lois Snead With The Interdemoninational Mass Choir of Atlanta, GA - I Found Out What You Mean To Me / Charisma - Protected / The Stan Lee Revue - Make Every Day Count / The Sensational Williams Brothers - Sunday / The Holy Lights Of Bal more, MD - It’s Gettng Late / The 4th Of May - Pass It On / The World Wonders Of Birmingham, ALA - Ain’ t It Good To be Here / James Cleveland And The Cleveland Singers - Any time, Anyplace, Anywhere / The Hollywood Stars - Come On Jesus / The Steele Family - Show His Love / Glenn Jones And The Modulations - It’s All Right

LP 1: Famous Ward Singers - I’m Gettng Richer / The Harmonizing Five - I Don’t Need Nobody But The Lord / The Sensational Six - Let Freedom Ring / The Gospel Harmonettes Specials - How Much More / The Christones - Lord, It’s Me / The Staple Singers - Low Is The Way / Swindell Brothers - Trouble Of Mine / The Roberta Martin Singers - I’m Glad I’m A Witness For My Lord / Jimmy Scott - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child / Shirley Caesar And The Caravans - He First Loved Me / The Blind Boys of Alabama - On Some Day / The Hightower Brothers - He That Believed

LP 2: North Philadelphia Juniors - There’s Something Within Me / The Selah Singers -The Wicked Race / The Ward Singers - Let The Train Roll Easy / The Stars of Faith - MeanOld World / Marion Williams - Get Your Business Right / The Gospel Cavaliers - Are You Listening / The Caravans - Mercy / Eddie Williams and the Crusaders - They Won’t Believe In Me / The Davis Sisters - Earnestly Praying / The Gospel Chimes - My Jesus Love Just Bubbles Over / The Angelic Gospel Choir - It’s The Holy Ghost / The AngelicChoir - Wade In The Water