The latest part of the ongoing series chronicling, in no particular order, the greatest 1001 recordings made by Christian artists

126. BISHOP SAMUEL KELSEY AND THE CONGREGATION OF TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, INEZ ANDREWS AND THE ANDREWETTES, THE ORIGINAL FIVE BLIND BOYS OF MISSISSIPPI - TELL ME HOW LONG THE TRAIN BEEN GONE, 1981. From the various artists album 'The Famous Spiritual And Gospel Festival Of 1965', L&R.
Don't gasp at the credits; just remember black gospel's proud tradition of coming up with artist credits longer to read than the genealogies in Numbers. This is a wonderful, boisterous, sweating evocation of all that is exuberant, cathartic and soul cleansing in black church. It was recorded not in Chicago's Southside where Inez spread her Gospel message, not in Bishop Kelsey's Temple Church Of God In Christ in Washington DC, nor in the backwoods churches which Lloyd Lee Woodard of the Original Five Blind Boys evoked so soulfully, but somewhere very different. As the sleeve note says, "the hands which clapped to the beat of the gospel songs were white. The audience that spontaneously answered the question 'Do you feel alright?' with thrice repeated, enthusiastic 'Yes!' had come expecting not a church service but a concert. And yet that audience in the Glocke concert hall in Bremen was miraculously turned into one huge congregation, reacting to every word spoken or sung." The sound quality is a bit primitive, the gospel equivalent of a jam session obviously exudes a certain ramshackle spontaneity - but oh when Inez starts to soar, oh when the Blind Boys holler and scream, oh when the Spirit moves...
Tony Cummings

127. TAKE 6 - SILENT NIGHT, 1992. From the album 'He Is Christmas', Warner Alliance.
On the whole, Christmas albums leave me as cold as jack frost nipping at my toes but Scrooge Cummings can report that this beautiful carol is an exception. The guys' breathtaking acapella harmonic blend breathes vibrant life into the old chestnut (thankfully not roasting by an open fire).
Tony Cummings

128. PRISM - JESUS LOVES ME, 1986. From the album 'Prism Blue', Reunion.
Until Carman's 'Yo Kids' most kid's albums left me rushing from the room whenever my beloved kiddywinkers decided to get out their 'Bullfrogs And Butterflies' or Arkie albums. But the Prism albums were different. Really mainstream CCM with thoroughly contemporary, well for 1986, synth pop arrangements Prism were producers Chris Harris and Mark Heimermann (yep, the hip dudes who've done a lot of funky pop gospel). The genius is in taking a song Sunday school has ruined for whole generations and showing it to be a gem of a song. Would William Batchfelder Bradbury (music) and Anna B Warner (words) - the 19th century heavyweights who penned "Jesus Loves Me" ("this I know, 'cause the Bible tells me so" etc, etc) have approved of an arrangement that could have sat on any contemporary album? ) hope so.
Tony Cummings

As published in CR18, 1st December 1993
129. SONGS OF FELLOWSHIP - BE BOLD BE STRONG, 1991. From the album 'Volume 1 Heaven Is In My Heart', Songs Of Fellowship.
A classic praise song, the song's composer Morris Chapman did it pseudo-country, the Spring Harvest throng turned it into a happy clappy praise up while the Spring Harvest band played old fashioned rock 'n' roll riffs but it took producer Steve Thompson to find the perfect groove for the song, a lightly funky dance lollop with just a tad of jazz.
Tony Cummings

130. LAURA LEE - GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, 1983. From the album 'Jesus Is The Light Of My Life', Myrrh.
I've been a sold devotee to Ms Lee for many years now and would put her in my list of all time great voices. Back in the '60s I was going ga-ga over her definitive version of the soul music warhorse "I'd Rather Go Blind", in the '70s I was boogying to her great R&B for Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax label, and after getting saved I began trying to dig out any old Meditation Singers albums I could find (Laura began recording with that Chicago gospel team). This, from a decidedly patchy album Al Green produced on her, is a gem. A five minute slow and deep version of an old black church evergreen on which that unique husky voice purrs and growls her faith in the Lord.
Tony Cummings

131. OUT OF THE GREY - BIGGER THAN LIFE, 1993. From the album 'The Shape Of Grace', Sparrow.
I've already noted in issues past that Christine Dente possesses one of the most delicious voices in Christendom, but it's spouse Scott who shines here with a wheezingly world-weary vocal over the kind of socking rhythm track that most bands could only dream about but which producer Charlie Peacock routinely seems to find at the flick of a fader. The hook here "show me a love that is bigger" homes in on the enormity of God's love and manages to be both simple and profound while the sheer lolloping bluesy drive of the track keeps me returning again and again.
Tony Cummings

DC Talk

132. DC TALK - I DON'T WANT IT, 1993. From the Album 'Free At Last', Forefront.
Those fast talkin' dudes from Washington in one of the wittiest tracks on a classic album. Toby spells it out for some horny lady that he's not into the idea of sex before marriage. The rhythm kicks, the rap is sure and the sung hook a delight.
Tony Cummings

133. DAVID EDWARDS - THE FEELING PART, 1983. From the album 'Get The Picture', Myrrh.
Whatever happened to this chap? For a short while he was being toted by Word Inc as the hip new voice of CCM with a touch of post-punk new wavishness to pep up the rock-pop brew. But Mr Edwards has now seemingly vanished from view which is a shame as his three albums were rather good with this mid-tempo rocker as catchy and radio friendly as pop-rock comes.
Tony Cummings

134. DEACON LEROY SHINAULT - LORD I COME TO THEE, 1956. From the various artists album 'Singing Preachers And Their Congregations', Blues Classics.
An incredible lining hymn recorded in a Chicago church in 1956 but truly from a musical tradition that could have dated it 1926. Leroy hoarsely lines out the hymn, the congregation give full-blooded support and I'm reminded whenever I listen to this of the enormous debt contemporary music owes to the black church.
Tony Cummings

135. IAN WHITE - WORTHY THE LORD IS WORTHY, 1993. From the album 'Holy Ground', Kingsway.
Those church bores who are forever decrying the 'praise and worship conveyer belt' (a phrase now as clichéd as the songs they decry) should all listen closely to this track. It's one of a number of gems on a superbly produced album, sung in lan's engaging Cliff Richard/white soul way, and with an anointing that will surely get the hardest heart leaping in worship.
Tony Cummings

136. REV W M RIMSON - JONAH, 1949. From the album 'Wings Of Faith: Detroit Gospel 1946-1950', Religious Recordings.
One of the many thousands of fine gospel 78s still awaiting CD reissue. Who was this Detroit Reverend who in '49 preached up a storm about the ancient prophet who tried to run away from God and then (on side two) launches into a song about the event? Maybe the blues experts will one-day track the good Rev down if he hasn't already gone to glory.
Tony Cummings

137. PER-ERIC HALLIN - GOSPEL TRAIN, 1987. From the album 'Per-Eric', Royal Music.
Cross Rhythms has already marvelled at the way our Scandinavian brethren can get seriously soulful in a way few honkie Brits have managed. Up there with the funkiest is this keyboard man/singer extraordinaire who wowed them at Greenbelt and Spring Harvest but who in recent years seems to be staying more or less permanently in his homeland of Sweden. Therefore, this album was unreleased in the UK. Per-Eric wrote this infectious gospel back in the '70s when he was working in the States (he once backed Elvis, no less) and this version just beats the one by Little Anthony (the doowop oldie but goodie who once cut a gospel album) and the version on Per-Eric's earlier 'Better Late Than Never' album. A fine cut.
Tony Cummings

138. REV DAN SMITH - GOD'S RADAR, 1993. From the album 'Just Goin' On', Glasshouse.
The 80-something Reverend astonishingly sounds in his prime thanks to wonderful songs, vocal guest Bryan Duncan helping heap on the soul and a band that adds a touch of country hoedown to the tough blues gospel mix.
Tony Cummings

As published in CR19, 1st February 1994
139. RUSS TAFF - YOUR LOVE BROKE THRU, 1992. From the various artists album 'No Compromise', Sparrow.
I've long been blessed by this beautiful ballad of faith. Ever since Keith Green and Randy Stonehill handed it to Phil Keaggy in '76 it's been sung by numerous artists but it took ol' gravel voice to come up with the definitive version as performed on that "tribute to Keith Green' compilation from '92.
Tony Cummings