"Texas Gospel" Vol. 4: Devil Can’t Harm A Praying Man 1954-1956

In the 1950s, if you were a quartet and a Peacock Recording Artist, man, you were something.

Some of the top quartets of the decade were on Peacock’s roster. Thanks to the Texas Gospel series by Opal Nations and Acrobat Records, the vast majority of Houston-based Peacock’s “World’s Greatest Spirituals” singles from its 1500 and 1700 series are now available on CD, some for the first time.

Sadly, after releasing the first two Texas Gospel volumes, Acrobat is no more. Nevertheless, gospel historian and project annotator Opal Nations has picked up the standard and is stewarding sales of Texas Gospel Volumes 3, 4, and 5. He plans for Texas Gospel to be a seven-volume series of Peacock singles when all is said and done. Meanwhile, this three-CD set, subtitled Devil Can’t Harm a Praying Man (a 1955 Dixie Hummingbirds song included here), features 85 tracks and a 60-page illustrated booklet by Nations that is so thick it hardly fits in the jewel case. (The liner notes are available for reading at www.pewburner.com/about_us.html.)

The 85 tracks on Vols. 3 – 5 take the listener from Peacock 1736 to 1781, or from 1951 to 1957, and feature quartets such as the Dixie Hummingbirds, Sensational Nightingales, Original Five Blind Boys (tracks not already included on a separate Acrobat set dedicated to the Archie Brownlee aggregation), Spirit of Memphis, Gospelaires of Dayton and singers Jessie Mae Renfro and Cleophus Robinson. Gospel hits such as the Birds’ “Trouble in My Way” and “Christian’s Automobile,” and the ‘Gales’ “Somewhere to Lay My Head” and “See How They Done My Lord” are intermixed with lesser-known but equally exquisite tracks such as the Spirit of Memphis’ “When” and the Blind Boys’ pop-flavored “There’s No Need to Cry,” featuring a passionate lead by Brownlee.

Even if you already own many of these recordings on vinyl, there is something about hearing them in chronological order. First, the experience hammers home just how much give and take there was between the “street corner” vocal groups of the mid-50s and gospel quartets when it came to employing doo-wop background vocals, impassioned leads, scooping and soaring falsetto leaps. Second, it helps you appreciate even more the artistry of the Dixie Hummingbirds and Sensational Nightingales and their respective leads Ira Tucker and Julius Cheeks. Third, hearing the various quartets in one sitting gives you a sense of the rivalry of the day, and how amazingly different the Spirit of Memphis was turning out to be. Fourth, it’s easier to carry around than a box full of 78s.

Five of Five Stars (Journal Of Gospel Music)

Info

http://journalofgospelmusic.com/gospel/texas-gospel-devil-cant-harm-a-praying-man/

trax:

1. I Will The Lord Be With You - The Dixie Hummingbirds 2. Go Where Jesus Is - The Sensational Nightingales 3. I'm Serving The Lord - The Sensational Nightingales 4. I'm Not Uneasy - The Dixie Hummingbirds 5. Sinner, Sin No More - The Dixie Hummingbirds 6. It Must Have Been The Lord (That Touched Me) - The Dixie Hummingbirds 7. Take Care Of Me - The Dixie Hummingbirds 8. On The Judgement Day - The Sensational Nightingales 9. Who Will Be The One - The Sensational Nightingales 10. A Christian Life - The Sensational Nightingales 11. Somewhere To Lay My Head - The Sensational Nightingales 12. The Story Of Madame Bethane, Pt 1 - Dixie Hummingbirds & Otis Jackson 13. The Story Of Madame Bethane, Pt 2 - Dixie Hummingbirds & Otis Jackson 14. Just Jesus - The Bells Of Joy 15. Doing For Jesus - The Bells Of Joy 16. Hold My Hand - Sister Jessie Mae Renfro W/ Brother Cecil Shaw & The Blind Boys Of Mississippi 17. Deliver Me - Sister Jessie Mae Renfro W/ Brother Cecil Shaw & The Blind Boys Of Mississippi 18. Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow - The Dixie Hummingbirds 19. Devil Can't Harm A Praying Man - The Dixie Hummingbirds 20. Room, Room - The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 21. I've Got A New Born Soul - The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 22. Save A Seat For Me - The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 23. There's No Need To Cry - The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 24. Lord Have Mercy - The Sensational Nightingales 25. See How They Done My Lord - The Sensational Nightingales 26. When I Cross Over - Rev. Cleophus Robinson And Sister Josephine James 27. Pray For Me - Rev. Cleophus Robinson And Sister Josephine James 28. Troubles Will Be Over - The Dixie Hummingbirds 29. Way Up On High - The Dixie Hummingbirds

…served by Gyro1966...