Customer Reviews

Great 1955 Shrine Concert

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Black gospel music has had some classic CD's too numeorus to menion here, but THIS is the UNCROWNED KING of Gospel CD that YOU MUST OWN! These are RAW, LIVE, and POWERFUL performances of groups who were the FOUNDATION of modern gospel captured at their best, interacting and catching the spirit with their audience. Recorded at LA's Shrine Theater in July 1955, we hear the sadly forgotten Brother Joe May touch the audience ("Sing it Brother Joe" screams the crowd) with an interesting bluesy-type of gospel as well as his daughter Annette. The Caravans pump a lot of pentacostal power from Albertina Walker and James Cleveland. But the Sam Cooke selections go beyond anything you've heard from his pop records or that the written word can describe! Dorothy Love Coates and Co. tale their spiritied singing to new heights. This is one of those recordings that make you wanna get on your knees and thank GOD for allowing Thomas Edison to invent the phonograph! A MUST have for Gospel fans.

This CD is beyond awesome. It really gives the listener a true taste of what "REAL" Gospel music is. There's not a lot of computer tech involved- no need for it. I feel that Dorothy Love Coates, Ethel Davenport, and Brother Joe May are the highlights of this CD.

The haunting sound of Ethel singing "My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear" makes you feel the pain that she's suffering. Brother Joe May singing "It's A Long, Long Way" makes me feel like I'm sitting at my church, watching the Senior Male Chorus render a selection. The spirit sho'ly- and I did say sho'ly, kicked in. And as Dorothy Love Coates began to testify, I could feel my feet get light and I begin to feel alright every time I listen. Dorothy, or Dot as you can hear her group members say, gave SUCH A POWERFUL TESTIMONY. She tore "Get Away Jordan" and "You Must Be Born Again" all up.

This is a definate MUST HAVE...and I wish I could give this CD more than 5 stars.

This is down home gospel from the 50s including an array of stars that is almost unbelieveable. From the Pilgrim Travelers to the Caravans with James Cleveland and Albertina Walker to the Gospel Harmonettes with the always soulful Dorthy Love Coates. And of course you cannot forget the Soul Stirrers.

I really enjoyed listening to Sam Cooke in a hard sounding raspy voice duke it out with Paul Foster on Nearer my God to Thee. That song is worth the whole CD.

Also enjoyable is the medly from Dorthy Love Coates. Simply put, if you want to bring the church home with you, buy this cd. You won't be disappointed...

This CD is at the top of the list of must have recordings. There is not a single weak song in this 1955 live recording from the Shrine Auditorium. A virtual who's who of gospel greats, this CD features Sam Cooke, Dorothy Love Coates, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Joe May, the Soul Stirrers and the Pilgrim Travelers. I defy anyone, anywhere to find a better single recording than Cooke's and the Soul Stirrer's "Nearer To Thee." I listened to it twelve straight times and was moved each time. Nothing Cooke ever did when he crossed over into the mainstream can touch this recording. But, wait. Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes get your blood pumping with the invigorating "Get Away Jordan." I think it would even make Al Gore stomp his feet. I love gospel music, but not gospel music from today, but not the type of gospel sung by Kirk Franklin. I like the real, down home, grandma and grandpa gospel that inspired my forefathers. That gave them hope in the most trying of circumstances. I found that music on this CD. When Ethel Davenport sings "My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear," it makes you want to cry. This is a little-known, but must have treasure.

This CD can really transmit a true experience of the Holy Spirit,
now I know what they mean by 'Something got a Hold of Me'.
So much of contemporary 'gospel' music tries hard but is
sadly just faking it, and no one even knows anymore what it
used to be all about. If you want a taste of the
True Power, this is it.

Forget about gospel for a moment-do you like early r&b or, for that matter, the beginnings of rock 'n roll? Well, then young 'un, buy this CD and listen up and learn; this is a remarkable time capsule of the foundations of soul, filtered through faith and belief. Highlights are Ethel Davenport's dark, brooding solo, worthy of "Aida", and Annette May's; but the real eye-openers, predictably, are provided by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. Sam opens a powerful version of "Friend Above All Others" with a clarion call that seems to announce the Second Coming, and the call-and-response that ignites between him and co-singer Paul Foster on "Nearer My God To Thee" - a virtual R&B musical Ali-Frazier III, with Sam finally coming out on top at the end with a magnificent "You Send Me" throw-back - has to be heard to be believed; one of the most extraordinary exchanges ever caught on record. If this is what they sounded like on a "good" night, I shake my head wondering about a "great" one. By all means, pick this recording up while it's still available, not only is it a major music historical document, but it's a prime learning tool for the glittering, wimpy wanna-be's of today's "soul", sent with love from a much greater generation of singers and believers.

The long and short of it is, this CD is amazing. Of course, when you hear The Pilgrim Travelers, The Soul Stirrers and The Caravans on the same wonderful album, you already know that you're in for a spiritual treat. My family and I must have listened to The Soul Stirrers' "Be With Me, Jesus" over a million times in the first week that I had the album. Paul Foster's "sermon in a song" combined with Sam Cooke's response to his calls was powerful, to the say the least. Don't miss the following song on the album, which was "Nearer My God to Thee", led by Sam. SOUL-STIRRING...(no pun intended). If you love music in general, and gospel in particular, don't cheat yourself by missing out on this album. Old time religion at its finest!!! :)

It's as though you are at the concert. The excitement projects through every song. Once you get this, plan on listening to it at least once a year. You can't forget about it. I suspect Elvis was at this concert taking notes...

... this must be the one. If the previous reviews haven't convinced you to buy it yet, then there's probably not much I can do. However, let me say that I heard this recording for the first time last year and it was all I could talk about for months. Bone shattering performances by Brother Joe May, some of the best recorded singing by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers (that's saying something), and maybe the single best recording of ANY song I've ever heard in my life: Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes on "Get Away Jordan." If you're starting to believe that what's on the radio nowadays is actually music, buy this CD and prepare to be straightened out.

took you all the way to the sublime of gospel call and response and the eros the blues thrown in for good measure. Blessings on you Sam Cooke, you are the poet up ahead of all of us, and the Hacienda Motel incident could not take us away from you in the jealousy of the fallen American world. Blessings on your music sam cooke, we are humbled and grateful at your tomb and spectral messagings across the ages...