Customer Reviews

Meetin Tonight

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4 star:		(2)
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These recordings were made by Clara Ward for the Vanguard label in the early 1960's, one as a studio LP and the other one was a live recording at the Village Gate nightclub in Greenwich Village, NYC. These recordings were made after Clara had left the famous Savoy label, made 4 LP 's for DOT, including her Town Hall Concert live LP, and had already played in Vegas. It presents her recycled material with a new group of Ward Singers. The Original Famous Wards Singers had quit and formed the Start of Faith, etc., et al., so these were professional gospel singers singing material arranged by Clara with her at the piano on most songs. It's all very moving and it captures Clara at her best in stereo, because most of these songs were recorded by her early in her career in Mono. As a Clara Ward fan, I love this album because the recording quality is better than the older Clara records and the gospel spirit is high.. The studio recordings are the best examples in quantity of Clara's genius in arranging William Dawson genre Negro spirituals and her strength as a soloist. The studio recordings are the real jewel to Clara fans, but this CD is a bookmark in history of gospel music, nightclub music, the history of the Ward Singers, entertainment news and as a recordphile they are important.

I have been following Clara Ward since the program 'Jazz goes to Church' in Long Beach California in the 1950's. I first saw Clara Ward sing in Disneyland. Since then I have followed her and her singers in church and in clubs from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The backups singers. Vermettya Royster, Alice Houston, Voyla Crowly, Malvilyn Simpson, Thelma Bumpess, Mildred Means and Alton Williams as accomianist always presented the black church in all it's glorious worship of the Lord. You can feel their love of the Lord in these songs.

I try out new music by going to the library CD collection and just grabbing what I get a good sense from, and this was one of those succesful blind grabs. I didn't know a darn thing about Clara Ward, but i have found out she is awsome and, darn it, i wanna sing those songs myself! so good! Dig true gospel, you'll dig this

This CD gives the studio side and the live side of The Clara Ward Singers. Very nice!

Such is a nature of fame that once great stars might be completely unheard of to a new generations.One of the three amazing gospel singers of 1950's (with Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Tharpe as other two) Clara Ward and her ladies were famous - or notorious,depends of point of view - for performing gospel far out of usual religions places and bringing their music to Carnegie Hall,Las Vegas,White House,Newport Jazz Festival and yes,even Disneyland.Althought all of this sounds completely OK to me and I have no problems with glorious music being performed wherever audience wants to hear it,as long as they keep their hearts & ears open,it was a big deal at the time and these talented women unfortunately suffered some heavy criticsm for their bussines decisions.I would never even heard of Clara Ward if not for Aretha Franklin's constant reminders that at very early age she was inspired by her so I was curious to check her out - at first listening,Ward's voice is smallish and unimpressive when compared to volcanic Franklin (but than,who CAN compete with Franklin?) and its not until she is joined by other voices from her group when magic starts (is that Marion Williams? If yes,she's my next purchase.) This Cd combines two original albums from 1961. and 1962. and its highly reccomended.

Wonderful CD. Old contemporary gospel songs.