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Roots and Rhythms
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 with Stephen Neale
I Heard the Angels Singing #2 plus the Reverend Morgan Babb

Part 2: Selected cuts from I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel from the Nashboro Label 1951-1983 (the first edition was February 5, 2014). Many people have asked that I feature more cuts from this fabulous release. This 4-CD set features, as the title describes, electrifying gospel music from this Nashville-based label. Put together by the Tompkins Square team, the same group responsible for the equally impressive 3CD sets of Fire in my Bones: Raw + Rare + Otherwordly African-American Gospel (1944-2007) and This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African-American Gospel on 45 RPM (1957-1982); they have exceeded themselves with this compilation which is accompanied with a strong set of liner notes that strikes the right balance on detail. The four discs are titled as follows: - Disc One: Looking for a Better Place to Live (1951-1957) - Disc Two: Seat in the Kingdom (1958-1963) - Disc Three: Don't Drive Your Children Away (1964-1967) - Disc Four: Heaven, I've Heard So Much About It (1968-1983) Also a set tonight to honour the Reverend Dr. Morgan Babb, who, at the age of 84, passed away in early February. Morgan Babb was a central figure in the Nashville music scene, through both his early recordings with the Radio Four, one of my favourites, and his work with Ernie Young's Nashboro Records label. He was also a radio host, for nearly three decades, on WVOL-AM, and then on his own station, WMBD-AM. Listen for cuts from the Radio Four and one or two of his solo efforts.
Sing Till the Power of the Lord Comes Down (1951)
The Crossroad Singers & Orchestra - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Take the Lord with You (1958)
The Kindly Shepherds - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
I've Got Jesus (1965)
Morning Echoes of Detroit - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Children Keep on Marching (1968)
The Consolers - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Get Your Soul Right (1953)
Fireside Gospel Singers - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Lord I'll be Satisfied (1961)
Rock Island Singers - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
You Should Have Been There (1966)
Sister Emma Tucker - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
I Stood on the Banks of Jordan (1970)
Brooklyn All-Stars - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Looking for a Better Place to Live (1956)
Traveling Echoes - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
When They Ring Them Golden Bells (1963)
Gospel Songbirds - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
At the Gate (1966)
Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Keynote's Prayer (1976)
Gospel Keynotes - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
Wonder How Long (DISC 1; 19)
The Reverend Morgan Babb - I Heard the Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 - 1983 - Tompkins Square Records
How Much I Owe (1954)
The Radio Four - Single - Nashboro
My God Works Wonders
The Reverend Morgan Babb - Keep Faith - Nashboro