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Is it time for a gospel revival?

I know, I know, I've been spending a lot of time around church kids, and I live in a small town where my Sunday absence at church is noticed, if not remarked upon.

And I've also been recording (and have to find time to edit; bleh) my first radio show, which ended up being about the roots of alt.country. (Details to follow, if and when it is to run.)

But back in the mid-1990s, which don't seem so far away, we felt like country music -- traditional country music -- needed saving. Like the form could and should be continued and extended by gifted artists who respected its roots and its possibilities, and its limitations.

One can argue that country has swung back toward those sounds, somewhat. Some of the time. (Or not, I don't pay that much attention, haven't even heard a lick of the new Miranda Lambert album, and we put her on the cover...mostly, in truth, because as art director I fell in love with the image which ran on the cover. And there were other reasons, of course.)

Anyhow. I don't know if my radar still works, but I have this hunch that I should like to share with the multitudes for comment and critique: I think classic gospel may be ready for a similar embrace. There were at least two series of compilations (one from up east the other from Austin) of local gospel sings coming from the alt. side of the street which advertised regularly in the print magazine. But I am thinking of Mike Farris's second career, of Ashley Cleveland's new album, of Patty Griffin's coming album (and, to an extent, of her last one), of Buddy Miller's more or less gospel album from a few years back. I am thinking of a trickle of sounds seeping into other records which I haven't time to try to find winding through the backroads of my head just this morning. Of the Como Now album, which I continue to adore.

It would make a certain sense. They are powerful songs, powerful vocal lines to sing. And there is a good deal more faith in the world than I have.

Which is to say that I am drawn to the music, in the same way my house is festooned with folk art grappling with and worshiping god, because it is a clear and powerful expression of the human spirit. Even though...and I can hear my Christian friends telling me I should attend more closely to this, but they do not know me so well...even though I am not drawn to the message of the songs.

Just a thought. Off to the coffee business.

Tags: alden, gospel

Comment by Jerry Withrow on October 23, 2009 at 6:56am: Couldn't agree more .... certainly acknowledging the examples you give .... but also, we just got a masterclass in how gospel continues to evolve and steamroll sponsored by Duke Performances - who in two weekends featured a remarkable lineup of Brian & Brady Blade, Danial Lanois, Greg Leisz, Buddy Miller and a powewrhouse 30 voice choir - honoring the ministry of Pastor Brady Blade Sr. in a two day program, and following that with a jazz flavored service of equal fervor featuring Don Byron's New Gospel Quintet, Pastor Kelly Andrews and a singer who stole the hearts and fired the souls of all in attendance - DK Dyson.
Yeah, somethings happening here. You can hear it in the Triangle trombone shout bands reviving a Carolina tradition of the late Tim Brown and The Tigers of Charlotte, Mary D. Williams carrying forward the sanctified diva traditions of Mahalia and Marion,and countless small church musicians and singers reigniting a spirit seemingly hijacked for a time by lesser lights with deceptive glitz. Gotta run, but keep after this. It's out there.

Comment by The Muckrakes on October 23, 2009 at 7:30am: What? No props to Larry Norman? Norman was the founder / father/ creator of rock meets worship. Larry pushed aside the traditional gospel quartet music, broke down the church doors and let the hippies and the prostitutes and other unwashed rabble into the sanctuary. Ya'll should check him out.

Comment by Easy Ed on October 23, 2009 at 11:22am: I suspect that gospel music in an alt sort of vein has been out there for awhile...but it only pokes up it's head every now and then so the rest of us heathens can get a taste. There's a group of kids near where I live that make some joyous sounds at the local coffee house. When I struck up a conversation with them I just had it in the back of my mind that "church" was involved. Turned out that they all went to the same church as kids and while some still do and others don't, there's a thread of both spirituality and gospel traditional music in their otherwise alt-indie-country-folkie sounds. My latest conspiracy theory is that there are no trends; just marketing people creating the false impression of the new, improved, different and exciting things that will suck our money. But I'm also cynical from time to time, so maybe not.

Comment by J. Hayes - music writer on October 24, 2009 at 9:06pm: Did gospel ever leave us?

The funny thing about "gospel" and "traditional gospel" in particular is that it is truly an ever changing art form. I would ever go as far as saying gospel music is innately contemporary music. It's closed loop music... highly influential on and highly influenced by whatever the popular music of the day might be. Gospel music is always one step ahead and one step behind whatever is going on in the secular seen. From the Soul Stirrers, to the Staple Singers to Sun Records... the most progressive and influential artists were often shunned by one generation of "traditional gospel" community only to be revered by the next.
In the early part of the century the was a fine line musically between Gospel and Blues (or even Jazz and Country for that matter)... one music was god's and one the devils but the changes, hoops and hollers were indistinguishable. There were plenty of cross over artists as well. Louis Armstrong recording a fantastic if not downright strange gospel album called Louis and The Good Book. B.B. King sings spirituals is a favorite of mine featuring some of ol' Riley B's best vocal performances of his career (in my opinion). Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash both walked that line (sorry couldn't resist). Both Mississippi's, Fred McDowell and John Hurt cut gospel material. Later obviously Sam and Aretha were the most high profile crossovers. Little Richard crossed over and back several times (insert joke here). In the 60's artists like Joan Baez and before her Pete Seeger adapted traditional gospel songs into folk which was truly the popular music of the day. The 70's saw artists like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye plus the Staple Singers and hoards of other Stax recording artists reinventing gospel as popular soul and funk. Larry Graham's Graham Central Station records are all essentially gospel albums from the foot stompin', tamborine shaking, um-teen part harmony vocals right down to the highly religious subject matter and lyrics. In the 1980's Bob Dylan made a few gospel records that might have been forgotten if not for that fact that... well... it was Dylan! In the early 90's there was actually a compilation album of contemporary gospel artists singing Dylan's songs.
In recent years I think there has been a pivet if not full turn back toward "traditional gospel".
Artists like Lizz Wright, Ollabelle, Robert Randolf, Eric Bibb, Lyle Lovett and others have featured classic gospel tunes or new material in the classic tradition on there albums. O Brother Where Art Thou? did it's fair share to help too.
Jerry up top mentions Brian Blade and friends. Perfect example. Brian Blade's new album produced by the aforementioned Lanois is truly a gospel album in spirit and message. Colored with shades of Joni Mitchell and Wayne Shorter, the album still features plenty of Pedal Steel and out right soul. Buddy Miller produced a recent Mavis Staples record so it's no surprise that his own music might show signs of him dawning that particular shiny robe.
Is gospel in need of a revival? I think it's already there. Do I want to hear alot more of it? Hell... er...heck yeah!

- J. Hayes

Comment by Mr Edyoulis on October 24, 2009 at 10:06pm: I don't think gospel music needs a revival because its never gone away. Its not in the mainstream by any means but if you want it, its not hard to find. The last four years I've gone to Jazzfest and the gospel tent there is one of the best music experiences I've ever had.

KPFA dot org hosts a great gospel program Saturday mornings 7-9 PST with Emmet A. Powell.

Comment by robbo on October 25, 2009 at 4:30am: suprised no one has mentioned Marty Stuarts' brilliant Souls Chapel from a couple of years ago,if i remember correctly a No Depression album of the year. this is the one i return to if i need a little religion

Comment by Grant Alden on October 25, 2009 at 7:26am: Buddy produced a Solomon Burke album, not one on Mavis Staples. Unless I've really missed something.
As is often the case, I need to be somewhat more clear about what I mean. When I speak/type of gospel, I mean the classic golden age of gospel stuff: The vocal groups from the 1940s and 50s (some of which go back to the 1920s, at least): The Soul Stirrers, Dorothy Love Coates, the Pilgrim Travelers, the Fairfield Four, Swan Silvertones, etc. That's a relatively specific sound without which one can't get to early rock 'n' roll, to doo-wop, nor to any kind of soul that has soul. Bluegrass gospel (what Marty Stuart and O Brother were more or less nodding toward) is a different limb of a related plant, but not the same thing. They share songs and approaches, yes, but...it may not matter. The past is telescoped and fused into a single thing by today's post-modern samplers...

Comment by J. Hayes - music writer on October 25, 2009 at 8:23am: oh... nice one. you caught me... I realized just after I posted it. Ry Cooder did the Mavis record and Buddy did the Solomon record.
I see what you're saying about the quartet stuff now that I see who you are referencing. Yeah, I think on a certain level that time is gone. There are plenty of churches around the country where that stuff still exists and you can certainly hear it's influence in the R&B male groups out there.
I spent some time working with Blackshire. A gospel turned mainstream R&B trio from Arkansas, who had only ever really been exposed to gospel music before getting the gig singing backup for Prince and that legacy was alive and well in their music.
Fact is... it is now the music in our hearts. I would love for some one like Joe Henry, T-Bone or Craig Street to produce a record of young musicians singing that type of music. I wouldn't be surprised if it were to happen. Now we just need a film set during that period with some big name to star in it and voila! People will care again.

Fingers crossed...

Comment by J. Hayes - music writer on October 25, 2009 at 8:24am: p.s. there definitely needs to be a group called "the post-modern samplers"

Comment by Larry Meyer on October 27, 2009 at 7:52am: The Blind Boys of Alabama are both great interpeters of choice modern songs, and a throw back to another period. And, if you've ever experienced one of their shows, you know about the power and the glory. For the 90 minutes they're on stage, you BELIEVE, it's that simple. Sadly, I have to wonder if the current incarnation of that band is drawing to a close.