(Don't forget to check out my previous posting of 25 78 rpm rips!)
This morning (or afternoon, or whenever), some truly excellent gospel by the Singtime Trio of the Church of God in Oak Hill WV. Not a mediocre selection in the bunch, and the only annoying part of this rip was the online unavailability of author/composer credits for some oft-recorded numbers. I ran into the usual dumb online title/performer listings--entries which carelessly imply that a given group or singer penned a given song. Is it simply that gospel author/composer credit is given low regard, or are there actually people who don't understand the concept of songwriting?
Sorry. Had to rant. So, there are four song credits I couldn't locate for the mp3 ID tags, including I've Got It, which I strongly suspect is a black spiritual. It's only by sheer luck that I traced the credit for I Need Jesus (not the once-famous Charles Gabriel number), and that was courtesy of the following sheet music scan. I did follow-up searching to confirm the writers. Along the way, I encountered a bogus attribution, but at least the website in question was trying.
Of course, the great 1836 John Matthias hymn on Side 1, track 3 is not Palmes of Victory, but Palms of Victory (aka, Deliverance Will Come). I'm just now noticing the jacket typo. On this number, the Singtime Trio delivers a delightful and lively rendition worthy of the Oak Ridge Boys and the Speer Family. In fact, "lively" is the key adjective throughout--the Singtime Trio performs with irresistible energy and enthusiasm. The former, in contrast to my feeling of never quite having woken up today after eight-plus hours of shuteye. I blame the pollen count. Anyway, I needed this jolt of high-energy gospel. Thank you, Singtime Trio and Salem Records.
So, a trio, but five people on the cover? This sort of thing troubles some folks, I know, but I'm sure the extra three people consist of the guitarist, pianist, and organist. The "musicians," as the term goes. Never understood that convention--I mean, singers are musicians, aren't they?
By the way, if any gospel scholars can give me the missing author/composer credits from my mp3 ID tags, please check in. My thanks to the Gloryland Jubilee website for providing the release year for this LP (1969) and for identifying Precision Record Pressing as the Pressing Plant. (That explains the "PRP" in the dead wax.) PRP was located in Nashville TN. The label, Salem, was based in Salem, Virgina and owned by George McDonald McGraw of the McGraw Music and Publishing Company. These vintage low-budget gospel vinyls (to use the modern slang) sure followed a complicated path to completion.
When this one showed up at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift, and I saw the group photo, song titles, humble front jacket pic, and "West Virginia" in the notes, I knew I had my Sunday gospel post...
DOWNLOAD: The Singtime Trio: More About Jesus (Salem 1065; 1969)
Born Again
He Touched Me
Palms of Victory
More About Jesus
I've Got It
Thank You for the Valley
Joy in the Camp
Constantly Aware of His Love
I Don't Know Why
I Need Jesus
Thanks to Calvary
It's in Your Hand
Lee