Sunday, December 8th
sounds of Chicago
The Stars of Heaven, live, Chicago, 2012
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lagniappe
art beat
John H. White, Chicago (south side), 1973
music clip of the day
jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more
Category: gospel
2013
2013
Sunday, November 17th
another take
Slow, dark, bluesy—this is a world away from the two church performances we heard last Sunday.
Pastor Terry Anderson (and congregation), “Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Jesus,” live, Houston (Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church), 2010
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lagniappe
reading table
One of Emily Dickinson’s “envelope” poems:
In this short Life that only lasts an hour
How much—how little—is within our power
2013
Wednesday, November 13th
Here’s a variation, from the 1960s civil rights struggles, on the gospel song we heard Sunday.
SNCC Freedom Singers (AKA The Freedom Singers), “Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Freedom,” live, Turkey, 2007
We started singing songs at the mass meetings. Songs of the movement gave you energy–a willingness and a wantingness to want to be free. Whenever there was a march to be taken place, there were songs that we would use to motivate the people to get in the line. One such song was “I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom.” Most of the songs from the movement were taken from spirituals, gospel, and rhythm and blues–any type of music. Someone in the audience would start and say, “Come and go with me to that land. Come and go with me to that land.” And the rest would just repeat it.
*****
And here’s another take on the original.
Mavis Staples, “Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Jesus,” recording (One True Vine), 2013
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lagniappe
art beat
Danny Lyon (1942-), Atlanta (Toddle House), 1963
2013
Sunday, November 10th
four takes
“Woke Up this Morning with My Mind on Jesus”
Earl Washington (and congregation), live, Newark Church of Christ, Newark, N.J., 2007
*****
Fred McDowell, live, Como, Miss., 1959
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On the first day of fall, 1959, in Como, Mississippi, a farmer named Fred McDowell emerged from the woods and ambled over to his neighbor Lonnie Young’s front porch with a guitar in hand. Alan Lomax was there recording the Young fife and drum ensemble, as well as the raggy old country dance music of their neighbors, the Pratcher brothers, and he had no idea what to expect from this slight man in overalls. He certainly didn’t expect that Fred would soon become internationally known as one of the most original, talented, and affecting country bluesmen ever recorded.
*****
Blind Roosevelt Graves and Brother, recording, 1936
(This illustration isn’t BRG—it’s Charley Patton.)
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Richard Coffey Jr. (and congregation), live, Sweetwater Church of Christ, Jacksonville, Fla., 2012
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lagniappe
art beat
Danny Lyon (1942-), Albany, Ga. (Mt. Zion Baptist Church), 1962
2013
Sunday, November 3rd
five takes
“Where We’ll Never Grow Old,” AKA “Never Grow Old” (J. Moore, 1914)
Patty Griffin with Buddy Miller, live, 2010
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The Canton Spirituals, live, c. 1990
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The Carter Family, recording, 1932
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Aretha Franklin, live, Detroit, 1996
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Johnny Cash, recording, 2004
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lagniappe
art beat
Helen Levitt (1913-2009), New York
2013
Sunday, October 27th
sounds of Chicago
They sounded so good last week—let’s hear some more.
The Staple Singers, “Are You Sure,” live, 1971
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lagniappe
art beat
William Eggleston (1939-)
2013
Sunday, October 20th
sounds of Chicago
The Staple Singers, “Sit Down Servant,” live (TV show), 1963
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lagniappe
art beat
Helen Levitt (1913-2009), New York, c. 1940
2013
Sunday, October 13th
never enough
Dorothy Love Coates (1928-2002), MCOTD Hall of Famer, talking and singing (“He’s Calling Me” [D. Love], The Original Gospel Harmonettes, 1955)
music clip of the day 