Feed Your Ears

[Luigi]

Amy Grant was one of the first stars of contemporary Christian music, starting in the 1980s - what Phatmass up and running by then? At any rate, she's been married to Vince Gill since 2000; he's a country singer with a strong Christian persona, too. This song is "Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet," based on today's Psalm, 119. She recorded it in 1984, I believe. You can tell by the prominent synthesizer in the accompaniment. 

 

[Luigi]

"Certainly, Lord" goes back a long way - It's not a 19th century spiritual, but it has that same kind of simple structure that allows the singer to add lyrics/verses on the spur of the moment. The lead singer asks a series of questions, and the back-up singers or the whole congregation reply with "Certainly, Lord." This version is a father-son preacher duo. 

 

[Luigi]

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks the apostles who people say he is. Here are the Gerald Sisters from Mullins, SC singing "Who Jesus Is." Their father Hassie Gerald co-wrote the song and plays piano on this recording from 1970. The song has a very steady beat and very steady chorus ("Who Jesus is" after every line). This song also contains one of my favorite lyrics from Black Gospel music, "I went to the valley (to pray), I didn't mean to stay, but my soul got happy and I stayed all day." That line shows up in a number of songs, but I haven't been able to find it until today.

 

[Luigi]

"Bright Morning Stars" is a very old Appalachian hymn. It was popularized by Tony Saletan, one of the early leading lights in the folk music revival. He also popularized "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore" and "Kumbaya." This is a fairly short version of "Bright Morning Stars" - in other recordings, verses are added to include mothers, brothers, sisters, where they are, what they're doing, and so forth. I first heard it from Judy Collins. Saletan sings it a cappella with his wife (at the time) Irene. 

 

[Luigi]

Lucie E. Campbell's (1885-1963) "Something Within Me" is considered the first Black Gospel song published in the US, in 1919. This is a 1963 rendition by the Stars of Faith from their tribute album to Campbell. She was raised in Memphis, became a teacher, composer, music director, and civil rights activist. 

 

 

[Luigi]

I've posted a number of songs by Sister Shirley Caesar because I think she's one of the best Gospel singers around. This song is called "Don't Be Afraid." It's basically the same message as St. Pope John Paul II proclaimed throughout his papacy, although in a very different style. This sounds like a service in a little country church - the only instrument is a bass guitar, and a whole 'congregation' is singing along. 

 

[Luigi]

This bluegrass band is called IIIrd Tyme Out (say THIRD Time Out). They've been around since 1991, headquartered in Georgia. The song is called "I Feel Closer to Heaven Every Day." Even though St. Therese of Lisieux probably never heard bluegrass music in her short life, this song puts me in mind of her. 

 

[Luigi]

Today's the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, so here's Brother Joe May sing "Angels Watching Over Me." I think it must be part of the original repertoire of 19th century (or earlier?) spirituals. I found a lot of souped-up versions in YouTube, but May delivers a very standard version in the classic mid-20th century Gospel style. 

 

[Luigi]

Today's first reading is from Job, so here's Dr. C. J. Johnson (1913-1990) with his song "Job," recorded in 1966. He starts off preaching, then goes to singing, back by the congregation, with no accompaniment. Over the course of his life he recorded some 20 albums, none of them in a studio - all were recorded in church! In 1987, he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. And I love this album cover - terrific graphics!

 

[Luigi]

October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. One could post many videos of his prayers set to music - there are a lot of them out there. But I am posting the theme song from the Franco Zefferelli movie "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," written and sung by Donovan. The movie, and thus the song, came out in 1972. 

 

[Luigi]

From 1968, here are The Consolers, that is, Sullivan & Iola Pugh. a husband and wife duo from Florida. The is "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me." 

 

[Luigi]

Dolly Parton's cousin Tim formed a group called The Partons. He's the lead singer. He has a serviceable voice, but not a great voice. I believe he wrote this song, "Call on Me, Child." It's straight up country, standard instrumentation, but the musicians are terrific! And the song relates to the end of today's Gospel reading, sort of. 

 

[little2add]

renowned opera tenor Christopher Macchio delivers a moving performance of "Ave Maria"

 

 

Ave Maria English Translation 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

[Luigi]

^ LIKE ^

Yesterday's Gospel was the story of the Good Samaritan. This is a sung recounting of the story, by a Zimbabwean group called Shower Power. It's an a cappella quartet, which isn't all that unusual, but what makes it unusual is the structure of the song - it's not your standard Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Chorus. The singing is quite good and mostly very straightforward although the bass singer hits a couple of low notes that the audience seems to really like. 

 

[Luigi]

This is David Olney with his song "Jerusalem Tomorrow." His career as a singer & songwriter spanned more than five decades. Actually, this isn't so much a song as it is a recitative with just the barest guitar accompaniment. I first heard it from Emmylou Harris, but I like Olney's original version better.