Jump to content
An Old School Catholic Message Board

Feed Your Ears


Luigi

Recommended Posts

This is an old classic, "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody" (but I couldn't keep it to myself. There are many versions out there - this one is pretty straightforward and the words are easy to decipher, which is not always the case with a mass choir. The singers are Bobby Jones and Al "The Bishop" Hobbs. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vern Gosdin was a country singer (1934-2009) known as The Voice for his resonant baritone. He sings an old standard, "Jesus, Hold My Hand" written by Albert Brumley. It's standard country Gospel, with that piano accompaniment that rises up the scale (heavenward) three or four times throughout the song, and it has that offset harmony chorus, too. Good stuff! 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The O'Neal Twins and the Interfaith Choir with "Walking Up the King's Highway." This is not good Catholic theology - like "This Train Is Bound for Glory," it implies that sinners have to get right with God before they can get on the road. This is a very simple song, even repetitious. It was used as the entrance song at Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith's eightieth birthday celebration in her church,  so it's got that strong 'walking beat' that I like in Gospel music. But when everyone is in place, the song changes tempo and bursts out joyfully. Unfortunately, I can't find the video from the celebration, so you just have to look at the album cover. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In distinct contrast to yesterday's song, this one is long and complex (lyrically). It runs ten minutes, and it has a good "lyric video" with it - lots of time lapse nature photography. It's Andrew Peterson's "Don't You Want to Thank Someone." It's basically a personal reflection, but he's made it into a palms-in-the-air anthem. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In today's Gospel, Jesus chooses the twelve apostles from among the disciples. This song is from Nashville Tribute Band, recorded in 2014. It's called "Apostles," and it's written from the perspective of the apostles, after the resurrection, as they prepare to carry the message into the wider world. I think the lead singer is Jason Deere. The song is short but powerful. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's Andrew Peterson again with "In the Night (My Hope Lives On)." It's simple instrumentation and his solo voice - no harmony or anything. The lyric structure is exemplification - one example after another from the Bible that causes his hope to live on. There are nine verses, and he sings the words clearly, but if you miss a line, you can click on "...more" in the blue box under the video to see the lyrics. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Gospel song that so classic it's practically trite, but it's appropriate for All Saints Day. Louis Armstrong et alia with a straight-up Dixieland version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." There's only one verse - or is it a chorus? - so there are lots of instrumental solos. Write it off as making a joyful noise unto the Lord.

 

Edited by Luigi
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sister Shirley Caesar sings "One More Battle to Fight," which is a 19th-century spiritual, but her version is almost Dixieland what with the clarinet, trombone, and the whoopee whistle. And in my mind it sort of relates to All Souls. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is Keith Green's 1982 setting of the Twenty-Third psalm. I posted one or two of his other songs previously. Most settings of this psalm are calm, peaceful, pastoral, maybe even saccharine. This one is not. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today's Gospel tells the story of the shepherd leaving the 99 to find the lost sheep. There are lots of Gospel songs and hymns that retell this story, some of which are cheesy indeed! This one is by One In Him. I can't find anything about One In Him except a YouTube page that has lots of music - all a cappella -  but no explanation. I think it's one guy who records all the the harmony parts. This particular song's lyrics have that old-fashioned syntax that twists phrases around, the way a lot of the 18th & 19th century hymns do. But the music sounds even older than that - almost like a madrigal or something. OF all the songs I've posted, this isn't my favorite, but it has an interesting sound. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mississippi John Hurt with the classic "Lonesome Valley" played in Hurts classic Delta guitar style. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a quiet reflection by Andrew Peterson - I told you I really like him and I was going to post more of his music! He mentions "a monastery in Kentucky" - that would be the Trappist monastery of Gethsemane. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Grascals (that is, the Bluegrass Rascals) have been around since 2004, and they've had some success, but they remain mostly under the radar. They have a pretty typical bluegrass sound, although this song, "Come Jesus Come" is slower than most bluegrass numbers. They sing some interesting harmonies, too, and the melody takes a couple of twists and turns you don't often hear in bluegrass. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke was popular all through the Fifties and a little while longer. She didn't have one of those big voices like a lot of the singers at the time, but she sings with intensity nonetheless. Her song "Nobody But You, Lord" is basically a translation of St. Thomas Aquinas' response 'Non nisi te.' 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...