Category: Classic Gospel Songs

Do Not Pass Me By

  1. Do Not Pass Me By Detroit Sings "Nu Hymns" 8:31

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“Do Not Pass Me By” is one of the “old songs” of the church. It was written by Ms. Fanny Crosby in 1868. Not only was Fanny a great hymn/song writer, she, like Helen Keller some 68 years later, was blind since her birth in 1820. She never was in anyway resentful or bitter and lived her life to its fullest, giving back to others as best she could.

The story behind this song is that she was doing some work in a prison; she did a lot of motivational speaking and preaching hoping to turn people to Jesus by telling her story. While she was at the prison she played some of her songs, and it’s said that she heard the voice of one of the inmates, cry out, “Saviour, do not pass me by!”

Crosby heard this and thought, “Wow, that’s a very powerful phrase.” That very night she sat down and wrote this song. Well, not only was that phrase powerful, so was her song which became hugely popular.

However, there were critics who made the case that God loves EVERYONE, unconditionally, and thus “He” would never pass anyone by. Point taken. It’s STILL a good song. 

And talk about POWERFUL, this particular version of the song is REALLY POWERFUL. And with one GOOD REASON spelled D-E-T-R-O-I-T…aka Motown or The Motor City.

In 2005 gospel music producer and performer Dietrick Haddon, a native son of Detroit, gathered over 200 of Detroit’s finest gospel singers from more than a dozen black churches to record this the album “Detroit Sings Nu Hymnz – Volume 1”, a compilation of several “old songs of the church” into which he infused new life. energy and meaning.

You need to listen no further than the opening note from the choir that follows the very restrained 45 second intro to fully understand when I say this song is really POWERFUL. 

JUST LIKE IN THE ICONIC MAXELL PHOTO “BLOWN AWAY” BELOW

I just love it and I hope you do too!!!!

 

Blown Away from PS 800x583
Blown Away

Jesus Saves

  1. Jesus Saves The Pentecostal Community Choir And Keith Pringle 5:18

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For those of you who might not be deep into fundamental Christianity, like myself, do NOT be scared off by the song title. I think I have said before (and if I haven’t, I’ll go on record here), in my humble estimation, one doesn’t not have to faithfully believe all the lyrics to all these great gospel songs to appreciate the music. Take the lyrics them as you received them and let the song wash over you. That’s all that is required. If there is no doubt in your mind that Jesus Saves, bless you, And if you believe that is not the case for what ever reason, bless you. I’m not here to argue theology, I just want to share with others the music I have come to love. Can somebody give me an “Amen”??

This album featuring Minister Keith Pringle and The Pentecostal Community Choir was a big deal when it was released in 1988. And this song is one of the very best on the entire album, which is saying A LOT, because ALL the tracks are great.

Both the choir and lead singer, Marshall Petty, sing their hearts out. (I saw one comment about Marshall’s perfomance that read “He really is singing his face off.” True dat, Amen! Marshall sadly passed away in 2007, but this video is proud part of his digital legacy.

 

Medley: I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan / Lord Do It For Me / Lord Help Me To Hold Out / Peace Be Still

  1. Medley – I Stood On The Banks Rev. James Cleveland And The Charles Fold Singers 7:00

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Rather than going into a long analysis of the medley, I’m lifting the description from Spotify and modifying it a bit.

The “live” cut blends four classic gospel tracks—starting with “I Stood on the Banks of Jordan”—into a continuous live medley that acts as a sermon in song:

Watching Loved Ones Cross Over: In “I Stood on the Banks of Jordan,” Cleveland emotionally recounts standing by as family members pass away (“You took my father, you came back and got my mother”). He uses the metaphor of watching the “Ship of Zion” sail away to carry loved ones home to glory.

Carrying Through the Storm: The live medley flows seamlessly into endurance anthems like “Lord Do It for Me” and “Lord Help Me to Hold Out,” before culminating in the calming reassurance of “Peace Be Still,” capturing a powerful arc from deep mourning to spiritual peace.

Assurance of Faith: Amid the sorrow of losing everything dear, the narrator looks down at the banks of the river and gains comfort knowing, “I sure got my ticket, and it’s stamped”.

What He’s Done For Me

  1. What He’s Done Southeast Inspirational Choir 3:47

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In 1970, three gifted, passionate, skilled gospel visionaries, Brenda Waters, Shirley Joiner and Carl Preacher combined their directing, playing, singing and song writing gifts to present a youth musical to benefit the Mt. Olive and Outreach Missionary Baptist Churches in Houston Texas. Ms. Brenda Waters directed the choir, Carl played the organ and Ms. Shirley played the piano…the young singers just did what they were told to do. They presented their first Dedication and Praise concert at Houston’s South Park Baptist Church on Valentine’s Day in 1971.

The choir’s leaders decided to turn the group into a permanent choir. They lived and “churched” in southeast Houston, so they named the choir “The Southeast Inspirational Youth Choir” aka Southeast. Brenda, Shirley and Carl taught 45 adolescents to sing soprano, alto and tenor, obey directions; and praise God in song and life. In the summer of 1971, at the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America in Dallas, they were named the “1971-72 Most Promising Choir”. The choir is still in existence today, now into the second and third generation of singers.

In 1982 the choir released a single titled “My Liberty”, with Yolanda Adams, then a sophomore at Texas Southern University, singing lead. Her voice drew the attention of Thomas Whitfield of Sound of Gospel records. She eventually was signed and made her debut album in 1987. The rest is history as Yolanda became, and continues to be a huge gospel recording personality. She has sold over 10 Million albums world wide.

The Lord Is Blessing Me

  1. The Lord Is Blessing Me Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singres 3:03

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Here are two versions of the same song, each very different.

The first version is by The Thompson Community Choir (“The Tommies”) It is great traditional version of the song. It’s a dead give away the moment the songs opens with the Hammond B3 organ and the piano doing the intro that this is real deal traditional gospel. Listen for the chords on the piano…they couldn’t be any more bluesy and/or pure gospel. The vocal performance is stellar, with the choir delivering each clipped phrase with exact precision and perfect enunciation and the soloist leading the choir onward and upward. No real vamp on this version, but it makes one wonder how long that last part that fades out actually continued; you know how it is when the “spirit” takes you and you just don’t quite want to stop.

  1. The Lord Is Blessing Me Bishop Larry Trotter 4:46

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This second verse is also what I would term “traditional gospel”….it’s a “traditional” gospel song after all, but the arrangement is MUCH more energetic and uptempo. The intro is longer than on the first cut, with the driving beat of the snare drum and the clapping in perfect time together. And yes, all the while the B3 player is doing his thing along with the piano player. And, like the first cut, the choir here is spot on. A crisp, forceful, staccato of lyrics. There is no soloist on this track. The choir repeats the chorus and verse a couple of times, which is then followed by a long instrumental interlude until the men take us into a build for the final vamp. It’s so wonderful as the parts with different pitches and differently timed lyrics intertwine with each other. The only criticism I have of this track is that they didn’t give that fantastic vamp enough time…it could have gone on a minute or more so we all could really appreciate it.

By and By

  1. By And By The Davis Sisters 2:57

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Time for a little old time, traditional, gospel…and some of the best traditional gospel was performed by The Davis Sisters.

I had never head of The Davis Sisters until about 10 years ago when a friend in our gospel choir recommended that I listen to some of their music. I was blown away. ALL the tracks I listened to were exceptional!!

The group was started by Ruth “Baby Sis” Davis in the late 1940s in Philadelphia. Ruth was 17 at the time. They were the first female group to start singing old traditional gospel which were, at the time, exclusively male groups.

The four Davis Sisters – Ruth, Selma, Audrey and Alfreda grew up in Mount Zion Fire-Baptized Holiness Church in Philadelphia. (What a great name for a church!!). Their golden days were in the 50s and 60s. Ruth “Baby Sis” Davis died in 1970, but even with some changes to personnel,,they performed right up until the 80s, cutting their last album in 1984.