Gospel Music on Hyena Records

[Alexander]

uh, dude... i've been listening to this stuff for just shy of twenty years; the only name on their that doesn't hit me right off is Slim & the Supreme Angels. when i have time i WILL guide you to broader & deeper waters. as stated, my point is not to discourage exploration here but it's hard to see the need for a shoddily done broad (broad--ish anyway) compilation... check the Roots & Rhythm website for a decent start re: what's more/less available, then head south. (in Athens, Ga. for example there's still a gospel & soul(ish) radio statiom 880 am, tho' it's better anthropology than hot music per se.)

xxc

But Clem, *why* is this compliation "shoddily done?" Can you be specific rather than just being negative? It seems to me that you've got a beef against Joel Dorn and you're determined to find fault with this collection just because he was involved with it. Again, have you *heard* this disc? How do you know it's "shoddy" if you haven't heard it? Can you tell me with absolute certainty that you've heard every single cut on this disc and that each and every selection is the most inferior possible example of this given artist's work? Or are you upset with what Dorn "left out?" Or do you just hate the idea of compliations in general? Isn't it possible for a compilation to be less than definitive but still enjoyable?

I imagine that you're the sort of person who would blanche with horror to learn that everything I know about country music I learned from Elvis Costello. Well, it happens to be true. "Almost Blue" was my road map to country. I sought out the original recordings of each song, which is exactly (I'm sure) what Costello was hoping that people would do when he recorded the album in the first place. Because of him, I now have discs by George Jones, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, and others. But I'm sure that this is an unacceptable way of learning about music. After all, why would anyone NEED an album of country tunes by a limey pop star anyway?

Edited March 29, 2006 by Alexander

[Alexander]

Oh, here are the first half of Joel Dorn's liner notes, to explain things:

"I love liner notes. Love to read 'em, love to write 'em. Sadly, fewer and fewer albums these days have liner notes. What you get now are a couple of pictures, maybe a lyric or two and the credits. But any album I have anything to do with is gonna have liner notes. Except this one.

"If there's one thing this album doesn't need, it's any words of explanation. This music comes from the epicenter of the core of what Black American Music is all about. When you listen to Gospel Music, I guarantee that without even knowing it's doing it, your brain will write its own liner notes. That's how perful this music is.

"The only thing this album needs is your ears and your heart.

"Keep a Light in the Window,

Joel Dorn, Fall 2005"

It's a good sleeve note, but I wish there had been some discographical information (aside from which company liscensed which cut). I would like to have dates and personnel for each selection.

[Alexander]

Am I interested in feedback (like Jim's) that might point me to some good stuff? Hell yes.

Again - http://www.dovesong.com/MP3/MP3_BlackGospel.asp

Have fun!

Thanks for the link, Jim. I'll be downloadin' and burnin' for some time to come!

Praise be!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Oh, here are the first half of Joel Dorn's liner notes, to explain things:

"I love liner notes. Love to read 'em, love to write 'em. Sadly, fewer and fewer albums these days have liner notes. What you get now are a couple of pictures, maybe a lyric or two and the credits. But any album I have anything to do with is gonna have liner notes. Except this one.

"If there's one thing this album doesn't need, it's any words of explanation. This music comes from the epicenter of the core of what Black American Music is all about. When you listen to Gospel Music, I guarantee that without even knowing it's doing it, your brain will write its own liner notes. That's how perful this music is.

"The only thing this album needs is your ears and your heart.

"Keep a Light in the Window,

Joel Dorn, Fall 2005"

It's a good sleeve note, but I wish there had been some discographical information (aside from which company liscensed which cut). I would like to have dates and personnel for each selection.

I have a Gospel music discography on my shelf, from which I can get those details, or whatever is known about them. Many of these songs have been recorded more than once by the artists concerned; can you let me have the details of which companies each track was licensed from?

(By the way, Joel has less than 20/20 hindsight. Harold Vick's album "After the dance", which came out on Dorn's first label, Wolf, had no sleeve note.)

MG

[AllenLowe]

1) translating Dorn's note: "I don't know anything about gospel music."

2) Let's not forget that there is also a significant white gospel tradition with great music - Collectables has a White Gospel collection with late 1940s, early 1950s quartets; Yazoo has a Kentucky gospel collection; there's a great singing preacher who recorded on Savoy, released on Ace (can't remember the name right now) - all worth checking out - also, let's not forget the singing pianist Arizona Dranes, released on Document - early barrelhouse/religious piano.

[John L]

Pewburner is on my shit list. A friend ordered some stuff from them, and when he tried to make backup copies, he found out that it was copy-protected. That takes a lot of gall, copy-protecting a bootleg!

Jim: That is strange indeed. I have a good share of the Pewburner discs, and have made copies of mine. I also have them ripped into iTunes. I did find, however, that the paper labels screwed up the readings in my computer drive in certain cases. So I removed the paper and the problem was solved.

Unless there is proof, I somehow doubt that Opal uses copy contol. He is not even sophisticated enough to know how to remaster the discs properly. That really pisses me off sometimes. After all, he charges the prices of commercial CDs. The second disc (volume 2) of the Sensational Nightingales, for example, is a complete disaster. The music speeds up and slows down, one minute the Chipmunks, the next minute Barry White. As you can see from my posts above, I no longer make unqualified recommendations on line that people purchase these discs.

I know Opal, and he is a good guy.

Edited March 29, 2006 by John L

[JSngry]

The only proof I have is the experience of friend, which he got around by calling another friend who quickly figured out how to crack the CP.

But based on what you'll say, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that the CP thing was either an early error of judgement on his part or a manufacturing "add-on" that occurred w/o his knowledge. But I'm still more than a little squeamish about paying that kind of price for what is for all intents and purposes a bootleg.

[John L]

Understood. In some sense, "bootleg" is even a rather generous term for what Pewburner sells, as it usually refers the marking of permanent (commercial) CDs as opposed to CDRs, which generally don't last more than 5-6 years.

[John L]

Anyone have an inside line to Ace. Either they or Mosaic should tackle Duke/Peacock for real.

The Complete Duke/Peacock Singles. That would be the reissue project of the decade!

In the early 1990s, I recall that there was a limited edition Japanese release of the complete O.V. Wright on Duke/Backbeat (6 CDs). I hesitated due to the price, and then it was too late. When will there be another chance? I'm ready to pay through the nose this time.

Edited March 29, 2006 by John L