Enlightment - Burning Flame

This tune is melting my head away at the moment. Seriously an anthem of mine, this is indeed my shit! This 'burner' is a funky gospel monster. Mellow and extremely soulful. This track came to me by way of Andrew and the fine folks at Earcave and Peoples Potential Unlimited. By the time I discovered it at the site, it was sold. Already I was in love with this shit. Thought I had never heard anything quite so beautiful. It literally sent me to the phone and Internet searching for how I could track down a copy. No luck. Finally I got a hold of this and it's here for you to enjoy. This is 80's gospel boogie at it's finest. The man behind this project, Larry Jordan is a Bishop these days for The Believers Worship Center in Maryland. Although I was not able to track down this LP as of yet, I was able to track down some additional info on this group....

last copy sold on ebay for US $1730! Nuts!!

The line up was Tony Harod on guitar, James Brown on bass, Al Johnson on synth & keys, Harold Young on drums, Joe Gatling on sax, Tim Eyermann... horns, Kim Miller... violins, and the Enlightment singers: Sheila Stubblefield, Rhonda Lathon Holmes, Marilyn Monroe, and Larry H. Jordan. I was able to get this 45 and from what I hear its the best song on the album. Often it seems the name get spell 'shifted' from Enlightment to Enlightenment, which I'm sure will only prove to make it harder to find. Already the last copy of it sold for close to 18 hundred dollars on eBay. Yikes. If that isn't an example of shill bidding I don't know what is.

***UPDATED - not to infringe on the bands copyright we have updated and reposted this with the Youtube video. and, NOT providing a mp3 of the song.

Joy - The Time Is Right

Joy was a gospel group from southern California, San Diego to be exact. They recorded this pearl of an album and that was it. This is about the strongest tune on the LP, but they showed tremendous potential. This tune is pure magic, straight up good gospel groove with a very simple premise of positivity and action. The lyrics boast 'It's time we treat each other like true sisters and brothers' and i couldn't agree more. We need more songs like this in our world today. Again they proclaim 'It's time we forget denominations and come to the realization that god just wants us to show our love' and 'It's time to be strong and take a stand, reach out your hand and help someone when they fall'. Just how silly new music these days can be, and how vulgar and negative it can be, it truly makes you appreciate songs like this. Very Stevie Wonder-ish sounding vocals, brilliant simple production, and a smart little bass and drum 'breakdown' from this perfect title cut from this album. In the gospel scene, bands like this in the late 70's and early 80's turned towards making more straight soul records and moved away from more traditional sounds. Packing up the Hammond, and subbing in the Rhodes. Putting down the Tambourine and replaced it with slapping the bass. Basically it's a pop/soul record and I'm thankful for this trend during that time.

This sat firm at the top of my want list for over three years and last year finally came to me in the mail. Do you understand how hard it was searching for the key words 'Gospel' and 'Joy' on the interweb! It took me forever to track this one down, and it was a frustrating journey. But, now it's here like a ray of sunshine. I had every intention of posting this when I got it, but sometimes things slip through the cracks and after a few plays out in the clubs it was filed away. So good to be giving it it's proper due and sharing here on SB. I hope that somehow the band finds this post and sheds a little light on how this album came about and what the San Diego Gopsel scene was like in the early 80's.

This is actually our first 'actual' request for a song. A fellow artist and enthusiast just recently told me 'more Gospel please!' and I'm very happy to oblige. It's you, our readers and followers of this blog that make all the difference in the world to this music and the artists, and give me purpose to searching high and low for good music . The fact that I'm getting feedback and 'requests' for gospel here...is fabulous. So, here ya go...A special dedication to my homie Alika Cooper and hoping this track pleases her growing Soundboutique mix tape collection, and provides additional music for her while she's painting.




Check out her amazing work here...
www.alikacooper.com/











Joy - The Time Is Right

The Gospel Miracles - Building Up Myself

Gospel Boogie. I'm finding more and more these days. It's a natural progression for stubborn boogie heads like myself. Gospel music is like the second chapter of American Rhythm, Blues and Soul History. It's there whenever you're ready for it. Just like Jesus. Ok, I'll stop there.
It's often under exposed and rarely heard about except within it's own circuits. It's artists are seemingly unknown to most, yet cherished by true soul collectors. It's a largely unheralded music, especially in the pop world, and only survives on the radio one day a week. I have a more intimate experience with gospel. I picked up, or found several records by Myrna Summer, James Cleveland, Violinaires, Rance Allen and a few others. Flipped through them, listened, found a few with slower funkier grooves, and stuffed them all away. Yet, I was to re-visit them again. Long ago I went through a heartbreak, and I sat alone in my apartment completely surrounded by records. I was busted, sad as hell, and lonely. All I had was my chunes and they couldn't give me a hug or comfort me. Who was there for me? No one really. Aside from a great friend or two, I was dealing on my own. But, I remember clear as day how gospel records saved my ass. I threw on that James Cleveland and my salvation began. I was deep into it. I connected with the deep down and sorrowful tones and was inspired by the hopefulness and positivity. That James Cleveland LP and a magical few others earned a special place in my collection.
So, as a result I've always been open to and questing for more great gospel records. I tend to rifle through the gospel sections as importantly as I do the soul sections. But, it's rare that there is a section at all, even rarer when there's anything in it. Got this Gospel Miracles LP "Down through The Years...The Lord Has Been Good To Me" and enjoyed it. Long title eh? This tune "Building Up Myself" is a smooth one. Played it on Sunday at Sweaterfunk and wanted to spread the word even further. Hallelujah!

The Gospel Miracles - Building Up Myself