The Soul Stirrers

One of the most popular and influential gospel groups of the 20th century, The Soul Stirrers were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and, without intending it, in the creation of soul music, the secular music that owed much to gospel. The group was formed by Roy Crain, who had launched his first quartet, which sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "The Soul Stirrers." Among the members of that group was R.H. Harris, who soon became its musical leader. Harris, also from Trinity, Texas, brought several changes to the Soul Stirrers that affected gospel quartet singing generally. He used a falsetto style that may have its antecedents in African music, but which was new to the popular jubilee singing style of the time. He pioneered the "swing lead", in which two singers would share the job of leading the song, allowing virtuoso singers to increase the emotional intensity of the song as the lead passed between them. That innovation led the Soul Stirrers, while still called a quartet, to acquire five members; later groups would have as many as seven but still consider themselves "quartets", which referred more to their style than their number.

The Soul Stirrers made other important changes in those years: ad-libbing lyrics, singing in delayed time, and repeating words in the background as both a rhythmic and emotional support for the lead singers. The Soul Stirrers dropped the "flatfooted" style of jubilee quartets before them and expanded their repertoire from spirituals and traditional hymns to the newer gospel compositions. The group also loosened the rigid arrangements that jubilee quartets had favored to permit individual singers within the group more space for individual development. In 1936 Alan Lomax recorded the Soul Stirrers for the Smithsonian Institution's American music project. They later moved to Chicago, where they broadcast a weekly radio show. Their nationwide touring gained them an even larger audience, as they delivered the emotional fervor that popular jubilee groups, such as the Golden Gate Quartet, did not.

The Soul Stirrers signed with Specialty Records, where they recorded a number of tracks, including "By and By" and "In that Awful Hour". Harris, the most popular member of the group, soon quit, however, in order to form a new group. He was replaced by the then-unknown Sam Cooke. The first single with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water", a major hit that brought the Soul Stirrers massive acclaim. T.L. Bruster was replaced by Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks. When Cooke left in 1956 to pursue a career in pop music, the Soul Stirrers' preeminence in gospel was essentially over, though a brief period of success with Johnnie Taylor sustained the group for a time. Various line-ups continued touring and recording throughout the last half of the century to a small and devoted following. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.

Discography

Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers

Peace In The Valley It Won't Be Very Long How Far Am I From Canaan? Just Another Day Come and Go to that Land Any Day Now He'll Make a Way Nearer to Thee Be With Me Jesus One More River I'm So Glad (Trouble Doesn't Last Always) Wonderful Farther Along Touch the Hem of His Garment Jesus Wash Away My Troubles Must Jesus Bear This Cross Alone? That's Heaven to Me Were You There? Mean Old World Lord Remember Me Lovable Forever I'll Come Running Back to You That's All I Need to Know I Don't Want to Cry

Sam Cooke was one of the most influential singers and songwriters of the latter half of the twentieth century. Between l957 and 1965 he had 29 top 40 hits on the pop charts and 34 on the R&B charts. This recording is about his real roots as a gospel singer. As a boy he sang with two brothers and two sisters in a gospel group called the Singing Children. At age 15 he became the lead singer of the Highway Q.C.'s (yes, they became famous) which were tutored by members of the nationally renown Soul Stirrers. In return, the Highway Q.C.'s became almost like a farm club of future singers. Sam was recruited to take the place of the great R.H. Harris when he retired at the end of 1950. He proceeded to put his own stamp on the group, not only because of his voice, but the fact that he was the most prolific writer in the group. His songs include classics such as 'Nearer To Thee,' 'Be With Me Jesus,' 'Touch The Hem Of His Garment' and 'That's Heaven To Me.' This recording traces his gospel career, both unaccompanied and accompanied by small bands.

Listen to Peace In The Valley in Real Audio.

The Last Mile of The Way

The Last Mile of the Way Mean Old World That's Heaven to Me Were You There? Lord Remember Me Pilgrim of Sorrow He's My Guide The Last Mile of the Way Pilgrim of Sorrow All Right Now He'll Make a Way Jesus I'll Never Forget Come and Go to That Land Just as I Am He'll Welcome Me He's My Friend Until the End Jesus Paid the Debt Jesus Will Lead Me to That Promised Land It Won't Be Very Long How Far Am I from Canaan? Let Me Go Home

It has been argued Sam Cooke made his most inspired recordings during the six years (1951 -1957) he spent as a member of the Souls Stirrers. This compact disc delves deep into the famous quarete's period with Cooke and includes some of his best-loved gospel songs. While Cooke solos on all but one of the twenty-eight tracks, also featured are the outstanding contributions of Paul Foster, J.J.Farley, Juliius Cheeks and in a rare vocal performance Souls Stirrer's guitarist Bob King.

3014 CD $14.98

Shine on Me

By and By I'm Still Living on Mother's Prayer Feel Like My Time Ain't Long Today I Have a Right to the Tree of Life In That Awful Hour Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb Shine on Me Faith and Grace Everybody Ought to Love Their Soul Blessed Be the Name of the Lord I'm Gonna Move in the Room With the Lord My Loved Ones Are Waiting for Me How Long Who'll Be the One (There's a Vacant Room in Glory) The Lord Is My Shepherd Christ Is All (The World to Me) By and By I'm Still Living on Mother's Prayer Feel Like My Time Ain't Long I Have a Right to the Tree of Life In That Awful Hour Faith and Grace My Loved Ones Are Waiting for Me

Extensive liner notes to this collection of classics compiled and produced by noted musicologist Opal Nations.

Listen to I Have a Right to the Tree of Life and Shine on Me in Real Audio.

Jesus Gave Me Water

Jesus Gave Me Water Christ Is All Come, Let Us Go Back to God I'm on the Firing Line How Far Am I From Canaan? Jesus Done Just What He Said He's My Rock Joy, Joy to My Soul I'm Gonna Build on That Shore Until Jesus Calls Me Home Jesus Will Lead Me to That Promised Land It Won't Be Very Long Let Me Go Home Someday Somewhere Jesus Paid the Debt End of My Journey He's My Friend Until the End I Have a Friend Above All Others I Gave Up Everything to Follow Him Come and Go to That Land I'm So Happy in the Service of the Lord Any Day Now Jesus, I'll Never Forget All Right Now Pray

Lots of previously unreleased material here including a gripping nearly four minute riff between Cooke and the awesome Julius Cheeks.

Listen to Jesus Done Just What He Said in Real Audio.

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