This lively setting of 'Ain'-a That Good News' is perfect for all choirs looking to energize any church service or concert. A chromatic modulation jump starts each new verse, as the energy and excitement is ratcheted up a notch. The canon in the penultimate verse adds variety to the otherwise homophonic texture, and the music finishes brightly with volume and excitement. Warren rejuvenates 'Go Tell it on the Mountain' by skilfully varying the metre between 7/8 and 6/8 in the refrain and presenting each verse differently. This clever arrangement is perfectly suited for concerts and church services alike. In the haunting and plaintive setting of 'Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,' Warren creatively evokes a stark tone of loneliness and despair with descending chromatic inner voices in the opening. What follows is a rich, reflective harmonic texture filled with chromatic surprises.

Songlist: Ain't That Good News, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Sometimes I feel like a motherless child

With a foreward by Andre Thomas, this collection of Moses Hogan spiritual arrangements is a welcome addition to any director's library and is a fitting tribute to to this great American composer and conductor. Includes: Ain't That Good News, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, Joshua (Fit the Battle of Jericho), My Soul's Been Anchored in De Lord, Ride the Chariot, This Little Light of Mine, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace and 26 more.

Songlist: Abide With Me, Ain't That Good News, The Battle of Jericho, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Do Lord, Remember Me, Down By the Riverside, Elijah Rock, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, God's Gonna Set This World on Fire, Good News, the Chariot's Comin', Great Day, Hear My Prayer, I Can Tell the World, I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, I Got a Robe, I Know the Lord's Laid His Hands on Me, I Stood on the River of Jordan, I Want Jesus to Walk With Me, I Want to Be Ready, I Want to Thank You, Lord, I'm Gonna Sing 'til the Spirit Moves in My Heart, Jesus Lay Your Head in the Window, Little David, Play On Your Harp, Lord, I Want To Be A Christian, My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord, Oh Mary, Don't You Weep Don't You Mourn, Ride the Chariot, Standing in the Need of Prayer, Steal Away, and more

The five spirituals contained within this collection have been edited directly from Moses Hogan's original a cappella settings to include accompanied arrangements for easy/medium SATB voicings. Great care has been taken to preserve the dynamic nuances, and the accompaniments reflect all of the harmonic and rhythmic stylings of the original a cappella settings.

Songlist: Ain't That Good News, Abide With Me, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Lord, I Want To Be A Christian, God's Gonna Set This World On Fire

Sam Cooke was the most important soul singer in history and the inventor of soul music. Even today, his music endures with cover recordings by artists from all genres of the recording industry. His legacy continues with this album-matching folio containing songs spanning more than a decade.

Songlist: Another Saturday Night, Bring It on Home to Me, Chain Gang, Cupid, Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha, Ain't That Good News, Having a Party, Jesus Gave Me Water, Meet Me at Mary's Place, Only Sixteen, Twisting the Night Away, (What A) Wonderful World, You Send Me, You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You

Director Joseph Jennings arranged most of the songs on this recording. Chanticleer apply their magnificent voices to the African-American sacred music tradition of spirituals, jubilees, hymns and chants. The idea of a concert style performance of these songs was pioneered at the end of the Civil War by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.Because of the exacting concert standard which Chanticleer applies the music, their performance is very much in that tradition. Under Mr. Jennings direction the group sings very familiar tunes, "Old Time Religion," "Deep River," "All Night, All Day" (you have to hear the soaring soprano on this one!), "Good News" and "Steal Away" to name just a smattering. We also like the voluminous notes which Mr. Jennings writes to accompany the music, for his point of view and information are illuminating.

Songlist: Old Time Religion, Deep River, Jesus Come By Here, All Night, All Day, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace, Where the Sun Will Never Go Down, Ain't That Good News, Good News, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Over Yonder, I Got Shoes, Steal Away, I've Been 'Buked, Lord I Want to be a Christian, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, Twelve Gates to the City

Meditation Singers : Good News   

A re-release on the Specialty label, which was founded by Art Rupe in 1946. The Meditation Singers, led by Earnestine Rundless, began their performing career in 1947, at the New Liberty Baptist Church in Detroit. This four member group initially started with four women, including Della Reese, who eventually left for a career in pop. Later members included tenor and composer James Cleveland, and soul chanteuse Laura Lee. It's Earnestine's sandpaper and gravel shout, however, that delivers the goods, as heard on 'God Is Good To Me' and most of the tunes on this recording. The Meditation Singers continued touring through the 1980's, and they are the genuine article of the golden era of gospel.

Songlist: My Soul Looks Back And Wonders, Ain't That Good News, You Don't Know How Blessed You Are, He's All Right With Me, Remember Me, One River To Cross, Now The Day Is Over, Make A step In The Right Direction, The Day Is Past And Gone, I'm Still Saying Yes, I'm Determined To Run This Race, Do You Know Jesus?, Promise To Meet Me There, Until I Reach My Heavenly Home, He Made It All Right, Jesus Is Always There, Too Close To Heaven, God Is Good To Me, WDIA Radio Station, Make A Step In The Right Direction, You Don't Know How Blessed You Are, Ain't That Good News, My Soul Looks Back And Wonders

National Lutheran Choir : I Sing Of Thy Mercies   

Founded in 1986 by Dr. Larry L. Fleming, and now directed by Dr. David Cherwien, the Minneapolis-based, mixed-voice NLC is comprised of professional choral musicians. "I Sing" is a limited edition CD, celebrating the Choir's 2003 West Coast Tour. Included are 9 songs, the spirituals "Ain'a That Good News" and "Tell 'em I'm Gone," the title tune, M.A. Blakireff's "Send Out Thy Light," Urmas Sisask's "Oremus," "Prayer for Peace" (by director Cherwein), Barber's "Lamb of God" and Tavener's "Song for Athene." Beautiful and inspirational.

Songlist: Ain't That Good News, I Sing of Thy Mercies, Send Out Thy Light, Tell 'em I'm Gone, Lord God, You Have Called You Servants, Oremus (XXII from Gloria Patri), Prayer for Peace, Lamb of God, Song for Athene

The elite Troubadors of Oakland's Pacific Boychoir Academy are joined by Continuum, a group of former boy choristers whose voices have changed, and soloist Jonathon Hampton, to sing this strong collection of 19 African-American spirituals, directed by Kevin Fox. Favorites are "Ain't Got Time to Die," "City Called Heaven," "Precious Lord" and "Wade in the Water," all of which features Hampton's smooth countertenor; "Over Yonder," which features soloist Jacob Wilson; "Deep River," "The Battle of Jericho" and "Hear My Prayer." There is some light accompaniment. The soloists contrast nicely with the Troubadors' sweet, high background vocals, particularly Hampton's rich leads. A special, beautifully performed collection!

Songlist: I Open My Mouth, Little David, Play On Your Harp, All My Trials, Take My Mother Home, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, Witness, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Ain't Got Time To Die, Precious Lord, I Stood On The River Of Jordan, Deep River, City Called Heaven, Over Yonder, The Storm Is Passing Over, Wade In The Water, Ain't That Good News, Praise His Holy Name, The Battle Of Jericho, Hear My Prayer

Pacific Mozart Ensemble : A Story Of Freedom   

The Berkeley, CA-based PME has just been getting better and more innovative since its founding 20 years ago. This rich, powerful, live collection of 23 authentic Spirituals is their 3rd winning recording in the Primarily A Cappella catalog. Some songs are recorded at the Green Room in San Francisco, and the rest at the Oakland Museum. All of our favorites are here, with fresh new arrangements: "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel," "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel," "His Name So Sweet," "Freedom Train," the heartbreaking "Steal Away," "Do Lord, Remember Me," "Elijah Rock," "The Battle of Jericho," "Amazing Grace," "Mary Had a Baby" and many others. Every song a gem, soaring solos, great music, live performance excitement-what could be better? We loved "A Story of Freedom!"

Songlist: Lord I Want To Be A Christian, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, Ain't That Good News, His Name So Sweet, Freedom Train, Steal Away, Soon And Very Soon, Deep River, Do Lord Remember Me, Great Day, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Chile, Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, Abide With Me, Elijah Rock, I'm Gonna Sing 'til The Spirit Moves In My Heart, The Battle Of Jericho, Down By The Riverside, Who Is Dat A Yonder, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Amazing Grace, Behold A Star, Mary Had A Baby

Persuasions : Good News   

There was a period in the 1980's that second tenor "Sweet" Joe Russell retired and so the group proceeded as a quartet. Though you would suspect the sound might be a little thin, the balance of voices to which we have become so accustomed seem to go right on without missing a beat. Jerry Lawson is inspired endlessly by the work of Sam Cooke who started a gospel career with the Soul Stirrers before his meteoric R&B career, and David Ruffin who was the great lead singer of the Temptations. Six of the tunes on Good News were originally popularized by those singers. In fact Sam Cooke not only was the original singer, but also the writer of "Cupid" and the co author, with William Cooke, of "I'll Come Running Back To You." Were we to pick the most memorable piece of music on this recording, however, it would be the "Swanee River Medley" which combines "Swanee River," "Ol' Man River" and "Raise 'Em Up."

Songlist: Ain't that Good News, Cupid, Soothe Me, Swanee River/Ol' Man River/Raise 'Em Up, I'll Come Running Back to You, I Lost Everything (I Ever Had), Message From Maria, All I Have to Do Is Dream, I Won't Be the Fool Anymore

We first time were blown away by the Persuasions at Hill Auditorium in Michigan in 1971, in an era when when rock bands like the Doors would roar into town with their huge amps, guitars and synthesizers, and Motown legends like Gladys Knight and the Pips would make the short trip down from the Motor City to show us how it was done. The Persuasions opened for soulful Gladys, and the audience, there to hear her sing her hit "Heard It Through the Grapevine," wasn't expecting much. Holding just microphones, the Persuasions put on a soul clinic, and left to an astonished, appreciative standing ovation! The second time was at the West Coast A Cappella Summit 5 or 6 years ago where we got to go backstage and talk to Jerry, Jimmy, Jayotis, Joe and Toubo after a sublime set. "A Cappella Soul" is on Best of Rounder Records' "Perfect 10 Series," and it's aptly labeled. The ten are "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Let Them Talk," "That's Heaven to Me," "Can't Do Sixty No More," "I Woke Up This Morning," the spiritual "Ain't That Good News," the Doo-Wop hit "Crying in the Chapel," "I'll Come Running Back to You," Elvis's "Return to Sender" and "Let's Get Married/Sincerely." Every one of these is marvelous. Treat yourself to "A Cappella Soul," a banquet from the legendary, pioneering Persuasions, still up there with mikes, doing their thing cool as you please, showing us mortals how it's done!

Songlist: All I Have To Do Is Dream, Let Them Talk, That's Heaven To Me, Can't Do Sixty No More, I Woke Up This Morning, Ain't That Good News, Crying in the Chapel, I'll Come Running Back To You, Return to Sender, Let's Get Married / Sincerely