Original image of St. Joan of Arc Chapel at Marquette University by There Stands the Glass.
Failing to direct my attention to the weekly rollout of 25 digital reissues of albums on The Gospel Truth Records label is among the biggest mistakes I’ve made during the pandemic. The uplifting sets by gospel artists released by the subsidiary of Stax Records in the 1970s would have given me much-needed strength.
The recent release of The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection improves my attitude dramatically. The powerfully funky assertions of liberation theology make the two-hour set consisting of the A and B sides of 17 singles essential for fans of Southern soul, protest music and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of 1970s black gospel beyond the Staple Singers.
The Rance Allen Group, the biggest name on the set, is represented by five strong singles. But it’s the deep cuts that make compilations like The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection rewarding. Charles and Annette May’s "Keep My Baby Warm" is startlingly sensual. Joshie Jo Armstead’s "Ride Out the Storm" is an anthem for our time. The 21st Century’s “Who’s Supposed to be Raising Who” may be the most danceable parental guidance diatribe ever laid down.
Several tracks are blatant repurposings of secular hits, but the results reflect divine inspiration rather than commercial desperation. Only two wildly out of place selections by Blue Aquarius- a psychedelic band dedicated to Prem Rawat- kill the vibe. It’s going to be difficult to tear myself away from the other 32 tracks to finally dig into the reissues of full albums by each act.
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I review Norman Brown’s Heart to Heart at Plastic Sax.
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Opera update: I watched 182 operas during the first six months of the pandemic. The Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet’s 2020 production of Sergei Prokofiev’s "The Gambler" is a recent highlight.