Becky And Sandy - I Know Where I'm Going

I Wish We'd All Been Ready

Becky And Sandy

I Know Where I'm Going

Mission Records MR-BS-506

Looking For Home - The Heavenly Heirs

Holy Hills Of Home

Looking For Home
The Heavenly Heirs
Jewel LPS 163

QCA - Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio

91153

I'm Longing For Home

Heavenly Highway

I've Got A Better Place To Go

No Place To Hide

Holly Hills Of Home (Vocal by Mike Copley)

Father's Table Grace

Jesus Is Coming Soon

Why Worry (The Next Step You Take)

I'm Building A Bridge

It Won't Be Long Till Jesus Comes

At The Crossing

Angel Band

The Happy Sound Of The Unchurch Family

I Don't Want This Modern Religion

The Happy Sound Of The Unchurch Family
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio - LPM 126
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio - 80496

It's A Wonderful Feeling
He Brought  Me In
I Need Jesus
Oh, How I Love Jesus (To Me It's So Wonderful)
I Don't Want This Modern Religion
When I Meet You
He Touched Me
I'm A Poor Rich Man
I Have A Friend
Swing Down Sweet Chariot
Walking By Faith
I Like The Old Time Way

I Wouldn't Trade Him For The World - The Gospel Trio

The Lighthouse

He Touched Me

I Wouldn't Trade Him For The World

The Gospel Trio with Rev. Sherley Adkins

MGRS Recording Studio - Waynesville, Ohio

Rite Records Cincinnati, Ohio

sides #1010 & 29811

There is no printing on the back cover. The best that I can tell from listening to the record is that The Gospel Trio was made up of three women and Rev. Sherley Adkins was the featured male vocalist.

Pure Gold - The Uplifters

The Uplifters Sing
Pure Gold
Viola Records -VR-108
Lundy Recording Studio - Barbourville, Kentucky
Rite Record Production - Rite matrix number 5421 - 29358

I just blogged a record that features Billy Roop (a member of this group) and her family. Surprise, the next record on my stack to blog turns out to be this record featuring Roop and members of The Pineville, Kentucky Penecostal Church group she sang with.

Normally I do not post entire albums to conserve server space, but this album was so much fun that I just could not pick just one song as the feature sample.  The album features a little bit of everything, great female and male vocals, peppy arrangements and rockabilly.

I Cannot Find My Way Alone - Clifford and Nancy
Pure Gold - Billie Roop
Who Am I - Connie K. Smith
Another Hill - Earnie Carnes
Depending On You - Billie Roop
I Want To Be Save - Bro. George Neal
Go Down Moses - Group
Farther Along - Melvin Roop
If That Isn't Love - Clifford, Nancy and Connie
House Of Clay - Earnie Carnes
Do You Want To Shout - Van Johnson
Lights Of Home - Earnie Carnes

Musicians include: Larry Sinkhorn - Bass, Van Johnson - Lead Guitar, Ann Jackson – Piano, David Lundy Jr. - Drums, Fred Neal - Rhythm and Harmonica

It Took The Best Heaven Had - Billie Roop

You Don't Have Far To Go

I've Got Confidence

It Took The Best Heaven Had
Billie Roop
Lundy Recording Studio - Barbourville, Kentucky
Viola Records VR-140

The Roop Family members were part of a Pineville Pentecostal Church group known as The Uplifters. The cover and title suggest that the record is a solo project for Billie Roop. However, the song It Took The Best Heaven Had is credited as having been written by Roop. So I think the marketing idea was to feature her and this song and the album, as a whole, is a family project.

There is a list of studio musicians on the jacket. A guitar is not credited. So I think the odd guitar is probably being played by a Roop in the sample You Don't Have Far To Go, (a tune Roop also wrote). Apparently the owner of Lundy Records, David Duane Lundy, played drums on this LP.

This record is unusual and wonderful.

Memories Of Mother - The Singing Proffits

Papa

Mama's Teaching Angels How To Sing

Memories Of Mother
The Singing Proffitts
Melody Records - Hamilton, Ohio - MSLP - 32
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio
11027

The Proffitts are: Dewey, Thelma, Tammy and Darla. Dewey hails from Clay County, Kentucky. Check out this Proffitt album for a photo of Dewey, Thelma and their daughter, Darla.

Studio musicians include: Jim Hardin, Mandolin - Dale Shore, Banjo - George Brock, Flat Top Guitar - J.D. Jarvis, Flat Top and Bass - Neil Brackett, Bass and Earl Link, Rhythm Guitar.

I'm On My Way - The Heavenbound Singers

Wadin' Through Deep Water

I'm On My Way
The Heavenbound Singers
GRS - Gospel Recording Service - Waynesville, Ohio
0189

This was the first album for The Heavenbound Singers. The group consisted of Willard Meadows singing lead, Doris Behrer, Willard's sister, singing tenor and playing the piano and Lena Neal, Willard's Mother, singing alto. The family settled in Columbus, Ohio. They were originally from southern Kentucky.

They give credit to Roger Bissell for playing the electric bass.

The sample is the last track on the album. It's the only track featuring wild organ work.

I've blogged The Heavenbound Singers second album here.

The Heaven Bound Singers - I'm Bound For The Land Of Canaan

One More Valley

The Heaven Bound Singers
I'm Bound For The Land Of Canaan
GRS - Gospel Recording Studios - Waynesville, Ohio
0675

The Heaven Bound Singers worked out of Columbus, Ohio.

Apparently this was their second album which seems to have been recorded in someone's living room. Actually, most of these small labels were located a converted room found in someone's home.

Most of the tunes are vocal harmony and good stuff. There is one song, sample above, that feature a great solo vocal.

Here is the "Heaven Bound Singers" home as seen today.

Love Will Roll The Clouds Away - The Home Gate Quartet

Rocking On The Waves

Love Will Roll The Clouds Away
The Home Gate Quartet
Rose Records - Vandalia, Ohio
LPR 504

From the back cover: Playing rhythm guitar and singing lead is John Vaughn, singing alto his wife, Joyce, both from Somerset, Ky. Singing baritone is Carl Fiffe from West Liberty, Ky. Singing the bass is Alvin Collins from Harlan, Ky. Doing the recitation, Fank Pittman from Sunbright, Tenn. The quartet wished to take this opprotunity to thank Bro. Sidnet Bartram, from Dayton, Ohio for his musical talent in assisting un in the last two albums, also on personal appearances. Additional credit goes to Bill G. Mineer for playing Bass Guitar. "We think he did a wonderful job."

The group worked out of Dayton, Ohio.

Down To Earth And Back To Church - Jim Hardin and The Bluegrass Statesmen

Deep Water

Down To Earth And Back To Church
Jim Hardin and The Bluegrass Statesmen
Melody Sound Studio, Hamilton, Ohio.
Pine Tree - Hamilton, Ohio -  PTSLP-504
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio
104120
1964

I dated the album from a note found on the back cover by Pappy Tipton, Mr. Opry DJ: Over the period of years as a country DJ. I have met and worked with many groups of Country and Gospel singers, but I have never met a more sincere group than The Bluegrass Statesmen. Just as the title of this album "Down To Earth and Back To Church" their music is down to earth.

From what I can determine, The Statesmen release two albums.

God Is So Good To Me - The Little Country Trio

God Is So Good To Me

Remind Me

God Is So Good To Me
The Little Country Trio
Rite Record Productions, Inc. - Cincinnati, Ohio
Rite matrix #

The Little Country Trio members include Jesse Hutson, Loman Jeffers and Norma Jeffers.

These folks put out a powerful sound for just three people backed by a guitar. The vocal treatments are way down home.

I also thought I'd include the first track on the A side, because it features one of the children. Using a child in a song is a usually a gimmick that doesn't work. But in this case, the child's voice (Donna) accents the tune nicely.

Carl J. Burkhardt is credited as the recording engineer.

The Baker Quartet

Christ's Love Is All Need

The Baker Quartet
Jewel - Cincinnati, Ohio - LPS 166

From the back cover: The quartet consists of Wanda Baker singing lead, Juanita Baker singing alto, Coy Baker singing tenor and Don Baker singing bass and playing rhythm guitar. They reside in and around the Cincinnati area.

Joe Baker is credited with playing bass and second rhythm guitar credit goes to Joe Perry.

The Gospel Three

Pass Me Not - Who At My Door

The Gospel Three

There is limited information to be found on the jacket. Members aren't identified with the exception of the "fourth" member, Bill Chidres. I assume all members are from Williamsburg, Kentucky. However, I have one other Gospel Three album and I can identify "Bro. Baggett" from photographs. So I'm pretty sure this is the same group.

There are no identifiable marks on the label or record as to what company recorded or manufacture the record.

Jim Hardin And The Bluegrass Statesmen - Sing Gospel

I Pray My Way Out Of Trouble

Jim Hardin And The Bluegrass Statesmen
Sing Gospel
Melody Records - Hamilton, Ohio - MSLP - 18
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio
90941

From the back cover: The Bluegrass Statemen became a group in March 1969. Each of us have previously been associated with other gospel singers and have enjoyed singing gospel songs for several years. I, Jim Hardin play the mandolin and sing tenor. Don Hardin, who is my brother, plays the five string banjo and sings tenor. Bob and Landy Lawrence, who are brothers also, make the group complete as Bob sings lead and plays rhythm guitar and Landy plays the dobro. We want to express our thanks and appreciation to Bill Kilbourn for doing a fine job of playing bass for us.

The Traveling Pilgrim

Goodbye

I Pray My Way Out Of Trouble

How Great Thou Art

End Of My Journey

Give Me Your Hand

To My Mansion In The Sky

Give Me Flowers While I'm Living

The Great Beyond

When The Saints Go Marching In

My Shepherd Is God

Gone Home

With All My Heart Thank You Lord - The Gospel Three

With All My Heart

With All My Heart Thank You Lord

The Gospel Three

This is a wonderful vintage country/grass gospel record. There is little information on the back cover. The photo in the lower right corner is are the group's Teen Agers" who perform a few tunes on the album including Mama's Teaching Angels. It is difficult to tell who the other folks are.

The sample song, With All My Heart was written by Newton-Baggett. I believe that is Baggett and his wife, Sue in the lower left corner of the back cover.

Thank God I'm Free - Perry Duet

Too Late

Thank God I'm Free
Perry Duet
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
LPS 197

The Perry Duet was from Detroit, Michigan. From the back cover: The Perry Duet comes from the hills of West Virginia where Brother Perry worked in the coal mines.

Studio musicians include, Jr. McIntyre on Banjo, Rusty York (owner/operator of Jewel Records) on Guitar and Chet Barnett on Bass.

Check out this earlier album by The Perry Duet.

Special Delivery - Yo Yo Collins

Special Delivery

Yo Yo Collins

Private press. The artist was working out of Salina, OK. Collins is still active.

Another Hill - Perry Duet

King Jesus

Another Hill
Perry Duet
Jewel - Cincinnati, Ohio
LPS 170

From the back cover: Both Samson and Dorothy Perry were born in Wayne County, West Virginia. They reside in Detroit, Michigan with their two daughters, Polly Marie and Judith Ann. They were both saved in 1965. This is the first Long Play Album the Perry Duet have recorded.

For some reason, The Perry Duet decided to travel down to Cincinnati, Ohio to record their album. Perhaps Jewel's reputation as a recording and production company had traveled far north amongst gospel artists.

Rusty York not only engineered and produced the album, but also played guitar. Other studio musicians include: Jr. McIntyre on banjo and Chet Barnett on Bass.

Tells Of His Wonderful Love - The Singing Proffitts

Didn't It Rain

Tells Of His Wonderful Love
The Singing Proffitts
Melody Records - Hamilton, Ohio
MSLP-27
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Proffitts were from Hamilton, Ohio.

From the back cover: Dewey Proffitt was born in Clay Co., Ky., his lovely wife Thelma was born in Hamilton, Ohio, they have two daughters, Darla, age 8, and Tammy age 13. Darla has been singing with her parents since she was two years old. She does a wonderful job in "Walking in Jerusalem Just Like John".

The credit J. D. Jarvis on the back cover for the "wonderful work" he did in making the LP possible. Jarvis was a fixture on the gospel scene during this time, making many albums himself. He plays Dobro and Lead Guitar on this album.

The Purple Rob - Wayne Smith

Meeting In The Air

The Purple Rob

Wayne Smith

Artists Records - Cincinnati, Ohio

700661

Here's a somewhat unusual album. The cover is pretty cool, almost too well done for a local private press. In other words, you almost never see artwork on a vintage private press like this that isn't a photo of the artist or a pre-printed or stock art cover. But this is the only example I've seen of this cover to date... so it is possible that Smith somehow managed to have this jacket package created for him.

Next... I assumed the vocal treatments were going to be the typical tenor type that I just can't get into. But Wayne's treatments are unpolished, almost lounge with a touch of country. He sounds like Al Morgan, another well known (that's relative statement… Al is all but forgotten now) Cincinnati area lounge artist. If I didn't know better... I'd say they are one in the same person. Check out the link and hear for yourself.

Anyway, this LP is curious and entertaining.

I Met The Master - Peggy Caudill

Who Am I

I Met The Master
Peggy Caudill
Cabut Recorda LP 1007
Rite Record Productions - Cincinnati, Ohio
Sides #1501 & 25134

From the back cover: Peggy "O'Dell" Caudill was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1939. She's married and has three children. It's been her desire to sing all her life. She's been a Christian about a year and a half. She enjoys working in revivals.

It appears from the label that Cabut was located in Kermit W. Virginia. I'm assuming that Caudill was a local (Cincinnati area) artist, as she is mentioned on the jacket as having been born in Portsmouth and since the record was pressed at Rite. But I'm not sure why she would have recorded in this W. Virginia studio.

This is one of those rare vintage gospel albums that rises like the cream in milk... if they simply left milk alone to do what it does naturally. The tunes all have this dreamy quality about them. Caudill's sweet vocal treatments are backed by some nice steel guitar work and subtle backup vocals. The songs just drift along one into the next, blending as if the entire album was meant to be heard as a single track.

And you have to love the cover photo of Caudill holding her 12 string electric flattop. Sweet.

Twelve Songs Of Faith - Taylor Smith And Family

Led Out Of Bondage

Twelve Songs Of Faith
Taylor Smith And Family (Gospel Singers)
ADCO Recording Co. - Cincinnati, OH
#138

From the back cover: Mr. Taylor Smith sings lead and plays rhythm guitar; his daughter, Jaunita, plays bass guitar and sings tenor; Taylor's younger daughter, Vernice, plays electric organ; and Taylor Jr. plays the five string banjo and lead guitar for the group.

The back cover also suggests that there are a few Taylor 45s floating around out there with the titles: Jesus Is The Vine and Lonesome For Heaven.

This was the Taylors home shown as it appears today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This home was apparently the location of ADCO Recording Co. shown as it appears today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

When The Flowers Of God Shall Return - Bridges Quartet

Family Bible

When The Flowers Of God Shall Bloom
Bridges Quartet
Jewel Records – Cincinnati, Ohio
JEWEL LPS 173

When The Flowers Of God Shall Bloom

Going Home

I'll See You There

I'll Put On A Crown

Glorified Body

Why Worry

After All

Grand Home Coming

Mansion Over In Glory

Family Bible

A Better Home

Amazing Grace

Sheila

Ain't Given Up

Sheila
Sandy Records

Ralph Carmichael And The Young People

Natural High

Young
Ralph Carmichael And The Young People
Light Records LS 5533

1971

Ralph Carmichael founded Light Records in 1966. The Young People and 102 Strings were early entries to the market. Other artists included Jimmy Durante and Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of Tony The Tiger).

Enjoy a little sunshine pop!

The Christian Singers

Ten Thousand Years

The Christian Singers
Beatty Records BR-317

Gospel group out of Mt. Pleasant, TN.

What Do You Say About Jesus - Bibleway Church Of God In Christ

Pray For Me - Rev. Abraham Swanson XII

What Do You Say About Jesus
Bibleway Church Of God In Christ
QCA Recording Studios/Custom Pressing - Cincinnati, Ohio

This album was a nice score. I find a ton of white southern gospel in the area, but rarely black gospel. I've collected a number of Savoy label gospel records featuring name artists. Choir director and organist, Michael Gaston worked with James Cleveland (who recorded on Savoy). This LP compares to many of the Savoy recordings I have listened to in intensity of performance and quality.

Below is what the church looks like today. The back cover credits Rev. Abraham Swanson XII (lead along with Mrs. Mary L. Swanson) and Rev. A. Swanson (written and arranged) for the tune titled What Do You Say About Jesus. It is interesting to note that A. Swanson is still pastoring at this church (when this photo was taken).