The Musical Suddards

O Say But I'm Glad

The Musical Suddards
S.O.S. Recording
SUD 101 LP

The Cathie Trio Sings Hymns Of Faith And Trust

Follow Me

The Cathie Trio Sings Hymns Of Faith And Trust
RPC Recorded Publications Company - Camden, NJ
AZB-24001

From the back cover: It was out privilege to sing for the protestant pavillion of the 1965 New York World's Fair, and more recently we appeared with the choral ensemble in a sacred musical by Duke Ellington and his band.

The notes were printed on a sheet of paper found fixed to the back cover with tape.

It's Not An Easy Road
I'd Rather Have Jesus
At Calvary
Take Your Burden To The Lord

Do You Know My Jesus
At The Cross
Sunshine Train
Follow Me

The Evangelistic Ambassadors Sing Inside The City

After All

The Evangelistic Ambassadors Sing Inside The City

Queen City Recording and Album - Cincinnati, Ohio
S101N2

The Ambassadors were Bill Singleton and Ada Stewart. Additional credit: David Sands - Lead Guitar, David Sands Jr. - Piano and Barbara Sands - Bass.

Kenny Felts Sings Tribute To Red Foley

The Touch Of Heaven

Kenny Felts Sings Tribute To Red Foley
Jewel Records LPS 180

Session musicians include: Dennis Hensley - Lead Guitar, Denny Rice - Piano, Jr. Bennett - Violins, Gene Lawson - Drums, Chester Barnett - Bass and Jr. Boyer - Steel Guitar. Background voices are credited to Chet Oliver Singers.

Red Foley was born down the road from my in Blue Lick, Kentucky. His music is known to have been inspirational to Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. You can read more about Foley on his wiki page.

From the back cover: Kenny is very modest when discussing the remarkable resemblance of his singing style to that of Red Foley. While he greatly admires the work of the man he is paying tribute to; he is not in any sense of the word copying. This is his own natural style of singing.

The sample posted above, is one of three songs on this LP that Foley didn't record (according to the jacket notes).

Rusty York is credited as Recording Engineer.

Here is another Felts album I've blogged: Kenny Felts With The Starlighters.

Bill Durham Sings Your Requests

Redemption Draweth Nigh

Bill Durham Sings Your Requests
Artists Recording Co. - Cincinnati, Ohio - 760323

Session musicians include: Junior Spivey - Guitar, Denny Rice - Keyboard, Dave Bowman - Electric Bass and Tim Short - Drums.

On The Other Side Of The Jordan - The Bridges Quartet

Lights Of Home

On The Other Side Of The Jordan
The Bridges Quartet
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
LPS 143

QCA - Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio

90226

On The Other Side Of Jordan

I Want To Go Home

In The Great Beyond

Family Circle

I'm Almost Home

My Heart Can See

Going Up Home To Live In Green Pasture

I'm Glory Bound

Someone Is Waiting

Lights Of Home

Just For Me

I Don't Regret A Mile I've Traveled For The Lord

I'll Make It All Right - The Home Gate Quartet

Scars In The Hands Of Jesus

I'll Make It All Right
The Home Gate Quartet
Rose Records, Vandalia, Ohio - LPR 821
Rite Record - Cincinnati, Ohio - 37802

The Home Gate Quartet worked out of Dayton, Ohio.

Additional recordings by The Home Gate Quartet, as listed on the back cover include: Jesus Walked Upon The Water, Love Will Roll The Clouds Away, Don't Weaken The Wheel, We'll Talk It All Over Up There and Heaven Must Be A Wonderful Place.

Mother Left Me Her Bible To Show Me The Way - Esco Hankins

Stairway To Heaven

Mother Left Me Her Bible To Show Me The Way
Esco Hankins
REM Records - Lexington, Ky - LP 1006

Pressing by RCA Custom Division, USA
1963

This is a local record for me (living in Northern Kentucky as I do). Hankins also recorded for Rusty York/Jewel in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hankins wife, Jackie did backing vocals on this album.

From the back cover: On one hand Esco may be described as an attractive, black-haired, brown-eyed fellow who stands five-feet-nine and weighs one-forty. On the other hand he may be described in terms of his soft-spoken, mild-mannered, easy-going, pleasing disposition.

From a bio found on jukkajoutsi.com: The year 1963 saw Esco and his wife Jackie recording for Bob Mooney’s Rem Record label of Lexington, Kentucky. His initial release for the label was a 6 track EP album which contained the following recordings MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE, MOTHER SLEEPS IN A LONELY GRAVE, JESUS PRAYED IN THE GARDEN FOR ME (these three recordings can also be found on (Rem RL-1006 “MOTHER LEFT ME HER BIBLE TO SHOW ME THE WAY”) released in 1963 and which was also re-released on (Old Homestead OHCS-309) with the same title and which was released in 1984. The other tracks on the EP are LIES AND ALIBIS, WITHOUT YOU and THAT’S IT (EP-504). He also recorded I’M IN HIS CARE, HE’LL BE THERE IN TIME, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, UNWORTHY LORD, THE POWER OF GOD, I’D LIKE TO THANK JESUS, FALL ON YOUR KNEES, STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN and BY THE CRYSTAL SEA. He also joined the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree during the year.

Hankins made his home at the end of his recording career in Lexington, KY. He worked as a deejay at various radio stations, operated his own music shop, The Esco Hankins Record Center and performer locally on Lexington's weekly gospel music program, The Revival Tabernacle.

Amazing Grace - The Melody-ettes

The First Million Years

Amazing Grace Has To Be My Favorite Song

The Melody-ettes
Rose Records - Vandalia, Ohio - LPR 602
Rite Record Productions - Cincinnati, Ohio - 36510

The Melody-ettes worked out of Englewood, Ohio.

Session musicians include: Rick Todd - Pedal Steel, Susie Bieker - Piano, Junior Allen - Rhythm Guitar and Rex Allen - Bass Guitar

Who Do I Know In Heaven - The Sunlighters

You're Home To Stay

Who Do I Know In Heaven
The Sunlighters
Golden Shield Records
Recorded And Manufactured by Rite Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
Sides 28457 & 28457

I'm Walking A New Road
The Next Step
Who Do I Know In Heaven
Hide Me, Rock Of Ages
He Restoreth My Soul
No Lock On My Mansion Door
I Know
God Walks The Dark Hills
You're Home To Stay
City Of Gold
Build My Mansion
Going Home

He Was Waiting At The Altar - Forest And Jean Combs

He Was Waiting At The Alter

He Was Waiting At The Altar
Forest And Jean Combs
Jewel Recording Studio - Cincinnati, Ohio
LP 108

I believe, from the jacket notes, that the Combs worked out of Newport, Kentucky.

This is a fine country gospel album. Session musicians include: Phil Miles - Electric Guitar, Kenny Felts - Bass, Rev. Joe Elliot - Electric Guitar, Denny Rice - Piano, Bob Teagarden - Drums and Ray Wilson - Steel Guitar. The album was engineered and produced by Rusty York.

Little Marcy And The Bible Story Book

The World's Saddest Day

Little Marcy And The Bible Story Book
Word Wonder World Series K-733
1975

Bluegrass Traditional And Contemporary - The Bluegrass Flyers

Bringing Mary Home

Bluegrass Traditional And Contemporary
The Bluegrass Flyers
Artist's Recording Co. - Cincinnati, Ohio
750158

This isn't a gospel album, but it is local (Cincinnati, Ohio) press and I recognize at least two of the artists as session musicians from a number of local gospel LPs that I've posted on this blog to include: Dennis Hensley - Banjo/Baritone, Don Mason - Guitar/Tenor, Roy Conner - Mandolin/Lead, Ron Cole - Bass/Bass and Junior Bennett - Fiddle

Travlin' On With The Burtons

Those Nail Scarred Hands

Travlin' On With The Burtons
Rite Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
28051

Musicians include: Dan Burton - Piano, Grady Burton, Jr. - Electric Guitar, Chester Barnett - Bass, Andy Kunick - Drums and Junior Boyer - Steel Guitar

The Burtons worked out of Fairfield, Ohio (Cincinnati area).

I've blogged one other Burton LP titled Comin' On Strong. The youngest son of Grady Burton Jr., Dennis Burton, left an nice comment on that post that brings history to life.

There are a number of unique arrangements to be heard on this set. A few tracks are flavored with a touch of cowboy swing which is unusual for an album of this type and vintage.

What A Day - The Jubilaires

Something I Can Feel

What A Day
The Jubilaires
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
Jewel #739
1977

What A Day

Poor Rich Man

What A Lovely Name

I'll Have A New Life

One Day At A Time

Something I Can Feel

Scars In The Hands

I Believe Jesus

If You're Happy

One More Mountain

I Firmly Promise You - The New Haven Quartet

When I'm Sleeping In The Grave

I Firmly Promise You
The New Haven Quartet
Jewel Records LPS 415
Queen City Album 4122N14
1974

The New Haven Quartet worked out of Western Hills, Cincinnati Ohio. This was their first album.

Keepsake - Montgomery County Singing Convention

Ecthus Experience - Spread A Little Love Around

Keepsake
Montgomery County Singing Convention
MGMA 40511
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is the Montgomery Convention's first album. The cover image is The Carrillon Bell Tower in Dayton, Ohio.

Thank You For The Valley - The Harmony Four

The Third Man

Thank You For The Valley
The Harmony Four
Jewel Recording Studios - LPS 207

The Harmony Four worked out of Norwood, Ohio.

Musicians include: Kenny Roberts - Lead Guitar, Freddy Baird - Bass, Gene Smith - Organ, Ray Wilson - Steel Guitar & Hiram Andrews - Rhythm Guitar

Thank You For The Valley
I've Been Changed
Had It Not Been
It Won't Be Long
The Third Man
Somebody Touched Me
Farther Along
Across The Bridge
Give Up
That's The Way
At The Crossing
Just A Little Talk With Jesus

Jesus Is Always The Same - The Chapelaires

He Did Everything

Jesus Is Always The Same
The Chapelaires

On this set, The Chapelaires produced your basic gospel male harmonies with the exception of the "lounge" gospel tune featured above.

One More Day - The Gospel Trio Sings

One More Day

One More Day
The Gospel Trio Sings
Rite Record Productions - Cincinnati, Ohio
Sides #5792 & 32695

One More Day
Gettin' Ready To Leave This World
Because He Loved Me
Swing Wide The Gates
That's Just The Way
Because He Lives
One More River
I've Come Too Far To Look Back
I'll Soon Be Gone
I've Got My Heart Set On Heaven

They Said I Must Die - But God Had Other Plans

They Said I Must Die
But God Had Other Plans
Evangelist Cliff Hutchinson
Artist Recording Company - Cincinnati, Ohio
700905

According to a newspaper clipping, reproduced on the back cover, Hutchinson ran his vehicle into a moving train locomotive in 1957. He suffered severe head, chest and abdominal injuries. Other passengers in the car were less severely injured. Hutchinson requested that those people be taken to the hospital before him.

Hutchinson goes on to tell his story of not only the car wreck, but surviving bone cancer in 1939. There is also a reference in a second clipping on the back cover about surviving cancer several years prior to the 1957 accident.

The King's Highway - Ed Day And The Gospel Travelers

Six Hours On The Cross

The King's Highway
Ed Day And The Gospel Travelers
Melody Sound Studio - Hamilton, Ohio
Pine Tree Records - Hamilton, Ohio
PTSLP-521

Ed Day was from Okeana, Ohio. Group members are: Ed Day - Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Gilbert Grubb - Tenor and First Flat Top Guitar, Donald Meyer - Banjo, Ray Miller - Bass and Mandolin and Gregg Holland - Bass.

Victory Is Sweet - The Travelers

When I Look Back Down The Road

Victory Is Sweet
The Travelers
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio - JRC 83001

The Travelers are Jonie Campbell, Wanda Campbell and Tammy Bridges. This was their first album.

Rusty York, owner/operator of Jewel Records is credited with playing harmonica on this album.

Other musicians include: Bruce Andrews - Lead Gutiar, Paul Harkins - Bass, Wesley Bridges - Rhythm Guitar, Brenda Harkins - Piano, Tammy Bridges - Piano and Jr. Bennett - Strings.

The Travelers worked out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sunday Festival - Ron Gunter

Sunday Festival

Ron Gunter
Jewel Records - Cincinnati, Ohio - LPS 258
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio
11215

From the back cover: One side two, I invited my sister Patti, and a group of vocal artists to add a touch of variety to the album. Included are singer - friends Karen Angel, Milda Croswait, Tammy Olive and Audie Weber.

This is a one of those rare albums by a group of people who just wanted to make a record for the fun of it. They didn't seem the least bit concerned about crafting a sound that would fit into gospel audio trends of the day.

The results aren't good, bad or ugly... just crazy fun.

Talking About A Good Time - Bobby Grove

Talking About A Good Time
Bobby Grove
Oak Records LP 170
Queen City Album - Cincinnati, Ohio

10732

I've blogged a number of Bobby Grove albums here in The Gospel Barn. I resist pitting the quality of one artist against another, because all artists offer something special to the art form. But out of all the local artists I've blogged, Grove's recordings consistently offer the highest or most "commercial" quality sound. Meaning, I think Grove had the best chance out of all the local artists, working during the time period, of reaching a wider audience if he had found a home on a label.

It is interesting to note mention of The Bobby Grove Record Club on the back cover. Apparently Grove was producing an album every 60 days during this time as part of this promotion.

But what may be of most interest is that Grove is still active, unlike so many of his peers, and held on to his stock of records. You can still purchase actual vinyl from him through his website: http://www.bobbygrove.org/catalog_LP.html

Bobby Grove Sings: "It Was For You"

It Was For You

Bobby Grove Sings: "It Was For You"

Cover: Dan Quest

Oak Records - Hamilton, Ohio

King Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
KING 831

*Due to the somewhat rough condition of my copy, you will hear some skips in the recording that I have attempted to digitally smooth out. Most of the play through, however, makes for a good listen.

From the back cover: The story of Bobby Grove is typical of many of our up and coming Sacred singers of today. He had his start in the backwoods of Kentucky and his childhood was one of strict and thorough religious training. Bobby Grove was gifted with a musical talent and seems destined to take his place among some of the country's most popular singers of Country-Sacred music. This is Bobby Grove's first album and we present it with a great deal of pride. We believe he has a future and that his many fans will welcome his first record release. Rather than dwell on Bobby Grove, the individual, we felt it best to let him tell his own story in his own words:

"I was born in the little coal mining town of Worley, Kentucky, but was still a small boy when my folks moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I grew up and had about the same childhood that most poor boys have. My father and mother were good to us children and I know that Dad worked hard for us, but it seems we could never get ahead. My father was a fiddle player and the leader of a hillbilly band and worked in night clubs seven nights a week.

"I did not have much interest in music until I went into the Army where, after a couple of months, I started playing the guitar. I was shipped to Korea and didn't have much time for music until after the cease fire when I was assigned to an all-soldier show which toured the Far East for about a year. After my discharge from the Army, I received a long distance call one day from a fellow who had been in the Army with me, saying he had a job for me in Chicago working as a comic on a kiddie TV show. I went to Chicago but they didn't find me very funny, however, that lead to my getting a job on WLS National Barn Dance as a singer. Shortly thereafter, on a visit back to Ohio, I met the most beautiful girl I had ever seen – Fayette Boggs, and three months later we were married. We returned to Chicago but things were not too good so we decided to come back to Cincinnati where I got a job as a disc jockey on WZIP where I stayed for three years. One morning while doing my show I felt pains in my ankles and at the end of my broadcast I could not get out of my chair. The doctor told me I had rheumatoid arthritis and I was almost paralized for about a year. I was told to forget about the music business as I would never be able to play again because of my nerves. With the help and encouragement of my wonderful wife, I finally was able to get around some and got a job singing seven nights a week in a night club where I worked every night of the week for three solid years. I took sick again and while in the hospital, Reverend Merle Vaughn visited me. I started going to Reverend Vaughn's church and one night I felt God tug at my heart and I went down to the old fashioned altar and prayed through. Sometime later I started evangelizing. My wife and four little boys had to sacrifice a lot and finally we lost everything we had. I couldn't find work since all I had ever done was play music and no one seemed interested in an ex-musician. When hope was almost gone, God sent a man – Reverend Johnny Carter to help me. If it had not been for his inspiration and guidance, I would probably still be singing in a night club somewhere . . . I had reached the point where my cross seemed too heavy to bear. He took me with him wherever he went to preach and in just a few short months I had a house full of happiness and well-being. I put the music in my heart into songs and recorded a package of gospel records. Johnny helped me sell enough to get me back on my feet and if it had not been for Johnny this album would never have been recorded .... he encouraged me when no one else seemed to care. Thanks to Reverend Johnny Carter, I am now working hand in hand with Jesus.

"I sincerely hope that this album will be a blessing to someone and if you are walking down the same lonely road that I have traveled I hope there is a song in this album that will turn your thoughts to Jesus. If you will call on Him, I am sure He will answer. If you would like for me to come and sing at your church, you can contact me at P.O. Box 37, Harrison, Ohio." – Yours truly, Bobby Grove

Beggar To A King

I Saw God

Ain't No Grave Gonna' Hold My Body Down

Only A Whisper Away

They Were Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill

He Made Me Free

Prayer Bells Of Heaven

When He Reached Down His Hand For Me

It Was For You

Peace In The Valley

Beacon In The Night

Known Only To Him

Legend Of The Dogwood Tree

The King And I

Cup Of Loneliness

Led By The Master's Hand

Amazing Grace - The Kings Quartet 4

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace
The Kings Quartet 4
Cardinal Recording Studio CR KF 100

The Kings Four Quartet worked out of Charlestown, Indiana.

Sweeter Gets The Journey - The Synan Family

Oh Come, Angel Band

Sweeter Gets The Journey
The Synan Family
Benson Sound Studio LPS 115

The Synan Family worked out of Richmond, Virginia. They recorded this album in one night while stopped on tour in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The jacket image was taken at The Will Rodgers Flower Garden in Oklahoma City.

Because He Lives - The Ambassador's

Because He Lives
The Ambassador's
Rose Records LPR 710
Rite Record Production - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sorry, no sample. Sadly, the record found inside the jacket wasn't the Ambassador vinyl.

The Ambassador's worked out of Middletown, Ohio.

Living In Canaan Now - The North Family

The Lighthouse

Living In Canaan Now (Full Album)

Living In Canaan Now
The North Family
Artist Records - Cincinnati, Ohio
720603

The North Family worked out of Mt. Orab Ohio.