IN TIME FOR GOSPEL HERITAGE MONTH,

THE SET MARKS THE CULMINATION OF A SIX-MONTH CAMPAIGN CELEBTRATING THE PIONEERING STAX RECORDS IMPRINT

Available on vinyl, CD and digital formats, the compilation includes all 17 singles issued through the Gospel Truth label, including songs by The Rance Allen Group, Joshie Joe Armstead, Rev. Maceo Woods And The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir, and Louise McCord, among others

Los Angeles, CA—Craft Recordings announces the release of The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection, a brand new, comprehensive compilation that spotlights The Gospel Truth Records—an imprint of the legendary soul label, Stax Records. Set for a November 13th release date and available digitally today, The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection includes all 17 singles – plus their respective B-sides – issued by the imprint between 1972 and 1974. Physical formats of the title, which can be pre-ordered now, include a two-CD set, as well as a vinyl edition. The three-LP set was pressed at Memphis Record Pressing and comes housed in a handsome triple-gatefold jacket.

The collection also includes in-depth liner notes from Jared Boyd, a Memphis-based journalist and host of NPR’s Beale Street Caravan, who captured new interviews with Stax Records executive Al Bell, trailblazing gospel artist Rance Allen, and Mary Peak Patterson, who helped establish The Gospel Truth Records label. In addition, exclusive bundles with a Gospel Truth T-shirt, plus a special gift with purchase (while supplies last), are available at the Stax online store.

 

Jared Boyd will be participating in an interactive conversation series titled Sips And Stanzas, hosted by The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), today in celebration of Gospel Music Heritage Month. The virtual discussion will revolve around The Gospel Truth history and current reissues. Join the event today at 4:30 p.m. CST/5:30 EST at NMAAM’s Facebook page.

 

Throughout 2020, Craft Recordings has celebrated the legacy of the pioneering gospel imprint. Beginning in March, 25 albums in The Gospel Truth’s catalog were reissued digitally—most for the first time ever. Now, as we celebrate Gospel Music Heritage Month this September, The Complete Singles Collection completes the comprehensive rollout—not only including the label’s biggest hits but also unearthing rare, non-album singles and songs from artists who never released full albums on the imprint.

 

Established in 1972, The Gospel Truth Records was conceived of by Al Bell, who enlisted the help of leading blues and gospel promoter Dave Clark and Stax’s Mary Peak Patterson to oversee the formation of the imprint. With a focus on moving the good word out of the pulpit and into the hands of the masses, Gospel Truth was intended to “carry the message of today’s gospel to the people on the street,” as promotional material for the label’s launch touted. But what separated Gospel Truth from other labels in the genre was that it made its music accessible to everyone. With his sharp eye for talent, Clark paired down-home, traditional gospel musicians with raw, revolutionary artists that adopted the conventions of rock, funk, and soul, creating a sound that resonated with a hip, ‘70s audience.

Clark and Patterson also gave Gospel Truth’s artists the same high-level promotional considerations that were given to any of the secular stars at Stax: from outfits and photoshoots to bookings. This also included special attention from Stax’s creative director Larry Shaw, who conceived of a cohesive design language for Gospel Truth—making each record have a conversation with the intended audience. That visual dialogue was a signal that the music could be enjoyed in all settings—sacred or secular.

Operating until Stax closed its doors in 1975, Gospel Truth signed a diverse collection of acts. As Jared Boyd recounts in his liner notes, “there were the various uplifting arrangements of Chicago’s Reverend Maceo Woods and his Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir. There were the evangelical harmonies of Bob Hemphill’s Birmingham-based, all-white quintet, The Commanders. The label even made way for Blue Aquarius, a psychedelic orchestra donning an earnest agenda in support of a 15-year-old Indian guru. (Perhaps, the label’s titular ‘Gospel’ was not intended to be implied as exclusively that of the Christian church.)”

Gospel Truth’s roster also included the likes of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s People’s Choir of Operation Push, who chronicled the Civil Rights struggle; Chicago vocal group 21^st Century (who later scored a disco hit, “Tailgate”, under the name of 21^st Creation); soprano Louise McCord, whose cutting-edge message music was a highlight on the Wattstax Stage; and Operation Push soloist, and future Grammy nominee, Jacqui Verdell. Another signing was Joshie Joe Armstead—a backing singer for the likes of Ike and Tina Turner, James Brown, and B.B. King, and an acclaimed songwriter who not only wrote alongside Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson but also penned hits for Aretha Franklin, Ruby Andrews, and Carl Carlton.

However, it all began with Gospel Truth’s very first signing: Detroit’s Rance Allen, who, along with his brothers, stood out with a unique sound that blended the messages of the gospel with the popular soul, R&B and rock stylings of the day. While this trend would be hugely popular in the following decades, it was nearly unheard of in the early ‘70s. The Rance Allen Group remained Gospel Truth’s marquee act and quickly became breakout stars in the wider Stax orbit.

Interestingly, many of the acts that released music under Gospel Truth had a lucky second chance, thanks to the ingenuity of Clark. As Boyd explains in his notes, “routinely, Clark leveraged his diverse list of contacts in the gospel industry to seek out soloists, groups, choirs, and pastors whose product had been shelved by other labels…. Much of Gospel Truth’s unique tapestry of talent is attributed to this tactic, as very few recordings released on the label were proprietary to Stax and its studio.” Once acquired, these recordings would then get a sonic boost, thanks to Stax’s in-house remix engineers like Tom Nixon, Dave Purple, Josephine Bridges, and William C. Brown, who refreshed the previously-unreleased songs.

The collection of tracks presented in The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection not only offers a complete compendium of the imprint’s diverse output of singles but also exemplifies Gospel Truth’s progressive take on the sacred genre in a quickly-evolving era of pop music. Today, the imprint stands as an essential part of Stax’s enduring legacy and marks a landmark moment in gospel music history.

Writing the label’s original promotional materials, Peak Patterson perhaps summed it up best: “We feel that gospel music is an integral part of our heritage, and The Stax Organization is conscious of its responsibility to bring the new gospel to a larger stage. Our goal is to keep the message strong and pure while adding to its potency, by presenting it within the framework of present-day rock. It then becomes identifiable and important. Afterall, it really doesn’t matter if you listen to gospel quietly, snap your fingers, sing along, or dance to it, as long as you get the message.”

Click here to pre-order The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection.

Exclusive bundle with a Gospel Truth t-shirt plus a special gift with purchase (while supplies last) available at the Stax online store!

 

The Complete Gospel Truth Singles tracklist (3-LP Set)

 

LP1

Side A

1. The Rance Allen Group – Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation)
2. The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head
3. Terry Lynn Community Choir – His Love Will Always Be
4. Terry Lynn Community Choir – Consider Me
5. Reverend W. Bernard Avant Jr. and The St. James Gospel Choir – Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You (Don’t Let The Devil Fool You)
6. Reverend W. Bernard Avant Jr. and The St. James Gospel Choir – God Is What You Let Him Be

 

Side B

1. The Rance Allen Group – There’s Gonna Be A Showdown
2. The Rance Allen Group – That Will Be Good Enough For Me
3. Reverend Maceo Woods and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir – The Magnificent Sanctuary Band (Marching For The Man)
4. Reverend Maceo Woods and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir – Jesus Is Waiting
5. Charles May & Annette May Thomas – Keep My Baby Warm
6. Charles May & Annette May Thomas – Satisfied

 

LP2

Side A

1. Joshie Joe Armstead – Ride Out The Storm
2. Joshie Joe Armstead – I Got The Vibes
3. The Rance Allen Group – I Got To Be Myself
4. The Rance Allen Group – Gonna Make It Alright
5. The 21^st Century – Who’s Supposed To Be Raising Who
6. The 21^st Century – If The Shoe Fits, Wear It

 

Side B

1. The People’s Choir Of Operation Push, Reverend Marvin Yancy – I’m A Child Of The King
2. The People’s Choir Of Operation Push, Reverend Marvin Yancy – He Included Me
3. Jacqui Verdell – He’s Mine
4. Jacqui Verdell – We’re Gonna Have A Good Time
5. The Rance Allen Group – I Know A Man Who
6. The Rance Allen Group – Hot Line To Jesus

 

LP3

Side A

1. Blue Aquarius – At The Feet Of The Master
2. Blue Aquarius – Know Him While You Can
3. Joshie Joe Armstead – Stumblin’ Blocks, Steppin’ Stones (What Took Me So Long)
4. Joshie Jo Armstead – Give A Little Loving

 

Side B

1. Jimmy Jones – Do It Yourself
2. Jimmy Jones – If I Had A Hammer
3. The Rance Allen Group – Be True
4. The Rance Allen Group – We’re The Salt Of The Earth
5. Louise McCord – Reflections
6. Louise McCord – There’s No Need To Cry

 

The Complete Gospel Truth Singles tracklist (2-CD Set)

 

Disc 1

1. The Rance Allen Group – Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation)
2. The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head
3. Terry Lynn Community Choir – His Love Will Always Be
4. Terry Lynn Community Choir – Consider Me
5. Reverend W. Bernard Avant Jr. and The St. James Gospel Choir – Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You (Don’t Let The Devil Fool You)
6. Reverend W. Bernard Avant Jr. and The St. James Gospel Choir – God Is What You Let Him Be
7. The Rance Allen Group – There’s Gonna Be A Showdown
8. The Rance Allen Group – That Will Be Good Enough For Me
9. Reverend Maceo Woods and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir – The Magnificent Sanctuary Band (Marching For The Man)
10. Reverend Maceo Woods and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir – Jesus Is Waiting
11. Charles May & Annette May Thomas – Keep My Baby Warm
12. Charles May & Annette May Thomas – Satisfied
13. Joshie Joe Armstead – Ride Out The Storm
14. Joshie Joe Armstead – I Got The Vibes
15. The Rance Allen Group – I Got To Be Myself
16. The Rance Allen Group – Gonna Make It Alright
17. The 21^st Century – Who’s Supposed To Be Raising Who
18. The 21^st Century – If The Shoe Fits, Wear It

 

Disc 2

1. The People’s Choir Of Operation Push, Reverend Marvin Yancy – I’m A Child Of The King
2. The People’s Choir Of Operation Push, Reverend Marvin Yancy – He Included Me
3. Jacqui Verdell – He’s Mine
4. Jacqui Verdell – We’re Gonna Have A Good Time
5. The Rance Allen Group – I Know A Man Who
6. The Rance Allen Group – Hot Line To Jesus
7. Blue Aquarius – At The Feet Of The Master
8. Blue Aquarius – Know Him While You Can
9. Joshie Joe Armstead – Stumblin’ Blocks, Steppin’ Stones (What Took Me So Long)
10. Joshie Jo Armstead – Give A Little Loving
11. Jimmy Jones – Do It Yourself
12. Jimmy Jones – If I Had A Hammer
13. The Rance Allen Group – Be True
14. The Rance Allen Group – We’re The Salt Of The Earth
15. Louise McCord – Reflections
16. Louise McCord – There’s No Need To Cry

 

 

About Stax Records:
One of the most popular soul labels of all time, Stax has become synonymous with its gritty, Southern sounds. Originally known as Satellite Records, the Memphis imprint was founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart. Over the course of two decades, Stax released more than 800 singles and nearly 300 LPs, picking up eight GRAMMYS® and an Academy Award along the way. In all, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts. For more info, visit StaxRecords.com and follow @StaxRecords on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

About Craft Recordings:
Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover.

 

Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.