The Rev. James Cleveland was the most prolific artist in gospel music history – he involved in at least 200 albums, including this excellent LP by Bishop Wm. Morris O’Neile and the Voices of Universal of Los Angeles, CA, Joy All the Time. Cleveland sings lead on five of the tracks and writes a couple of others – and the Voices of Universal themselves are a real dynamo.
But the most intriguing track is their slow and dramatic 7-minute arrangement of Andrae Crouch’s “My Tribute (to God Be the Glory”). Interestingly, Crouch and Cleveland weren’t the best of friends. But with vocals by the Rev. Stanley Miller, this may be the definitive version of this classic.
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.