SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Rev. James Cleveland and the Salem Inspirational Choir

Towards the last decades of his career, the Rev. James Cleveland would release a dozen albums in a year... sometimes he’d only sing one song, but his name was enough to sell a lot of records! One of such venture was with the Salem Inspirational Choir of Salem Baptist Church in 1978.

Cleveland had just had one of his biggest hits – “I Don’t Feel Noways Tired” – and re-recorded it multiple times.

By this point in his career, his voice is a raspy husk. The Salem Inspirational Choir, under the direction of Dorethea Wade, more than makes up for it with their precision and power.

To give this live two-LP set an additional boost, Cleveland has brought along his latest discovery, keyboardist Keith Pringle – and together with the Salems, they deliver an emotional 11-minute version of “I Don’t Feel Noways Tired.”

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.

PREVIOUS EPISODES OF SHOUT! BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC MOMENTS

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Some of New York’s finest musicians accompany the J.C. White Singers on the funky, jazzy gospel hit, “I’m Saved.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'Mountain Railroad' by The Rev. June Cheeks

The Rev. June Cheeks was one of the greatest shouters and testifiers in the history of gospel music – as his rendition of “Mountain Railroad” will surely prove!

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'I Belong to the Band, Hallelujah' by The Rev. Gary Davis

The legendary guitarist the Rev. Gary Davis recorded 14 stunning gospel tracks in New York City in 1935, including “I Belong to the Band, Hallelujah.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'I Made a Vow' by The Supreme Voices

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'I'll be Welcomed' by The Sweet Brothers

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Alright, Alright by The Cotton Brothers

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'One of These Mornings' by The Rev. J.R. Lockley and His Original Gospel Clefs

The Rev. J.R. Lockley and His Original Gospel Clefs, featuring big-voiced Ann Moncrief, deliver a killer version of the spiritual, “One of These Mornings.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'You’ve Got to Live the Life' by The Echoes of Life

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'You've Got to Move' by Abbysinnia Baptist Church Young People’s Choir

In 1959, the Abbysinnia Baptist Church Young People’s Choir recorded a cheerfully up tempo version of the old spiritual “You’ve Got to Move” for the famed Gotham Record label.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Ol" John (Behold Thy Mother) by The Faithful Wonders

The Faithful Wonders’ funky “Ol’ John (Behold Thy Mother),” first released in 1968, has been re-released multiple times on various gospel and R&B anthologies in recent years.