The mighty Savoy label was gospel’s powerhouse through much of the 1950s, ‘60s -- and well into the ‘70s, releasing hundreds of hit albums. While the Rev. James Cleveland was their best-selling artist, the label’s key was producer Lawrence Roberts. Not only was he a wizard in the studio, he had an uncanny ear for new talent. Roberts’ discoveries included the Bradley Singers out of St. Louis. Clyde, Roy and particularly Charlotte Bradley were gospel singers of the first order – and the three siblings wrote most of the own material, too.
The Bradley Singers’ lone Savoy album boasts a brilliant cover by the idiosyncratic illustrator HARVEY and a handful of wonderful gospel songs, including the title track, “He’ll Roll Back Those Dark Clouds,” along with “No Segregation in Heaven” and my favorite: a manic, double-tempo’d romp titled “Up, Up and Away.” No, it isn’t the Fifth Dimension hit by the same name – but if you’ll go to the KWBU.ORG website and scroll down to Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments, you’ll get to hear the entire song. See if you don’t like it just as well!
MUSIC: “Up, Up and Away” by the Bradley Singers, from the He’ll Roll Back Those Dark Clouds LP, Side 2, Track 3
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.