SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Confessionals Gospel Singers

One of the delights of the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University is listening to alternate versions of your favorite gospel songs.

Take Andrae Crouch and the Disciples' beloved "I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me," which first appeared on their Keep On Singin' album from 1971, and again on legendary Live in Carnegie Hall LP. Like Many of his songs, Andrae begins with the chorus and the bouncy arrangement pre-dates many Praise and Worship songs.

But the otherwise unknown Confessionals Gospel Singers completely rework it on their lone known 45. They stretch the first chorus out for a dramatic minute and a half before turning the rest of the song into an upbeat country gospel song - like something the Cathedrals or Florida Boys would do. Either way, the essential joy of "I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me" shines through.

MUSIC: "I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me," the Confessionals Gospel Singers.

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.

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