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| HYENA Records Presents 'Gospel Music,' “I want everybody out in radio land or wherever you may be today, I want you to do me a favor and lift up both hands towards heaven way, you see this is a prayer and I want everybody to help me pray, ” urges the great Reverend Howard “Slim” Hunt of Slim & The Supreme Angels. And so begins Gospel Music, an 18-track compilation drawn from the golden age of gospel to be released February 14, 2006 on HYENA Records. Produced by famed photographer Lee Friedlander and acclaimed record producer Joel Dorn, Gospel Music is a love letter to the music for which these two old friends have shared an obsession with over the last 50 years. “Most people probably don't even realize it these days, but gospel music is at the core of American popular music, ” states Friedlander. “So many great artists have come out of the music of the black church throughout popular music's history.” Over the course of Gospel Music's 18 tracks, numerous cornerstone artists from the great Gospel canon are featured, including icons like Mahalia Jackson (”My God Is Real”), The Staple Singers (”Stand By Me”), Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers (”The Last Mile Of The Way”) and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (”This May Be The Last Time”). Lesser known, but equally important contributors to the pantheon are also well represented, including acts like The Swan Silvertones (”Oh Mary Don't You Weep”), Dorothy Love Coates (”Strange Man”), Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet (”Go Where I Send Thee”) and The Consolers (”Waiting For My Child”). “Lee and I picked some of our all time favorites here, but there could have been many others artists that we featured, ” explains Dorn. “There could be more volumes in this series, so that we can dig even deeper into the music's history.” Gospel Music plays like a long lost radio station that used to be found at the far end of the dial, but no longer really exists in modern America. It was programmed that way purposely. Not meant to be confused as a historic or scholarly presentation of the music, Friedlander and Dorn's intention was to simply provide an amazing listening experience; one that connected on a visceral and spiritual level true to the music's original intention. To that end, the packaging and presentation of Gospel Music was kept minimal. There are no lengthy essays, recording dates, original record labels, sidemen, etc. listed. A simple introductory note from Dorn and a few choice photos by Friedlander set the tone for the following 50 minutes of music. The rest is left to the ears and, ultimately, the heart. Old friends, Friedlander and Dorn began working together at Atlantic Records in the 1960s. At the time, Friedlander was photographing many of the artists on the preeminent label, while Dorn was producing them. They struck a lifelong friendship based in no small part on their passion for gospel music. This is the first time they've ever collaborated together on a compilation. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |