COLLECTION 1949-62

CLASSIC DECADE: THE SINGLES COLLECTION 1952-62

TOUCH ME LORD JESUS: THE SINGLES COLLECTION 1949

Legendary in the genres of jazz and gospel music, the "Maestro" Ron Carter and the "Choirmaster" Ricky Dillard present a unique hybrid album never done before. A tribute to Carter's late mother, 'Sweet, Sweet Spirit' is a collection of her favorite hymns that fuse the powerful history of gospel music with the skilled notes and crafted bass lines in jazz. This is an album bringing the gospel world into the jazz club, and vice versa.

KEEP HYMNS ALIVE BLOOD SONGS

The Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi were one of the premier gospel groups of what was a golden age for gospel in the immediate post-war decades, as the music developed it's more commercial stylings and positioning from it's traditional roots. Acrobat already has on catalogue a 2-CD set devoted to the group's earlier career ("The Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 1943-54" Acrobat ADDCD3003), and this collection picks up the story from that point with only a couple of titles duplicated on the two collections. This 48-track 2-CD collection comprises just about all the A&B sides of their singles on the Peacock and Vee Jay labels from these years, plus the tracks from their Peacock album "Precious Memories", not otherwise featured on singles, and their Checker album "I'll Go". It features performances in what was known as the "hard gospel" style of the day, with the line-up including renowned lead singer and songwriter Archie Brownlee, fellow songwriter Lloyd Woodard, and after Brownlee's tragic death from pneumonia in 1960 at the age of 34, another distinctive lead voice of Roscoe Robinson. They were a hugely popular and influential group, and this collection captures them at the height of their powers.

Jess Sah Bi is well- known as half of the legendary duo Jess Sah Bi & Peter One who brought homegrown Country- Americana to the West African masses with their smash debut Our Garden Needs It's Flowers in the mid-1980s. Touring stadiums and reaching listeners worldwide, their music has racked up millions of spins on YouTube and remains imprinted in the hearts of Ivorians of a certain age. ATFA reissued their album in 2018, garnering critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and reaching a new generation of listeners outside Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire). Sometime in the early 90s, Die Sahbi-or Jesse, as he known to friends- became gravely ill with an unknown ailment and almost died. He visited various doctors and all kinds of religious healers and nothing helped until he became a born-again Christian. He recorded an album of music praising God in order to honor a promise he made to himself at the depths of his desperation in the hospital. That album, Jesus-Christ Ne De�oit Pas [Jesus Christ Does Not Let Us Down], came out in 1991 and sold around 3000 cassettes in Ivory Coast. The master tape was lost along the way so the recording has never been on digital platforms until now. Jesse didn't have much time to record while visiting South Carolina, and he enlisted some American musicians (Robert Fortner and Gary Davis) to help. They added acoustic guitar, percussion and keyboard accompaniment to Jesse's soaring French and Gouro vocals, harmonica and finger-picked acoustic. The resulting recording is deeply soothing and contemplative music that perfectly compliments the songs already embraced by millions. Jesus-Christ Ne De�oit Pas is Jess Sah Bi's first and only gospel album. Fortunately, fans responded with enthusiasm: widespread radio airplay and concerts followed, along with a growing solo profile in the country. The first big gospel artists in Ivory Coast were the duo Mathieu et Constance, who emerged in 1989. There was a bigger gospel music movement in English-speaking counties like Ghana and Nigeria (Christians make up roughly 40% of the population in Ivory Coast, slightly less than Muslims). In the years since Jesus-Christ's release, gospel music in Ivory Coast has grown to become a key part of music culture in the country. Spiritual music appears in community actives across the public and private spectrum from religious gatherings and parties to television broadcasts and music festivals. And, as it has evolved and indigenized locally, gospel music has picked up elements of traditional Ivorian music, reggae and soul. Jesse didn't have any intention of working in Christian music but he realized, "You don't make music to make money-you want to send a message.

Born of faith and forged in harmony, 'I Found the Answer' is a true gospel rarity, that speaks straight to the soul as only these voices can. Remastered for 2026 and newly reissued for CD, this is a powerful performance in sound and spirit from the one and only Swan Silvertones.

GOSPEL QUARTET MIX VOL 4 / VARIOUS

The Soul Stirrers - Never Turn Back: The Singles Collection 1940-49 / The Soul Stirrers were one of the most noted gospel groups of the post-war decades, although they were formed as long ago as the 1930s, becoming one of the innovative groups during the 1940s who moved from the traditional "flatfooted" highly arranged quartet style towards the freer "hard gospel" style of the new era. They are perhaps most famous for the period during the 1950s when the future soul legend Sam Cooke was with the group and got a hugely significant grounding the business, but among cognoscenti they are equally renowned for this period, when their lead singer was Rebert "R.H." Harris, who introduced the "swing lead" style as two singers exchanged lead vocals to build emotional intensity. This 48-track 2-CD collection comprises releases on the Bronze, Down Beat, Harlem and 20th Century labels during this era followed by most of their substantial body of recordings made for the Aladdin label from 1947 to 1949 before they joined the Specialty label, and were joined by Sam Cooke. They were one of the most influential gospel groups of the day and this collection offers, we hope, a substantial, inspiring and uplifting showcase for their bold and distinctive approach to gospel music during what was a golden era for the genre.

Flora Molton arrived at the blues by way of her religious faith. But with Molton, faith was always more important than music. Born in 1908, she began preaching at the age of seventeen, and didn't take up the guitar until 1943. Molton supported herself playing guitar in the streets of Washington, DC. Eventually, she began playing in folk clubs and toured Europe. This album features eighteen tracks of gospel songs, accompanied by Molton's capable slide guitar.

This group created in 1977, within the congolese evangelist church, opened up to north American music without loosing their african roots. The result is free and universal.

Using 20 languages, this recoding reflects what Taize is today—a community of brothers from more than 20 different countries, a meeting place for tens of thousands of young adults from every continent.

The wait is over! The highly anticipated solo piano recording by the incomparable Joseph Joubert is here! These 15 original arrangements of hymns will captivate you track after track. The New York Times describes Joubert's playing as having "...uncommon tonal beauty and musical sensitivity...with telling refinement, poetic lyricism and coloristic delicacy." Joseph’s experience includes accompanying luminaries such as Kathleen Battle, performing for President Bill Clinton, and most recently, directing, arranging, and playing for a string of Broadway hits. You will be awed as you listen. Experience the virtuosic style, melodious sounds, and rich texture of one of the most brilliant pianists of our time.

Chidinma Okafor: Modern Gospel From West Africa

Composers include Robert Anderson, C. Coleman, Fanel Cornelius, Thomas A. Dorsey, Robert Fryson, G. Haenssler, Brendan Keeley, Robert McGimsey, Lars Morlid, Kenneth Morris, Lukas Di Nunzio, Peter Sandwall, Felicia Taylor, Ken Taylor, Leon Taylor and Lee Weisman. Lyricists include James Waddell Alexander, Robert Anderson, Anonymous, Bible - Old Testament, C. Coleman, Thomas A. Dorsey, G. Haenssler, Lars Morlid and also includes such artists as Choralerna, the Golden Gate Quartet, Mahalia Jackson, Soul Affair, Tullamore Gospel Choir, Brendan Keeley and more.

Recorded in Bristol, all selections are drawn from Songs and Prayers from Taize.

Track listings include: "Wait on Him," "It Will Be Alright," "Wash Me," "Jesus Is Real," "Show Up," "My Mind Is Made Up," "Mighty God," "Right Here."

Classical Music

Long before Elvira and Bobbie Sue hit #1, these Boys were gospel singers. Those roots never left 'em, and this CD shines the light on their spiritual side with Through It All; After Cavalry; These Hands of Mine; After All; I Know; Jesus Is Coming Soon, and more including all their top gospel hits!

E.P.'s final original gospel LP, released in 1972, earned the King another Grammy. This special CD also includes several of the gospel tunes Elvis recorded after this album's release.

Tokyo Hotel is a teenage phenomenon in Germany and across Europe. The bands lead singer/ songwriter Bill has been singing and writing lyrics since he was nine. This debut album went to No. 1 in Germany and has sold 10 x Platinum (worldwide) and is now coming to the states! Each of their first 5 singles hit Number 1 in Germany and their debut tour was a 43 date sellout, playing to over 400,000 people.

Since his landmark days with Commissioned, Fred Hammond has evolved into one of Gospel music's most coveted artists. His anointed vocals and timeless lyrics are behind such classics as "No Weapon", "Let the Praise Begin," "Glory to Glory to Glory" and "Jesus Be a Fence Around Me." His upcoming release LOVE UNSTOPPABLE is the 7th release from the Stellar, Dove and Grammy Award winner. Dubbed as the Architect of Urban Praise and Worship, his talents have taken him to recent successes with stage plays, church tours and the establishment of f Hammond Music, a label imprint distributed through Verity Records. Always a prolific producer, Fred recorded most of this album live in studio using a concept he calls "Warehouse Worship." This innovative presentation of his music has become a DVD series that also includes dance, inspirational messages and vignettes dealing with everyday challenges.

Two CD set. WOW GOSPEL, the must-have collection is back for it's 14th year with more power and praise than ever before! The renowned compilation returns with your favorite Gospel radio tunes and praise anthems. WOW GOSPEL 2014 is chock full of hits, including tracks from Hezekiah Walker, Tye Tribbett and Marvin Sapp plus songs from Fred Hammond & United Tenors and Donald Lawrence. Previously garnering gold and platinum certifications along with a faithful fan base, this WOW Gospel installment will not disappoint.

2014 compilation of hits from one of the most influential figures in modern Gospel music. After a stint as music director for Soul legend Stephanie Mills, Lawrence made a splash in the Gospel world by reshaping the regional Tri-City Singers and transforming them into an internationally acclaimed choir. The creative mind of the Grammy Award winning producer, composer and recording artist has set the standard for excellence in the Gospel music field over the last two decades with signature #1 radio smashes such as 'Back II Eden,' 'Encourage Yourself' and 'The Blessing of Abraham' which spent 18 weeks at #1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Gospel Songs radio chart. Lawrence blends the classicism of traditional Gospel music and retro soul grooves with uplifting messages of self-affirmation. Featuring 15 of his most popular hits, THE BEST OF Donald Lawrence & CO. Is the ultimate choir collection, including 'Healed,' 'I Speak Life' and 'Spiritual.'