Several weeks ago I started playing songs by the marvelous Sister Lucille Pope, and you'll find information about her (if needed) and further links in a November post. I'm happy to continue today honoring her music because she's just so plain great a singer! After she and the Pearly Gates left Chess, they started to record for Nash- boro and this produced in 1974 a remarkable album, Our Silver Anniversary (Nash- boro LP # 7140) (look over at Red Kelly's Holy Ghost blogspot for a very personal appreciation of that album). Two songs from that LP were released as a single, on Nashboro # 1008, »99½ Won't Do« and »Somebody's Gone«. The first song, a well- known traditional, comes along in Lucille Pope's soulful version with much r&b feel, and her space-filling voice renders this version truly particular. The tune on the B-side is a sad song, kind of ballad-like, and not really a spiritual. It got a very personal message and speaks about the experience of loss and solitude ... here is someone speaking while looking back at life and the people once around. As such, the song reminds me much of what Gladys McFadden (of the Loving Sisters) was recording around the same time ... Happy Sunday all!
For the record: The songs were produced (and this means also arranged) by Shannon Williams of Nashboro and recorded at Nashville's Woodland Studios. And let's not forget to mention that the band is up to Lucille Pope's great performance!
Over at Record Connexion, a song by Sister Lucille Pope & The Pearly Gates was posted as download for November 2011, »Almighty God« (Vee-Jay, 1964). The month before, there was another song by the same ensemble, »Highway« (actually the B- side of Checker # 5004, from 1964).
As there are only a few '60s recordings by Sister Pope & The Pearly Gates, I thought I might supply another one here, viz. the A-side of Checker # 5004, »Jesus Tore My Heart To Pieces«. In contrast to »Highway«, which features Larry Blivens (uncredited) as lead singer, it's the voice of Lucille Pope on the A-side. (For completeness' sake, you can hear also »Highway« below.) I love the rhythmic complexity of both songs which is particularly evident at the beginnings.
You'll find a lot of information about Lucille Pope (and some of her later Nashboro recordings) at Red Kelly's Holy Ghost Blog: see here and here. There's also news about Lucille Pope's recent performances, together with some interesting readers' comments. ... and well, by the way, I think that »The Pearly Gates« (Revelation 21:21!) is just one of the most charming names for a gospel outfit ever!
Sister Pope & The Pearly Gates (*feat. Larry Blivens):
»Jesus Tore My Heart To Pieces« / *»Highway« on Checker # 5004 (1964):
I am interested in the music, not in the relative rarity of discs. I also listen with great pleasure to Aretha Franklin, because she has the voice of the century. Music is no Faith and therefore has no heretics.
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No music downloads on this site. All mp3s (with very few exceptions where noted) are ripped from original vinyl discs. If something on this blog is objectionable to anyone or should, for valid reasons, be re- moved from the net please let me know; it will be removed. And to reiterate: This is a non-profit blog.
