About two years ago we chronicled the evolution of the southern gospel “live” concert album. They were often ‘standouts’ within their respective group’s discographies, bringing the excitement of the live concert setting into the living rooms of their fans across the country.
This month’s ‘game-changer’ is a very early southern gospel live recording from the ‘classic’ era: The Statesmen On Stage, released on RCA Victor in 1960. Although a groundbreaking recording, this was NOT the very first…
Just a few months prior, in July of 1959, the Blackwood Brothers Quartet recorded what is regarded as the first southern gospel live recording: The Blackwood Brothers In Concert, also released on RCA Victor. If one listens to this amazing recording, you’ll notice something a bit ‘odd’ for a live recording (or at least, as we’ve come to expect): the quartet sings a song, there’s the applause, and then there’s a fade out. A few seconds of silence follows before we ‘fade up’ into the next song. There’s no talk in-between, no introductions, no comments, etc. – all music. Granted, this was a new concept in live recording – perhaps the record executives thought that audiences would prefer an all-music album?
This month’s ‘game-changer’ was recorded during the annual Wally Fowler All-Nite Sing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on November 6, 1959. The Statesmen On Stage captures close to 40 minutes’ worth of the excitement that only Rosie Rozell (tenor), Jake Hess (lead), Doy Ott (baritone), James “Big Chief” Wetherington (bass), and Hovie Lister (emcee/piano) could bring to a concert stage. Sixteen songs are included, and this album features the ‘common’ elements of a southern gospel live recording – an introduction, the emcee work of the legendary Hovie Lister, and the occasional encore (all missing from the aforementioned Blackwood Brothers album).
Also of note is what occurs on ‘Side Two’ of this recording: Hovie asks each member of the group to share their favorite hymn – a ‘testimony in song’, one could say, for each of the group members. After this time of tender reflection, the recording closes with the classic up-tempo number “Get Away Jordan”. The applause that follows is prolonged just a bit – accurately capturing the excitement that permeated the Ryman Auditorium that evening.
Both the Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen would release a number of live recordings throughout the 1960s – each following the standard set by On Stage.
The southern gospel ‘live’ album would become more commonplace in the 1970s and 1980s (recall the Kingsmen were ‘masters’ of the live recording – releasing 6 live albums in the 1980s alone!), before becoming more scarce into the late 1990s and early 2000s, likely due to the rise of southern gospel concert videos (released on good ol’ VHS beginning in the early 2000s). When live concert albums were released, interestingly, they harkened back more to that early Blackwood Brothers recording – highly edited with little to no ‘talk’ throughout.
Permit me to close out this month’s article a bit early. I’d like to remind you that beginning on November 29, the day after Thanksgiving, WBTX begins programming Christmas music 24/7, continuing through New Year’s Day! You’ll hear plenty of Christmas selections from your favorite southern gospel artists – both brand-new recordings and time-tested classics. We also supplement our library just a bit with some light contemporary and inspirational favorites (i.e. Amy Grant, Evie, Sandi Patty), and classic country/bluegrass (i.e. Doyle Lawson, Ricky Skaggs, Kathy Mattea).
Hope you’ll tune in to 1470AM, 102.1FM, or online at wbtxradio.com to enjoy a Shenandoah Christmas with us this year!
