The Great 1955 Shrine Concert [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
On Friday, July 22, 1955, the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles presented the "First Annual Mid-Summer Festival of Gospel Music" with Sam Cooke, Dorothy Love Coates, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Joe May, the Soul Stirrers, and the Pilgrim Travelers. It was the kind of astonishing line-up that put the shine on gospel's Golden Age, and Specialty Records taped it all. Some of the songs had been released with overdubbed drums, but this is the first issue of the entire, undubbed first half of the concert. Cooke never sounded better than he did with the Soul Stirrers that day, and Coates led her Gospel Harmonettes through a dizzying 18-minute medley. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

Spoken Introduction - The Pilgrim Travelers
All The Way - The Pilgrim Travelers
Straight Street - The Pilgrim Travelers
Since I Met Jesus - The Caravans
What Kind Of Man Is This - The Caravans
It's A Long, Long Way - Brother Joe May
I'm Happy Working For The Lord - Brother Joe May
Remarks By Brother Joe May - Annette May
Consider Me - Annette May
I Have A Friend Above All Others - The Soul Stirrrers
Be With Me Jesus - The Soul Stirrrers
Nearer To Thee - The Soul Stirrrers
My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear - Ethel Davenport
Medley: You Must Be Born Again/Get Away Jordan/The Fire Keeps On Burning... - Dorothy Love Coates And The Original Gospel Harmonettes

Amazon.com

On Friday, July 22, 1955, the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles presented the "First Annual Mid-Summer Festival of Gospel Music" with Sam Cooke, Dorothy Love Coates, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Joe May, the Soul Stirrers, and the Pilgrim Travelers. It was the kind of astonishing line-up that put the shine on gospel's Golden Age, and Specialty Records taped it all. Some of the songs had been released with overdubbed drums, but this is the first issue of the entire, undubbed first half of the concert. Cooke never sounded better than he did with the Soul Stirrers that day, and Coates led her Gospel Harmonettes through a dizzying 18-minute medley. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

The Greatest Gospel Recording Ever.......2006-04-09

This CD is at the top of the list of must have recordings. There is not a single weak song in this 1955 live recording from the Shrine Auditorium. A virtual who's who of gospel greats, this CD features Sam Cooke, Dorothy Love Coates, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Joe May, the Soul Stirrers and the Pilgrim Travelers. I defy anyone, anywhere to find a better single recording than Cooke's and the Soul Stirrer's "Nearer To Thee." I listened to it twelve straight times and was moved each time. Nothing Cooke ever did when he crossed over into the mainstream can touch this recording. But, wait. Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes get your blood pumping with the invigorating "Get Away Jordan." I think it would even make Al Gore stomp his feet. I love gospel music, but not gospel music from today, but not the type of gospel sung by Kirk Franklin. I like the real, down home, grandma and grandpa gospel that inspired my forefathers. That gave them hope in the most trying of circumstances. I found that music on this CD. When Ethel Davenport sings "My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear," it makes you want to cry. This is a little-known, but must have treasure.

The 1955 Shrine Concert, live, but not great.......2005-08-11

The gospel singers are in good form and deliver their songs with fervor, but not the fervor that comes from other live performances. All of the Clara Ward 'live' albums are infectious because the congregation or audience feels the music and the responds accordingly. This album was a disappointment to me.

If you only own one gospel CD..........2004-05-15

... this must be the one. If the previous reviews haven't convinced you to buy it yet, then there's probably not much I can do. However, let me say that I heard this recording for the first time last year and it was all I could talk about for months. Bone shattering performances by Brother Joe May, some of the best recorded singing by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers (that's saying something), and maybe the single best recording of ANY song I've ever heard in my life: Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes on "Get Away Jordan." If you're starting to believe that what's on the radio nowadays is actually music, buy this CD and prepare to be straightened out.

The Authentic Holy Spirit.......2003-10-08

This CD can really transmit a true experience of the Holy Spirit,
now I know what they mean by 'Something got a Hold of Me'.
So much of contemporary 'gospel' music tries hard but is
sadly just faking it, and no one even knows anymore what it
used to be all about. If you want a taste of the
True Power, this is it.

"Get Away Jordan".......2003-06-14

This CD is beyond awesome. It really gives the listener a true taste of what "REAL" Gospel music is. There's not a lot of computer tech involved- no need for it. I feel that Dorothy Love Coates, Ethel Davenport, and Brother Joe May are the highlights of this CD.

The haunting sound of Ethel singing "My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear" makes you feel the pain that she's suffering. Brother Joe May singing "It's A Long, Long Way" makes me feel like I'm sitting at my church, watching the Senior Male Chorus render a selection. The spirit sho'ly- and I did say sho'ly, kicked in. And as Dorothy Love Coates began to testify, I could feel my feet get light and I begin to feel alright every time I listen. Dorothy, or Dot as you can hear her group members say, gave SUCH A POWERFUL TESTIMONY. She tore "Get Away Jordan" and "You Must Be Born Again" all up.

This is a definate MUST HAVE...and I wish I could give this CD more than 5 stars.

Music:

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