VA — The Soul of Designer Records (2014)

A tremendous legacy in gospel music during the 60s — a crucially important indie from the Memphis scene — and one who recorded really great groups from around the country! Designer were helping shape the sound of modern gospel at the same as Chess, Savoy, and some of the bigger labels — and doing their work with a similar ear towards some of the more soulful sounds of the secular world — particularly in the way the harmonies and sound of group vocals came together! And despite their name — designer — which might make you think in terms of throwaway fashion — the label has a really classic sound and a rock-solid approach, which makes this overstuffed 4CD set a treasure trove for anyone interested in these key years in gospel music. The set features 101 tracks, in a very cool LP-sized sleeve, complete with an oversized booklet filled with notes and photos — and the collection features work by Foster Brothers, Gospel Songbirds, Twilight Singers, Melody Kings Of Greenwood MS, The Jubilee Hummingbirds, Jackson Trumpeteers, Little Willie Patterson & The Famous South Land Singers, The Shaw Singers, Sister Carrie Daniel, and many many more!

Disc One

1. Tone The Bells Easy — Gospel Songbirds

2. I Thank You Jesus — Gospel Songbirds

3. Beautiful City — Dynamic Hughes Gospel Singers

4. Viet Nam — Dynamic Hughes Gospel Singers

5. I Know It\’s Jesus — Melody Kings Of Greenwood, MS

6. If You Need The Lord Call Him — Melody Kings Of Greenwood, MS

7. Tone The Bells — Twilight Singers

8. Climbing High Mountains — Twilight Singers

9. I\’ll Go — Sensational Family Singers

10. Everyone Should Know Who Jesus Is — Sensational Family Singers

11. We Are Climbing Jacob\’s Ladder — Songs Of Spiritual Of Albany, GA

12. It\’s Been A Long Journey — Songs Of Spiritual Of Albany, GA

13. I Made It Over — Spiritual QC\’s

14. What A — Spiritual QC\’s

15. After While — The Shaw Singers

16. Trying To Do Thy Will — The Shaw Singers

17. What Ever You Do — Do Good — Soul Superiors Of Detroit, MI

18. A Great Day — Soul Superiors Of Detroit, MI

19. Move — Echoes Of Glory

20. I Feel Good — Echoes Of Glory

21. Trusted — Alberta Powell

22. The Same God — Alberta Powell

23. How Good God Has Been — Laura Bradley & The Famous South Land Singers

24. How Far The Lord Brought Me — Laura Bradley & The Famous South Land Singers

25. Stand By Me — The Jubilee Hummingbirds

26. Something Within Me — The Jubilee Hummingbirds

27. Go Back To God — The Silvertone Singers Of Wynne, AR

Disc Two

1. God Is Ruler From Above — The Breckenridge Singers

2. I\’m On My Way — The Fantastic Alphonzo Thomas

3. Walking Through The City — E.L. Burtis

4. Sweet Home — E.L. Burtis

5. I Come To Praise His Name — The Dixie Jubilees

6. Mary Don\’t You Weep — The Faithful Aires

7. I Am Going Home — O\’Neal And The Dean Brothers

8. The ABC\’s — O\’Neal And The Dean Brothers

9. Get Right With Jesus — The Mighty Blytheville Aires

10. It May Be Your Last — The Mighty Blytheville Aires

11. Beautiful Mansion — Traveling Stars

12. It\’s Me Oh Lord Standing in The Need Of Prayer — Harps Of David

13. Just A Little While — Harmonizers Of Newtown, MS

14. Do What The Lord Say Do — The Golden Five

15. He\’s Coming To Judge The World — Johnsonaires

16. Too Close To Turn Around — Golden Travelers

17. I\’ve Got The Love Of Jesus — Rev. Leon Hamner & The Holy City Travelers

18. God\’s Word Will Never Pass Away — George Shields And His Gospel Singers

19. When The Gates Open — The South Land Singers

20. Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone — The Shaw Singers

21. God Has Done So Much For Me — The Shaw Singers

22. People Of The World Are So Easy To Forget — Gospel Consolators

23. Ring The Message Out — Sensational Spirit Consolators

24. The Greatest Creator — Sensational Spirit Consolators

25. By And By I\’ll See Jesus — The Memphis Spiritual Four

26. Here I Am — The Memphis Spiritual Four

Disc Three

1. Since He Touched Me — The Shaw Singers

2. He\’s Sweet I Know — The Silver Leaf Harmonizers

3. Letter From Jesus — Little Willie Patterson w/ The Famous South Land Singers

4. New Born Soul — Little Willie Patterson w/ The Famous South Land Singers

5. He Won\’t Deny Me — Rev. Leon Hamner & The Holy City Travelers

6. Only Jesus Knows — Rev. Leon Hamner & The Holy City Travelers

7. Jesus Is Calling Me — The Gospel Stars

8. If I Could Not Say A Word — Joe Townsend

9. Going Over The Hill — Joe Townsend

10. When The World\’s On Fire — The Canton Spirituals

11. Lord\’s Been Good To Me — Four Stars

12. Clean Up Your Life — Jackson Trumpeteers

13. Lord Remember Me — Jackson Trumpeteers

14. I Won\’t Have To Cry No More — The Jubilee Hummingbirds

15. A Sinners Plea — The Jubilee Hummingbirds

16. Holy Ghost — The Mighty Gospel Eagles Of Greenwood, S.C.

17. How Bless You Are — The Mighty Gospel Eagles Of Greenwood, S.C.

18. Nobody\’s Fault But Mine — The Original Golden Stars

19. At The Red Sea — The Original Golden Stars

20. How I Made It Over — Silver Trumpets

21. Living Down Here On Borrowed — Silver Trumpets

22. My Last Song — Barnes Singers Of Earle, AR

23. I Won\’t Be Back No More — Barnes Singers Of Earle, AR

24. Praise His Name — Dixie Wonders Of Memphis, TN

Disc Four

1. Try The Lord — Fantastic Gospel Travelers

2. The Lord Will Make A Way — Fantastic Gospel Travelers

3. Don\’t Give Up — O\’Neal And The Dean Brothers

4. It\’s Your Life — O\’Neal And The Dean Brothers

5. Christ At The Wall — Original Holy Kings

6. Strong Believer — Rev. Houston Potts Jr. & Sister Mary Pride

7. If I Don\’t Wake Up In The Morning — Rev. Houston Potts Jr. & Sister Mary Pride

8. You Don\’t Know — Sister Carrie Daniel

9. This Joy I Have — Sister Carrie Daniel

10. Why Am I Treated So Bad — Spiritual Harmonizers Of Senatobia, MS

11. Let Me Lean On You — Christian All Stars Of Akron, OH

12. When Jesus Comes — Elgie Brown

13. A Helping Hand — Elgie Brown

14. Plant Love — Foster Brothers

15. Freedom Shore — Foster Brothers

16. Don\’t Blame It On The Children — Genessee Gospel Travelers

17. You Been Good To Me — Noah\’s Ark

18. Hold On To His Hand — The Magnificent Soul Survivors

19. I\’ll Fly Away — The Wandering Five

20. The Lord Is MY Shepherd — The Mosby Singers Of East St. Louis, IL

21. I Got The Love Of Jesus — The Mosby Singers Of East St. Louis, IL

22. Do Yourself A Favor — Souls Of Solomon Of Buffalo, NY

23. Testify For Jesus — Elizabeth King

24. Love King Jesus — Cora Bell Watkins