Professor Alex Bradford was a gospel singer, composer, arranger and choir director whose music during the 1950s and early ‘60s bridged the gap between gospel and soul, and who helped developed the modern mass choir movement in gospel.

His music and vocal style was an influence on the likes of Little Richard, Ray Charles and Bob Marley, with his approach to gospel characterized by a fervent rocking atmosphere, which helped bring him a million-seller with “Too Close To Heaven”.

This 70-track 3-CD collection comprises A&B sides of his singles on Specialty, including “Too Close To Heaven”, and the tracks from his album for Gospel “Walking With The King”, his Columbia album with the Abyssinian Baptist Choir, his Vee Jay album “One Step” and his album for Regent “I'm Going to Work Till The Day Is Done”.

It includes recordings as

This era was a heyday for the style of gospel music where many of the soul stars of the 60s and ‘70s learnt their trade and developed their style, and Alex Bradford was a key figure in that scene.

This substantial collection offers an inspiring and uplifting showcase for his talents as songwriter, performer and choir leader.

CD 1

1. TOO CLOSE TO HEAVEN Professor Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 852) 19532. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE WORLD MAY DO Professor Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 852) 1953

3. HE LIFTED ME Prof. Alex Bradford & the Bradford Specials (Specialty 858) 1954

4. LORD! LORD! LORD! Prof. Alex Bradford & the Bradford Specials (Specialty 858) 1954

5. JUST THE NAME OF JESUS Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 865) 1954

6. I WON'T SELL OUT Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 865) 1954

7. RIGHT NOW Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 871) 1954

8. I FEEL THE SPIRIT Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 871) 1954

9. HE'LL WASH YOU WHITER THAN SNOW Prof. Alex Bradford & Bradford Specials (Specialty 879) 1955

10. OH LORD, SAVE ME Prof. Alex Bradford & Bradford Specials (Specialty 879) 1955

11. HOLY GHOST Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 886) 1955

12. LIFE’S CANDELIGHT Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 886) 1955

13. SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 893) 1956

14. IF MOTHER KNEW Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 893) 1956

15. WITHOUT A GOD Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 898) 1956

16. I DARE YOU Prof. Alex Bradford & The Bradford Specials (Specialty 898) 1956

17. STEAL AWAY Prof. Alex Bradford (Specialty 905) 1957

18. I CAN'T TARRY Prof. Alex Bradford (Specialty 905) 1957

19. WHAT DID JOHN DO? Prof. Alex Bradford (Specialty 909) 1958

20. IT ALL BELONGS TO HIM Prof. Alex Bradford (Specialty 909) 1958

21. HE'S EVERYTHING TO ME Alex Bradford: (Specialty 910) 1958

22. I'VE GOT A JOB Alex Bradford: (Specialty 910) 1958

23. WHAT MAKES A MAN TURN HIS BACK ON GOD Alex Bradford & Bessie Griffin (Specialty 915) 1959

24. THE MAN IS WONDERFUL Alex Bradford with the Men of Song (Specialty 916) 1959

25. GOD SEARCHED THE WORLD Alex Bradford with the Men of Song (Specialty 916) 1959

26. WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT ME Alex Bradford (Specialty 917) 1959

27. THE LIFEBOAT Alex Bradford (Specialty 917) 1959

28. BIG MAN IN THE SKY Prof. Alex Bradford & The Men Of Song (Gospel MG 3005) 1959

Tracks 28 from the album “Walking With the King” (Gospel MG3005

CD 2

1. TEN THOUSAND BLESSINGS Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

2. I FOUND A LEAK IN THE BUILDING Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

3. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JESUS Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

4. GOD NEVER SENT A SOLDIER TO BATTLE ALONE Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

5. HIS PRECIOUS LOVE Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

6. HE LEADETH ME Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song 1959

7. COME ON LET'S GO Prof. Alex Bradford & The Ladies Of Song 1959

8. HE MAKES ALL MY DECISIONS FOR ME Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song 1959

9. WALKING WITH THE KING Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song 1959

10. BIG WIND BLOWING Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song 1959

11. WHERE MY JESUS LIVES Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song 1959

Tracks 1-11 from the album “Walking With the King” (Gospel MG3005)

12. I WANT TO RIDE THAT GLORY TRAIN 1960

13. HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU (IF YOU LIVE RIGHT) 1960

14. SAID I WASN'T GONNA TELL NOBODY 1960

15. HE STAYS IN MY ROOM 1960

16. SWEET JESUS 1960

17. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME DOUBT HIM 1960

18. HE IS SUCH AN UNDERSTANDING GOD 1960

Tracks 12-18 from the album “Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford” (Columbia CL1548

CD 3

1. YOU'VE GOT TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCE 1960

2. I CAN CALL HIM (HE ALWAYS ANSWERS ME) 1960

Tracks 1-2 from the album “Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford” (Columbia CL1548)

3. ONE STEP Professor Alex Bradford 1962

4. WALK THROUGH THE STREETS Professor Alex Bradford 1962

5. JUST IN TIME Professor Alex Bradford 1962

6. I LEFT MY SINS BEHIND ME Professor Alex Bradford 1962

7. LET THE LORD BE SEEN IN YOU Professor Alex Bradford 1962

8. CLIMBING UP THE MOUNTAIN Professor Alex Bradford 1962

9. WHAT ABOUT YOU Professor Alex Bradford 1962

10. I WASN'T GONNA TELL NOBODY Professor Alex Bradford 1962

11. THIS WONDERFUL SAVIOR Professor Alex Bradford 1962

12. THE LORD LOOKS OUT FOR ME EVERY DAY Professor Alex Bradford 1962

13. OH MY GOOD LORD Professor Alex Bradford 1962

14. TOO CLOSE Professor Alex Bradford 1962

Tracks 2-14 from the album “One Step” (VeeJay LP5023)

15. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT THE LORD TO DO Professor Alex Bradford 1962

16. MY LORD'S GOING TO MOVE THIS WICKED RACE Professor Alex Bradford 1962

17. NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE Professor Alex Bradford 1962

18. I'M GOING TO WORK TILL THE DAY IS DONE Professor Alex Bradford 1962

19. LET'S GO Professor Alex Bradford 1962

20. THE STORM IS NOT OVER Professor Alex Bradford 1962

21. BECAUSE HE LOVE ME SO Professor Alex Bradford 1962

22. HE'S ALL RIGHT Professor Alex Bradford 1962

23. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER Professor Alex Bradford 1962

24. NOBODY LIKE THE LORD Professor Alex Bradford 1962

Tracks 15-24 from the album “I'm Going to Work Till The Day Is Done” (Regent MG611)