The Famous Ward Singers, based in Philadelphia, were one of the foremost gospel groups of the post-war era. Originally founded as a family group in 1931 by Gertrude Ward as a family group, then called, variously, The Consecrated Gospel Singers or The Ward Trio, the collective achieved fame after the Second World War when Gertrude’s daughter Clara Ward was leader.
A gifted singer and arranger, Ward adopted the lead-switching style, previously used primarily by male gospel quartets, creating opportunities for spontaneous improvization and vamping by each member of the group, while giving virtuoso singers such as Henrietta Waddy, Marion Williams and Willa Ward Moultrie the opportunity to perform the lead vocal in songs.
This 77-track collection comprises a fairly significant proportion of the 130 or so A and B sides released on the Gotham and Savoy labels during this era, which represented the years when they achieved their greatest success. The releases were under various guises – Clara Ward as a solo artist, The Famous Ward Sisters Of Philadelphia, The Clara Ward Specials, Clara Ward & The Ward Singers, The Clara Ward Singers, The Famous Ward Singers and simply as The Ward Singers. It features the million-seller Surely God Is Able, along with How I Got Over, and Packin’ Up, plus many gospel classics and standards. Ward died in 1973 at the age of 48 and Aretha Franklin and Rev. C. L. Franklin sang at her funeral in Philadelphia. She was honoured posthumously at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City four years later in 1977.
This collection offers an inspiring and uplifting showcase for The Famous Ward Singers’ distinctive approach to gospel.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Surely God Is Able |
Famous Ward Singers Of Philadelphia |
2
|
I Need Thee Every Hour |
Famous Ward Singers Of Philadelphia |
3 |
The Fountain |
Clara Ward |
4 |
How I Got Over |
Clara Ward |
5 |
I Don't Know Why |
Clara Ward |
6 |
Throw Out The Lifeline |
Clara Ward Specials |
7 |
He'll Never Let Go My Hand |
Clara Ward Specials |
8 |
Hark The Voice |
Clara Ward Specials |
9 |
When I've Done The Best I Can |
Clara Ward |
10 |
When The Gates Swing Open |
Clara Ward |
11 |
Happy Over There - Part 1 |
Clara Ward Specials |
12 |
I'm Waiting For Jesus |
Clara Ward |
13 |
At The Cross |
Clara Ward |
14 |
In That Great Judgement Morning |
Clara Ward |
15 |
On Higher Ground |
Clara Ward |
16 |
Faith Moves Mountains |
Clara Ward |
17 |
I Heard Of A City Called Jerusalem |
Clara Ward |
18 |
Jesus |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
19 |
Stretch Out |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
20 |
Just One Moment |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
21 |
Each Day |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
22 |
Jesus Is All The World To Me |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
23 |
The Day Is Past And Gone |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
24 |
Get Back, Jordan |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
25 |
How Far Am I From Canaan? |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
He Knows How Much We Can Bear |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
2 |
My Jesus Is All And All |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
3 |
Who Could Ask For Anything Else |
Clara Ward Singers |
4 |
I'm Bound For The Higher Ground |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
5 |
When I Woke Up In Glory |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
6 |
That Awful Day Will Surely Come |
Gertrude Ward And Daughters |
7 |
The Old Rugged Cross |
Clara Ward & Ward Singers |
8 |
Oh My Lord, What A Time |
Ward Singers |
9 |
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus |
Famous Ward Singers |
10 |
The Old Landmark |
Famous Ward Singers |
11 |
I Will Trust In The Lord |
Clara Ward Singers |
12 |
This Little Light Of Mine |
Clara Ward Singers |
13 |
Until I Found The Lord |
Ward Singers |
14 |
How Many Times |
Ward Singers |
15 |
Since I Found The Light |
Famous Ward Singers |
16 |
I Just Can't Make It Myself |
Famous Ward Singers |
17 |
I Know It Was The Lord |
Famous Ward Singers |
18 |
I Want To Be More Like Jesus |
Famous Ward Singers |
19 |
Who Shall Be Able To Stand |
Famous Ward Singers |
20 |
Farther On Up The Road |
Famous Ward Singers; Thelma Ja |
21 |
Only The Crumbs |
Famous Ward Singers |
22 |
God's Amazing Love |
Famous Ward Singers |
23 |
Treading The Wine Press Alone |
Famous Ward Singers |
24 |
Oh Gabriel |
Famous Ward Singers |
25 |
Lord, Touch Me |
Famous Ward Singers |
Disc 3 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I'm Goin' Home |
Famous Ward Singers |
2 |
Hold Back The Tears |
Famous Ward Singers |
3 |
Anywhere In Glory |
Famous Ward Singers |
4 |
Great Is The Lord |
The Famous Ward Singers |
5 |
Packin' Up |
Famous Ward Singers |
6 |
Nearer My God To Thee |
Famous Ward Singers |
7 |
Climbing Jacob's Ladder |
Famous Ward Singers |
8 |
I Feel The Holy Spirit |
Famous Ward Singers |
9 |
I'm So Glad |
Famous Ward Singers |
10 |
Our God Is Real |
Famous Ward Singers |
11 |
In His Arms |
Famous Ward Singers |
12 |
Pure Gold |
Famous Ward Singers |
13 |
Good News |
Famous Ward Singers |
14 |
Got On My Traveling Shoes |
Famous Ward Singers |
15 |
He's Watching Over You |
Famous Ward Singers |
16 |
We're Gonna Have A Time |
Ward Singers |
17 |
We Shall Be Changed |
Ward Singers |
18 |
Every Day Will Be Sunday |
Famous Ward Singers |
19 |
God Is Good |
Famous Ward Singers |
20 |
I'm Getting Richer |
Famous Ward Singers |
21 |
I'm Gonna Move Upstairs |
Famous Ward Singers |
22 |
A Sweeter Tomorrow |
Famous Ward Singers |
23 |
Life Is Just One Step |
Famous Ward Singers |
24 |
Rock Of Ages |
Famous Ward Singers |
25 |
The Lord's Army |
Famous Ward Singers |
26 |
Handwriting On The Wall |
The Ward Singers |
27 |
Contract With The Lord |
The Ward Singers |