The Dixie Hummingbirds were one of the longest-established and most influential gospel groups in the history of the genre, their career, through various evolving line-ups eventually lasting more than 80 years.
Their style developed from the jubilee quartet approach of the 1930s through the ‘hard gospel’ of the music’s golden era in post-war years to the more soul-tinged style of later times.
This collection spans their development from their original line-up as their style gradually changed, with lead singer Ira Tucker being a constant link through the whole of the set.
This hugely substantial 110-track 4-CD collection comprising most of the A & B sides of their releases on the Decca, Manor, Apollo, Gotham and Peacock labels from these years, plus the titles from their Peacock albums “A Christian Testimonial” and “In The Morning” not otherwise released on singles.
It features Ira Tucker, James Davis, Barney Parks, Wilson Baker, William Henry, Beachy Thompson, Paul Owens, Howard Carroll, James Walker, William Bobo and others.
Their music inspired many gospel, soul and R&B artists, with the likes of Jackie Wilson and James Brown adapting their extrovert style and showmanship for the secular market.
It’s an inspiring and uplifting overview of nearly a quarter of a century of their career.
Tracks
CD 1
1. JOSHUA JOURNEYED TO JERICHO (Decca 7645) 1939
2. WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN (Decca 7645) 1939
3. GOD'S GOT YOUR NUMBER (Decca 7646) 1939
4. LORD, IF I GO (Decca 7646) 1939
5. STONE THAT WAS HEWED OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN (Decca 7656) 1939
6. MOTHERLESS CHILDREN HAS A HARD TIME (Decca 7656) 1939
7. WOULDN'T MIND DYING (Decca 7667) 1939
8. LITTLE WOODEN CHURCH (Decca 7667) 1939
9. I'M LEANING ON THE LORD (Decca 7677) 1939
10. MOVING UP THAT SHINING WAY (Decca 7677) 1939
11. I LOOKED DOWN THE LINE (Decca 7688) 1939
12. WHAT A TIME (Decca 7688) 1939
13. SLEEP ON, MOTHER (Decca 7746) 1939
14. SOON WILL BE DONE WITH THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD (Decca 7746) 1939
15. BOOK OF THE SEVEN SEAS (Manor 107) 1947
16. I JUST COULDN'T KEEP IT TO MYSELF (Manor 107) 1947
17. IN THE STORM TOO LONG (Apollo 104) 1946
18. EVERY KNEE SURELY MUST BOW (Apollo 104) 1946
19. AMAZING GRACE (Apollo 108) 1946
20. MY RECORD WILL BE THERE (Apollo 108) 1946
21. ONE DAY (Apollo 132) 1947
22. DON'T YOU WANT TO JOIN THE NUMBER (Apollo 132) 1947
23. JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE (Apollo 155) 1947
24. EZEKIEL SAW THE WHEEL (Apollo 155) 1947
25. WRESTLIN' JACOB (Apollo 183) 1948
26. NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN (Apollo 183) 1948
27. IF WE EVER NEEDED THE LORD (Apollo 191) 1948
Tracks 14, 15, 16, 19 & 20 with The Angelic Gospel Singers
CD 2
1. JOURNEY TO THE SKY (Apollo 191) 1948
2. I'LL FOREVER STAND (Apollo 201) 1949
3. JESUS, I LOVE YOU (Apollo 201) 1949
4. JESUS HAS TRAVELLED THIS ROAD (Apollo 220) 1949
5. HOLY BABY (Apollo 220) 1949
6. LORD COME SEE ABOUT ME (Gotham 614) 1949
7. I'LL BE SATISFIED (Gotham 614) 1949
8. MOVE ON UP A LITTLE HIGHER (Gotham 628) 1949
9. WE SHALL WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY (Gotham 628) 1949
10. SEARCH ME LORD (Gotham 632) 1949
11. TWO LITTLE FISHES AND FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD (Gotham 632) 1949
12. I MUST HAVE JESUS (Gotham 641) 1950
13. IS THERE ANYONE IN HEAVEN THAT YOU KNOW (Gotham 641) 1950
14. JESUS WILL ANSWER PRAYER (Gotham 663) 1950
15. DEAR LORD LOOK DOWN UPON ME (Gotham 683) 1950
16. STANDING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY (Gotham 683) 1950
17. YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE SO GOD CAN USE YOU (Gotham 686) 1950
18. BEAMING FROM HEAVEN (Gotham 686) 1950
19. I'M ON MY WAY TO HEAVEN ANYHOW (Gotham 694) 1950/51
20. GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH (Gotham 694) 1950/51
21. WHAT THEN (Gotham 697) 1951
22. DOWN ON ME (Gotham 697) 1951
23. I'LL NEVER FORGET (Okeh 6864) 1952
24. I'LL LIVE AGAIN (Okeh 6864) 1952
25. I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED (Peacock 1705) 1952
26. TROUBLE IN MY WAY (Peacock 1705) 1952
CD 3
1. LORD IF I GO (Peacock 1713) 1953
2. ETERNAL LIFE (Peacock 1713) 1953
3. LET'S GO OUT TO THE PROGRAMS (Peacock 1722) 1953
4. I'LL KEEP ON LIVING AFTER I DIE (Peacock 1722) 1953
5. LIVE RIGHT, DIE RIGHT (Peacock 1727) 1953
6. PRAYER WHEEL (Peacock 1727) 1953
7. CHRISTIAN TESTIMONIAL (Peacock 736) 1954
8. WILL THE LORD BE WITH ME? (Peacock 1736) 1954
9. I'M NOT UNEASY (Peacock 1740) 1955
10. SINNER, SIN NO MORE (Peacock 1740) 1955
11. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE LORD (THAT TOUCHED ME) (Peacock 1742) 1955
12. TAKE CARE OF ME (Peacock 1742) 1955
13. POOR PILGRIM OF SORROW (Peacock 1757) 1956
14. DEVIL CAN'T HARM A PRAYING MAN (Peacock 1757) 1956
15. TROUBLES WILL BE OVER (Peacock 1763) 1956
16. WAY UP ON HIGH (Peacock 1763) 1956
17. THANK YOU FOR ONE MORE DAY (Peacock 1764) 1956
18. GET RIGHT CHURCH (Peacock 1764) 1956
19. LOVING HAND (Peacock 1770) 1957
20. COOL DOWN YONDER (Peacock 1770) 1957
21. LIVE ON FOREVER (Peacock 1773) 1957
22. JUST TRUSTING (Peacock 1773) 1957
23. CHRISTIANS AUTOMOBILE (Peacock 1780) 1957
24. STOP BY HERE (Peacock 1780) 1957
25. WALLS OF ZION (Peacock 1783) 1958
26. JUST A LITTLE WHILE (Peacock 1783) 1958
27. I DON'T KNOW WHY (I HAVE TO CRY SOMETIME) (Peacock 1788) 1958
28. LET'S GO OUT TO THE PROGRAMS NO. 2 (Peacock 1788) 1958
CD 4
1. MAKE ONE STEP (Peacock 1791) 1959
2. COME ON AND SEE ABOUT ME (Peacock 1791) 1959
3. NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I SEE (Peacock 1803) 1959
4. THE FINAL EDITION (Peacock 1803) 1959
5. I WANT TO FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT (Peacock 1808) 1960
6. WHAT A FRIEND (Peacock 1808) 1960
7. JESUS HOLD MY HAND (Peacock 1817) 1960
8. LEAVE YOUR BURDENS THERE (Peacock 1817) 1960
9. HE CARES FOR ME (Peacock 1831) 1961
10. GOD'S GOODNESS (Peacock 1831) 1961
11. HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS (Peacock 1844) 1962
12. IN THE MORNING (Peacock 1844) 1962
13. OUR FATHER'S CHILDREN (Peacock 1861) 1962
14. BEDSIDE OF A NEIGHBOR (Peacock 1861) 1962
15. OH HOW I LOVE JESUS (Peacock PLP-100)
16. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU (Peacock PLP-100)
17. ARE YOU READY (Peacock PLP-100)
18. GOD IS NOW SPEAKING (Peacock PLP-100)
19. WE'LL MEET AGAIN (Peacock PLP-100)
20. HE'LL DO THE SAME FOR YOU (Peacock PLP-100)
From the album “A Christian Testimonial” Peacock PLP-100
21. MY PRAYER (Peacock PLP108)
22. LET THE HOLY GHOST FALL ON ME (Peacock PLP108)
23. PLEASE LORD (Peacock PLP108)
24. JESUS WALKED THE WATER (Peacock PLP108)
25. LITTLE LAMBS (Peacock PLP108)
26. JESUS MY KING (Peacock PLP108)
27. SET ME FREE (Peacock PLP108)
28. IF YOU HAVE FAITH (Peacock PLP108)
29. THIS EVENING (Peacock PLP108)
From the album “In The Morning” Peacock PLP108
