The Drinkard Singers were a pioneering gospel group from Newark, New Jersey, sometimes seen as Newark’s answer to The Ward Singers and The Gospel Harmonettes. It was famous as the launchpad for the careers of the great soul singers Cissy Houston (then known as Emily Garland) and Judy Clay (originally Judy Guions). They were also famous for being the first gospel group to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first to appear at the Newport Folk Festival.
They began as a family group during the late 1940s comprising the children of Nicholas and Delia Mae Drinkard – the name Drinkard was mostly of Native American origin. They developed a more rocking, up-front style as traditional jubilee quartets went out of fashion, and opened for Clara Ward and Mahalia Jackson at Carnegie Hall in 1951.
This 44-track 2-CD collection comprises their first 1954 singles for Savoy and three more Savoy/Regent tracks that were included on a later albums “A Gospel Program” and “Newport Spiritual Stars”, and then all the titles from their RCA album “A Joyful Noise”, and their albums on the Choice label in the early ‘60s “Yield Not to Temptation” and “Joy Unspeakable”.
In the middle of that are ‘live’ recordings from their 1958 appearance at Newport, which came out of the Verve album “Gospel Singing At Newport”. We round off with a stunning performance from a 1963 TV show.
It’s a great showcase for their uplifting, extrovert and inspiring style that is as close to soul as it is gospel.
Tracks
CD 1
1. WHEN I RISE IN THE MORNING The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Newport Spiritual Stars' - Savoy 4053 Savoy MG14013) 1954
2. A SINNER LIKE ME The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Newport Spiritual Stars' - Savoy 4053 Savoy MG14013) 1954
3. WALK TOGETHER CHILDREN The Drinkard Singers (Savoy 4074) 1954
4. I'M TROUBLED The Drinkard Singers (Savoy 4074) 1954
5. WHEN JESUS SHALL COME The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Newport Spiritual Stars' - Savoy MG14013 Savoy MG14013) 1954
6. I CAN'T TURN AROUND The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Newport Spiritual Stars' - Savoy MG14013 Savoy MG14013) 1954
7. THIS MAN JESUS The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Gospel Program' Regent MG 6080) 1958
8. WALK ALL OVER GOD'S HEAVEN The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Gospel Singing At Newport' Verve MGM 8245) 1958
9. SOFTLY AND TENDERLY The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Gospel Singing At Newport' Verve MGM 8245) 1958
10. I'M IN HIS CARE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Gospel Singing At Newport' Verve MGM 8245) 1958
11. THAT'S ENOUGH The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Gospel Singing At Newport' Verve MGM 8245) 1958
12. MY ROCK The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
13. USE ME, LORD The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
14. RISE, SHINE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
15. ONE DAY The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
16. LISTEN TO THE LAMBS The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
17. AFTER IT'S ALL OVER The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
18. SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME The Drinkard Singers (From the abum 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
19. WADE IN THE WATER The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
20. JUST A LITTLE WHILE TO STAY HERE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
21. SINGING IN MY SOUL The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
22. SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
CD 2
1. RING THOSE GOLDEN BELLS The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'A Joyful Noise' RCA-Victor LPM 1856) 1958
2. LORD, I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG 508) 1961
3. MOSES (MAKE IT UP) The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
4. IF JESUS GOES WITH ME The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
5. SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
6. OUT OF THE DEPTHS The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508, Choice 24) 1961
7. MY FAITH LOOKS UP The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
8. HE'S KEEPING ME ALIVE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
9. HE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
10. CHILD OF THE KING The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
11. YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Yield Not To Temptation' Choice MG508) 1961
12. DO YOU LOVE HIM The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513, Choice, Choice 30) 1962
13. HOLDING THE SAVIOR'S HAND The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513, Choice 30) 1962
14. WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
15. MY FATHER WATCHES OVER ME The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
16. JOY UNSPEAKABLE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513, Choice 36) 1962
17. I'LL FLY AWAY The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
18. THERE'S SOMETHING The Drinkard Singers (From the abum 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
19. WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
20. I BELIEVE The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513) 1962
21. YOU CAN’T MAKE ME DOUBT HIM The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'Joy Unspeakable' Choice MG513, Choice 24) 1962
22. LIFT HIM UP The Drinkard Singers (From the album 'TV performance' TV Time Gospel ) 1963
