The Famous Davis Sisters were a gospel group formed in 1945 by Ruth Davis after she had briefly served with the Women’s Air Corps at the end of World War Two. Although she was known as “Baby Sis” to family, friends and countless fans, Ruth Davis was actually the oldest of the four siblings who recorded as the Famous Davis Sisters.
Born in Philadelphia on 19 April 1927, she was joined in the group by sisters Thelma (1930–1955), Audrey (1932–1982) and Alfreda (1935–1989). A fifth sister, Edna, often joined them for live performances but never recorded with them. Ruth organised her four sisters and developed an act which became legendary at the “Met” – the Metropolitan Opera House – in Philadelphia, where they would, as some said, “tear the house down”. A cousin, pianist and vocalist Curtis Dublin (1928–1964), rounded out the original group and they recorded initially for the Apex and Gotham labels before signing to Savoy, with whom they stayed through into the 1960s.
This 51-track collection comprises most of their A & B sides on those labels during these years, and features classics like Jesus Steps Right In and Too Close To Heaven, with many of the songs written by the sisters themselves – Ruth, Thelma, Audrey and Alfreda. “Ruth was the hardest female belter in gospel, ‘scared of no man’ when it came to squalling,” Anthony Heilbut observed in his book The Gospel Sound: Good News and Hard Times. “At home she’d enthral friends with her blues, and all the singers insist she could have been another Dinah Washington or Big Maybelle.”
It’s a great showcase for one of the most exciting gospel groups of the era who helped bridge the gap between gospel and soul.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Get Away, Jordan |
Davis Sisters |
2 |
If Jesus Is Near |
Davis Sisters |
3 |
He Has A Way That's Mighty Sweet |
Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
4 |
I'll Wait On The Lord |
Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
5 |
Footprints Of Jesus |
Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
6 |
Getting Nearer To My Lord |
Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
7 |
By And By Pt. 1 |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
8 |
By And By Pt. 2 |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
9 |
Jesus Steps Right In |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
10 |
Too Close To Heaven |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
11 |
Marching To Zion |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
12 |
Jesus Is A Waymaker |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
13 |
In The Shelter Of The Rock |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
14 |
Is There Anybody Here That Loves My Jesus? |
The Davis Sisters & Curtis Dublin |
15 |
Get Right With God |
Davis Sisters |
16 |
I'm Tired |
Davis Sisters |
17 |
He's My King |
Davis Sisters |
18 |
He'll Understand And Say Well Done |
Davis Sisters |
19 |
You've Got The River Jordan To Cross |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
20 |
Twelve Gates To The City |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
21 |
Oh Happy Day |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
22 |
Rain In Jerusalem |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
23 |
Plant My Feet On Higher Ground |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
24 |
Lord Don't Leave Me |
The Famous Davis Sisters Of Philadelphia |
25 |
Won't It Be Wonderful Up There |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
26 |
Jesus Gently Guides Me |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
More Than All |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
2 |
Oh Sinner |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
3 |
He's Mine |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
4 |
Keeping Me Alive |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
5 |
There's A Tree On Each Side |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
6 |
I Don't Know What I'd Do |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
7 |
My Wonderful Counselor |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
8 |
Farewell |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
9 |
Almost Home |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
10 |
What He's Done For Me |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
11 |
Following Him |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
12 |
You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Side |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
13 |
He's Here Now |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
14 |
Jonah |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
15 |
We Need The Power |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
16 |
I Got A New Home |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
17 |
Not A Word |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
18 |
Save Me |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
19 |
Father, I'm Coming Home Part 1 |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
20 |
Right Now Jesus |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
21 |
Jesus Is The One To Love |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
22 |
Nothing But The Blood |
The Davis Sisters |
23 |
My Jesus |
The Davis Sisters |
24 |
Jesus Loves Me |
The Famous Davis Sisters |
25 |
Earnestly Praying |
The Famous Davis Sisters |