Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 1960
Styles: Blues;Gospel
Time: 43:31
Size: 100,9 MB
Covers: Full
(4:05) 1. Samson and Delilah
(3:11) 2. Let Us Get Together
(2:56) 3. I Belong to the Band-Hallelujah!
(2:59) 4. Pure Religion
(4:05) 5. Great Change Since I Been Born
(4:46) 6. Death Don't Have No Mercy
(3:11) 7. Twelve Gates to the City
(2:57) 8. Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River
(3:49) 9. Tryin' to Get Home
(4:20) 10. Lo I Be With You Always
(3:36) 11. I Am the Light of the World
(3:30) 12. I Feel Just Like Goin' On
Recorded during a three hour session on August 24, 1960, Gary Davis laid down 12 of his most impassioned spirituals for Harlem Street Singer. Starting off the session with a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "If I Had My Way I'd Tear That Building Down," here renamed "Samson and Delilah," Davis is in fine form. His vocals are as expressive as Ray Charles' while similar in richness to Richie Havens' work. Harlem Street Singer features his inspired country blues fingerpicking as well. Many moods color the selections, from the gentle "I Belong to the Band" to the mournful "Death Don't Have No Mercy," only to be followed by the joyous shouting of "Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River." Overall, the collection is well worth the purchase and should be considered essential listening for fans of country blues or gospel. -- Allmusic.
Gary Davis was born blind, black, and broke in South Carolina in 1896. Big obstacles, but he also was blessed with talent and got paid for his guitar-pickin' by the time he was a teen. Ordained as a minister at age 36, he changed his song inventory to Gospel and hymns exclusively. He ended up in NYC, performing at mostly Black churches and on the streets. In the late '50's, the "Folk Revival" of blessed memory provided him a brief celebrity beyond those venues. This album was recorded in 1960 at the Jersey jazz studio of the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Davis had not recorded anything in four years: in fact, he had only recorded in 1935, '54 and '56 prior to this August 24, 1960 session. On that day, Kennedy and Nixon were running for president but was doing something more important: preserving the Black church songs of early 20th century for posterity. -- Amazon.
Gary Davis was born blind, black, and broke in South Carolina in 1896. Big obstacles, but he also was blessed with talent and got paid for his guitar-pickin' by the time he was a teen. Ordained as a minister at age 36, he changed his song inventory to Gospel and hymns exclusively. He ended up in NYC, performing at mostly Black churches and on the streets. In the late '50's, the "Folk Revival" of blessed memory provided him a brief celebrity beyond those venues. This album was recorded in 1960 at the Jersey jazz studio of the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Davis had not recorded anything in four years: in fact, he had only recorded in 1935, '54 and '56 prior to this August 24, 1960 session. On that day, Kennedy and Nixon were running for president but was doing something more important: preserving the Black church songs of early 20th century for posterity. -- Amazon.
Harlem Street Singer
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