Jake Hess & The Imperials "Jake Hess And The Imperials" (Impact Records, 1964) (LP)
(Produced by Brock Speer & Tommy Strong)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Introducing The Illustrious Imperials" (Heart Warming Records, 1964) (LP)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Fireside Hymns" (Heart Warming Records, 1964) (LP)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Blends And Rhythms" (Heart Warming Records, 1964) (LP)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" (1964) (LP)
(Produced by xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Talent Times Five" (Heart Warming Records, 1965) (LP)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Slaughter Writes -- Imperials Sing" (Heart Warming Records, 1965) (LP)
(Produced by Chuck Seitz)
This album concentrated on the songwriting talents of pianist Henry Slaughter who, along with Jake Hess, became a major wellspring of southern gospel standards during the 1960s and '70s.
Jake Hess & The Imperials "The Happy Sounds Of Jake Hess And The Imperials" (Heart Warming Records, 1965) (LP)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "He Was A Preachin' Man" (1965) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Benson & Chuck Seitz)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "Slightly Regal" (Heart Warming Records, 1966-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Benson & Chuck Seitz)
Dottie Rambo & The Imperials "Dottie Rambo & The Imperials" (Heart Warming Records, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Benson & Chuck Seitz)
A collaboration with songwriter/soloist Dottie Rambo who was swiftly building a reputation as one of the most popular and influential southern gospel composers of the 1960s and '70s.
Jake Hess & The Imperials "...Sing Inspirational Classics" (Heart Warming Records, 1966-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob MacKenzie, Chuck Seitz & Bill Vandevort)
Jake Hess & The Imperials "...Sing Their Favorite Hymns" (Heart Warming Records, 1966-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bob MacKenzie & Chuck Seitz)
Hank Locklin & The Imperials "The Gloryland Way" (RCA Victor, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by Chet Atkins)
The Imperials back Nashville crooner Hank Locklin on this all-gospel set... It's probably worth mentioning here that their main label, Heart Warming Records, was in a certain sense an offshoot of RCA. Though an independently owned company based in Nashville, Heart Warming produced most of their late 'Sixties output at the RCA studios, and used the same basic graphic design as the regular RCA Victor LPs.
Sue Cox Cole & The Imperials "I've Got A Song" (Heart Warming Records, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Benson)
Not a lot of information about singer Sue Cox Cole... This appears to have been her only release for Heart Warming Records, though in his liner notes producer Bob Benson mentions that she'd recorded a few independent albums before signing to his label.
The Imperials were a southern gospel group founded by singer-composer Jake Hess (1927-2004), an Alabama native who performed as lead singer of The Statesmen Quartet for over fifteen years before starting his own group in 1963. Like many southern gospel ensembles, the Imperials had a complicated history, with members coming and going over the years. The group's classic 1964-65 lineup included Jake Hess singing lead, along with baritone Gary McSpadden, bass vocalist Armond Morales, tenor Sherrill Neilsen and songwriter Henry Slaughter on piano. The Imperials are perhaps best known for accompanying pop superstar Elvis Presley who worked with them in the studio from 1966-71 and also had them join his road show starting in 1969. Presley was a particular fan of Sherrill Neilsen and gave him a spotlight role in his live shows through most of the 'Seventies. Jake Hess left the Imperials in 1967 and enjoyed considerable success as a solo artist before returning to the Statesmen in 1975 and founding a new group, The Masters V, in 1980. The Imperials continued, with ever-shifting lineups for many years to come; this is only a partial discography of their work.
