COUNTRY GOSPEL: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X, Y & Z | Comps

Holiday Music | Other Country Styles

Pacific...ly Bluegrass "On The Sea Of Life" (PB Records, 1983) (LP)
(Produced by Steve Wetherbee)
A bluegrass gospel group from San Diego, California with Wayne Rice (formerly of the band Brush Arbor) on banjo and lead vocals...

Evangelist Don Parker "Run, Samson Run" (Rite Records, 1971) (LP)

Evangelist Don Parker "Snowball, Spitball, Fireball" (Rite Records, 1971) (LP)

The Parker Family "Songs For Salvation" (Audiolab Records, 1960-?) (LP)

The Parker Family "Songs For Salvation, Volume 2" (Audiolab Records, 1962) (LP)

The Parker Family "Just A Real Nice American Family" (King Records, 1964-?) (LP)

The Parker Family "24 Sacred Gospel Hymns From The Bible Belt" (King Records, 1966-?) (LP)

The Parkers "The Parkers Sing Again In Stereo" (Rite Records, 1969) (LP)
Not to be confused with the Singing Parkers family trio from Bakersfield (see below) this Assemblies Of God Pentecostal evangelical duo from Baxter, West Virginia consisted of Reverend Don Parker and his wife, accordionist Sharon Parker. The couple recorded a string of albums through the Rite Recording service, including some Don Parker sermon LPs and at least two albums showcasing Mrs. Parker on Cordovox. The back cover of this album lists four of their earlier albums.

The Singing Parkers "I've Got It" (Gospel Key Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Gary Paxton & Mack Wilson)

The Singing Parkers "I've Got To Go" (Gospel Key Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Mac Wilson)

The Singing Parkers "I'm A Believer" (Gospel Key Records, 19--?) (LP)

The Singing Parkers "In Jesus' Name" (Gospel Key Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Greg Venable, Al Wilson & L. D. Wilson)

David Parmley & Friends "What We Leave Behind" (Pinecastle Records, 2001)
A nice, sweet, low-key set of gospel songs and philosophical tunes reflecting on the shadows of life, as the daylight dims. The "and friends" include bluegrass luminaries such as Ronnie and Del McCoury, Aubrey Haynie and others. Nice, thoughtful album.

London Parris & The Apostles "The Best Of Fanny J. Crosby" (London Parris Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Kenny Wallis)
Pretty standard-issue southern gospel group vocals, with a small, robust -- if somewhat generic -- male chorus which often gives way to London Parris's reedy solo vocals. Recorded at Prestige Recording Studio, in Birmingham, Alabama, this was one of many albums recorded by Mr. Parris; I was drawn to it because of an interest in Fanny Crosby's compositions, but the album didn't really hold my attention. A small group of instrumentalists back the quartet: Goldie Ashton on drums, Everett Reece (piano), and Tommy Watwood (bass).

Dolly Parton "The Golden Streets Of Glory" (RCA Victor, 1970)

Dolly Parton "Precious Memories" (Blue Eye Records, 1999)
An all-gospel offering, mostly with standards such as "Farther Along," "Precious Memories" and "Power In The Blood."

Dolly Parton "For God And Country" (Welk Group, 2003)
Y'know, when Dolly decides to get cornball, she really can go all-out like nobody else... With an occasional super-perky, barbershop-ish "River Boat"-style chorus bounding up behind her, Dolly sings some swell religious tunes, reprises a few WWII-era military oldies, and pays homage to all that is apple pie-licious about America, yet with a definite nudge and a wink. There are plenty of Parton originals as well, some of older vintage, others that comment on the current day. The most direct (and most dicey) of these is her version "Gee Ma, I Wanna Go Home," where Dolly updates the Eddie Cantor-style stage patter with a bunch of one-liners about Saddam Hussein and Iraq... Of course, it's all redeemed when she cracks a joke about the generals rushing to pin a medal on her ample bosom, referring to her own super-famous boobs as "Shock & Awe." (Only Dolly could pull that joke off... or, maybe Jay Leno...) Admittedly, if you're not on her wavelength on this one, your jaw will drop in disbelief at the over-the-top patriotic, jingoistic presentation... But even if you don't quite agree with her political slant, taken as camp, this is an amazing album. Likewise, if you take it at face value.

Dolly Parton "Letter To Heaven: Songs Of Faith And Inspiration" (Sony-BMG Legacy, 2010)
A groovy gospel set, gathering gems off of various albums recorded in Parton's early 1970's RCA glory years. It's nice stuff: nobody could sing a gospel song like Dolly did, or write one, either, as heard on gems such as "The Master's Hand," which she composed for her 1971 LP, Golden Streets Of Glory, where most of these tracks come from. Also included is one duet with her heartsong crooning mentor, Porter Wagoner, a man who showed Dolly a thing or two about keeping things simple -- that ethos applies here as well, where the arrangements are generally more stripped down than on other Nashville records of the time, giving center stage to the spiritual message, and to Parton's gloriously down-home vocals. Recommended!

Stella Parton "Appalachian Gospel" (Raptor Records, 2003)

Paul & Bob "...Present Gospel Harmonies" (Singspiration Records, 19--?) (LP)
This was the first LP -- and what a marvelous album it is -- by the acoustic gospel duo of Rev. Paul Levin (mandolin) & Mr. Bob Findley (guitar) who I believe were both from Michigan. Paul & Bob first formed their act in 1934, and continued to tour and record together for over forty years, including this series of albums for the Michigan-based Singspiration label, which later became Zondervan Records. They performed in tent revival meetings across the Great Lakes region and upper Midwest, and later appeared on various radio broadcasts. As you might imagine from the Depression-era origins, the duo's music echoed the simple, melodic arrangements and harmonies of brother-act artists such as The Bailes Brothers and Bill & Charlie Monroe, with a hint of the singing-cowboy vibe of The Sons Of The Pioneers... This album captures that style at it's purest form, and if you ask me, it's pretty swell. In addition to this musical ministry, Mr. Levin and his wife also founded a publishing company called Bible Tracts, Inc. which started in 1938, printing, translating and distributing innumerable religious tracts; they later adapted many of their tracts for short radio sermons, starting in 1957 with an offshoot called Bible Tract Echoes. The regional press in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa is packed with news items from the 1940s, '50s and 60s of the pair's evangelical performances... Mr. Findley passed away in 1985 at age 81, while Dr. Levin died years later, in 1996.

Paul & Bob "Gospel Favorites - Country Style" (Singspiration Records, 19--?) (LP)

Paul & Bob "Fireside Melodies" (Singspiration Records, 1957-?) (LP)
This was their third album for the Singspiration label, with accompaniment by John Peterson on electric guitar, and organist Harold De Cou. This was also issued on Singspiration as Country-Style Gospel Melodies with same tracks, same catalog number, different album art.

Paul & Bob "The Bible Mother Read" (Singspiration Records, 19--?) (LP)

Paul & Bob "I Will Trust And Never Be Afraid" (Zondervan Victory Records, 19--?) (LP)

Paul & Bob "Gospel Folk Songs And Other Favorites" (Zondervan Victory Records, 19--?) (LP)

Paul & Bob "Sacred Harmonies" (Jerry's Recordings, 1971-?) (LP)

Paul & Bob "40th Anniversary Album" (Janco Records, 1974-?) (LP)

Paula & Carolyn "Gettin' Ready Today" (Benson Sound Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Glenn Couch & Jim Ford)
Two gals from different states -- Paula Ray, from Paden Oklahoma and Carolyn Von Allmen of West Plains, Missouri -- backed by the Benson Sound Studio's in-house band in Oklahoma City. The musicians included Charlie Archer (lead guitar), Stan Bonham (bass), Doug Campbell (steel guitar), James Clark (piano), Eric Lemmons (rhythm guitar), and Rex Stafford on drums. It's possible these young women were twin sisters: in her obituary, the maiden name of Carolyn Von Allmen (1938-2017) is given as "Rye," and they look a lot alike on the album cover. At any rate, this is a remarkably country-flavored album, much more than many other Benson records, with clear-cut, uptempo country arrangements on many tracks, paired with relentlessly rural vocals -- rough-hewn, almost shape-note styled singing, a bit like Loretta Lynn, but far less polished. Pretty groovy.

Johnny Paycheck "Gospeltime In My Fashion" (Little Darlin' Records, 1967) (LP)

Johnny Paycheck "Jesus And The Outlaw" (Little Darlin' Records, 1979)

Johnny Paycheck "The Gospel Truth: The Complete Gospel Sessions" (Koch Records, 2005)
Wow... this is a really good record. This CD gathers together all of the gospel material recorded by country roughneck Johnny Paycheck during his tenure at the Little Darlin' record label. When he recorded his first gospel album in the late 1960s, Gospeltime In My Fashion, Paycheck was notorious for his goofy, over-the-top, morbidly-themed novelty songs; after he hit the bigtime with hits like "Take This Job And Shove It," he became known as one of country's biggest party-animal wildmen, and the quality of his work plunged in direct proportion to the amount of intoxicants he indulged in... But when it came to religious material, Paycheck really delivered. The 'Sixties stuff is quite lively and heartfelt, and even his later sessions in 1979 were pretty vigorous and convincing (even though this was arguably at the creative nadir of his commercial career...) This is a very strong and generously programmed collection, gathering material that has been out of print for decades... Well worth checking out!

The Payne Family "Out West" (Moon Records, 1967) (LP)
(Produced by Calvin Wills)
A white gospel family band from Abilene, Texas, going country on this album, which includes steel guitar from session player Junior Knight. The Payne Family included parents David Payne (bass) and Dorothy Payne (piano), along with their son Kenny and daughter Judy -- they recorded several albums, though I'm not sure if they were all as "country" as this one. The album art features the band posing at Broken Arrow Camp, a Christian-themed ranch near Sunsites, Arizona, though it also gives their home address in Texas.

The Payne Family "What Heaven Means To Me" (Rainbow Records, 19--?) (LP)

The Payne Family "A Song In The Midnight Hours" (Trail Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Charles Novell & Ric Probst)

The Payne Family "Here I Am Lord, Send Me" (Singing Payne Family, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Bobby Dennis & David Payne)

Jim & Jody (Pearson) "We Have This Moment Today" (Sword & Shield Records, 1982) (LP)
A charming country gospel set by an evangelical husband-wife duo who were also owners of the Double J Ranch in Stamford, Nebraska. They went to Texas to record this at the Sword & Shield studio in Arlington, with a very country-sounding backing band, including Junior Knight on steel guitar and banjo. There are two originals on this album, Jim Curry's "Jesus Feet, and Janet Potter's "You And Me And The Lord," though most of the material comes from established gospel artists such as the Gaithers and the Stamphills, as well as a version of Hank Williams's "I Saw The Light." Plenty of twang (yay!) and although neither one of them can stay in tune, they're so enthusiastic it's pretty hard not to like 'em.

The Pelfrey Brothers "Songs That Never Grow Old" (Jalyn Records, 1967)
(Produced by Howard Davis)
Nice, solid traditional bluegrass by a family band from Fairborn, Ohio, on the eastern outskirts of Dayton... In the early 1960s the Pelfrey Brothers -- Chester Pelfrey, Ellis Pelfrey and Forest Pelfrey -- also recorded some secular stuff, backing singer Johnny Blue and others, but gospel music really seems to have been their main passion. They are joined on this album by Jack Austin on dobro, Willard Burgess (bass vocals), Vick Hurst (lead vocals and guitar), Paul Provence (baritone vocals), and banjo plunker Carl Shively, with Forest Pelfrey's Monroe-style mandolin driving the sessions. Pretty sweet.

Forest Pelfrey & The Pelfrey Brothers "How Can We Thank Him" (Grace Records, 1968)

The Pell Brothers "Something Old, Something New" (Sonora Records, 1970-?) (LP)
(Produced by Grover Dunn & John Currance)
Rough-and-ready bluegrass gospel by a family band from Georgia (with family roots somewhere in Pennsylvania, I believe...) The Pell Brothers were Wayne (mandolin), Dallas (banjo) and Windell Pell on guitar, along with bassist Rick Templeton. The driving force behind the band was Windell Pell (b. 1947) who wrote most of their material and went on to become a pastor at the Restoration Family Worship Center, in Peach Bottom, PA, and has continued performing music the whole time. The Pell Brothers have recorded at least a half dozen albums, and Windell also formed a group called Blue Grass And Truth, which may mainly be a branch of his ministry. (Note: these fellas aren't to be confused with an earlier duo from the '60s also called The Pell Brothers, East Coasters who were known as "the Brooklyn Hillbillies.")

The Pell Brothers & Dorothy Jo Hope "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man" (Pell Brothers Records, 1972-?) (LP)
Here's a cool one. You might recognize the title track, which was a Top Ten hit for Dolly Parton in 1970... It was co-written by Dolly and her aunt, Dorothy Jo Hope (1929-2008) who also wrote "Daddy Come And Get Me," a gothic country novelty number that Dolly included on another album the same year, with many more to follow. Dorothy Jo was the daughter of Reverend Jake Owens, whose Pentecostal church was one of the first places where Parton performed in public, and she remained a big influence on her niece over the course of years, including a long stint as a performer at the Dollywood amusement park. About half the songs on here were composed by Dorothy Jo, with three other originals by Windell Pell, notably his "Working Like A Truck For The Lord." I'm not sure how many other recordings Dorothy Jo made, though she worked as a composer under a variety of names, penning both secular and religious material.

The Pell Brothers "The Georgia Boys" (Pell Brothers Records, 1977) (LP)

Guy Penrod "The Best Of Guy Penrod" (Spring House Records, 2005)

Guy Penrod "Breathe Deep" (Gaither Music, 2010)
(Produced by Brent Rowan)
A solo set from a former member of the Gaither Vocal Band... Probably in more of a Southern Gospel mode, but still worth having on your country-gospel radar...

The Pentecostal Brothers "Inside The Gate" (Tri-State Recording Company, 1969by a trio from ) (LP)
Raw, rugged hill-country vocals by the born-again Pentecostal trio of Albert Maggard, Dewey Rose and Mack Sturgill, three guys who found God over the course of the 'Sixties and started singing together in 1965. Claiming the tiny town of Appalachia, Virginia (a hamlet near Big Stone Gap) as their home base, the Pentecostal Brothers made several appearances at the Singing Convention in Bullitt Park, VA and cut this album at decade's end. A mix of gospel standards and originals, this set lies firmly in the mountain music tradition spanning back to the classic compositions of Albert Brumley and Alfred G. Karnes, with curlicued, interlocking lyrical refrains and call-and-answer counterpoint, though these guys exemplify the rougher side of the tradition, so much so that we might be hard-put to call these "harmony" vocals. Indeed, on tracks like their version of "God's Not Dead," they are literally shouting the lyrics, in crude bursts of wild, enthusiastic religious fervor. This is about as raw and authentic as the style gets, with forceful, can-I-get-a-witness, Popeye The Sailor Man vocals propelled by chunky, utilitarian guitars. Great stuff, if you're looking for the real deal. The album's originals include three songs by Albert Maggard ("Saved By The Grace," "This World Is Full Of Sin," and "You Got To Live The Life") and two more from Mack Sturgill ("Peace In My Soul" and "With His Hand Upon My Shoulder"). As far as I know, this was their only full album, but it sure is a doozy.

The Pentecostal Choralaires Choir & The Ray Cooper Trio "Jesus How I Love You" (First Pentecostal Church Of Sanger, 1977-?) (LP)
(Produced by Manny Alvarez, Clark DeCoux Jr. & Eddie Sartuche Jr.)
A large vocal chorus from the tiny, Fresno-adjacent town of Sanger, California -- roughly four dozen singers, supported by a small ensemble that included some potentially "country" musicianship. This album was a memento of the town's First Pentecostal Church and, as the liner notes inform us, was dedicated to its longtime pastor, Rev. Leslie Gee (d. 1974) and to their former chorus director, Goldie Cooper (1904-1976), the mother of pianist Ray Cooper, who led the backing band on this album. Both families, the Coopers and the Gees, contributed numerous members to the chorus, with bandleader Ray Cooper (1935-2020) the best-known of the musicians. Mr. Cooper was a gospel musician with a career dating back to the early 1950s, notably performing in an early edition of the Fresno-based Gospelaires Quartet, which he joined in 1955. He appeared on several of the quartet's albums, and recorded a few albums with the Ray Cooper Trio. He's backed here by Norma Cooper on rhythm guitar, Arnie Johnson (lead guitar), Tim Johnson (violin), Butch Phillips (bass), Shirley Stephens (organ) and Allan Zallian on drums. This was recorded on location at the church, as well as in the Sierra Recording Studios, in Visalia, run by Manny Alvarez. I was intensely curious about this album, but alas the copy I saw at my local Record Hut was thrashed beyond repair. Nonetheless, it shows signs of being part of the Central Valley country-gospel scene, and once I track a living copy down, I'll let you know.

Brenda Kaye Perry "All In The Name Of Jesus" (MRC/Major Recording Company, 1983) (LP)
(Produced by Brenda Perry & John Perry)
North Carolina singer Brenda Kaye Perry released at least two albums of secular country material before turning to the Lord for her third(?) LP, also recorded at John Major's MRC label, which was based in Waynesboro, Virginia. Although she repudiates country music in the album's liner notes, she also talks rather proudly about her professional career, which started at age sixteen and included one of those "most promising new artist" mentions. Decades later, in the digital era, Perry released a couple more albums of secular country, so I guess she found some balance between the two styles. Alas, the studio musicians backing her on this album are not mentioned by name.

Idee Peters "Boundless Love" (Radiant Records, 19--?) (LP)
Not a ton of info about this gal... This isn't at all a country-flavored album, not even southern gospel, but rather more of a set of old-fashioned song-birdish salon vocals, with fairly minimal accompaniment by pianist Bob Cunningham. It's not bad, by any means -- it's just not twangy. Originally from Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Idee Peters was the wife of an evangelical preacher, Rev. Dave Peters, with whom she toured and performed in several different states, notably in Colorado and California -- this albums liner notes inform us that she had performed on a Sacramento TV show for about three years, though no other details than that. My eye was caught by the label address in Santa Cruz, California, though I'm not sure if Mrs. Peters was living there at the time... apparently she moved back to Pennsylvania later in life, and remarried after her partnership with Mr. Peters ended. If this was a California production, one other point of interest is a song called "It May Be Today" that's credited to someone named Bixler -- I couldn't help but wonder if it was a relative of nightclub owner Bill Bixler, a musician who owned a place called The Wild Blue Yonder, in Fresno. Who knows. There are also a couple of songs credited to Mrs. Peters, as well as a set of hymns from various other authors.

Little Joe Peterson "My God Is Real" (1966) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Natoli)

Little Joe Peterson "Someone To Care" (IRA Records, 196-?) (LP)
(Produced by Jim Holland)

Little Joe Peterson "A Little Glory, A Little Soul" (IRA Records, 196-?) (LP)
(Produced by Don Baldwin)

Little Joe Peterson & Cathy Peterson "Gospel Sounds" (J&C Records, 196-?) (LP)
(Produced by Les Ohmit)

Little Joe Peterson & Cathy Peterson "The Two Of Us" (Big G Custom Recordings, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Rusty Goodman & Larry Maglinger)
Opening with sweet, pure steel guitar notes straight out of a George Jones record, this is in all honesty one of the more up-to-date sounding country gospel records I've heard in a while... In this case, the contemporary sound was the early 'Seventies light-pop/sunshine country style, performed with able backing courtesy of producer/guitarist Eddie Crook and a studio crew at the Happy Goodman studio; the other name that caught my eye was Nashville sideman Steve Chapman, who was on his way up through the Nashville studio system... The Petersons were an evangelical couple from Portsmouth, Virginia who sure could have made it in commercial country world, if they'd a mind to... He had one of those odd, mousy-man voices that were still popular back then -- think Bill Anderson or Hank Locklin -- though he could inject a little more rugged intonation as well. Though she had equal billing, Mrs. Peterson is only heard on a few tracks, emerging as a very effective harmonist, though falling a bit flat on the solo number "Now Is The Time." The song material is variable: though the musical backing has a reliably Nashville-style feel, many of the songs are a little stuffy. That said, there are also some nice, effective novelty numbers, including "After The Preacher's Gone" (about how folks let their hair down when they think nobody's looking... but of course God is always looking, preacher or no preacher!) and really great Bud Chambers tune, "I'm Not Looking For A Hole In The Ground " ("...I'm Looking For A Hole In The Sky...) The Petersons seem to have been connected the Bud Chambers evangelical empire: they cover three of his songs on this album, along with one by Dwayne Friend ("Little Boy From The Carpenter's Shop") and a couple by John Stallings.

Little Joe Peterson & Cathy Peterson "The Two Of Us" (CAM Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Bobby Cotton)

John Peterson "...Presents Western Moods" (Zondervan Records, 1959-?) (LP)
This is one of those lifeless Christian pop albums that inexplicably portrays itself as "western" or country-ish in nature, a ploy used in several releases on the Zondervan label. I fell for it, but you don't have do. This is a pretty dull record, and has precious little twang. John W. Peterson was apparently from somewhere in Kansas; the album features arrangements and accompaniment by Scott Douglass, who was presumably a Zondervan staffer.

The Phelps Brothers "...Sing Until Then And Other Gospel Favorites" (Grace Note Recordings, 19--?)

Stu Phillips "Have A Nice Day" (Paragon Records, 1976) (LP)

Stu Phillips "You Love The Hurt Away" (Watermark Records, 1997)

Phoenix Sonshine "Shinin' In The Light" (Destiny Records, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Evan Williams)
Christian country-rock by a trio from Phoenix, Arizona... The band's principal songwriter, Gary Cowan, is backed by his wife, Debbe Cowan and guitarist Ron Schriber, as well as several local musicians. This first album has been repressed several times, with different artwork, and remains a classic of the hippie-era "Jesus music" subgenre...

Phoenix Sonshine "The Exodus" (Maranatha Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Evan Williams)
Pedal steel player Al Perkins helps anchor this album, supporting a lineup that includes pianist-producer Evan Williams, singers Debbe Cowan and Gary Cowan, guitarist Ron Scribner and Don Gerber on banjo and dobro. The songs are all originals, including more worldly titles such as "Paperback Bible" and "Backsliders Blues," as well as more stuffy-sounding poetical tunes like "God's Prologue" and "The Understanding Love," which sound a little less fun.

Webb Pierce "Country Church" (Decca Records, 1956)

Webb Pierce "Bound For The Kingdom" (Decca Records, 1959) (LP)
A hip, happening gospel album, simultaneously bluesy and white-bread, this features vocal arrangements by Anita Kerr, and Webb's standard-issue swingin' beat behind half the tunes. It's silly but fun. The songs range from feelgood Public Domain material such as "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" to a slew of chestnuts by Albert E. Brumley.

Webb Pierce "Bow Thy Head" (Decca Records, 1963) (LP)
No bones about it, this is Christian country. But like the best gospel performers, Webb infuses the material with enough feeling to make it tolerable even to the most agnostic earlobes. The arrangements are wimpy, and the backing chorale rather bland, but Webb's voice is perfect for the material: irksome enough to get your attention, and soulful enough to draw you in.

Webb Pierce "Faith, Hope And Love" (Skylite Records, 1979)
This gospel LP is a sad coda to Webb's career as a solo artist, with backup by doe-eyed Carpenteres-que young-uns... The material is mostly old chestnuts, gussied up with dated, third-string indie country arrangements, the worst of which is a manic rendition of Hank Williams' "I Saw The Light." The title track is a kitschy, longwinded recitation track which is probably the highpoint of the album. Honestly, this album isn't anything to lose sleep trying to track down.

The Pittmans "Country Gospel" (Life-Line Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Graham Williamson)
Twangy Christian tunes from a family band out of Christiana, Tennessee, just south of Murfreesboro... Bud and Ellen Pittman form the core of the group, backed by Dwight Bullard on guitar, Nancy Evans (piano), Rusty Gannon (steel guitar), Matthew Graham (fiddle), Rickey Rigney (dobro), withDavid Kivniemi and Mark Woodman on drums... The repertoire is a mix of old from the likes of Roy Acuff to newer (but still twangy!) tunes by the Hemphills and others... Pretty much the real deal.

Maury Randolph Pigg "Outlaw Gospel, Volume 1" (Pax Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Gary S. Paxton)
Outlaw gospel? Sounds cool to me... especially with Buddy Emmons on dobro and Terry McMillan on harmonica... Could be pretty groovy... I'll let you know when I find out.

Pioneer Gospel Singers "He'll Calm The Troubled Waters" (Selah Records, 19--?) (LP)
Back-to-basics Ozarkian evangelical gospel from the husband-wife duo of Jim and Sue Robinson, of Belleville, Arkansas, playing mandolin and rhythm guitar, along with Jim Sustar on fiddle. A very bedrock and barebones song selection, performed in the simple, old-fashioned way.

The Pittmans "Country Gospel" (Life-Line Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Graham Williamson)
Twangy Christian tunes from a family band out of Christiana, Tennessee, just south of Murfreesboro... Bud and Ellen Pittman form the core of the group, backed by Dwight Bullard on guitar, Nancy Evans (piano), Rusty Gannon (steel guitar), Matthew Graham (fiddle), Rickey Rigney (dobro), with David Kivniemi and Mark Woodman on drums... The repertoire is a mix of old from the likes of Roy Acuff to newer (but still twangy!) tunes by the Hemphills and others... Pretty much the real deal.

The Plainsmen -- see artist profile

Garnetta Pollock & Johnnie Pollock "Mama's Bible" (Melody Records, 1978)
(Produced by William M. Jones)
Mrs. Garnetta Pollock (1941-2011) was an Ohio gal who sang with her father as part of an amateur musical act in the late 1940s and early '50s. She quit performing publicly after getting married at age fifteen(!) to Dixieland jazz bassist John Pollack, but eventually she persuaded him to switch from hot jazz to hillbilly country, and he backs her on this album. Mrs. Pollock had a super-rural, backwoods-y voice with Kentucky tonalities that Loretta Lynn fans will recognize in an instant; she might not have been the most robust singer ever, but she was definitely authentic. This all-gospel set had a decidedly rural feel, with songs by Ray Baker, J. D. Jarvis, Loretta Lynn and Dottie Rambo. Recorded at the Melody Sound Studio, in Hamilton, Ohio, it was an an all-local affair with backing by pianist Jack Arwood (an Ohio bandleader who was probably the "special guest" mentioned on the cover), Andy Eckman on pedal steel, Darell Jeffries (drums), Danny O'Boyle (harmonica), Johnnie Pollock (bass) and guitar picker David Sayler. Like many local country artists, music was mostly a side-note in Mrs. Pollock's life story: her obituary mentions her waitressing at the historic Golden Lamb restaurant, but not the fact that she recorded at least two full albums and a string of singles.

Jimmy Ponder "Every Drop Of Water" (J-Pond Music, 198-?) (CD)
Not to be confused with the funk-groove guitarist also named Jimmy Ponder, this much-mulleted country vocalist started out as a cast member of Wally Fowler's short-lived Music City Jubilee revue in Nashville, but moved to Branson, Missouri for a gig at Silver Dollar City. There he was part of some second-stage acts such as the Branson Brothers and Alabama Revival, a tribute band for the group Alabama. As far as I know, this gospel album, a cheaply packaged self-released CD, was his only release... If you're into the early '80s harmony vocals style (Oak Ridge Boys, et.al. and are looking for more obscure artists in the genre, you might enjoy this poppy, slick-sounding set.

Porter Hall, Tennessee "Satan On The Run" (Sheridan Records, 2008)

The (Singing) Post Family "The Family Bible" (Marathon Records, 19--?)
This family band consisted of patriarch Norman Post and three of his kids, siblings Debra, Joanne and Kenny Post, who hailed from Carrying Place, Ontario, east of Toronto, on the edge of Lake Ontario. The group was formed in 1967 and released several albums, mixing secular and gospel material, as well as recording a few strictly gospel disc. Both Debbie and Joanne Post took flings at (secular) solo careers, while brother Kenny seems to have done some session work and been in a few subsequent bands.

The Singing Post Family "Christmas Time In The Country" (Marathon Records, 1972)

Eldon Potts "The Ole Gospel Ship" (19--?) (LP)

Don Poythress "Wash Away" (Columbia-Integrity Records, 2009)
Honestly, this one seems like more of a pop-gospel album, but there is a little bit of steel guitar in there (I think...) and Ricky Skaggs sings on one song... So I suppose that makes it "country" enough...

Patsy Prescott "Songs From God" (1963-?) (LP)
A yodeling country gospel gal from East Saint Louis, Illinois, Patsy Prescott was born near Decatur, but spent much of her career as a radio star out in Arizona. Her professional career stretched back to the mid- 1940s when she was singing western material on the radio at least as early as 1945, when she was performing on station KVOA in Tucson, Arizona. In the early 'Fifties she cut a few singles for the Lariat label, recording with hillbilly guitarist Red Murrell as well as fronting a band called the Lariettes, covering stuff like "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" and "Pot Of Gold." Later on Ms. Prescott moved away from secular music into country gospel, and began operating in the same industry demimonde as other country old-timers such as Walter Bailes, who produced her second record, listed below. This album seems to have been self-released and features a lot of original material penned by Ms. Prescott. Indeed, the liner notes claim she wrote all the songs on this album, although some may be covers or re-workings of older tunes; included are gems such as "Will They Yodel Up In Heaven" "Yodeling Christian Cowgirl." Alas, there are no musician or producer credits; Prescott gives a home address in Bellville, Illinois, so this may have been an entirely local project. The liner notes detail her move from Phoenix, Arizona, where for eight years she had a slot on radio station KOY, a job she apparently left following her conversion to evangelical Christianity, and her sense that "the souls of many former friends she had known in show business" were in jeopardy -- and hers as well, unless she followed her religious calling. Discogs says this one came out in 1963, and though I'm not 100% sure about that early date, she does seem to have declared herself a strictly Christian artist by then.

Patsy Prescott "In Her Western Gospel Round-Up Time" (Loyal Recording Company, 1965-?) (LP)
(Produced by Walter Bailes)
I'm not sure when this album came out, but it seems to be of 1960s vintage. Worth noting: the liner notes are by label owner Walter Bailes, from the old-time brother duo The Bailes Brothers, one of the finest harmony vocal acts in country music history... His presence is a great recommendation for this album, if you ask me, as well as a list of some other releases on the label, which included a late-vintage offering by hillbilly hotshot Jimmy Murphy, a onetime Sun Records recording artist who also got religion and left show business behind... She was keeping some pretty cool company!

Patsy Prescott "Getting To Know Him" (Compassion Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Don Barnett)
This later album includes a label address in Phoenix, though it's not clear if Prescott had moved back to Arizona, or just went there to record. As on her other records, she sings and strums guitar, backed here by Katheryn T. Rabenold (piano) and Ezekiel Rodriguez (bass and lead guitar), with Ms. Rabenold adding glowing liner notes. Most of the songs are credited to Patsy Prescott, along with several public domain gospel numbers and covers of Bill Gaither's "He Touched Me" and John Stalling's "Learning To Lean."

Elvis Presley "Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings" (BMG Records, 2000)
The King recorded an awful lot of religious material... as this 3-CD set amply demonstrates!

Presleys' Mountain Music Jubilee "On Happy Day" (197--?) (LP)

Presleys' Mountain Music Jubilee "Rise Again" (197--?) (LP)

Ray Price "The Old Rugged Cross" (K-Tel Records, 1993)

Ray Price "Gospel" (K-Tel Records, 2003)

Ray Price "Faith" (Columbia Records, 1960)

Ray Price "This Time, Lord" (Myrrh Records, 1974) (LP)

Ray Price "How Great Thou Art" (Word Records, 1978) (LP)

Ray Price "Revival Of Old-Time Singing" (Step One Records, 1986)

Charley Pride "Did You Think To Pray?" (RCA Victor, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Jack Clement)
Earning two Grammys, this album was a winner for Pride and is still considered a gem by many fans... The churchy approach taken on many tracks -- with Pride crooning over an organ and vocal chorus -- may seem a bit antiquated, though, and even Southern Gospel fans may take a while to warm to the album. The set list is packed with 19th Century hymns, as well as a few modern country-gospel tunes that fit comfortably alongside the oldies. "Let Me Live," written by Ben Peters, won a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, and Ann J. Morton's "Time Out For Jesus" is an album highlight, taking familiar religious themes of devotion and sacrifice and giving them a clever new twist. (Note: the 2012 CD reissue includes a nice Chet Atkins-produced bonus track of "Wings Of A Dove," which compares nicely to the old Ferlin Husky hit.) For country gospel fans, this one's definitely worth a spin.

Charley Pride "Sunday Morning" (RCA Victor, 1976) (LP)

Charley Pride "Pride And Joy: A Gospel Music Collection" (Music City Records, 2006)

The Primitive Quartet "When Jesus Brings Sweet Glory Down" (1974)

The Primitive Quartet "He Is The Light" (19--?)

Princess Ramona "On The Wings Of A Dove" (Award Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Biff Collie)
This is the first LP from singer Ramona Kemp, the daughter of a Cherokee tribal leader from Oklahoma, and a darn good yodeler. Flamboyantly decked out in buckskin, feathers and beads, she played up her Native American heritage and was best known by her stage name, Princess Ramona, and made her recording debut in the early 1960s, releasing a couple of singles produced by her husband, Buddy Kemp. While she started out singing straight country and pop vocals, she shifted decisively into an all-gospel mode later in her career. Although this is considered her secular album, there's gospel material on here as well -- the secular tracks include Elton Britt's "Chime Bells" and (of course) "Indian Love Call." There are a couple of songs written by Buddy Kemp, "Let's Go Back" and "The Mountain" -- he also claims arranger credits on several other tracks. Unfortunately, Princess Ramona's career is often viewed through the irony-tinted lens of hipster record collectors to whom the catnippy combination of gospel music, yodeling and her exaggerated Native American image prove too great to resist. But she was a pretty good singer, and fans of yodeling music, in particular, might want to check her out.

Princess Ramona "Wait A Little Longer Please, Jesus" (Award Records, 19--?) (LP)

Princess Ramona & Buddy Kemp "Talk About Jesus" (Award Records, 197--?) (LP)
The liner notes on this early-Seventies album describe how Mrs. Kemp had a born-again religious conversion while working gigs in Southern California, and how Buddy Kemp sold his camping supply business, customized the large mobile home pictured on the cover, and how the couple set out to proselytize across the country and abroad. The album has a mailing address in Trail, Oregon, but apparently during this period, the Kemps were living out of their RV so they could engage in a musical ministry. Sure sounds hard!

Princess Ramona "Yodeling Praises Unto the Lord" (Award Records, 197--?) (LP)
Speaking of their mobile home, the Gospel Express, the Kemp's literally sing its praises in "This Motor Home Is In God's Hands," which is the album's closing number... Also featured are "God Put A Yodel In My Heart," "Jesus Put A Yodel In My Soul," and "Then I Started To Yodel," as well as "My Lord, My God, My King," which features a backing chorus by the Jordanaires... Also appearing on this album is harmony vocalist Laverna Moore, one of Nashville's more notable professional backup singers. (By the way, thanks to Matt of the CleanNiceQuiet music blog for providing some of the background info on Princess Ramona's colorful career...)

The Prophets "Love Like The Sun" (Heart Warming Records, 1966-?) (LP)
Based in Nashville, The Prophets Quartet recorded prolifically throughout the 1960s and early 'Seventies, and was part of the Gospel Singing Caravan package show, also appearing on several of the Caravan's commemorative albums. This edition of the group featured arrangements by pianist/composer Joe Moscheo, and vocals by Lew Garrison (tenor), Ed Hill (baritone), Dave Rogers (bass vocals), and Texas-born Jim Wesson as the new lead singer... Wesson had previously been a member of The Chuck Wagon Gang from 1963-67, and seems to have been with the Prophets only for this one album; Wesson later pursued a solo career, and released several albums of his own in the 'Seventies.

Wesley Putnam "The Gift" (Pure Love Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Don Caldwell)
The first record by a Lone Star truth-seeker and songwriter who at the time was the pastor of the United Methodist Church in Hale Center, Texas, and started his own evangelical ministry in 1981. This album is notable for its connection to Lubbock-based producer Don Caldwell, a central member of the Maines Brothers Band and owner of a local studio where he and Lloyd Maines worked on innumerable projects, including several private-press gospel albums. Though the musicians include a fair number of classical musicians -- playing flute, brass, oboe and whatnot -- there's some twang in there as well, with Lloyd Maines chiming in on lead guitar and steel, along with Donnie Maines on drums, Kenny Maines (bass), Bill Gammill (piano), Tim McCaslin (banjo), Jack Tyson (bass) and backup vocals by Terri Sue Caldwell and Gwen Angle (of the Angle Sisters.) Mr. Putnam made several other albums, though I'm not sure how "country" the rest of them may have been...

Wesley Putnam "A Brand New Start" (Pure Love Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Don Caldwell & Lloyd Maines)

Hick Music Index