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Country's 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century |
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| 2004-05-03 | ||
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COUNTRY’S 20 CLASSIC GOSPEL SONGS OF THE CENTURY
Nashville, TN - April 20, 2004...Two of the most historical genres of music band together as New Haven Records joins the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum to release The Country Music Hall of Fame Presents Country’s 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century on Tuesday, May 4, 2004. Country music’s debt to gospel music is incalculable. Gospel’s forms and themes have helped shape the singers and writers of secular country music, and many of country’s classic performers first sang in church settings. Country’s 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century brings together many of the most important examples of that connection. The singers represented here—from the original Carter Family through Hank Williams and Elvis Presley to Vince Gill and Alison Krauss—are known primarily as secular entertainers, but nearly all have made important gospel recordings. In terms of both artists and songs, this CD is a true best-of collection. Country’s 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century is the third in New Haven Records’ Songs of the Century series, following Southern Gospel’s Top 20 Songs of the Century (Volumes 1 and 2) and Gospel’s Top 20 Songs of the Century. The latest volume represents a partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville’s revered repository of country music history and memorabilia. Museum personnel joined New Haven in judiciously selecting the final artists and songs. Prior to consulting the Museum, New Haven had polled many classic and traditional country radio disk jockeys and program directors to find out their listeners’ most-requested recordings. Museum staff provided historical information and photographs, and, Museum Senior Historian John Rumble contributed the comprehensive liner notes. The staff was, says Rumble, mining rich veins. “It wasn’t really that hard to come up with great performances and great songs,” he says. “The hard part was deciding which 20 we were going to present.” “This collection,” adds Ken Harding, New Haven founder and president, “was a natural collaboration with the Museum, and I couldn’t be happier about how it turned out. It’s a project sure to be embraced by gospel fans and country fans alike.” Kyle Young, Director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum says, "We're excited about this album, and we're delighted to be partnering with New Haven Records. Projects like this are one way the Museum fulfills its mission of preserving the history and traditions of country music and related musical styles rooted in southern culture. This album also allows us to make parts of our collection available to the public beyond the walls of the Museum." The oldest is the Carter Family’s 1935 classic "Can the Circle Be Unbroken," which remains one of the most frequently performed gospel songs in both gospel and country settings. It shows that in the earliest sessions deemed part of the country canon, gospel music was an important part of the mix.
The mid-century--when sacred and secular music mixed
frequently on stage and on record--is represented by Hank Williams and Red
Foley. Williams was heavily influenced by gospel, and his country and
gospel performances speak volumes about the close relationship between the two
traditions. His timeless "I Saw the Light" is included here, as is Foley’s Top
Five hit “Peace in the Valley,” recorded with the Several of the project’s songs come from the late 1950s. The Stanley Brothers "Angel Band," released in 1958, is a stellar example of mountain gospel. It was re-released in 2000 as part of the multi-platinum O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Tennessee Ernie Ford, known for highly popular work in country, pop, and gospel, contributes “The Old Rugged Cross,” and Jim Reeves, one of the era’s smoothest balladeers, is represented by “In the Garden.” Known primarily for her pop-influenced country hits and spectacular voice, Patsy Cline is included here singing the 19th century song, "Life’s Railway to Heaven," one of only two gospel songs she ever recorded. The 1960s are also represented by Ferlin Husky’s 1960 #1 smash "Wings of a Dove," which became a pop hit as well; "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)," which brings Johnny Cash together with the Carter Family in a 1962 recording; Connie Smith’s powerful "How Great Thou Art"; and Elvis Presley’s justly popular “Crying in the Chapel." Presley, arguably the century’s most revered and important popular music figure, is well known for his deep and lifelong love of sacred music, providing one of the strongest examples of the confluence of the genres. Merle Haggard’s "Precious Lord, Take My Hand/Jesus Hold My Hand” medley, performed live with the Carter’s during a church service, is one of a trio of songs by legendary artists in the 1970s. Dolly Parton’s poignant and uplifting “Coat of Many Colors” and Willie Nelson’s stellar version of “Uncloudy Day” were both Top Five country hits, the former in 1971, the latter in 1976. The Statler Brothers, long part of Johnny Cash’s touring ensemble, contribute their version of perhaps the single best-known Christian song ever written—“Amazing Grace,” recorded in 1984. Tammy Wynette, the “first lady” of late-20th century country singing, drew on her own gospel background with a 1987 recording of “Precious Memories.” Ricky Skaggs was joined by the Whites for a 1983 version of “Children Go (Where I Send Thee),” and Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, who joined forces in the 1980s, dipped into the gospel field with their 1987 recording of “Farther Along.” The CD’s latest recordings are its opening songs. Alison Krauss is represented by “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” from a Grammy winning 1994 collaboration with the Cox Family, and Vince Gill by his Grammy winning tribute to his brother and Keith Whitley, the emotional “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” Both show the continuing intermingling of country and gospel music, a trend which is moving comfortably into the 21st century. Former Word Entertainment executive Ken Harding formed New Haven Records in 1990; it is distributed by Provident Distribution and BMG Distribution. Its catalog includes Chicago Mass Choir, Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites, Lemmie Battles, Kevin Davidson and the Voices, and Christian country artist Susie Luchsinger, among others, and its compilation catalog includes the Gospel Legacy Series, featuring the Goodmans, the Rambos, the Kingsmen, and Vestal Goodman. The Songs of the Century Series took shape in 2000. Southern Gospel’s Top 20 Songs of the Century has been on SoundScan for over 200 weeks, and Gospel’s Top 20 Songs of the Century has sold more than 200,000 units. Country’s 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century can be purchased in retail stores nationwide. Accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. It is operated by the Country Music Foundation; a not-for-profit 50l(c) 3 educational organization chartered by the State of Tennessee is 1964. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the Museum’s Frist Library and Archive, the CMF Press, historic RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print. Portions of the royalties from this project are being donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. www.newhavenrecords.com www.countrymusichalloffame.com PRESS CONTACTS Schatzi Hageman , Hot Schatz PR (615) 782-0078 (Country/Mainstream Media) Lesley Bates, L.A.B. Media, (615) 321-6400, ext. 502 (Christian Media) |
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