We have taken the text from “Chapter 7: Older Recordings (Pre-1977) of Traditional Singers Reissued on CDs and Internet” found on Steven L. Sabol’s terrific internet resource, and I have inserted the appropriate YouTube videos of the albums he describes.
We have appended the track listing provided by Jeramiah Ledbetter, who uploaded the videos into a playlist.
LPs issued by the Sacred Harp Publishing Co.
Recordings from 1965-1975 by the Sacred Harp Publishing Co. currently on YouTube. An historic series of LP record albums were produced by the Sacred Harp Publishing Co. from 1965 through 1975. Five out of the six original LP recordings featured a select group of the finest traditional Sacred Harpers, many now deceased, singing representative songs in a studio under the direction of Hugh McGraw. Although these were not the first recordings of Sacred Harp singing, Buell Cobb points out that they “stand above the rest in scope and consistency.” The six LP albums were numbered 101-106. In the early 2000s, they were combined into three compact discs (and three cassette tapes) by Morning Trumpet Recordings headed by Ted Mercer and Richard DeLong. Extensive sound restoration and digital remastering were performed. The CDs featured liner notes written by Buell Cobb and graphics by Lisa Grayson. However, when the CDs were sold out, reprinting was not done and Morning Trumpet ceased operation. Hopefully the CDs will be reissued somehow in the future. In the meantime, the original LP recordings have been placed by Sacred Harp singer Jeremiah Ledbetter on his YouTube channel. Photos of the back sides of the LP record jackets are also provided. The recordings are as follows:
Vol. 101: “Original Sacred Harp Singing in Traditional Style” presents 13 tunes.
143 Pleyel’s Hymn 00:00 218 Mount Pleasant 02:44 85 The Morning Trumpet 05:43 532 Peace And Joy 07:24 268 David’s Lamentation 94 Never Part 12:53 146 Hallelujah 15:59 455 Soar Away 18:30 144 Jubilee 21:47 171 Exhortation 23:51 329 Vain World, Adieu 25:49 274t The Golden Harp 27:57 120 Chambers 29:59
Vol. 102: “Fa Sol La Music Album Sung in Traditional Style by Sacred Harp Singers of the Southland” presents 15 tunes. Volumes 101 and 102 (28 songs) were combined and reissued as a CD in 1990 by Bibletone listed on Amazon.com. The entire Bibletone album and individual tracks are also on YouTube.
45t New Britain – 0:00 36b Ninety-Fifth – 2:30 410 The Dying Californian – 4:50 235b Long Sought Home – 6:52 147t Boylston – 9:54 420 Bishop – 13:20 149 The Trumpet – 15:09 282 I’m Going Home – 18:28 358 Murillo’s Lesson – 20:25 129 Heavenly Armor – 22:53 186 Sherburne – 24:58 161 Sweet Home – 26:45 294 Rocky Road – 29:56 122 All is Well – 32:53 62 Parting Hand – 35:15
Vol. 103: “Sacred Harp at the Old Country Church” presents 15 tunes.
64 Nashville – 0:00 40 Lenox – 1:48 99 Gospel Trumpet – 3:39 445b Passing Away – 5:56 460 Sardis – 8:05 569b Sacred Throne – 9:55 288 White – 11:49 213t The Good Old Way – 14:29 392 Manchester – 16:50 126 Babel’s Streams – 19:07 326 Weary Pilgrim – 20:33 236 Easter Anthem – 23:26 290 Victoria – 26:15 512 The Spirit Shall Return – 29:07 388 The Happy Sailor – 31:49
Vol. 104: “Sacred Harp Singing with Dinner on the Ground” presents 16 tunes.
283 Sabbath Morning – 0:00 318 Present Joys – 2:14 500 Living Hope – 4:35 373 Homeward Bound – 6:52 432 Cheves – 8:34 365 Southwell – 10:23 328 Praise God – 13:34 68B Ortonville – 15:30 75 I Would See Jesus – 17:37 39b Sharpsburg – 19:19 128 The Promised Land – 20:45 101t Canaan’s Land – 22:17 361 Loving Jesus – 24:10 422 Burdette – 26:05 523b Pleyel’s Hymn – 27:38 506 The Ark – 29:27
Vol. 105: “Fa-Sol-La Is Here to Stay” presents 15 tunes, mostly of Southern origin, including ones by A.M. Cagle and Ruth Denson Edwards, who headed the company at that time and sang in the group.
63 Coronation – 0:00 192 Schenectady – 2:03 462 Faith and Hope – 4:20 316 New Hope – 7:00 77t The Child of Grace – 8:58 70t Gainesville – 11:06 57 Christian Soldier – 13:01 394 The Messiah’s Praise – 15:13 446 Infinite Day – 17:15 45t New Britain – 19:16 314 Cleburne – 21:46 543 Thou Art God – 23:45 383 Eternal Day – 26:17 528 Showers of Blessing – 29:16 518 Heavenly Anthem – 31:39
Vol. 106: “Sacred Harp Bicentennial Celebration” presents 14 tunes. It was issued in 1975-76 at the time of the U.S. Bicentennial and thus fourteen popular New England tunes and anthems, including five each by Billings and Read. CHESTER is sung with Billings’ original patriotic words. The singing on the this recording is generally very strong because of the larger number of singers at this “open” singing.
36b Windham – 0:00 107 Russia – 1:55 186 Sherburne – 3:17 280 Westford – 5:12 300 Calvary – 7:05 137 Liberty – 9:04 220 Mount Zion – 10:50 299 New Jerusalem – 12:28 155 Northfield – 14:21 91 Assurance – 15:39 236 Easter Anthem – 17:05 268 David’s Lamentation – 19:50 479 Chester – 22:20 254 Rose of Sharon – 23:58