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S e s s i o n A p r i l 1 6 , 1 9 5 4
For the first time in Chuck Wagon Gang history, they recorded a song written by
G.T. 'Dad' Speer of the famous Speer Family:
I Want To Be Ready To Meet Him
. The
Speer Family worked many dates with the Gang, who would later record more Dad
Speer songs. From the very first note of the guitar strum on this song, a new sound
is very evident. With Howard's fluid style of rhythm guitar playing mixed with the
sound of the electric guitar and Roy's bass singing, the group's sound seemed to
adapt to a slightly smoother texture. This recording session is a fine example of
the transition of the Chuck Wagon Gang into the sound that the group would have
for years to come.
This session is full of excellent material.
I've A Precious Friend
is one of Anna's best
performances of this time period. It's interesting to note that the chorus contains
a long tenor solo:
"When the clouds hang low or when skies are fair."
The tenor very
rarely has solos of this length in four-part mixed quartet gospel arrangements.
Though Dad is singing tenor on this recording, Roy is actually the one who sings
this line. In later years, Roy recalled that Dad asked him to sing the line, because
he was somewhat hoarse that day.
Another song recorded by several groups,
I'll Shout And Shine
, was recorded in this
session. Although the song was never a big hit, C
OLUMBIA
R
ECORDS
chose the song as
a gold record for the Gang in observance of their 20
th
Anniversary on C
OLUMBIA
.
The award was presented to the Chuck Wagon Gang in September, 1955, near the
time of Dad Carter's retirement from active participation with the group.
In My
New Home
is a very lively composition that is one of the lesser known of the Chuck
Wagon Gang's repertoire. Roy does some fine bass singing on this, his only bass
feature of the session, and Dad gets a quick exhortation with
"Praise Jesus!"
C. Austin
Miles' great hymn of the Church,
In The Garden
, features Rose and Anna in their
first gospel duet on record.
After Awhile
features Rose doing some great high singing
in the chorus. In V.B. 'Vep' Ellis' popular spiritual,
Joshua Led God's Children
, Rose is
the featured soloist in the verses, with humming behind her, and the bass doing
the "boom boom booms" as written in the music. Anna takes over the chorus pow-
erfully, with a quick line by Roy also.
45
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
4-21293
78
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
21338
78
RPM
single C
OLUMBIA
21293
7” 45
RPM
EP C
OLUMBIA
B 2816
7” 45
RPM
EP C
OLUMBIA
B 2815