Christians Catch Hell: Gospel Roots 1976-79 / Var

by Various Artists

In 1977 Henry Stone invited Thomas Spann down to Florida. Spann was founder and leader of The Brooklyn All Stars, one of the most celebrated gospel quartets in the US; Stone headed T.K. Records, the biggest independent record company in the world. The All Stars' contract with Jewel Records just happened to be ending. "He called me and asked me would I meet him in Miami," recalls Spann. "And I flew down to Miami, and I met him and we went to this place that sold all these motor homes. He said, 'Pick out one, pick you out one that you want.' And I did so. I drove it off the lot that same day. I didn't take a plane back. I drove that motor home back to North Carolina."Christians Catch Hell is a scorching, sublimely soulful survey of the Gospel Roots label, subsidiary of the mighty T.K. Records, at the height of the Miami Sound -- 1976-'79. Includes tracks by The Brooklyn All Stars, Pastor T. L. Barrett, Camille Doughty, The Howard Lemon Singers, The Fantastic Family Aires, Jean Austin & Company, The Jordan Singers, The Phillipians, The Fabulous Luckett Brothers, Bright Clouds, The O'Neal Twins, The Original Sunset Travelers, Reverend Edna Isaac and the Greene Sisters, and The Fountain of Life Joy Choir. Includes a glorious 40-page booklet containing thorough artist-interviews and rare photographs. Mastered at Abbey Road.