Album Description
A collection of this nature can only exist in hindsight. “Gospel Funk” is a genre in the same way that deep soul or acid folk are, created by collectors and enthusiasts as a way to define a subsection of another genre. There aren’t any labels, artists, or producers that focused strictly on funky gospel music; rather, there were a couple hundred groups that had a funkier number in their repertoire. The Numero Group has spent the last year scouring LPs and 45s for tracks that fit this bill, and have collected 18 standouts from this newly minted genre. The album is a mix of primitive choirs, spacious breaks, congas, elderly rappers impersonating the devil, cast recordings, thumping bass, and JB impressionists, all with a heavy slathering of gospel gravy.Amazon.com
Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal is a sweet selection of African-American gospel with mostly obscure acts from the late 1960s and early 1970s. This is that era of gospel that gave us Andrea Crouch and the Disciples and the crossover hits from the Staple Singers. Decidedly well after gospel’s “Golden Age,” this was a time when black gospel–which of course was the primary influence on soul music–was in turn itself influenced by soul and funk. These selections are exceptionally funky, and if you’ve never heard Trevor Dandy, Voices of Conquest or Preacher and the Saints before, you’ll be more than glad when you have. This compilation might well steer neophytes toward the myriad pleasures of gospel, which remains America’s most neglected and misunderstood music and the roots for far more than it gets credit. Anyway, these jams just might have you praising the lord and shaking your behind at the same time. That’s the point, in case you missed it. –Mike McGonigal

Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal