Month: November 2016

Although this website focuses on the pre-1970 years, exceptions are being made in a few cases. Ruby Hooks’ sole album called “The Devil Can Do Me No Harm” (c. 1979) is such an exception and it has been available as a CD-r (and download) through my old website for a long time. It’s offered on bless-this-soul as well. If you’re interested, check the for sale page.

The album features a fine bluesy gospel style and I have always been charmed by Ruby Hooks’ voice, which is expressive and somewhat melancholic. From the photo on the front cover of the album it seems that she was pretty young when she recorded this album and one may wonder what became of her and her vocal abilities in the years that followed. As no follow-up is known to exist, we can only guess. I hope some day additional information will become available.

Click on the album cover below for more album details (scans, song listing and a song to listen to).

Every now and then an unknown Gospel Recording Co. issue shows up on the internet, mostly on eBay. I recently found this LP by the Young People’s Holy Association District Choir, titled “I Won’t Turn My Back On God”. The album, from c. 1967, seems to be undocumented, so it’s a nice addition to the label’s discography. The choir came from the YPHA (Young People’s Holy Association), which was part of the United Holy Church of America and located in Eastern New York. The back cover sketches the history of the church and the choir; the choir was organized in 1952 by Miss Olive Rochell and Mr. Joseph Chavis.

In the last few days I’ve been busy with images for the Gospel Recording Co. label; I scanned the 45’s I own and collected and worked on the images I had on file. Some were left out as they didn’t meet my quality standards and I still have added images that I hope to replace some day. They are good enough for now. So far I’ve only added a few LP scans for the Gospel Recording Co. label. More scans will follow later as I’m concentrating on adding scans of 45’s and 78’s to the discographies first, although I will occasionally add LP images as well.

I’ve been busy with work and other things, so I spent less time on the website, which is a shame. However, in the passed few days I added several Gospel Corner scans (most came from Per Notini) and I started with the Gospel Recording Co. label.