Chicago-based radio host and Gospel journeyman Gregory Gay pulls from the fascinating and extensive history of Gospel music to present Take Me Back, a regularly-appearing column on GOSPELflava.com that examines the glory of Gospel music in days gone by. Andrae Crouch — Take Me Back March 2, 2006 Well, it’s 2006 —and thanks to everyone who will remind me that I am a month late. With the new year comes an onslaught of new releases, some worth waiting for and others, well, time will tell. Quite naturally, there are diehards like myself who are waiting with baited breath to see when Verity (or whatever name they go by since their ‘marriage’ to GospoCentric) will finally release the latest offering from Gospel music legend Andrae Crouch. I thought a reminisce of Andrae’s works would encourage them to get a move on, so after you have finished reading this, please send them an email and ask them how long they expect us to wait. Andrae Crouch. The name will go down in history as one of Gospel’s greatest songwriters. My personal reference to Andrae Crouch is that he wrote the new hymnbook of the modern day church. If you weren’t singing hymns in the late 60s and 70s, you were more than likely singing music from the Andrae Crouch songbook. Now, for a historical overview, you can consult Bil Carpenter’s Gospel Music Encyclopedia, in addition to various other sources, and find a wealth of information on Brother Andrae. My position is to inform you of stuff you might not know and bring back to your remembrance things about Andrae and his music that you probably have forgotten over the years. Let’s start at the beginning. Did you know Andrae’s middle name is Edward? (Who would have thought? He doesn’t look like an Edward to me). Of course, I am sure the WORLD knows that Andrae and Sandra (whose middle name is Elaine) are twins (he made it perfectly clear when he introduced Sandra on her first LP, We Sing Praises). Andrae accepted Jesus at the age of nine. Around the same time, his dad was called to pastor a Church of God in Christ church in San Fernando Valley, California (30 miles outside of L.A.). Like many COGIC children before and after them, Andrae, Sandra and their elder brother Benjamin were indoctrinated in the ways of the church. Andrae’s parents prayed over him that he would receive an anointing so that they would have a piano player for their church services. God honored the Crouch’s prayer request and Andrae began to play the piano. According to the liner notes written by his mom on the Just Andrae LP, Sandra began to play as well. (Her instrument of choice was the pie pan. In later years, she would be an in-demand percussionist playing tambourine on sessions for Diana Ross and others). Interview: Andrae Crouch (2004) You know what, my father used to always tell us to wear compliments and to wear what the press says about you, loosely. The Bible tells us not to think more highly about ourselves than what we really are. I still feel like I’m the same guy. And I'm.... See full Interview with Andrae Crouch. Andrae went on to form his first group, which was named the COGICS (Church of God in Christ Singers) with a roster that included Sandra and Billy Preston. Preston would go on to make a name for himself both as a singer and a player, in and outside of the church. Included on his resume is work for Rev. James Cleveland as well as The Beatles). At the age of 14, Andrae wrote one of his best-known compositions, “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” (saints quicken here) for the junior choir at his father’s church. The young people were in amazement because the song had so much depth. They couldn’t understand “it soothes my doubts and calms my fears” and couldn’t fathom that Andrae wrote it (I think I would have to side with them). They told him they didn’t like the song and didn’t want to sing it. (Personal note: Andrae, you can write a song for me ANYTIME). So Andrae made a mental note not to tell them which songs he wrote until they liked them. Little did they know this song would impact the masses for years to come. Andrae never had thoughts of being a traveling Gospel singer. He had seen and heard the Gospel groups of the day (The Caravans, The Ward Singers, The Davis Sisters) and didn’t think their style of would reach the “unchurched” and generation of teenagers. He wanted to do music that his generation would be able to understand and could relate to. In 1965, he formed The Disciples. The group was made up of himself, Perry Morgan and Billy Thedford (both of whom he had had led to Christ). The Disciples came to the attention of Light Records head honcho Ralph Carmichael. Both Ralph and Andrae shared the same vision smaking music that would get the message of Jesus Christ to young people. In 1969, Andrae Crouch and The Disciples debuted with Take The Message Everywhere. The album featured “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, “The Broken Vessel” (a song later popularized by The O’Neal Twins) and Billy Thedford covering Thomas Dorsey’s “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”. In the early days, the group traveled by van, and sing and sell records after their performances. Their second LP, Keep On Singing, gave us the first recording of “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)”, “I Don’t Know Why Jesus Loved Me”, “Take A Little Time” and featured a teenage Tramaine Davis (later to be known as Tramaine Hawkins after her marriage to Walter Hawkins —and yeah, and the world is really small) in a duet with Billy Thedford on “Coming Home”. Sandra had also become a member of the group. Soulfully was the next LP released and The Disciples were in full swing taking the message everywhere including appearances at The Hollywood Bowl as well as on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. In 1972, Andrae Crouch and The Disciples recorded live before a sold-out audience at New York’s famous Carnegie Hall. The night of the recording there were 1500 people that couldn’t get in to the venue, so they put them in a church across the street from the concert hall. Not wanting to disappoint them, Andrae and the Disciples went and performed a full concert at the church before going on at Carnegie Hall (talk about dedication!). Just Andrae, the fourth album (no Disciples on this one) gave us the memorable “Bless His Holy Name (Psalm 103:1)” and “If Heaven Was Never Promised to Me”. My Godsister and fellow Howard alum, Valencia, offers this scenario: “Imagine us getting to heaven and God assembling the heavenly choir. We begin to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and break out into the chorus of Andrae Crouch's “Bless The Lord”. The praise begins to swell, and all of a sudden, King David, the hymn writer, stops us suddenly and says , ‘Wow, I wrote that song with the same melody that you all are singing now.’ Hey, it can happen, and wouldn't it be wonderful!” During these years, the Disciples saw various members come and go. In 1974, Light Records released Take Me Back, featuring the incomparable Danniebelle Hall (read tribute) leading the title track and Bill Maxwell on drums. It was this album that would garner Andrae his first Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance in 1975. (Hey, did anyone note the name of this column, ahhhhh what a coincidence!!!!) He would go on to win 6 more. I can vividly remember spending hours around the turntable listening to these records. My sister Donna sang every female lead when we were coming up. She started off being Danniebelle on "Take Me Back", but that would soon give way to her assuming the role of Tramaine on Love Alive’s “Going Up Yonder”. She would end up being Tramaine for a number of years. The string of hits continued with the release of This is Another Day in 1976 with songs such as “Soon and Very Soon”, “We Expect You” and “Perfect Peace”. This Is Another Day was the first of Andrae’s albums to feature jazz pianist Joe Sample. The title song on that album was inspired by Andrae’s hearing the older saints in his dad’s church singing the standard, “Just Another Day That The Lord Has Kept Me”. Andrae paid homage to his upbringing by letting one of the church mothers and his church choir do a reprise on “Soon and Very Soon”. In 1978, Andrae and the Disciples took the Gospel overseas and recorded Live in London, which won Andrae his second Grammy. In 1979, he introduced the world to the phenomenal talents of Krystle Murden and Howard Smith on the album I’ll Be Thinking of You. The title cut featured a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey did guest vocals on “I’ve Got The Best”. The album peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Chart and won Grammy #3 for Andrae. In addition to singing, songwriting and traveling the country, Andrae Crouch found time to introduce the world to other Gospel groups. It was at Andrae’s insistence that Ralph Carmichael signed Walter Hawkins, giving us the very first Love Alive LP (with Andrae even writing the liner notes for the album). Andrae produced projects for fellow group members Danniebelle, Krystle Murden and Howard Smith in addition to pushing his sister Sandra to record three choir projects, two for Light Records and one for Sparrow. Not to be missed in this list of production credits are four brothers from Detroit who would help to change the face of contemporary Gospel —The Winans. Andrae Crouch’s gift of music made room for him again, allowing him opportunities to work with the likes of Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, and Elton John. Who can forget the rousing rendition of “Maybe God’s Trying To Tell You Something” from The Color Purple (featuring Tata Vega on lead), or the theme from the NBC sitcom Amen, featuring Sherman Hemsley and Clifton Davis. Andrae Crouch is a great collaborator, so it should come as no surprise that he and Donald Lawrence worked together to deliver the “Prayer of Jabez/Bless Me” from The Tri-City Singer's Go Get Your Life Back album, released in 2002 on EMI Gospel. In 2004, Andrae Crouch was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and both he and Sandra went on to assume co pastoral assignments at Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ following the death of their parents and brother Benjamin. We’re quite a ways away from the final chapter in the Crouch saga, as Andrae and Sandra continue to bless us with life changing music. In closing my tribute to Andrae and his music I must add this: “To God Be The Glory” for the things he has done and continues to do. We wait for more. The Covers of Andrae Crouch Music Several musical acts and solo performers covered (i.e., made recordings of) his more popular works, further expanding Crouch's musical influence. Here are some noteworthy performances that are worth checking out and adding to your collection. “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” West Angeles COGIC Saints in Praise Vol 3 Sparrow Records Some standards are priceless as they are; this is not the case here. It should be duly noted that Clyde Shofield gives this song everything he has during the “blood medley” on this gem from the Saints in Praise collection. On the live version of “As Long as Your Blood Was Red”, the singers break out into the chorus with Yolanda Adams ad libbing. I am convinced that the shout that ensued afterwards was induced more by the singing of “The Blood” “I Don’t Know Why (Jesus Loved Me)” Kim Burrell Keeping It Real Tommy Boy Gospel This song was featured on a compilation album from Tommy Boy Gospel before they went under as well as on Kim Burrell’s first solo album that was released independently. Here, Kim puts a totally different spin on the classic, and arent we glad that she did. “You Don’t Have To Jump No Pews” Men of Standard Men of Standard Muscle Shoals Gospel What makes this song special is the sampling at the beginning. If you listen real closely, you will note a 10 second bump sequence courtesy of the Church of God In Christ International Mass Choir 1978 double album, Because He Lives. “We Expect You” Donnie McClurkin Donnie McClurkin Warner Alliance OK, hearing Donnie sing the song makes me wonder where was he when This Is Another Day was recorded. Its as if the song was written for him. “This Is Another Day” Take Six, Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch Warner Alliance Just when you thought nothing else could be done, Take Six adds their unique seal to the song. Their syncopated delivery and tight harmonies makes this one a keeper. “It Won’t Be Long” The Winans Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch Warner Alliance Here the students pay homage to the teacher and what a nice job they do. “Right Now” Donald Lawrence I Speak Life Verity Now, Tata Vega is a hard act to follow, but Blanche (whatever her last name is) holds her own. “We Are Not Ashamed” Karen Clark Sheard with Mary Mary The Heavens Are Telling Elektra The singing is superb (as of course it would be), but extra credit goes to Donald Lawrence for studying Andrae Crouch enough to know how to position the background singers for the classic Crouch sound. Honorable Mentions: “I'll Be Thinking of You” Ted and Sheri The Healing Starts Right Here Church Howse Music “There's No Hatred” Natalie Wilson and SOP The Good Life GospoCentric “Jesus Is Lord” Anointed Now Is The Time Sony Gospel “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)” Various Artists Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch Warner Alliance “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” Kirk Franklin The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin GospoCentric “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)” Danniebelle Hall Live in Sweden with Choralena Sparrow Email This To A Friend — column by Gregory Gay — March 2, 2006 Check out this column's archives here: Column Archives All content in GOSPELflava.com © copyright 1997 - 2006. No information to be reprinted or re-broadcast from this site without the expressed written consent of GOSPELflava.com. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in GOSPELflava.com columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of GOSPELflava.com