Mighty Clouds of Joy – The Very Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy

Description

The Very Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy is a double LP compilation album by the American gospel group the The Mighty Clouds of Joy, released on ABC Records in 1978.

Album Liner Notes

The Mighty Clouds Of Joy need no elaborate introduction, having been around for such a long time. They began their career some twenty years ago with Don Roby’s Peacock Records in Houston, Texas. The group has stayed together since that time; however, Ermet Franklin, who did much of the writing for the group, is no longer a member though he remains very close to them.

This collection affords us the opportunity to go back in time to their first LP on Peacock Records. From this initial offering, FAMILY CIRCLE, which was a traditional gospel album, we move to their first album on Dunhill Records, TIME, which launched their appeal to Pop/R&B audiences and we then move on to their latest release on ABC Records, LIVE AND DIRECT, which gives us a blend of both the traditional gospel and Pop/R&B sound.

Compiling this LP was no simple task as there were so many selections from which to choose. In this collection you’ll find songs like “Family Circle,” “He’s Able,” “God Bless America,” and “Did You Stop To Pray.” As a bonus, included are two previously unreleased selections recorded during the earlier potion of their career with Peacock Records; the standard “It’s No Secret” (which I felt was well-performed and deserved to be included here) and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gonna Come” (a forerunner to the Pop sound we enjoy today).

The Clouds are completely at home singing wherever they may be: small backwoods church or cathedral, concert hall, theatre or plush nightclub. Whenever they perform, they always give 100% of themselves. Joe Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace, and Elmo Franklin are the voices that we know currently as the Mighty Clouds Of Joy. They sing with assurance… and they perform with class.

– Sonny Carter [Note printed on the back of the LP sleeve]

2LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Family Circle” – 2:50
A2. “A Friend In Jesus” – 2:35
A3. “A Child Of The King” – 2:34
A4. “He’s Able” – 3:15
A5. “God Bless America” – 2:32

Side Two
B1. “It’s No Secret” – 2:30
B2. “Did You Stop To Pray This Morning” – 2:41
B3. “Twelve Gates” – 2:47
B4. “How Far Have I Strayed” – 2:30
B5. “A Change Gonna Come” – 2:25

Side Three
C1. “Time” – 3:12
C2. “I’ve Got The Music In Me” – 4:02
C3. “Mighty High” – 4:31
C4. “Where Is Your Faith” – 4:35
C5. “Look On The Bright Side” – 5:00

Side Four
D1. “God Is Not Dead” – 4:42
D2. “I Came To Jesus” – 5:24
D3. “Mighty Cloud Of Joy” – 4:03
D4. “The Master Plan” – 3:57
D5. “Shout” – 5:17