When young John Cohen went to the home of Reverend Gary Davis in early 1953, Cohen could not have known the importance of the recordings he made. These historic recordings of the Reverend predate his seminal albums and feature Davis singing with his wife and another preacher, a rarity among Davis recordings. The 18 tracks provide a window into the world of this blind preacher caught between the blues and the church. Fans of Davis’s work will find theese recordings to be a revelation, as a full ten songs were never recorded again and cannot be heard elsewhere.
1 If I Had My Way
2 If the Lord Be for You
3 Twelve Gates to the City
4 You Got to Move
5 We Are the Heavenly Father’s Children
6 A Friend Like Lonely Jesus
7 Get Right Church
8 Marine Band
9 Shine on Me
10 There’s Destruction on This Land
11 He Stole Away
12 The Uncloudy Day
13 Say No to the Devil
14 Say to the Devil
15 I Belong to the Band
16 Give Me a Heart to Love
17 He Never Has Left Me Alone
18 Civil War Parade