John's Gospel Quartet, recorded for Starday in 1966, gathers the Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys for a set of a cappella and near-a cappella sacred pieces that draw from the deep well of shape-note and camp-meeting singing. The album's approach is austerely beautiful: voices moving in close, archaic harmonies with minimal instrumental adornment, connecting directly to the pre-commercial religious singing of the Appalachian mountains. "Uncloudy Day" and "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" are handled with a reverence that is neither performative nor sentimental. Released as Carter Stanley's health was declining, the album has the gravity of a document made under pressure of mortality.
Tracklist
- 1 Precious Memories alt version 2:49
- 2 This World is Not My Home alt version 2:36
- 3 Farther Along alt version 3:05
- 4 Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand Source Recording 2:05
- 5 Amazing Grace alt version 2:57
- 6 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms alt version 2:53
- 7 What a Friend We Have in Jesus alt version 3:33
- 8 Are You Washed in the Blood alt version 2:42
- 9 Rock of Ages alt version 2:52
- 10 Over in the Glory Land alt version 2:32
- 11 Lord I’m Coming Home alt version 2:04
- 12 Uncloudy Day Source Recording 1:59
- 13 I Am a Pilgrim alt version
- 14 I Saw the Light alt version
- 15 Just a Little Talk With Jesus alt version
- 16 Paul and Silas alt version
- 17 The Old Crossroads alt version
