A Message From The Ghetto

The Sons Of Truth: Close To Him and I Don't Know Where We're Headed
From: A Message From The Ghetto [Ghetto Truth, 1972]

Hooray it's Christmas week! Actually, I won't bother trying to lie to you, I pretty much detest Christmas and all the stress that goes with it. However, to try and get more in the mood of the celebration of baby Jesus' birthday I present for you some gospel funk.

When performed with love, religious music of any persuasion (be it Gospel/Sufi Soul/Rastafarian/Whatever) has the ability to evoke feelings of a quasi-spiritual nature in even the most devout atheist. Released on the Stax subsidiary label Ghetto Truth, The Sons Of Truth's album Message From The Ghetto is a striking example of gospel music at it's funkiest.

Close To Him is a beautiful slow burner of a track, the raw feeling and love of the vocals laid over an understated organ and drums. When the background harmonies finally come in adding a grandeur to the track it's enough to give me shivers. The ideal song to put on your headphones when you're surrounded by the hubbub of Xmas shoppers.

I Don't Know Where We're Headed is a song more recognisably from the Stax catalogue with a funky riff and tinkling piano accompaniment. Slightly reminiscent of the Temptations seventies output the track even features a drums and bass breakdown into an extended jam. I don't know anything about the lead vocalist but his voice is superb, crafting a mood of celebration over the funky riff.

Gospel records are still not heavily sought after so you should be able to pick up an original of this pretty cheap at the moment, don't miss out.