Before “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue” catapulted them into the mainstream of commercial country and pop, The Oak Ridge Boys paid their dues as both recording artists and popular live performers.  The band’s history was a long one, with the original Oak Ridge Quartet dating back to the 1940s.  But the birth of The Oak Ridge Boys, as we know the group, really took place in 1973 at Columbia Records.  That was when Joe Bonsall joined Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban to complete the foursome that still packs houses today.  The Oak Ridge Boys recorded three albums for Columbia between 1973 and 1976, dipping their toes into pop, rock, R&B, and mainstream country for the first time while still fully embracing the group’s deeply-rooted gospel heritage.  Shockingly, none of these albums have ever been released on CD anywhere in the world…but that’s going to be rectified TOMORROW, March 2!  This special release arrives just two weeks before the Boys drop their latest, highly-anticipated new LP, 17th Avenue Revival, a return to their gospel roots as well as to the early days of rock and roll.

When I Sing for Him: The Complete Columbia Recordings and RCA Singles is the first comprehensive anthology of this lost period of Oak Ridge Boys history – and that’s not all.  This 2-CD, 49-song collection boasts the group’s complete Columbia albums The Oak Ridge Boys, Sky High, and Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin’, Foot Stompin’, Southern Style, Gospel Quartet Music, plus all of their period Columbia non-LP singles, and songs that only appeared on compilations.  When I Sing for Him includes the Grammy-winning “The Baptism of Jesse Taylor” as well as homespun renditions of classics by Allen Toussaint, Paul Simon, Larry Gatlin, Kris Kristofferson, Dallas Frazier, David Allan Coe, Porter Wagoner, and Johnny Cash.  The Man in Black even appears on two tracks here, leading the group on his stirring “No Earthly Good” and as a special bonus, Cash’s own single “Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup” – the Oaks’ first chart entry and debut on Columbia Records.  Motown legend Janie Bradford’s award-winning “Plant a Seed” is just one of the numerous, unexpected treats here.

As an added treat, the Oaks’ Columbia years are joined by every single from their 1990-1993 tenure at RCA Records, during the time in which Steve Sanders had replaced William Lee Golden.  At RCA, the Oaks moved further into country-pop, even covering The Righteous Brothers’ “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” in their own inimitable style.  Every one of the Oaks’ RCA A-sides hit the charts, making this another key chapter in their rich legacy.  This comprehensive collection brings the group full circle to their gospel roots with a rousing, harmony-rich version of “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”

Vic Anesini has remastered every track at Sony’s Battery Studios from the original tapes, and I’ve supplied the new liner notes.  Throughout their career and continuing through 17th Avenue Revival, The Oak Ridge Boys have never stopped singing for Him.  Now, with When I Sing for Him: The Complete Columbia Recordings and RCA Singles, some of their rarest and most significant music is finally available again for you.  Look for this very special set from country’s enduring superstars TOMORROW from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music.  You’ll find pre-order links below!

The Oak Ridge Boys, When I Sing for Him: The Complete Columbia Recordings and RCA Singles (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music RGM-0686, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. The Baptism of Jesse Taylor
2. You Happened to Me
3. Why Me
4. Loves Me Like a Rock
5. He’s Gonna Smile on Me
6. Put Your Arms Around Me, Blessed Jesus
7. He
8. What a Time We Will Have Over There
9. Give Me a Star
10. Rhythm Guitar
11. Sailing Toward Home
12. Nobody Special
13. We Gotta Love One Another
14. When I Sing for Him
15. Plant a Seed
16. There Must Be a Better Way
17. That’s Just Like Jesus
18. I Just Want to Help You Be Free
19. Mighty Fine
20. Heaven Bound
21. Look Away Mama
22. Bringing It Back
23. Joy Comes in the Morning
24. Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup – Johnny Cash with The Carter Family and The Oak Ridge Boys

CD 2

1. Lord I’ve Been Ready for Years
2. No Earthly Good
3. Jesus Knows Who I Am
4. The Same Old-Fashioned Way
5. I’m Winding My Way Back Home
6. Where the Soul Never Dies
7. It’s Been Done
8. Doctor God
9. Jesus Was There
10. Last Train to Glory
11. Family Reunion
12. Don’t Be Late
13. All Our Favorite Songs
14. Whoever Finds This, I Love You
15. (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration
16. Lucky Moon
17. Walkin’ After Midnight
18. Change My Mind
19. Our Love is Here to Stay
20. Baby On Board
21. When It Comes to You
22. Fall
23. Until You’re Back in My Arms Again
24. Go Tell It on the Mountain

CD 1, Tracks 1-10 from The Oak Ridge Boys, Columbia LP KC 32742, 1974
CD 1, Tracks 11-20 from Sky High, Columbia LP KC 33057, 1975
CD 1, Tracks 21-22 from Columbia single 3-10226, 1975
CD 1, Tracks 23-24 from All Our Favorite Songs, Columbia LP FC 37737, 1982
CD 1, Track 25 from Columbia single 4-45890, 1973
CD 2, Tracks 1-10 from Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin’, Foot Stompin’, Southern Style, Gospel Quartet Music, Columbia LP KC 33935, 1976
CD 2, Tracks 11-12 from Columbia single 3-10349, 1976
CD 2, Tracks 13-14 from Columbia single 3-10419, 1976
CD 2, Track 15 from RCA single 2665-7-R, 1990
CD 2. Tracks 16-17 from RCA single 2779-7-R, 1991
CD 2, Tracks 18-19 from RCA single 62013-7, 1991
CD 2, Tracks 20-21 from RCA single 62099-7, 1991
CD 2, Tracks 22-23 from RCA single 62228-7, 1992
CD 2, Track 24 from Sounds of the Season, BNA CD 66281-2, 1993