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Earlier this year, Craft Recordings kicked off its celebration of Stax Records’ Gospel Truth imprint with a weekly digital album campaign.  That series wrapped up on August 28, opening the door for the November 13 release on CD and LP of The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection.

Stax chief Al Bell launched Gospel Truth in 1972, working in close coordination with radio promotions guru/producer/songwriter Dave Clark and Stax staffer Mary Peak Paterson. Early press materials for the imprint indicated that it sought to “carry the message of today’s gospel to the people on the street.” Clark, working as de facto A&R director, emphasized accessibility by pairing traditional gospel talents with young artists well-versed in rock, funk, blues, and soul. Stax creative director Larry Shaw afforded the imprint’s releases the same hallmark of quality as front-line Stax products. Over the course of over two dozen albums and singles, Gospel Truth cast its net further than the classic black American gospel tradition, taking in Indian meditative teachings (Blue Aquarius), white roots music (The Commanders), contemporary choral music (Rev. Jesse Jackson’s People’s Choir of Operation PUSH), and more – a true melting pot of spiritual sounds.  Gospel Truth releases often differed from the music on the parent label as many tracks were sourced from various production houses rather than produced at Stax, and then given the gritty yet radio-friendly Stax treatment in the mix stage by the label’s engineers.  Stax didn’t intend these recordings to be “underground;” they promoted and marketed them as if they would a so-called mainstream soul/R&B release.

The Complete Singles Collection features all 17 singles issued by Gospel Truth between 1972 and 1974 – 34 songs on 2 CDs or 3 LPs – including both non-LP singles and samplings of the imprint’s album catalogue.  Among the highlights are numerous tracks from Gospel Truth’s first signing, Michigan’s The Rance Allen Group. The trio of brothers took their influences from Motown, Philly soul, and contemporary pop and R&B, reworking hit tunes in the process. The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” became “Just My Salvation.” Archie Bell and The Drells’ “There’s Gonna Be a Showdown” acquired a spiritual theme.  The St. James Gospel Choir took a similar approach, turning Wilson Pickett’s “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You” into “Don’t Let the Devil Fool You.”  Fans of Broadway musicals will be happy to see a belated CD debut for Joshie Jo Armstead’s “Ride Out the Storm.”  The funky anthem was penned by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for their musical Seesaw.  Armstead departed the cast on the show’s tumultuous road to Broadway but preserved her performance on Gospel Truth in a version arranged by Motown vet Paul Riser.  A powerhouse singer as well as an accomplished songwriter, Armstead appears on four sides in all including both sides of her second, completely self-penned single.  The Rev. Marvin Yancy (whose production and songwriting credits include Ronnie Dyson, The Dells, and his wife Natalie Cole) leads The People’s Choir of Operation PUSH on two tracks.

New liner notes have been penned for the collection by Memphis-based journalist and NPR host Jared Boyd, incorporating fresh interviews with Al Bell, Rance Allen, and Mary Peak Paterson.  While both editions will be handsomely packaged, the LP is housed in a triple gatefold, with the vinyl pressed at Memphis Record Pressing.  Look for The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection from Craft Recordings on November 13.  You’ll find Amazon links below.  An exclusive bundle with a Gospel Truth t-shirt plus a special gift with purchase (while supplies last) is also available at the Stax online store.