Soul Jazz Records’ Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul: Gospel, Funk and Soul at the Crossroads 1971-83 draws upon the extensive links between black American gospel music and soul music, showing how the sensibilities of gospel artists such as Shirley Caeser, Dorothy Norwood, Andrae Crouch and others crossed over into secular soul music during this period.

The album was first available as a (sold out) ltd.edn. coloured vinyl for RSD23 and is now available as a black double vinyl edition and also for the first time on CD.

Many of the most successful soul artists - from Aretha Franklin to Al Green, The Staple Singers to Sam Cooke - all drew upon their upbringing in the church for their musical inspiration. This album discusses how important the links between the black church and soul music were in creating soul music and spotlights some of the many important (and also little-known) gospel artists who walked this line between sacred music and soul, funk and disco in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul shows how sacred gospel music was at home with Stevie Wonder, Blaxploitation-style funk and produced music celebrated both in New York’s underground discos (The Paradise Garage, Studio 54, etc) and later sampled by the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Mary J Bilge.

1. Satisfied - Andra? Crouch & The Disciples (3.07)
2. Jesus Children of America - Shirley Caesar (4.19)
3. Trouble s Brewin - Meditation Singers (5.01)
4. You Bought the Sunshine - The Clark Sisters (5.49)
5. Let Your Feet Down Easy - Dorothy Norwood (2.42)
6. Jesus Is Coming - Shirley Caesar (3.5)
7. If You Believe Your God Is Dead - Swan Silvertones (3.11)
8. Is There Anybody Here? - The Alvin Darling Ensemble (3.24)
9. There s a Creator - Roscoe Robinson (3.1)
10. Nothing Can Stop Me Now - Destiny (2.57)
11. Good Old Gospel Music - Meditation Singers (4.32)
12. Everything Is Gonna Be Alright - Keith Barrow (3.07)
13. Elijah - Roscoe Robinson (2.33)
14. Till I ve Got This Feelin of Love - Dyson s Faces (3.45)
15. The Upper Way - The Violinaires (3.24)
16. Higher in Jesus Love - Leomia Boyd and The Gospel Music Makers (2.53)
17. The Right Road Now - Keith Barrow (3.06)