Sunday, August 13, 2006

Hold Out!

Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis - Hold Out

Sammy Lewis, "The Crown Prince of Gospel Singers," never reached the upper levels of gospel stardom despite great recordings that spanned across the fifties and sixties. Lewis' singing is very redolent of Brother Joe May's "Thunderbolt" style but also includes some nice sermonizing. "Hold Out" was originally released on the Chess-distributed St. Lawrence label and was also included on the Checker LP What Can I Do? Over a pulsing organ rhythm Lewis soulfully moans about the growing malaise he witnesses (this message is true today!) and then he offers his solution. Like "We Need More Love," Lewis' intensity really sells the song.

No comments: