Clara Ward & The Ward Singers – The Famous Ward Singers 1949-62 – 3CD

The Famous Ward Singers, based in Philadelphia, were one of the foremost gospel groups of the post-war era, originally founded as a family group in 1931 by Gertrude Ward, and achieving fame after WWII with Gertrude’s daughter Clara Ward as leader, with other notable singers joining to create their trademark lead-switching style. Soloists with highly individual styles within the group included Henrietta Waddy, Marion Williams and Willa Ward Moultrie, and they developed a powerful and extrovert approach to gospel in their ‘live’ performances which readily translated to their recordings. This great-value 77-track 3-CD collection comprises a fairly significant proportion of the 130 or so A and B sides released on the Gotham and Savoy labels during this era, which represented the years when they achieved their greatest success. The releases were under various guises – Clara Ward as a solo artist, The Famous Ward Sisters Of Philadelphia, The Clara Ward Specials, Clara Ward & The Ward Singers, The Clara Ward Singers, The Famous Ward Singers and simply as The Ward Singers. It features most of their best-known songs, including the million-seller “Surely God Is Able”, along with “How I Got Over”, and “Packin’ Up”, plus many gospel classics and standards. It’s an inspiring an uplifting showcase for their distinctive approach to gospel.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Famous Ward Singers Of Philadelphia: 1. Surely God Is Able -   2. I Need Thee Every Hour - Clara Ward: 3. The Fountain -   4. How I Got Over -   5. I Don't Know Why -   Clara Ward Specials: 6. Throw Out The Lifeline -   7. He'll Never Let Go My Hand -   8. Hark The Voice -   Clara Ward: 9. When I've Done The Best I Can -   10. When The Gates Swing Open -   Clara Ward Specials: 11. Happy Over There - Part 1 -   Clara Ward; 12. I'm Waiting For Jesus -   13. At The Cross -   14. In That Great Judgement Morning -   15. On Higher Ground -   16. Faith Moves Mountains -   17. I Heard Of A City Called Jerusalem -   Clara Ward & Ward Singers: 18. Jesus -   19. Stretch Out -   20. Just One Moment -   21. Each Day -   22. Jesus Is All The World To Me -   23. The Day Is Past And Gone -   24. Get Back, Jordan -   25. How Far Am I From Canaan? -

CD2:
Clara Ward & Ward Singers: 1. He Knows How Much We Can Bear -   2. My Jesus Is All And All - Clara Ward Singers: 3. Who Could Ask For Anything Else -   Clara Ward & Ward Singers: 4. I'm Bound For The Higher Ground -   5. When I Woke Up In Glory -   Gertrude Ward And Daughters: 6. That Awful Day Will Surely Come -   Clara Ward & Ward Singers: 7. The Old Rugged Cross -   Ward Singers: 8. Oh My Lord, What A Time -   Famous Ward Singers: 9. I Heard The Voice Of Jesus -   10. The Old Landmark - Clara Ward Singers: 11. I Will Trust In The Lord -   12. This Little Light Of Mine -   Ward Singers: 13. Until I Found The Lord -   14. How Many Times -   Famous Ward Singers: 15. Since I Found The Light -   16. I Just Can't Make It Myself -   17. I Know It Was The Lord -   18. I Want To Be More Like Jesus -   19. Who Shall Be Able To Stand -   Famous Ward Singers; Thelma Ja: 20. Farther On Up The Road - Famous Ward Singers: 21. Only The Crumbs - 22. God's Amazing Love - 23. Treading The Wine Press Alone - 24. Oh Gabriel - 25. Lord, Touch Me -

CD3:
Famous Ward Singers: 1. I'm Goin' Home -   2. Hold Back The Tears -   3. Anywhere In Glory -   The Famous Ward Singers: 4. Great Is The Lord - Famous Ward Singers: 5. Packin' Up -   6. Nearer My God To Thee -   7. Climbing Jacob’s Ladder -   8. I Feel The Holy Spirit -   9. I'm So Glad -   10. Our God Is Real -   11. In His Arms -   12. Pure Gold -   13. Good News -   14. Got On My Traveling Shoes -   15. He's Watching Over You -   Ward Singers: 16. We're Gonna Have A Time -   17. We Shall Be Changed -   Famous Ward Singers: 18. Every Day Will Be Sunday -   19. God Is Good -   20. I'm Getting Richer -   21. I'm Gonna Move Upstairs -   22. A Sweeter Tomorrow -   23. Life Is Just One Step -   24. Rock Of Ages -   25. The Lord’s Army -   The Ward Singers: 26. Handwriting On The Wall -   27. Contract With The Lord -