Through all of my sorrow
Can Numero Group do no wrong?
T.L. Barrett & Youth For Christ Choir - Like A Ship.
The newest release from the archival label is Good God! Born Again Funk, out January 30. It's the 30th record from Numero, and the third in their Good God! series, which collects rare religious music from small labels. I've been a fan of Numero since their amazing Yellow Pills power pop release back in 2005, and I've tried to check in with their output since then. Their CDs and LPs are immaculately presented, with slipcases and extensive liner notes, and the music is almost always unimpeachable. Score one for tangible media.
Born Again Funk is another excellent installment, full of fat basslines and passion so convincing that you wonder why all churches don't have funk bands. "Not a resurrection, but a rebirth," begins Numero co-founder Rob Sevier's liner notes essay. "In 2006, we were first hearing what seemed to us a conundrum: gospel singers performing pious gospel songs, and devoutly, but doing so amid hot, sweaty, earthy sounds drunk on the same moonshine downed by any blues singer thumbing his way up north from the Mississippi delta." It does seem like a contradiction, but when you think about it, it makes sense. I'm not religious myself, but if your belief is so strong, why not express it with the slow-burn sweat of muddy funk?
This track from 1971 features preacher T.L. Barrett, who caused a stir with the raucous choir at Mt. Zion Church in Chicago. Barrett is still a preacher in that city. (The CD booklet contains a great photo featuring Barrett, Bill Russell, Isaac Hayes, and Jesse Jackson. They must have had awesome conversations.)
You can order Good God! Born Again Funk from the Numero Group's website.