Touch Me Lord Jesus: The Singles Collection 1949-62

The Angelic Gospel Singers were formed in 1944 in Philadelphia by Margaret Allison, and were one of the groups that helped move gospel music from its established base in jubilee quartets towards the freer and less structured approach of the 1950s groups who provided a training ground and springboard for soul singers of the 1960s. A quartet comprising Allison with her sister Josephine McDowell, Ella Mae Norris and Lucille Shird, they made a huge impact with their first release in 1949, a million-selling hit with “Touch Me, Lord Jesus”, which propelled them into public consciousness, and they remained in the vanguard of contemporary gospel through into the ‘60s. This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises most of the A & B sides of their releases on the Gotham and Nashboro labels during this era, including recordings which they made for Gotham with the Dixie Hummingbirds. Along with their big debut hit “Touch Me Lord Jesus”, it features many classic gospel songs like “Angels Watching Over Me”, “There Must be a Heaven Somewhere”, “Just Jesus”, “Tell the Angels”, “Milky White Way” and “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”, plus many of Margaret Allison’s own fine compositions. It’s a substantial, inspiring and uplifting showcase for their bold and distinctive approach to gospel music during what was a golden era for the genre.