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 as a family group, then called, variously, The Consecrated Gospel Singers or The Ward Trio, the collective achieved fame after the Second World War when Gertrude's daughter Clara Ward was leader. - A gifted singer and arranger, Ward adopted the lead-switching style, previously used primarily by male gospel quartets, creating opportunities for spontaneous improvization and vamping by each member of the group, while giving virtuoso singers such as Henrietta Waddy, Marion Williams and Willa Ward Moultrie the opportunity to perform the lead vocal in songs. - This 77-track 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 the million-seller Surely God Is Able, along with How I Got Over, and Packin' Up, plus many gospel classics and standards. Ward died in 1973 at the age of 48 and Aretha Franklin and Rev. C. L. Franklin sang at her funeral in Philadelphia. She was honoured posthumously at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City four years later in 1977.

Tracklist:

Surely God Is Able
I Need Thee Every Hour
The Fountain
How I Got Over
I Don't Know Why
Throw Out the Lifeline
He'll Never Let Go My Hand
Hark the Voice
When I've Done the Best I Can
When the Gates Swing Open
Happy Over There - Part 1
I'm Waiting for Jesus
At the Cross
In That Great Judgement Morning
On Higher Ground
Faith Moves Mountains
I Heard of a City Called Jerusalem
Jesus
Stretch Out
Just One Moment
Each Day
Jesus Is All the World to Me
The Day Is Past and Gone
Get Back, Jordan
How Far Am I from Canaan?
He Knows How Much We Can Bear
My Jesus Is All and All
Who Could Ask for Anything Else
I'm Bound for the Higher Ground
When I Woke Up in Glory
That Awful Day Will Surely Come
The Old Rugged Cross
Oh My Lord, What a Time
I Heard the Voice of Jesus
The Old Landmark
I Will Trust in the Lord
This Little Light of Mine
Until I Found the Lord
How Many Times
Since I Found the Light
I Just Can't Make It Myself
I Know It Was the Lord
I Want to Be More Like Jesus
Who Shall Be Able to Stand
Farther on Up the Road
Only the Crumbs
God's Amazing Love
Treading the Wine Press Alone
Oh Gabriel
Lord, Touch Me
I'm Goin' Home
Hold Back the Tears
Anywhere in Glory
Great Is the Lord
Packin' Up
Nearer My God to Thee
Climbing Jacob's Ladder
I Feel the Holy Spirit
I'm So Glad
Our God Is Real
In His Arms
Pure Gold
Good News
Got on My Traveling Shoes
He's Watching Over You
We're Gonna Have a Time
We Shall Be Changed
Every Day Will Be Sunday
God Is Good
I'm Getting Richer
I'm Gonna Move Upstairs
A Sweeter Tomorrow
Life Is Just One Step
Rock of Ages
The Lord's Army
Handwriting on the Wall
Contract with the Lord

UPC: 824046913922
Label: Acrobat
Release Date: 11.10.23
Format: CD

Clara Ward & The Ward Singers - Famous Ward Singers 1949-62 (CD)