Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Contemporary gospel's preeminent group, the Mighty Clouds of Joy carried the torch for the traditional quartet vocal style throughout an era dominated by solo acts and choirs; pioneering a distinctively funky sound that over time gained grudging acceptance even among purists, they pushed spiritual music in new and unexpected directions, even scoring a major disco hit. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in Los Angeles during the '50s by schoolmates Joe Ligon and Johnny Martin; while still in their teens, the original group -- which also included Leon Polk, Richard Wallace, and brothers Ermant and Elmo Franklin -- made their recorded debut in 1960 with "Steal Away to Jesus," cut for the Peacock label. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. In the years that followed, the Mighty Clouds joined the ranks of gospel's greatest showmen; one of the first groups to incorporate choreographed moves into their act, their nimble footwork and bright, color-coordinated outfits earned them the sobriquet "The Temptations of Gospel."
More importantly, they were the first group to add bass, drums, and keyboards to the standard quartet accompaniment of solo guitar, resulting in a sound that horrified traditionalists but appealed to younger listeners -- so much so, in fact, that the Mighty Clouds became the first gospel act ever to appear on television's Soul Train, where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High." Their crossover success continued with opening slots for secular pop stars including Marvin Gaye, the Rolling Stones, and Paul Simon, whom the group backed during a monthlong stint at Madison Square Garden. While lineup changes plagued the Mighty Clouds throughout their career, they remained active into the new millennium; in addition to co-founders Ligon and Wallace, their latter-day incarnation also included Paul Beasley, Michael McCowin, Wilbert Williams, Johnny Valentine, and Ron Staples. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Beasley. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
Diskografie
20 Album, -en • Geordnet nach Bestseller
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Live in Charleston
Gospel - Erschienen bei Intersound am 19.11.1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Changing Times
Gospel - Erschienen bei Epic - Legacy am 01.01.1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Greatest Hits
Gospel - Erschienen bei Intersound am 23.08.2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At The Revival
Gospel - Erschienen bei EMI Gospel (EGS) am 01.01.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Best Of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Gospel - Erschienen bei Motown Gospel (EGS) am 01.01.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gospel Classics
Pop - Erschienen bei Classic Music International am 30.11.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In The House Of The Lord - Live In Houston (Live)
Gospel - Erschienen bei EMI Gospel (EGS) am 21.02.2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gospel Legacy- Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Hörbücher - Erschienen bei LIGHT RECORDS am 19.02.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Movin (Live)
Gospel - Erschienen bei Motown Gospel (EGS) am 01.01.2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection: The Best Of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy (Vol. 2)
Gospel - Erschienen bei Motown Gospel (EGS) am 06.05.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I Want to Thank You
Gospel - Erschienen bei Intersound am 22.10.2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Platinum Praise - Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Hörbücher - Erschienen bei LIGHT RECORDS am 05.02.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Take Me To The Water
Gospel - Erschienen bei Sonorous Records Inc. am 05.08.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All That I Am: Chapter 1
Joe Ligon, Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Gospel - Erschienen bei MCG Records, Inc. am 30.04.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Down Memory Lane: Chapter 2
Hörbücher - Erschienen bei MCG Records, Inc. am 04.11.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Platinum Praise Collection: Mighty Clouds of Joy
Gospel - Erschienen bei Intersound am 05.02.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Superset - 2 CD Set
Gospel - Erschienen bei Intersound am 24.02.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo