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
-
-
Live in Charleston
Gospel - Released by Intersound on Nov 19, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Changing Times
Gospel - Released by Epic - Legacy on Jan 1, 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live In Charleston
Gospel - Released by Intersound on Dec 10, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At The Revival
Gospel - Released by EMI Gospel (EGS) on Jan 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Best Of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Gospel - Released by Motown Gospel (EGS) on Jan 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Pop - Released by Geffen on Jan 1, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In The House Of The Lord - Live In Houston (Live)
Gospel - Released by EMI Gospel (EGS) on Feb 21, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Greatest Hits
Gospel - Released by Intersound on Aug 23, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gospel Legacy- Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by LIGHT RECORDS on Feb 19, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Movin (Live)
Gospel - Released by Motown Gospel (EGS) on Jan 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of The Mighty Clouds of Joy - Volume II
Gospel - Released by Geffen* on Jan 1, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Pop - Released by Geffen* on Jan 1, 2002
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 - Released by Motown Gospel (EGS) on May 6, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mighty Clouds Of Joy (Live)
Pop - Released by Geffen on Jan 1, 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Concert - Live At The Music Hall
Pop - Released by Geffen on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
I Want to Thank You
Gospel - Released by Intersound on Oct 22, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Platinum Praise - Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by LIGHT RECORDS on Feb 5, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo