When I get dressed for going to church on Sunday, I play a collection of songs that’s I’ve labeled as the playlist “God’s Greatest Hits”. These 81 songs, all black gospel songs from the halcyon years of 1945-62, get me “in the spirit” for heading out to worship and hear the Word preached. On it is Alex Bradford’s “Too Close To Heaven”, a powerfully sung piece with simple piano accompaniment that puts the passing years into perspective.
That song starts off this 70 song, 3 cd anthology of Professor Alex Bradford, who was a direct link from the church to R&B/rock performers like Little Richard and Ray Charles. The first part of the collection features his singles from 1953-59, and feature the wailing “Lord! Lord! Lord! And testsifying “He Touched Me”. The rest of the boxed set have selections from his albums, with the entire Walking With The King being preached from the pulpit, as “What Do You Know About Jesus” “He Leadeth Me” and His Precious Love” becoming staples of Sunday morning service.
Teamed with the Abyssinan Baptist Coir, Bradford belts it on ‘I Want TO Ride That Glory Train” and “I Call Him (He Always Answers Me)” and raises the roof. You’ll roll down the aisles for the selections from One Step and I’m Going To Work Till The Day Is Done with Bradford featured with fire in his bones on “My Lord’s Going To Move This Wicked Race” and takes you to the Promised Land on “On The Other Side Of The River”. When you hear this man of God, it doesn’t matter if you believe the message, he sure did.