Jude 2

I was so blessed a few minutes ago when I opened my mailbox and discovered a little early Christmas from Kissimmee Florida.

You know, the Soulsearchers stuff largely still holds up a few decades later. Great lyrics, singable melodies, passion, tight harmonies and gifted vocals... Michael I am, indeed, enjoying a little trip down memory lane!

There was a purity and innocence in the vocals that I miss often today in highly affected artists, and "Now" is just a great song that should have been covered by some big name artist so you could live off the residuals.

A public MAHALO to Michael for the great songs, and for sharing them with me again! (And the Jeffrey Smith "My Christmas" project is really fresh and wonderful.)

Pastor Gary wrote:... and "Now" is just a great song that should have been covered by some big name artist so you could live off the residuals.

Friend, you don't how many times I prayed for that to happen. Oh, well...

Just for trivia's sake, that song was written on a rainy Autumn afternoon in 1971 at little COGOP in Knoxville, Tennessee. We (Soulsearchers) were conducting a revival there. I walked from the parsonage next door to the church to work on an arrangement of another song. I remember sitting in silence and listening to the rain. When I placed my hands on the piano keys, the words and music to that song came in 15 minutes, just as you hear it recorded. It was truly a gift from God, and why I have said through the years that it is a great song, because it didn't come from me, only through me.

Hey, I want some!!!! I loved you guys so much. I prayed for a morsle of you piano playing talent to fall on me. I stuggled many years to learn to "play by ear. My mom helped me greatly, but she was exceptionally talented also. But, did you know that she never ceased to talk about your piano playing!!!! She was a huge fan of yours.

Seriously, can you tell me how much it costs for what you have available?

Jinjer

Wow, guys I am seriously overwhelmed and very moved. Jinjer - and anyone else interested - please PM me and I will give you a list of CD's available.

I bought some of them and they are great, thanks Soulsearcher.

Soulsearcher,

The two cd's I have are great. In what year were they released?

The Way we are & Why don't you give in.

Thanks

Gotta hear what you do, brah. What style are you working in? I'll PM you for instructions.

Jay,

SOULSEARCHERS
Why Don't You Give In?
Released in 1972

SOULSEARCHERS
The Way We Are
Released in 1975

Mike,

Our style? Hmmmmmm... We worked hard to balance our contemporary (then) sound with a blend of a little southern gospel convention-style (our heritage) and popular top 40 gospel songs of the time. Our vocal sound was heavily influenced by The Carpenters.

Soulsearcher, I don't know if you've thought of this but you could put up a website where folks could go and download the songs/albums and maybe put a PayPal link there for people to pay/donate. That way you wouldn't have to do any shipping, the music would get out there, you could earn some money and it wouldn't be any trouble, other than the initial setup.

soulsearcher wrote:Our vocal sound was heavily influenced by The Carpenters.

And, since the Carpenter's and Bread were our favorite groups to go "parking" to, your 8 track would be the next one to pop in to keep the "mood" going.

Don't tell my wife I was here.

DeWayneTN wrote:Soulsearcher, I don't know if you've thought of this but you could put up a website where folks could go and download the songs/albums and maybe put a PayPal link there for people to pay/donate. That way you wouldn't have to do any shipping, the music would get out there, you could earn some money and it wouldn't be any trouble, other than the initial setup.

I suspect Heartland has a site (okay, I have seen it!) so a really basic web page with "the story behind the song" paragraphs, the titles linked to downloads, and --of course-- a PayPal link "tip jar."

DeWayneTN wrote:Soulsearcher, I don't know if you've thought of this but you could put up a website where folks could go and download the songs/albums and maybe put a PayPal link there for people to pay/donate. That way you wouldn't have to do any shipping, the music would get out there, you could earn some money and it wouldn't be any trouble, other than the initial setup.

DeWayne,

Son, I am to say that I hardly know beans about how to do such a thing, and I don't know the difference between "PayPal" and a play pen but I understand the concept. Yes, I have thought of doing the exact thing you suggested - many times but would need a little step-by-step help.

I already have a website. I guess that would step #1, huh? Thanks for encouraging me in this. I would really like to do it if someone shows me the way.

PG, the Heartland website is undergoing a total make-over as we speak. Don't know how long before the reveal, but it promises to be second to none. I still want to develop my website, as DeWayne suggested, and have links between the two. Thanks for your encouragement, friend. This means a lot to me as I feel I have "sat dormant" for a long time.

Soulsearcher, we have a lot of "tech heads" on this board and surely one would help you out with this (hint hint), setting up a simple page with the download links, PayPal link, etc. Like Pastor Gary suggested, I think it would work best to have the PayPal as a "tip jar" for people who want to give. You won't get rich off of it but your music will find a whole new audience.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

soulsearcher wrote:Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I am willing to help, after this semester, which has a heavy reading load -- that would be the second week of December at least. What is your (personal) website URL? Where is it hosted?