Release Date: 1991.
Recording Time: 73 minutes.
Recording Date: March 24, 1928 - July 16, 1930.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5071) Studio Recording.
Styles: Black Gospel, Pre-War Gospel Blues, Gospel.
Complete Recorded Works (1928-1930) is an excellent disc that contains all 20 known preformances from the Rev. D.C. Rice, an impassioned country-blues gospel singer. These are some of the finest blues-gospel recordings of their era, and this is likely the best presentation they'll ever receive. ~ Thom Owens
Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes.
Zora Neale Hurston wrote “All Negro-made church music is dance-possible. The service is really drama with music. And since music without motion is unnatural among Negroes there is always something that approaches dancing ' in fact, IS dancing ' in such a ceremony. So the congregation is restored to its primitive altars under the new name of Christ.' After hearing the recordings of Reverend J. M. Gates and most especially by those of Rev. F.W. McGee he was inspired to make his own records and so went to see Jack Kapp at Vocalion Records, who said to come back the next Saturday with his congregation to make some tests and evaluate them. Rev. D. C. Rice did, but Kapp rejected them, saying 'I wouldn't give you a nickel for your music.' However, the next Wednesday, Kapp called back and told Rice to return the next Saturday, ready to record, which he did. Rice never did understand this about face, unless it was a negotiating ploy: in any case, he rejected a royalty arrangement, and instead received $75 per record side. By May of 1928, his records were all over Chicago, and by August he had ten issued sides available. Soon he was also broadcasting Sunday services: he would record in the morning and then move to an adjacent studio for his live 12.30 programe. Although the sermon's of Rev. D. C. Rice have the authority, conviction and fire that one might expect from a preacher they were not as doom laden and threatening as that of Gates. Nor were his records a full blown sermon from beginning to end. Indeed, they were little more than a few passages from the Bible before he and the congregation hurled themselves into a good sing-song. Also, in contrast to the presentations of the likes of Gates and the Rev A. W. Nix, the accompanied singing left the listener on a joyous and up-beat note. And we're not talking of a piano here or a guitar there, we're talking about piano, mandolin, trombone (played by a Mr. Hunter), trumpet, triangle, drum and tambourine, all well played with great vigour somewhat reminiscent to the return trip by a New Orleans Jazz Band from the seeing off of a departed one. Tracks such as He's Got His Eyes On and I'm On The Battlefield For My Lord dispense with the formalities of the sermon altogether as everyone tears straight into song with great gusto and energy, guaranteed to lift the spirits. Hallelujah!!! ~ Roger Misiewicz, 1991 Document Records.
Credits: Sister Black - Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part; Herbert Buffum - Composer; Louis Hooper - Piano, Trombone; Roger Misiewicz - Liner Notes; Mr. Hunter - Drums, Trombone; Mrs. Rice - Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Tambourine, Triangle; Johnny Parth - Compiled, Producer; Rev. D.C. Rice - Primary Artist, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Vocals; Reverend D.C. Rice's Sanctified Singers - Primary Artist; Traditional - Composer; R.E. Winsett - Composer.
Tracklist:
01. The Angels Rolled The Stone Away - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
02. A Sure Foundation - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
03. Come And See - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
04. Lord Keep Me With A Mind - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
05. Leaving All To Follow Jesus - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
06. Shall Not A Dog Move His Tongue - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
07. Take My Yoke Upon You - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
08. The Wise And The Foolish Virgins - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
09. The Sure Foundation - Part 2 - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
10. I Will Arise And Go To My Father - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
11. He's Got His Eyes On You - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
12. I'm In The Battlefield For My Lord - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
13. I'm Pressing On - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
14. No Night There - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing; assisted by His Congregation
15. Sin Is To Blame - Rev. D.C. Rice's Sanctified Singers
16. Tell It Over Again - Rev. D.C. Rice's Sanctified Singers
17. Who Do You Call That Wonderful Counsellor - Rev. D.C. Rice's Sanctified Singers
18. I Mean To Live So God Can Use Me - Rev. D.C. Rice's Sanctified Singers
19. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? - Rev. D.C. Rice And Sanctified Congregation
20. He Arose Them From The Dead - Rev. D.C. Rice And Sanctified Congregation
21. Testify - For My Lord Is Coming Back Again - Rev. D.C. Rice And Sanctified Congregation
22. When I Take My Vacation In Heaven - Rev. D.C. Rice And Sanctified Congregation
23. A Woman Went One Thousand Miles To See A Man - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
24. I'm Gonna Wait Right Here Till He Comes - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
25. We Got The Same Kinda Power Over Here - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
26. New Born Again - Rev. D.C. Rice, sermons with singing
Recording places and dates:
Tracks 1-2: Chicago, March 24, 1928
Tracks 3-5: Chicago, June 13, 1928
Tracks 6-10: Chicago, August 11, 1928
Track 11-12: Chicago, February 22, 1929
Tracks 13-14: Chicago, March 9, 1929
Tracks 15-18: Chicago, November 23, 1929
Tracks 19-22: Chicago, c. mid-January 1930
Track 23-26: Chicago, c. July 16, 1930