Essential Gospel — Classic Recordings: No. 126

“Heavenly Father” – Patterson Singers
1963
Vee Jay
From VJ LP 5046: Songs of Faith
[also available on CD: The Best of Vee Jay Gospel: Volume 3 – Collectables Records: www.oldies.com]

Not to be confused with Edna McGriff’s 1952 secular hit of the same name, in which a young but mature sounding McGriff prays to the Almighty for the love of a man, this “Heavenly Father” is a straight-up love song about God. Where the two songs are similar are in their simple, lovely melodies and plaintive female lead vocals.

“Heavenly Father” by the Patterson Singers is charming, a cross between the religious gravity of the Caravans and the watery-eyed innocence of the Chantels (“Maybe”) or the Quintones (“Down the Aisle of Love”). The recording is clearly influenced by the girl group sound that by 1963 was emanating from transistor radios and record changers all across America. As such, it does not have much in common with more popular Patterson Singers recordings, many that featured aggressive, strident vocalizing (e.g., “I am Bound for the Promised Land”).

I am not certain what member of the Pattersons leads “Heavenly Father,” but she was obviously aware of McGriff’s classic, as she delivers the song in the same wistful manner. Perhaps TBGB readers can help solve the mystery as to the song’s female lead.

Why Vee Jay chose not to release “Heavenly Father” as a single may have had to do with it not sounding like the kind of gospel music then dominating the charts or record sales. Or it may have remained an album selection and not issued as a single for radio because it wouldn’t have been featured much, if ever, during the ensemble’s programs, not being the type of performance that would wreck a church or auditorium. Then again, perhaps it was, to paraphrase a comment once made by the late, great Alan Freed, simply too beautiful for radio.

Want to check out other “Essential Gospel” tracks? See more of them on this blog or at “Gospel”: www.island.net/~blues/gospel.htm.