Essential Gospel – Classic Recordings: No. 131

“Try Me Father”
Rev. Willingham and His Swanees
Federal 12542
1966

“Try Me Father” is an obvious variation on James Brown’s classic 1958 proto-soul “Try Me” (also on Federal Records). But turnaround is fair play, because The Godfather of Soul – who produced this recording – owed much of his early stage histrionics from the sound and style of gospel music performance.

After the introduction – a Famous Flames-esque flourish of instruments and voices that combine to deliver a tidal wave of sound – the incomparable Johnny Jones emotes “Try Me Father” in his best JB voice as his fellow Swanee Quintet members support him with spirit-filled chanting in the high register.

A typical Swanee track it’s not; “Try Me Father” is much better: a quintessential case of gospel borrowing from soul borrowing from gospel…a musical jam session featuring Augusta, Georgia’s favorite sons: the Swanee Quintet and James Brown.