The Consolers - Collection 1952-62 (CD)

Acrobat has a significant catalogue of gospel collections by many of the leading quartets of the classic era in the immediate post-war decades, and this release adds a further dimension to that repertoire with the highly-regarded Miami-based husband and wife duo of Sullivan and Iola Pugh, who performed as The Consolers, Sullivan Pugh was born in Moorhaven, Florida in 1925. When his mother was killed in the 1926 Lake Okeechobee hurricane, Pugh and his five siblings were adopted by a family in the community of Punta Gorda. Pugh began singing as a child soloist at the First Born Church of the Living God in Miami. He met his wife Lola when she was singing with the Miami Gospel Singers. The couple married in 1950. In 1952 the pair decided to form a gospel trio with Pearl Nance-Rayford, and they called themselves the Miami Soul Stirrers. Their original repertoire was based on the traditional spirituals and songs of the Holiness Church. Early influences included other African American gospel groups such as the Soul Stirrers of Chicago (from which they took their name) and the National Gospel Twins of Delray Beach, Florida. In 1953, Nance-Rayford quit the trio and Sullivan and Lola took the name the Spiritual Consolers for their duet.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. My Soul Can't Rest Contented (Miami Soul Stirrers) - Miami Soul Stirrers
2. Jesus Precious King (Miami Soul Stirrers) - Miami Soul Stirrers
3. For Ever and Ever (Miami Soul Stirrers) - Miami Soul Stirrers
4. Fix Me Jesus (Miami Soul Stirrers) - Miami Soul Stirrers
5. Wade in the Water (The Spiritual Consolers) - the Spiritual Consolers
6. How Long Has It Been Since You've Been Home (The Spiritual Consolers) - the Spiritual Consolers
7. Nobody Knows (The Consolers)
8. Give Me My Flowers (The Consolers)
9. I Cried to the Lord (The Consolers)
10. I'm Gonna Use Just What I Got (The Consolers)
11. Let Jesus Come in (The Consolers)
12. I Remember the Bridge (The Consolers)
13. Revival Time (The Consolers)
14. When Others Fail (The Consolers)
15. I Shall Not Want (The Consolers)
16. Glad to Be in the Number (The Consolers)
17. It May Be the Last Time (The Consolers)
18. God Will Take Care (The Consolers)
19. Help Me to Understand (The Consolers)

Disc: 2

1. Every Christian Mother (The Consolers)
2. Another Days Journey (The Consolers)
3. Some Sweet Day After a While (The Consolers)
4. Never Could Have Made It Pt. 1 (The Consolers)
5. Never Could Have Made It Pt. 2 (The Consolers)
6. By the Help of the Lord (The Consolers)
7. Almighty God (The Consolers)
8. I Know What It Means (The Consolers)
9. After the Clouds Roll Away (The Consolers)
10. Goin Across the River (The Consolers)
11. Glory Land (The Consolers)
12. Waiting at the River (The Consolers)
13. Say a Prayer for Me (The Consolers)
14. Over Yonder (The Consolers)
15. God Makes No Mistakes (The Consolers)
16. How Long Has It Been Since You've Been Home (The Consolers)
17. Long Long Journey (The Consolers)
18. My Soul's Salvation (The Consolers)