The Roches • The Hallelujah Chorus

I don't know if there is a better way to welcome in Sunday than with the "Hallelujah Chorus". But in saying that, I do hear a voice in my head that says "if you have the 'Hallelujah Chorus' sung by those sisters you like so much, that would be even better." So there we have it, if I bring Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy in for the song, that would make is amazing. So here it is, everyone, The Roches with their own version of "The Hallelujah Chorus".

To learn more about the Roches, visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook. The "Hallelujah Chorus" can be found on their third album, "Keep On Doin'". You can purchase the album from iTunes and Amazon.

A Gospel Tribute to Aretha Franklin

In 2007, there was a program on BET by the name of 'An Evening of Stars: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin', and as it says i the title, it is offering a tribute to the great talent of Miss Aretha Franklin. During the show, they not only celebrated her 'Pop' hits and career, they also made note of her contributions to Gospel music. Here are several big names of Gaospel music paying tribute to the Queen of Soul. First up we have BeBe Winans singing "Mary Don't You Weep", an old spiritual from before the Civil War, and Karen Clark Sheard, Kiki Sheard, Micah Stampley and Twinkie Clark sing "Jesus Be A Fence", a song written by the great Sam Cooke, and, finally, Mary Mary singing "How I Got Over", a classic written in 1951 by Clara Ward. Enjoy this Sunday morning feature!

Hope everyone on the East coast is prepared for more snow!

Mahalia Jackson • Great Gettin' Up Morning

When I think of great Gospel music, Mahalia Jackson is one of the first names that pops into my mind. There is a wonderful fullness in her voice, and an authenticity in her performances. You can most certainly hear it on "Great Gettin' Up Morning", a song written by Jackson, and released as a single in 1963. This is a wonderful recording of it, and I am thrilled to share it with you. This is Mahalia Jackson singing "Great Gettin' Up Morning'.

You can find "Great Gettin' Up Morning' on 'The Soul of Gospel, Volume 1' from iTunes and Amazon. The 20-song collection can be purchased for $6.99 and $5.99, respectively, and includes some of Mahalia's great songs, nicluding "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho", "Down By The Riverside", and "Go Tell It On The Mountain".

Chris Cornell • Ave Maria

When I was thinking about having a post for Sunday morning, just three days before Christmas, I wanted to have an interesting interpretation of "Ave Maria", so I checked to see who I had in my iTunes that might work. Well, once I saw I had a version by Chris Cornell, I knew the search was over. In 1997, Chris recorded the Franz Schubert, written in 1825 inspired by Walter Scott's poem, "The Lady of the Lake". Well, a German translation of the poem, at least. I am sure Schubert had no idea that 172 years later, the song would be interpreted by a Rock Star, with a voice like Chris Cornell. I am a huge fan of Cornell, so when I read about his recording of the song, I had to make it a part of my collection. It appeared on the 1997 album 'A Very Special Christmas 3', where Cornell sung with the band Eleven playing on the song.

There is a certain majesty to his voice, a depth to his vocal that few can match. And it never hurts to know he is so nice to look at. You can find 'A Very Special Christmas 3' on iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Chris Cornell, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.

Van Morrison • When Will I Ever Learn To Live With God

I thought I would start off the month with a little spiritual song from Van Morrison. I picked "When Will I Ever Learn To Live With God", a track off his beautiful and expressive 1989 album, 'Avalon Sunset'. I love that album, and in fact, love this song. There is something so soft, so ethereal about it. I was lucky enough to find an audio clip of Van singing the song live in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1989. I hope you enjoy it, and find it as perfect as I do to start your December off with Van Morrison singing "When Will I Ever Learn To Live With God".

Have a great Sunday!

Midge Ure • Dear God

I readily admit I am a huge fan of Midge Ure and his music. I first discovered him when he was rocking out with Ultravox, with great guitar work and that amazing voice. I was sad when he left the band, for fear I would not be hearing him any more. But his solo career took off, with great songs like "If I Was" to make me very happy. He also worked side-by-side with Bob Geldof, writing "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and putting together the Live Aid concerts with him. But it was still the music for me, and I followed him closely. I loved 'The Gift', his solo debut, but I think 'Answers To Nothing' might be my favorite. The album was released in 1988, and featured some really great songs, including one of my favorites. I thought hearing "Dear God" seemed just what was in order for a Sunday morning, sung by the handsome Midge Ure.

I hope you are having a great weekend.

This Train • Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison & Carl Perkins

Left to right: Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Sometimes we do get the best presents for Christmas. On a 1977 Christmas Special starring Johnny Cash, the man in black invited a few friends to sing a song, and dedicate it to Elvis Presley, who had just recently passed away. Billed as the "Class of '55", a subtle nod to the original 'Million Dollar Quartet', when Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley met at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, in a recording studio, and some believe that was the birth of Rock 'N Roll in the United States. With Elvis gone, the men invited Roy Orbison to complete the quartet as they sang the great gospel classic "This Train" for Elvis.

Sunday Morning • The Lord's Prayer

Il Divo are, from left to right, Urs Bühler, David Miller, Carlos Marin and Sébastien Izambard.

As part of my celebration of Father's Day, I thought it to be a good start to offer up a song to one of the biggest Daddies of them all. Many have used "The Lord's Prayer" to sing His praises, but few could sing it quite like Il Divo, as they did on their 2005 Christmas album. Il Divo are Urs Bühler, David Miller, Carlos Marin and Sébastien Izambard, four trained opera singers who lend their talents as a quartet, singing anything from Classic masterpieces to Pop confections. Sit back and enjoy as the boys sing "The Lord's Prayer".

You can purchase Il Divo's "The Lord's Prayer" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Il Divo, visit their official website. There you can check out the new release, a 'Greatest Hits' collection that will be sure to include some great music. You might also want to look at 'An Evening With Il Divo', when they sing a selection of interesting music. Recorded in Barcelona, the collection also includes a beautiful version of "Amazing Grace".

'An Evening with Il Dino' is available on iTunes and Amazon.

Sunday Morning With Audra McDonald

I am truly crazy about Audra McDonald, her amazing soprano soaring when she wants to, and barely a whisper when she feels so inclined. Her talent simply cannot be denied, for she has five, that is right five, Tony Awards to her credit, sharing that number with record holders Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury. I just love her album 'How Glory Goes' and am looking forward to her album that will be released later this month, 'Go Back Home'. And I thought her version of the song written by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, "God Give Me Strength" is about as gorgeous as anyone would like it to sound, with just the right amount of emotion. There is such beauty in this recording, found on the album 'Build A Bridge'. I hope you enjoy Audra McDonald's version of "God Give Me Strength".

And while some may not think of "Bein' Green" as an especially spiritual song, I would suspect they have never listened closely to it. The song, written by Joe Raposo and performed by Kermit the Frog on a variety of projects, from 'Sesame Street' to 'The Muppet Movie', the song never fails to touch my heart. And I must say, Audra sings a version of the song that does exactly that. Enjoy this live performance of "Bein' Green".

"Bein' Green" can also be found on Audra's album 'Build A Bridge. You can purchase the album on iTunes and Amazon. For more about Audra McDonald, visit her official website. You can also follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook.

The Steampacket • Lord Remember Me

Left to right: Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger.

In case you don't know who The Steampacket are, they were thought to be one of the UK's first Supergroup. The band was made up by Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, and Julie Driscoll on vocals, and Brian Auger on Organ, Vic Briggs on guitar, Ricky Fenson on bass guitar, and Micky Waller on drums. Long John Baldry was an amazing Blues singer, an inspiration for young rockers like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. He also worked with a young Reginald Dwight, who later changed his name to Elton John, adopting his surname from Long John, as the Blues singer helped Elton come to terms with being gay. Here Long John takes the lead on "Lord Remember Me", a great performance.

Sunday Morning with José Carreras

The Barcelona-born tenor José Carreras was perhaps best known for his interpretations of the works of Verdi and Puccini, as well as being on of the three members of The Three Tenors, along with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti in the 1990s. His dashing good looks and beautiful voice made him a natural leading man in many an opera from the 1970s until today. So he seemed a great choice to start your Sunday, especially shen he sings "The Lord's Prayer", the prayer set to the music of Albert Hay Malotte in 1935.

And while not a particularly spiritual song, is a stunning aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera 'Turandot'. "Nessun Dorma" has been sung by some of the greatest voices who ever lifted their voice in opera, but few with the ease and grace of Carreras.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Luciano Pavarotti • Panis Angelicus

I decided to class up the joint a bit this week, and bring in one to be most recognizable voice of the past century, the last Luciano Pavarotti. In this first clip, he sings "Panis Angelicus", a hymn Sacris solemniis written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi.

In the second and final clip of the morning, I figure you cannot go wrong with Pavarotti singing "Ave Maria". Well, you can't go wrong with Pavarotti period, but he certainly has such beautiful depth, a wonderful take on the song.

Happy Sunday!

St. Patrick's Morning with Sinéad O'Connor

Is there a better way to start out any St. Patrick's Day than with the gorgeous voice of Sinéad O'Connor? In keeping wiht my Sunday morning tradition, I will offer up some songs that are somewhat spiritual, starting with her cover of "I Don't Know How To Love Him", a song from the 1970 rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. It has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It is the song written for Mary Magdalene, who some might say is the original hooker with the heart of gold, taking a look at her feelings for the son of God.

The next song was also written in 1970, but under very different circumstances. "Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians. Dowe and McNaughton took inspiration from a few Bible verses for the lyrics, and wrote the music. Listen as Sinéad sings "Rivers of Babylon".

Both songs can be found on Sinéad's 2007 album, 'Theology'. The double album set, recorded in both Dublin and London, can be purchased from iTunes. To learn more about Sinéad O'Connor, including her tour dates, visit her official website.

Mahalia Jackson • Every Time I Feel The Spirit

I just find Mahalia Jackson's voice to be a wonder. I first remember hearing it as a part of several Christmas collections my Mother would play during the holidays. In those, Mahalia had such great depth to her voice, as well as amazing control she showed. So I was quite blown away when I first heard her singing Spiritual music, showing a different side to her voice. There is such emotion and unrestrained exuberance found in her vocals, they are hard to ignore. This is Mahalia singing "Every Tim I Feel The Spirit", an old spiritual dating from before the Civil War.

Sunday Morning with Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

Clockwise: Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles; Jennifer Holiday; and Levi Kreis.

I think I found some great music that will surely inspire some this Sunday morning. And it all comes courtesy of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, who makes great music for all who care to listen. For over thirty years, the Chorus has been been a strong voice in the performing arts community, performing locally, touring nationally, and internationally. First I will bring up the clip of the group paying tribute to the late, great Marvin Gaye tribute, as they sing his amazing song about oppression and abuse, "What's Going On". The chorus starts the song with an intro of "War", the Edwin Starr hit written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1969.

The chorus has never shied away from bringing in talented people to share their stage. I simply could not resist posting the performance of the gifted Jennifer Holiday sharing the stage with the chorus to sing "Family", the amazing song from the Broadway musical 'Dreamgirls'. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, Jennifer delivers the song as only she can, and offers her support to the community. Of course, she brings the audience with her on the journey, which ends with a standing ovation for this 2009 performance.

From one Tony Award-winning actor to another, out and proud performer Levi Kreis sings "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". The song, written in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel, has become a classic spiritual, sung by some of the great names in Gospel music. As far as I can tell from this video, which was recorded about a year ago, you can certainly add Levi's name to the list of performers who sing the song to perfection. turn up the volume, and put the video to full screen, and enjoy this.

For more about the Gey Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, visit their official website. There you can support the chorus with a donation, or you can purchase their music at CD Baby. You can also find their music on iTunes and Amazon.

Sunday Morning with Harlem Gospel Choir

While checking out music for a Sunday morning post, I ran across a video from Harlem Gospel Choir and could not resist posting it. They sing "Oh Happy Day", a number based on an 18th Century song by English clergyman Philip Doddridge but with updates and arranged by Edwin Hawkins in the 1960s. When recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers for a 1969 release, the song went to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Hawkins' arrangement quickly became a classic, and sung by many. That would include the Harlem Gospel Choir.

"Go Down Moses" is a spiritual that describes events in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically the book of Exodus. The song was most famously done by Paul Robeson, whose deep and resonant voice injected depth to whatever he sang. The song was popular during the Civil War, especially by those active with the Underground Railroad. The song was also important to the Civil Rights activists in the 1960s. Here is the wonderful version of the Harlem Gospel Choir.

To learn more about Harlem Gospel Choir, visit their official website.

Sunday Morning with Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart, left, and Jeff Beck, right.

Scottish singer Rod Stewart and English guitarist Jeff Beck first started working together in 1967 when Beck hired Stewart to do the vocals for the Jeff Beck Group. They went on to be a part of the legendary line up of the band, The Faces. But one of their most memorable collaborations, at least for me, was their 1985 recording of the great Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready", an iconic song if there ever was one. Check it out.

Another of their collaborations that might not be quite as spiritual is when they covered a great song by Johnny Mercer and Doris Tauber, "Drinking Again". It was recorded by the Jeff Beck Group in 1968 on the album 'Truth', only titled "I've Been Drinking".

Enjoy your Sunday!

Sunday Morning on Broadway

Posters for 'Godspell' and for 'Guys And Dolls'.

This Sunday, we look to Broadway for what you might enjoy hearing at your house of worship. And I will start with some lovely music from Stephen Schwartz.I will start with "Beautiful City/Bless The Lord" from 'Godspell'. The show debuted off-Broadway in 1971, and was met with great support. The show began as a masters thesis project for John-Michael Tebelak, grew into something much larger, and by 1976 have moved to Broadway, and just about everywhere on earth. This is the cast of the 2011 revival appearing on 'The Rosie Show' starring Rosie O'Donnell.

Our next show has music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a charming book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It debuted on Broadway in 1950, and a movie adaptation was released in 1955. It has be played all around the world in the 62 years since it hit the stage. The show is 'Guys and Dolls', and the song is "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat". This clip is from the movie version, and in the beginning you can catch a young Frank Sinatra.

Have a great Sunday!

Sunday Morning with Kitty Wells

This past July, music lost a great when Kitty Wells passed away at the age of 92. This was 60 years after Kitty made history with her recording of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" when it topped the Country charts in 1952, making Wells the first ever female artist to have that honor. She continued to have songs on the charts through the 1960s, inspiring those great women to come, like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and so many others. During her career, Wells also recorded and performed many spiritual songs, including Don Ferguson's iconic "On The Wings of a Dove", made popular in the 1960s when sung by several artists. Among those was the late Kitty Wells.

She also recorded many other great songs, including one with lyrics by S. Fillmore Bennett and music by Joseph P. Webster. In what I can only call an incredible duet, Wells & Loretta Lynn sing "In the Sweet By-and-By". What a wonderful recording this is.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Aretha's Gospel

In keeping with my chilly winter theme this first weekend of December, I am pleased to visit once again with the magnificent "Queen of Soul", Miss Aretha Franklin. I found two songs, both of which can be found on her 1956 release, 'Songs of Faith'. Interestingly enough, it was her first recording, all taped when she was singing in the church at just 14 years of age. The first of those songs I am featuring is "He Will Wash You Whiter Than The Snow".

The other in another traditional spiritual performed to perfection by the young girl who would go on to be a great superstar. Listen as she sings "While The Blood Is Running Warm".

The album has been re-released under several names, as 'The Gospel Soul of Aretha Franklin', 'Aretha's Gospel', 'Precious Lord', 'You Grow Closer', 'Never Grow Old', and 'The First Album'. You can purchase it on iTunes and Amazon.