Perhaps most interesting are his multiple mini-lectures, which include the two-part “You Can’t Stop a Tattler,” the autobiographical “I Was Born to Preach the Gospel” and the odd recitation “Train Your Child.” Washington prefaces “What Are They Doin’ in Heaven Today” by suggesting “I don’t know boy, but it’s my business to stay here and sing about it,” and ruminates on the state of souls who faced terrible burdens on earth.” The remaining songs here include relatively standard reworkings of biblical tales, such as “Paul and Silas in Jail” and the Daniel-themed “I’ve Got the Key to the Kingdown,” and sentimental tales including “I Had A Good Mother and Father” and “A Mother’s Last Words to Her Daughter.” “Denomination Blues” sold quite well in the early ‘40s Sister Rosetta Tharpe would cover it as “That’s All.” Between 19 Phillips, then working as a jackleg preacher, recorded eighteen sides for Columbia Records, which released seven singles.
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