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The cover of the Gabriels EP Love and Hate in a Different Time
Song of the Day: The title track of a EP released in October recalls the era of Northern Soul, with a wonderful vocal by Los Angeles-based gospel singer Jacob Lusk who makes up the band alongside producers Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope
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Ayoni
Song of the Day: Exquisite, soaring lead vocals and harmonies from the Barbadas-born, LA-based soulful singer-songwriter on this acoustic new track that captures the traumas and experience of being a black woman
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Dr John, the Night Tripper, aka Mac Rebennack, 1941-2019
Song of the Day: A song-based tribute to the sadly departed New Orleans great, aka Mac Rebennack, the rich-voiced, voodoo-style Mardi Gras feather-wearing pianist, guitarist and singer who spanned genres with colour and charisma
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The Staple Singers - fronted by Mavis
Song of the Day: On the day Donald Trump calls an attention-seeking national emergency to get funding for his controversial wall project, a song from 1973 by the great soul and gospel family with a message that’s loud and clear
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Otis Redding, 1941-1967
Song of the Day: After yesterday’s classic blues number best known for Lead Belly, another simmering jealousy classic from one of the great soul stars whose life was tragically cut short in a 1967 plane crash aged only 26
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The Animals may have done the best-known cover version, but there are arguably others than better it
To some it’s a masterpiece, to others a dirge, but from 17th century England to 20th century New Orleans, with artists that include Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone, The Animals and alt-J it’s a song that keeps evolving
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Blind Willie Johnson (1897-1945)
Song of the Day: Following Solomon Burke and The Blind Boys of Alabama, let's take it way back to the great blues and gospel singer and bottleneck guitarist who was raised in Marlin, Texas
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Marion Williams 1927-1994
Song of the Day: There are great voices, and then there's Marion Williams. Continuing our series of gospel greats, for sheer raw passion and power, few can match the soaring sensation from Miami
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The Blind Boys of Alabama in later years, including founders Clarence Fountain and Jimmy Carter
Song of the Day: From mountains with Mahalia Jackson and the rain from Rosetta Tharpe and Ray Charles, we turn to similar heights with the great gospel singing group that has been going since 1939 and a songwriter also from Alabama
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Sister Rosetta Tharpe, singing and guitar-playing superstar, in action at Chorlton station in 1964
Song of the Day: After the great Mahalia Jackson, another superstar who could not only sing, but whose guitar playing was a major influence on Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, and therefore everybody since them
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Mahalia Jackson
Song of the Day: Following a tribute to Aretha Franklin's passing, who could possibly follow that? Very few, but perhaps one of her inspirations, the great gospel singer, with three songs that show her extraordinary power and range
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James Carr
Song of the Day: Following Nick Cave's Jubilee Street, let's continue down the magnificent but murky musical road with this 1967 soul classic by the Mississippi-born singer from album You Got My Mind Messed Up
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Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover in a still from the video by Hiro Murai
Song of the Day: Continuing our ongoing edgy theme, this time on a different plain – a super-sharp, ironic cultural commentary with one of the most talked about videos in years by the US rapper, actor and comedian, aka Donald McKinley Glover Jr.
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