Just to give you some warning… Lynnell Harris (misspelled as Lindell Harris on the label) has an amazing tone and vocals that are SOOOOO bananas. This record was recorded for tiny Valberst Records in the 70s here in Chicago at Pervis Staples’ (of the Staple Singers) Studio.
“One Day I Was Walking” has been in my head for at least two years. Very basic track. Very soulful delivery. Very dope guitar work. Jive on!
UPDATE: Here are the comments from the original post for more info on this record.
Tom Tom Washington (pictured at left) is basically my hero. He’s also a very humble and cool individual to be around.
As a Chicagoan and a music lover, his distinctive Horn and String Arrangements are like home to me.
Tom Tom came up in Chicago’s Ida B. Wells Projects and studied music under the tutelage of James Mack (an awe-inspiring arranger in his own right). He wound up arranging dozens of records for Chicago Music Heavyweights such as Earth, Wind, & Fire, The Emotions, Tyrone Davis, Deniece Williams (who is from Gary, IN), The Staple Singers, Ramsey Lewis, Leroy Hutson, The Chi-Lites, Otis Leavill, Betty Everett, Jerry Butler, Loleatta Holloway, and many, many, more.
In my cratedigging, I actually look for his name on a record as a mark of excellence. I call it looking for a “Tom Tom”. I have at least a couple of hundred cuts he’s had a hand in (under the names Tom Tom, Tom Tom 74, Tom Tom 75, Tom Tom 84, Tom Tom Washington, and a few other aliases).
Tom Tom Washington also branched out and worked with artists from all over the world, including Phil Collins and The Whispers. The Whispers are a Los Angeles-based group, and in 1978, he did arrangements for an album called “Headlights”. I know this because I recently found a 45rpm single taken from the album. I’m not usually a fan of the Whispers, but it’s a beast, featuring the top cut, called “Olivia (Lost and Turned Out)” (which is about exactly what you think it’s about), and the B-Side called “Try and Make it Better”, which is bangin’. The tunes’ arrangements capture the distinctive sound that Tom Tom made classic on hits by Earth, Wind, & Fire and The Emotions. It’s amazing. But why wouldn’t it be? It’s a “Tom Tom”.
Chicago-based photographer John H. White (whose work has been highlighted here many times) was awarded the Pulitzer for general excellence in photography in 1982. This general excellence award is no longer awarded. This is the story of the photo (above) that won him his award.
Mr. White was assigned to go to a local dance school to take some pictures on a cloudy day. He didn’t want to use unnatural light (such as a flash) for his photos, so White prayed to God that he would have an afternoon of light. He didn’t get it. Next, he prayed for 15 minutes of light. Still nothing.
“How about 5 minutes of light, God?” he asked. And then, suddenly, a ray of light that came piercing through one of the studio’s windows and he took his pictures.
“I asked for five minutes of light and He gave me a Pulitzer Prize.”
In celebration, it’s Chicago’s Staple Singers with “Uncloudy Day” from 1959. Released on local Vee Jay Records, it features haunting echoey guitar licks, other-worldly harmonies, and beautifully sparse acoustic production. The song also forged a brand of socially-conscious gospel that The Staples would eventually be known the world over for.
Movie trailer for the 1973 black documentary, Wattstax. Perhaps the closet thing to “BLACKstock” we’ll ever see. Great performances from Memphis’ Stax Recording artists of the time and an indelible message of unity, self-determination, and respect (and fly fashion).
I can’t be 100% certain, but I’m pretty sure that the chemical pink ensemble (complete with white, patent-leather, knee-high platform boots) that Rufus Thomas (best known for “Do the Funky Chicken“) wears on stage in Wattstax is the same outfit he sports in a Schlitz Malt Liquor commercial from that era. But then again, they were living pretty high at Stax in those days. He could’ve had two suits… or was he wearing a hot pink cape? Hmmm…..
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darkjive.com 
March 12th, 2012 at 3:48 pm | edit
Mr. Luke Jacox of Chicago helped formed this group. Beautiful voices.
March 14th, 2012 at 12:14 pm | edit
Thanks so much for this information! One of my favorite slices of gospel. Do you know if the lead vocalist, Lindell Harris is still around?
April 14th, 2012 at 7:04 pm | edit
Yes
Mr Lynnell Harris is still alive and still singing for the Lord.
April 14th, 2012 at 8:31 pm | edit
Wow! Ms. Harris, this is spectacular news. I think Mr. Harris’ voice is a gift from God to the world. Also, I’ll correct the spelling of his name on the post. I was, of course, going by the label. My apologies.
May 5th, 2012 at 8:41 pm | edit
sang Lynnell ,haven’t hear you in years ,always enjoy ur sanging lol,God bless you!!