PREVIOUSLY ONLY AVAILABLE ON PRIVATE PRESSING
HOUSED IN A GATEFOLD JACKET FILLED WITH
PHOTOS AND LINER NOTES BY UCHENNA IKONNE
When most people think of the musical legacy of
San Francisco, the first thing that usually comes to
mind is the Summer of Love. Much less likely
are you to hear about the City by the Bay's rich
heritage of gospel music. Cultures Of Soul is proud
to revisit this chapter in the city's history with
the reissue of The Sound Of The San Francisco
Christian Center.
The San Francisco Christian Center was one of
the first churches to open its doors to disaffected
hippies searching for a deeper spiritual substance.
This era saw new, youth-driven forms of
'Jesus music' that fused gospel messages with
rock aesthetics. Chief amongst these new-style
gospel artists was the San Francisco-based
Andrae Crouch, who was one of the influences
behind this recording. As a historical document,
it provides a breathtaking view into the roots of
contemporary gospel music, but as just pure
music, it is a transcendent listening experience.
