Flying With Two Wings
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Artist:Rev. Utah Smith
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Track:I Got Two Wings
I heard the Reverend Utah Smith for the first time today, when a random bolt of lightning flew out of itunes and schooled me real good. The first tune I heard from this Louisiana-based, electric guitar weilding preacher from the 40's was Glory To Jesus, I'm Free. This tune shook me out of my schoolwork induced MOG-stupor which has seen my participation drop to unprecedented lows. Anyways, Rev. Smith was so good to me, that I had to share.
In poking around the internets to find out the deal with Rev. Smith, the site Record Connexion was of great assistance. I found out that Rev. Smith made only 10 or 15 records in his career, and at least 3 of 'em were versions of Two Wings. My posted version and the epiphany tune I mentioned above (and post below) were self-recorded on the Rev.'s own Two Wings Temple label (his church's name) back in 1947. Fact is, he had been recording since 1944 and always with an electric guitar, making him somewhat of a pioneer in gospel and rock-like guitar.
Rev. Smith is the subject of a fairly new biography as well. I guess he was a bit of a character with his new fangled guitar and stage show..including that huge set of wings he wore. It isn't too much of a stretch to say that he influenced Sister Rosetta Tharpe and was a precursor to the pedal steel players from the House Of God church sect (from whence came Robert Randolph). At any rate, he was playing electric guitar with rock-like energy when Elvis was in diapers.
I haven't checked out the book yet, but it looks like Amazon is gonna get some more of my money, the Rev. Utah Smith story has all the markings of a good 'un. Miss ya MOG..
BTW-I had the Songs on a JSP record compilation called the Guitar Evangelists V.1..definitely worth checking..but the Re. Smith book comes with a CD too, so that might be the way to go.
Comments (19)
You forgot to post the tune, Cody.....
While waiting for you to rectify your omission, I found this track on Spotify, on a compilation called "The Best of Classic Gospel", so at least I know what you're so excited about. Like you, i was not familiar with his oeuvre until today.
You caught me in mid draft, Mr. B., but now we have 3, and we aren't the worse for it..
Now, that's makin' me feel downright spiritual Cody! I love these little rootsy shoots that make what came later seem soo much less magically original.
That MOG "daft" feature has the expected functionality, I was here before ya finished, but unlike Baudolino - I had nothing to add...just stood by the wall and waited.
It's hard to type while clapping in time....
Man did I butcher that post..I now have the right song in the dot and the other I mention here..apologies,I'm rusty.
Hey Mr. Free..good to see ya. A different kind o' garage rock here, no?
Word to this.
Hope it's not sacrilige, but I actually listened to "Glory to Jesus..."up in the body of your post...whoa, that sounds a bit like a MOG communion. But, I see you moved the old player down in comments...lemmee guess, lost the code in the edit? another grace of the new MOG!
Hey man, ya know...I'm in MOG-stupor too - but we'll all meet up at that great playlist in the sky...I'm out, peace.
Great timing, Cody. I've had such a day running around in circles, I feel like somebody's nailed my foot to the floor. I needed this.
I should add, when I was a kid, my folks used to take me down to Vera's Steak House in central Milwaukee (long since gone away). A local church used to broadcast a gospel show from the back room there, and this sure brings back some memories...
This great music certainly lifts my spirits today. There was nobody else quite like him.
Yes, and I also love the chorus of kids singing/yelling along with Smith in I Got Two Wings....the enthusiasm is contagious!
AMEN, AND GLORY BE!
I'm saved!!!
Many thanks MOG-vets! Rev. Smith let me know I can still get the fever..I hope it stays.
You can get as many amens as you want from this pew....
just listening tonight, and loving this
Wish my church growing up had music like this
Thanks for passing by my pew, O Mariners of MOG
Here is the 1953 version of Two Wings..released on the Checker label.