1967 HOWARD THURMAN – DEEP RIVER: AN INTERPRETATION OF FIVE NEGRO SPIRITUALS
An unusually nice and historically significant 1967 spoken-word and spiritual recording featuring Howard Thurman with The Howard University Choir, directed by Warner Lawson, with Thomas H. Kerr Jr. as organist.
This recording is associated with Howard University’s Centennial Vespers, held Sunday, February 26, 1967, and the rear cover features the historic Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Howard Thurman provides the spoken-word interpretations accompanying five African-American spirituals performed by the Howard University Choir:
* Let Us Break Bread Together
* A Balm in Gilead
* The Blind Man
* Deep River
* Jacob’s Ladder
The program concludes with an epilogue/benediction.
ABOUT HOWARD THURMAN
Howard Thurman was one of the most important American theologians, authors, educators and spiritual thinkers of the 20th century.
His writings and teachings concerning human dignity, nonviolence, spirituality and racial justice became highly influential during the Civil Rights era, including upon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the movement.
Thurman had studied and interpreted the African-American spiritual tradition for many years. His important work Deep River: An Interpretation of Negro Spirituals was originally published in 1945.
This 1967 recording is therefore especially interesting, as it preserves Thurman himself giving voice to a subject that had occupied an important place in his work for decades.
VERY UNUSUAL – TWO IDENTICAL LPs IN ONE SLEEVE
This example is particularly interesting because the original sleeve contains TWO identical copies of this 1967 Deep River LP.
This is not a conventional two-record set — both records contain the same program.
The two records have been individually inspected and graded:
RECORD #1: EXCELLENT (EX)
Extremely clean example showing very little apparent use.
RECORD #2: VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)
A very nice copy showing somewhat more evidence of having been played.
It is quite possible that a former owner retained the cleaner EX example as a “keeper copy,” while the VG+ copy was the record actually used for regular listening. We cannot prove that this was the owner’s intention, but the difference in wear between the two identical records makes it an interesting possibility.
The Howard Thurman script/signature appearing as part of the front cover artwork is printed and is not being represented as a hand-signed autograph.
The original sleeve shows normal age and storage wear. Please study all photographs carefully for exact condition.
A fascinating 1967 document of African-American history, Howard University history, spoken word, spiritual music and Civil Rights-era religious thought, made considerably more unusual by the presence of two identical copies together — one EX and one VG+.
INCLUDES:
Original 1967 Deep River sleeve
Two identical Deep River LP records
Record #1 – EX
Record #2 – VG+
Howard Thurman – Spoken Word
The Howard University Choir
Warner Lawson – Director
Thomas H. Kerr Jr. – Organist
Suggested Price: $119.95 Buy It Now / Best Offer
Enjoy — Laurence & Sally of Studio Antiques & Vinyl, official appraisers on Storage Wars and cast members of Baggage Battles.