Alex Bradford - Too Close To Heaven: Singles & Albums 1953-62 (2024)

Professor Alex Bradford was a gospel singer, composer, arranger and choir director whose music during the 1950s and early ‘60s bridged the gap between gospel and soul, and who helped developed the modern mass choir movement in gospel. His music and vocal style was an influence on the likes of Little Richard, Ray Charles and Bob Marley, with his approach to gospel characterised by a fervent rocking atmosphere, which helped bring him a million-seller with “Too Close To Heaven”. This 70-track 3-CD collection comprises A&B sides of his singles on Specialty, including “Too Close To Heaven”, and the tracks from his album for Gospel “Walking With The King”, his Columbia album with the Abyssinian Baptist Choir, his Vee Jay album “One Step” and his album for Regent “I'm Going to Work Till The Day Is Done”. It includes recordings as Professor Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials, Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men & Ladies Of Song, and with Bessie Griffin. This era was a heyday for the style of gospel music where many of the soul stars of the 60s and ‘70s learnt their trade and developed their style, and Alex Bradford was a key figure in that scene. This substantial collection offers an inspiring and uplifting showcase for his talents as songwriter, performer and choir leader.

Tracklist:
1-1. Professor Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Too Close To Heaven (03:02)
1-2. Professor Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - I Don't Care What The World May Do (02:28)
1-3. Prof. Alex Bradford & the Bradford Specials - He Lifted Me (02:51)
1-4. Prof. Alex Bradford & the Bradford Specials - Lord! Lord! Lord! (02:44)
1-5. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Just The Name Of Jesus (02:07)
1-6. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - I Won't Sell Out (03:15)
1-7. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Right Now (02:55)
1-8. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - I Feel The Spirit (02:35)
1-9. Prof. Alex Bradford & Bradford Specials - He'll Wash You Whiter Than Snow (02:39)
1-10. Prof. Alex Bradford & Bradford Specials - Oh Lord, Save Me (02:25)
1-11. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Holy Ghost (02:13)
1-12. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Life’s Candelight (02:37)
1-13. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Somebody Touched Me (02:11)
1-14. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - If Mother Knew (02:30)
1-15. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - Without A God (02:15)
1-16. Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Specials - I Dare You (02:16)
1-17. Prof. Alex Bradford - Steal Away (02:49)
1-18. Prof. Alex Bradford - I Can't Tarry (02:50)
1-19. Prof. Alex Bradford - What Did John Do? (02:17)
1-20. Prof. Alex Bradford - It All Belongs To Him (02:37)
1-21. Alex Bradford: - He's Everything To Me (03:17)
1-22. Alex Bradford: - I've Got A Job (03:55)
1-23. Alex Bradford & Bessie Griffin - What Makes A Man Turn His Back On God (03:12)
1-24. Alex Bradford with the Men of Song - The Man Is Wonderful (02:07)
1-25. Alex Bradford with the Men of Song - God Searched The World (02:14)
1-26. Alex Bradford - What Folks Say About Me (02:29)
1-27. Alex Bradford - The Lifeboat (02:33)
1-28. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - Big Man In The Sky (02:07)
2-29. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - Ten Thousand Blessings (03:46)
2-30. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - I Found A Leak In The Building (03:14)
2-31. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - What Do You Know About Jesus (02:30)
2-32. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - God Never Sent A Soldier To Battle Alone (03:06)
2-33. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - His Precious Love (03:35)
2-34. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Men Of Song - He Leadeth Me (02:45)
2-35. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song - Come On Let's Go (02:25)
2-36. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song - He Makes All My Decisions For Me (03:28)
2-37. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song - Walking With The King (02:48)
2-38. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song - Big Wind Blowing (02:57)
2-39. Prof. Alex Bradford And The Ladies Of Song - Where My Jesus Lives (03:27)
2-40. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - I Want To Ride That Glory Train (03:38)
2-41. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - Heaven Belongs To You (If You Live Right) (04:23)
2-42. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody (05:53)
2-43. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - He Stays In My Room (08:19)
2-44. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - Sweet Jesus (05:43)
2-45. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - You Can't Make Me Doubt Him (04:59)
2-46. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - He Is Such An Understanding God (06:59)
3-47. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - You've Got To Bear The Consequence (03:19)
3-48. Abyssinian Baptist Choir & Prof. Alex Bradford - I Can Call Him (He Always Answers Me) (06:13)
3-49. Professor Alex Bradford - One Step (02:57)
3-50. Professor Alex Bradford - Walk Through The Streets (02:47)
3-51. Professor Alex Bradford - Just In Time (02:19)
3-52. Professor Alex Bradford - I Left My Sins Behind Me (02:15)
3-53. Professor Alex Bradford - Let The Lord Be Seen In You (02:53)
3-54. Professor Alex Bradford - Climbing Up The Mountain (02:32)
3-55. Professor Alex Bradford - What About You (02:00)
3-56. Professor Alex Bradford - I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody (02:36)
3-57. Professor Alex Bradford - This Wonderful Savior (02:18)
3-58. Professor Alex Bradford - The Lord Looks Out For Me Every Day (02:14)
3-59. Professor Alex Bradford - Oh My Good Lord (02:27)
3-60. Professor Alex Bradford - Too Close (02:51)
3-61. Professor Alex Bradford - What More Do You Want The Lord To Do (02:54)
3-62. Professor Alex Bradford - My Lord's Going To Move This Wicked Race (03:17)
3-63. Professor Alex Bradford - Nobody's Fault But Mine (03:16)
3-64. Professor Alex Bradford - I'm Going To Work Till The Day Is Done (03:30)
3-65. Professor Alex Bradford - Let's Go (02:26)
3-66. Professor Alex Bradford - The Storm Is Not Over (03:02)
3-67. Professor Alex Bradford - Because He Love Me So (02:18)
3-68. Professor Alex Bradford - He's All Right (02:46)
3-69. Professor Alex Bradford - On The Other Side Of The River (03:20)
3-70. Professor Alex Bradford - Nobody Like The Lord (03:10)