Charles McPheeters & The Bible Belt Boogie Band

High On Life Landmark 1971
Early live performance before a high school audience - one of many he did shortly after his conversion. Includes five songs: Joe South's 'Walk A Mile In My Shoes', James Taylor's 'Fire And Rain', Paul Stookey's 'Hymn', Mike Johnson/Exkursions' 'Would You Believe' and his own composition 'Bad News Blues'. Lots of spoken testimony between the songs recounting his old lifestyle of drug addiction as well as his new-found hope in Jesus. Lots of humor balanced with the seriousness of the message. The tunes are good and capture the same spirit as early Randy Matthews, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill and Mike Johnson. Bass, piano, organ and drums with McPheeters on guitar. KS

Early picture of Charles (left) and
the New Creatures from late 60's

Practice What You Preach
Ain't Got No Time
And The Bible Belt Boogie Band-Faces HGRS 1979
Here's some more "gospel kitsch" to file next to your Jim Gill albums. This is the second custom lp by a man known less for his music than for founding the Holy Ghost Repair Service street ministry in Hollywood where he bumped heads with hippie preacher Arthur Blessit. Sadly he passed on in the early 80's but not before blessing us with this amalgam of doo-wop, rock n roll, cocktail jazz, mariachi, Perry Como and whatnot, garnished with lovely nasal, falsetto, jive, and Elvis-impersonated vocals. Dig titles like 'Greasy Truth' and the hilarious 'First Church of The Frigid-Air'. The lounge number are my favorites. This guy was definitely goony but behind the big nose, glasses, and cigar lies a man who clearly loved the Lord. Band help by Mike Johnson, Randy Matthews and Danny Taylor. KS

The Holy Ghost Repair Service
Hollywood