Today, we launch a new series of articles called The Originals. Each entry in this series will highlight the first recorded version of song that is now considered to be one of Southern Gospel Music’s all-time classics.
The spotlight today falls on “Glory Road,” a true classic written by Conrad Cook. This song was published by Kingsmen Publishing Company and immortalized by Johnny Parrack and the rest of the Kingsmen on their 1973 LP Big And Live. It’s no surprise that most people would assume the Kingsmen were the first group to ever record it. There was an earlier version, though.
The original recording was made by The Calvarymen Quartet of West Virginia. The common denominator is that songwriter Conrad Cook was a member of the Calvarymen as was Squire Parsons who would later join the Kingsmen. (Please note that the Calvarymen of Flint, Michigan who started singing in the mid-1950s are a separate group.)
Check it out:
Please keep following and voting in our 2015 Survey Series. Five “cover” and/or “remake” versions of “Glory Road” will make an appearance for your consideration in mid-June.
Hundreds of versions of “Glory Road” have been recorded since the West Virginia-based Calvarymen Quartet introduced it. Most of those groups used the same basic arrangement as the original version by the West Virginia Calvarymen Quartet.
Here’s a partial list of artists along with the year their version of “Glory Road” was released. I’ve also included the album titles. (The links will take you to each artist’s page on our sister site, SGHistory.com.)
- Ambassadors (1975 God’s Gonna Getcha For That)
- Anchormen (1998 Quartet Favorites; 2008 Foundations; ???? Old Time Singing)
- Apostles Of Little Rock (1999 Vintage Gospel)
- Billy Hodges (2011 Then And Now)
- Blue Ridge Quartet (1970 He Came Back)
- Brian Free And Assurance (2008 Timeless Hymns And Classics II)
- Calvarymen Quartet (???? Rise Again)
- Cathedral Quartet (1975 Plain Ole Gospel; 1979 Oh What A Love)
- Dixie Melody Boys (2005 Historic Journey Volume 8; 2006 Traditions)
- Florida Boys (???? Sing Gospel Hits: Volume V)
- Gaither Homecoming Series (1999 Sweet Sweet Spirit; 2000 Oh, My, Glory)
- Gold City (1987 Favorites Volume Two)
- Gold City and Kingsmen Quartet (1992 Kings Gold)
- Gospel Brass (1976 In Session)
- Gospel Harmony Boys (1976 Our Tribute To God And Country)
- Harvesters (1976 Thanks For Loving Me)
- Jerry And The Goffs (1974 Your Choice)
- Kingdom Heirs (1986 Heirlooms; 1987 Favorites)
- Kingsmen Quartet (1973 Big And Live; 1988 Once Again; 1990 Old Gold; 1996 40th Anniversary Reunion: Perfecting The Crown; 1997 A Ton Of Fun Memories, Vol.1; 1997Southern Classics: Kingsmen Standards; 2000 Not Quite As Big But Just As Live Again; 2002 Honoring The Heritage Volume 2; 2010 Live! Performances From The National Quartet Convention)
- Land Of The Sky Boys (2000 Up Close)
- LeFevre Quartet (2006 Requests Volume 1 – Quartet Favorites; 2008 Live)
- Mark Trammell Trio (2006 Journey Thus Far)
- Melody Masters Quartet (???? Classic Style)
- Palmetto State Quartet (???? How Great Thou Art)
- Perfect Heart (1996 Relives The Good Ole Days)
- Singing Americans (1984 Live & Alive)
- Soul’d Out Quartet (2004 Walking Worthy)
- Squire Parsons And Redeemed (1991 The Best Of Squire Parsons And Redeemed)
- Squire Parsons Trio (1995 Rejoicin‘)
- Teddy Huffam And The Gems (1988 The Way It Oughta Be; 1996 Live Like No Other!; 2005 Greatest Hits)
- The Trio (2000 The Trio Live – Anthony, Kirk, And Ivan)
- Willie Wynn And The Tennesseans (1975 Ain’t It Good News)
- Wills Family (???? Here They Come)
Very good. I enjoyed that. Thanks for sharing that.
Nice – I enjoy the historical approach.
Man, it’s good to hear just a quartet and piano. Southern gospel at its best!
I agree with JimT–so good to hear the original, unadorned sound of a very good quartet with only a piano accompaniment. Cook wrote this, so obviously, he knew how it should sound.
I only missed the little vocal break upward that some (?) lead singer introduced later.
Thanks much for this new feature on “The Originals.” Great!