Inez Andrews - With the Caravans and Andrewettes

Inez Andrews passed away on December 19th, Rest In Peace. Here is Pres' tribute from November.

 Inez Andrews is one of my favorite singers, somebody whose art has penetrated so deeply into my soul that it would be hard to imagine life without her.    Inez Andrews made quite a few memorable recordings over the last half decade, but her first astonishing records made with the Caravans in the late 50s and early 60s are the Foundation, and set a standard that Inez herself has only seldom equaled at other times in her career.   I know of no CD or LP that has gathered these tracks together.   So I have done the job myself.  I present here 11 classic Caravans tracks from 1958-1962 with Inez Andrews leads or co-leads, and have added five more dynamite tracks that Inez recorded immediately after leaving the Caravans in 1963 and forming her own group, the Andrewettes. 

Inez Andrews was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1929.  Her mother was a gospel singer and Inez began performing in choirs at a very early age.  She toured the South in some of them.   Inez had built a strong local reputation by the time that Rev. James Cleveland persuaded her to join the Caravans in 1956.  The Caravans are one of the true super groups of gospel.  Their roster has included the likes of Albertina Walker, James Cleveland, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Shirley Ceasar, Dorothy Norwood, and Dolores Washington.   At far as I am concerned, they were never more powerful than with Inez Andrews at the helm.    After leaving the Caravans, Inez Andrews has mostly led her own groups, as well as headlining various Caravans reunion concerts.

Inez Andrews may have never recorded any blues, but I would cite her as one of the blusiest singers who ever lived.   It is often said that Archie Brownlee sang the bluesiest version of the Lord's prayer.  But you will hear some strong competition for that title on the collection presented here.  Performances like "Show Me the Way" or "Mary Don't You Weep" sound like something of an answer to the question asked in the blues classic popularized by BB King, "How Blue Can You Get?"  Inez Andrews also shares a rare attribute of a few male singers like Archie Brownlee and Wilson Pickett - the ability to scream and sing at the same time.   Like with Brownlee, Inez Andrews' scream can be terrifying and send shivers down your spine, while at the same time calming and soothing your soul. 

For those of you who might be hearing this music for the first time, brace youself.  I hope that it can bring you at least a fraction of the satisfaction that it has given me over the years.




Track list

A) With the Caravans

1) He Won't Deny Me
2) I'm Willing
3) I'm Not Tired Yet
4) Your Friend
5) Mary Don't You Weep
6) Show Me The Way
7) They Didn't Believe In Me
8) The Way The Lord Needs Me
9) Hear Ye The Word
10) Hold to God's Unchanging Hand
11) Make It In

B)  With the Andrewettes

12) It Was Jesus
13) Let the Church Roll On
14) Look Up And Live
15) Sing A Song
16) I'm Glad About It
17) To Be Used of God