Devotion on Wax 001: Holy Grails of Gospel Funk- The Mixtape - by DJ Super Mercy

To the Supreme Original DJ,

Please accept my humble obeisances. Here I stand with my two feet grounded on these sacred Lenape lands of the Lower East Side of New York City, standing on the shoulders of many otherworldly spiritual and cultural giants. Here I stand here at the foot of a mystical tree, the Hare Krishna tree, a potent portal in which musical and spiritual movements have reverberated around the world, and continue to.  

In my darkest hour, you guided me to plant roots within a stone’s throw of this tree. Here I stand, having taken pilgrimage to this sacred tree thousands of times. Over these years, I’ve planted many seeds of prayer on these fertile soils.  And I’ve done my best to listen to Your Divine murmur in my heart, along with the wisdom of my teachers, guiding me to live my most dynamic and purposeful path of service at the crossroads of Devotion, music, and creativity.

So here’s my humble offering for You today: Holy Grails of Gospel Funk- The Mixtape ( by yours truly, DJ Super Mercy). It’s a mixtape twenty years in the making, dating back to my original crate digging days in Boston as an underground psychedelic soul and funk DJ in the early 00’s. In many ways, it was an era in my life of hard partying, destructive behavior, a broken compass and not a whole lot of faith. Nevertheless, by Your Mercy, I was somehow guided to start collecting gospel records, that were ultimately Divine breadcrumbs leading me to a brighter path in life and a renewed relationship with You.  

So here you go, for Your listening pleasure, Holy Grails of Gospel Funk, which is a compilation of the most potent and funky gospel tracks from the 1960’s to 1970’s (mostly) I’ve come across IMHO. May it please You to the fullest.

And perhaps more significantly, this is the first release on Devotion on Wax; a Lower East Side devotional record label and community that I’m aspiring to steward. Should it be Your Will, may this record label come to life and flourish. May it blossom into a thriving of community of dynamic Devotional musical artists and creatives. May the creative output of this label delight you to the fullest, and touch the hearts of every being who listens. May the recordings reverberate throughout New York City and beyond, planting glorious seeds of loving Devotion worldwide.  

As the aspiring stewards and champions of Devotion on Wax, please allow us to be puppets in Your hands, and make us dance, dance, dance! *** (Taking inspiration from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s 1965 prayer, see the footnote)

With loving affection, Yours Truly,

Ari

aka DJ Super Mercy

July 2024, New York City

Footnote #1

***As prayed by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to Krishna on his harrowing boat ride on the Jaladuta when emigrating to the United States (in 1965):

“I am just like a puppet in Your hands, so if You have brought me here to dance, make me dance, make me dance, make me dance as You like.” 

Footnote #2

Thanks for listening. To those out there on the internet, if this mix resonates with you, please consider sharing it :)

The track list and release notes:

Track list

The Voices of East Harlem - Oh Yeah 

The Violinaires - Grooving With Jesus

Jorge Ben -  Brother (jesus christ)

Claudia - Jesus Cristo

E.L. Fields Gospel Wonders & Sharon Jones - Heaven Bound

Jacqui Verdell - We_re Gonna Have A Good Time

The Meditation Singers - Good Old Gospel Music

Honey Cone - Sunday Morning People

Bill_Moss and The Celestials - Keep On Using Me

Leontine Dupree - Standing on His Word

Swan Silvertones -  If You Believe Your God Is Dead

New York Community Choir -  I'll Keep My Light in My Window

Betty Griffin -  Free Spirit

Spirit of Love - He's Alright

The Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word

King Hannibal - The Truth Shall Make You Free

The Brooklyn Allstars - Blessed Be The Name Of God

Camille Doughty - Elijah Rock

T.L. Barrett & Youth For Christ Choir -  Like A Ship

The Inspirational Gospel Singers - The Same Thing It Took

The Brooklyn Allstars - I'm Glad You're Mine

Armstrong Brothers - Can You Treat Him Like a Brother

Harvey Mandel - Christo Redentor

A few suggested Gospel Funk and Disco Compilations 

Good God! Born Again Funk

Greg Belson's Divine Disco: American Gospel Disco 1974 to 1984

Overdose Of The Holy Ghost Compiled By David Hill

Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul & Gospel Funk From Shreveports Jewel Records

Christians Catch Hell (Gospel Roots 1976-79)

Also, a shout out to the wonderful gospel radio program on WFMU, Sinner’s Crossroads