On December 8th, 2023, Omnivore Recordings will release the reissue of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy’s 1975 R&B and Gospel classic album, Kickin’. This reissue contains the original album, plus the rare single versions of “Mighty High” and “You Are So Beautiful.”
Packaging contains a new essay from Tim Dillinger-Curenton, a music historian with a focus on the worlds of Gospel, Soul, contemporary Christian, and women’s music.
Formed in the late 1950s, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy released their initial records on the Peacock label, alongside Gospel groups The Dixie Hummingbirds,The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama, The Sensational Nightingales, and more.
In 1974, they moved to ABC Records, and along with producer Dave Crawford (Wilson Pickett, The J. Geils Band, B. B. King), released their crossover release, It’s Time. The following year, Kickin’ hit the charts, landing a #1 single on Billboard’s Disco Action Chart with its lead track, “Mighty High.” The album contained other originals, as well as covers of Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, and Kiki Dee.
Gospel music had officially branched into universal music, and songs that spoke to listeners of all genres.
