Gospel music lost another giant yesterday with the passing of Mosie Lister, author of many classic songs that rank among the greatest in the history of the genre. At age 93, he was one of the last remaining, or maybe even the last remaining of the songwriters of the classic era of gospel music, pre-Gaither. Along with convention era greats like Vep Ellis, “Dad” Speer, Albert Brumley, and Lee Roy Abernathy, his songs shaped the sound of southern gospel music, and that influence extends immeasurably to the modern day. Indeed, especially through the Booth Brothers, he was still churning out quality songs in the last decade or two.
Lister’s songs have not just been recorded hundreds or thousands of times, but they are well-known to the church at large. Several of his compositions are standards in hymnals. So most any Christian can probably list a favorite or two or twenty. The following is a list of some of my favorite recordings of Mosie Lister songs. The Booth Brothers, whose close relationship with him (Lister is Michael Booth’s father-in-law) has been mutually beneficial, appear several times. They match up extremely well with Lister’s songs, but they are of such immense quality and variety, that you can find them in the catalogs of virtually every gospel music artist.
(In alphabetical order)
1. “Down on My Knees,” Cathedrals, Old Convention Song (1985)
2. “Goodbye, World, Goodbye,” Gaither Homecoming Friends, Ryman Gospel Reunion (1996)
3. “Happy Rhythm,” Booth Brothers, Still (2014)
4. “His Grace Is Sufficient,” Booth Brothers, Pure Southern Gospel (2004)
5. “How Long Has It Been,” Mark Trammell Quartet, Testimony (2010)
6. “I’m Feeling Fine,” Cathedrals, Goin’ in Style (1988)
7. “I’ve Been Changed,” Booth Brothers, Pure Southern Gospel (2004)
8. “I’ve Got a Wonderful Feeling,” Gaither Homecoming Friends, Something Beautiful (1996)
9. “Land Where Living Waters Flow,” Hoppers, Joy for the Journey (1999)
10. “Love Was in the Room,” Booth Brothers, Will You Love Jesus More (1998)
11. “Still Feelin’ Fine,” Booth Brothers, This Stage of Grace (2001)
12. “Thank Him for the Miracle,” Booth Brothers, The Booth Brothers (2003)
13. “Then I Met the Master,” Booth Brothers, Declaration (2010)
14. “‘Til the Storm Passes By,” Greater Vision, When I See the Cross (1997)
15. “Where No One Stands Alone,” Gaither Vocal Band, I Do Believe (2000)
16. “While Ages Roll,” Gold City, Having Fun (1996)
It doesn’t get any better than this rousing rendition from the original Greater Vision of Lister’s most celebrated and enduring work, “‘Til the Storm Passes By”.
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