Mia Moretti: 10 Essential Gospel House Records
In honor of her new collaboration with veteran house music vocalist Vonita White, Los Angeles-based DJ/producer Mia Moretti takes us to church with ten powerful and soul-stirring gospel house tracks that she cherishes.
After being a DJ for almost 20 years, when I decided to venture into the bold waters of music production, I did what any veteran DJ would do — I dug in my crates. There are records that I always returned to, year after year, all for different reasons — these are the records I sampled for the first tracks I produced: Letta Mbulu, Chicco, Toto La Momposina, Petrona Martinez, Crystal Waters.
However, the first voice I ever sampled was Vonita White. It was a gospel house track that truly called out to me, "God Helps Those (Who Helps Themselves" by Jasper Street Co. I'm a lyric queen, a sucker for a sing-a-long vocal, a dance floor anthem, a good story that you are still thinking about long after the song is over, and this was that type of vocal. The job was done; now I just had to find Vonita in Baltimore, who was still there singing for her church, and see if she wanted to come to New York and re-sign it. I reached out to Vonita on Instagram, and the rest is history; she sang it just how she had 30 years ago and nailed it on the first take, too. The result... my latest single, "Best I Can" — out now via my Spaghetti Moretti Records imprint.
Jasper Street Co. - God Helps Those Who Help Themselves [Basement Boys]
The original inspiration for "Best I Can." Vonita's vocal sang to me, and I wanted to bring them to the front; however, the original track slaps, it takes you to church, back home and then right back to church. Nothing says Gospel House more than Baltimore’s own, the legendary Jasper Street Co.
Dennis Ferrer - Church Lady [King Street Sound]
If you're not sold on the title alone, the rhythmic bassline, soulful vocals, and jacked organ stabs will take you all the way to the checkout. Ferrer nails this track and proves that gospel is not just for church, but it did, in fact, all start there.
Barbara Tucker - I Get Lifted [Strictly Rhythm]
Once again, the organ here really takes you to church, but it's Barbara's vocal that really sends you. Like many of these legends, Barbara is still singing her heart out. Go get lifted!
Marcel Vogel, Tim Jules - I Got Jesus [Lumberjacks in Hell]
A champion of Gospel House. This would be Marcel Vogel’s most defining track from the genre. But what stands out to me above the layers of sermons and dollar bin gospel samples are the roots of disco and house — a 10/10 record.
Joe Smooth - Promised Land [Blue Pie Records]
Smooth brought his Motown roots to house music in the late '80s, cementing this record as a house classic staple right around the time gospel house was getting rolling. There can’t be a gospel house chart without the man Joe Smooth.
Byron Stingly - Testify [Nervous Records]
Dig around through all the versions of this classic, especially the Kerri Chandler remix, which brings us right to my next one.
Kerri Chandler - Hallelujah [King Street Sound]
This one speaks for itself. Jersey’s own Kerri Chandler started in nightclubs as a young teenager and the influence of the sound and times around him sculpted a house legend. Gospel influences are heard in many of Chandler's records, with or without a choir needed.
MD X-Spress - God Made Me Phunky [4 To The Floor Records]
Chicago house giant Mike Dunn’s "God Made Me Phunky," originally released in '94, is on the top of my list. It walks the line between gospel and classic house and probably falls off a few times, but it still hits on the dance floor, and Dunn’s vocals, basslines, oscillating organs, and garage beats all take you to heaven and far, far beyond. No lack of funk here. None at all.
Floorplan - We Give Thee Honor [Classic Music Company]
It's a club banger, but it's gospel house at its finest - full of gospel interjections, syncopated organ stabs, and ‘the energy of worship.’ No doubt, Robert Hood is a believer.
Nic Fanciulli , Robert Courtois - Set Me Free [Saved Records]
Wrapping this list up with a massive one from Nic Fanciulli that gives us 90s nostalgia with gospel charm by way of Robert Courtois. This one was made straight for the dance floor, but it will still take you to church, our church.
