| Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso) | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 September 2020 | |||
| Genre | Gospel music | |||
| Label | Bloodlines Music | |||
| Producer |
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| Vika and Linda chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso) | ||||
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Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso) is the sixth studio album by Australian vocal duo Vika and Linda Bull and was released on 11 September 2020. [6]
At the AIR Awards of 2021, the album won Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP. [7]
When the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown began in Melbourne in March 2020, Vika and Linda Bull decided to sing one gospel song each Sunday morning for their followers on social media. The weekly performance became known as the "Sunday Sing Song". Vika said "It's kept our spirits up and we've had great feedback from people". [8]
Following the feedback, the sisters decided to record an album of gospel songs. Music director Cameron Bruce played piano from his home in New South Wales and sent the files to Melbourne where the sisters added the vocals. [8]
In a statement, the Linda said "Gospel is a genre we know we can do faithfully. It doesn't feel laboured for us, it feels like a release and when we sing these songs, we feel better. And when that happens, hopefully people will feel the same way." Vika added "Gospel music has been a huge influence on the way we sing; We love the rawness and minimal instrumentation of the early recordings of the great vocal powerhouses like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson." [9]
The tracklist originated from a list of 175 songs Paul Kelly sent Vika and Linda several years ago. During the lockdown they cycled through the songs and eventually settled on 12, plus an original, "Shallow Grave" written by Kasey Chambers and Harry Hookey. [8]
Jeff Jenkins from Stack Magazine said "You don't have to be a believer to dig these tunes" saying, "There's something special about siblings singing together and the sisters' voices beautifully complement each other. Vika's vocal takes no prisoners, grabbing you by the scruff of the neck, whereas Linda's voice lures the listener with its subtler tone." Jenkins said "a standout is a three-way duet with Paul Kelly". [10]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)" | 3:12 | |
| 2. | "Strange Things Happening Every Day" | 2:44 | |
| 3. | "It Don't Cost Very Much" | 3:27 | |
| 4. | "Memphis Flu" | 2:30 | |
| 5. | "In the Land Where We'll Never Grow Old" (featuring Paul Kelly) |
| 2:49 |
| 6. | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | 5:19 | |
| 7. | "Sinnerman" |
| 2:45 |
| 8. | "Shallow Grave" | 3:24 | |
| 9. | "Downbound Train" | 2:56 | |
| 10. | "Jesus On the Mainline" |
| 3:12 |
| 11. | "Didn't It Rain" |
| 2:00 |
| 12. | "Walk with Me Lord" |
| 2:23 |
| 13. | "Amazing Grace" |
| 3:36 |
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [11] | 2 |
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 11 September 2020 [12] | Bloodlines | BLOOD78 | |
| Australia | 25 September 2020 [13] | Bloodlines | BLOODLP78 |
"Sinner Man" or "Sinnerman" is an African American traditional spiritual song that has been recorded by a number of performers and has been incorporated in many other media and arts. The lyrics describe a sinner attempting to hide from divine justice on Judgment Day. It was recorded in the 1950s by Les Baxter, the Swan Silvertones, the Weavers and others, before Nina Simone recorded an extended version in 1965.
Vika and Linda, also known as Vika and Linda Bull, are an Australian vocal duo consisting of Vika Susan Bull and her younger sister, Linda Rose Bull. They came to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The Black Sorrows from 1988. They left that group early in 1994 to start their duo with a self-titled album appearing in June that year. The duo scored their first number 1 album in 2020, with their retrospective 'Akilotoa: Anthology (1994-2006).
"Ain't No Grave" is a traditional American gospel song attributed to Claude Ely (1922–1978) of Virginia.
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" is an African American spiritual that was most famously, and influentially, recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 1944. Released as a single by Decca Records, Tharpe's version featured her vocals and electric guitar, with Sammy Price (piano), bass and drums. It was the first gospel record to cross over and become a hit on the "race records" chart, the term then used for what later became the R&B chart, and reached #2 on the Billboard "race" chart in April 1945.
Down Bound Train is a song written by Chuck Berry. It was inspired by Berry's "fire and brimstone" religious upbringing.
"Didn't It Rain", sometimes given as "Oh, Didn't It Rain", is a spiritual about Noah's flood. In 1919 it appeared as sheet music in an arrangement for voice and piano by Henry Thacker Burleigh (1866–1949).
The Merri Soul Sessions or Paul Kelly Presents: The Merri Soul Sessions is the twentieth studio album by Australian musician, Paul Kelly, which was issued on 12 December 2014 on his own label, Gawdaggie Records, and distributed by Universal Music Australia. Kelly provided lead vocals on two of its eleven tracks, the rest featured vocals by either Clairy Browne, sisters Vika and Linda Bull, Kira Puru, or Dan Sultan. The album debuted at No. 17 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
Vika and Linda is the debut studio album by Australia vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album was released in May 1994 and debuted and peaked at number 7 on the Australian ARIA Charts in June 1994.
Australian vocal duo Vika and Linda have released eight studio albums, two compilation albums, four live albums and twenty-one singles.
Between Two Shores is the fifth studio album by Australia vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album features some of the most popular songs of Vika and Linda Bulls's career, including some from their time with Black Sorrows. The album was released on 23 September 2006 via Liberation Records.
Two Wings is the third studio album by Australia vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album was released in August 1999 and debuted and peaked at number 34 on the Australian ARIA Charts in September 1999.
Live & Acoustic is the first live album by Australian vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album was recorded at The Continental Hotel in Melbourne and released in November 2000 on Mushroom Records. It was the duos final release on this label.
Tell the Angels is the second live album by Australian vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album was recorded at The Cornish Arms Hotel, (Melbourne) over twelve Sundays in June, July and August 2003 The album was released independently in May 2004.
Love Is Mighty Close is the fourth studio album by Australian vocal duo Vika & Linda Bull. The album was released and distributed by MGM Distribution in July 2002. It is the duo's first album released independently after their contract with Mushroom Records ended. Linda Bull said it allowed them more freedom, "We've always been conscious of budgets and working quickly anyway, because we didn't want to get in debt or waste someone else's opportunity. But this time we borrowed an amount of money from our mum and dad that we knew we could repay, for the recording, rather than from the record company. Now we're not A&Ring for radio, we've just made a record we like very naturally.
Life Is Fine is the 23rd studio album by Australian musician Paul Kelly, released on 11 August 2017. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart with sales of 6,198 units. It is Kelly's first number-one album in Australia.
Permanent Vacation is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock duo Lime Cordiale, released on 13 October 2017 through Chugg Music Entertainment.
ʻAkilotoa is the first greatest hits album by Australian vocal duo, Vika and Linda. The album is a two-disc, 28-track collection spanning 12 years from 1994 to 2006 and includes songs from five studio albums Vika and Linda, Princess Tabu, Two Wings, Love Is Mighty Close and Between Two Shores as well as live albums Live and Acoustic and Tell the Angels, a re-recorded version of "Down by the Jetty" and "Never Let Me Go" by The Black Sorrows. The album debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Charts, earning the duo their first number one album. In doing so, they became the first Australian sister duo to top the ARIA Albums Chart.
Please Leave Your Light On is a collaborative studio album by Australian musicians Paul Kelly, and Paul Grabowsky. The album was released on 31 July 2020. The collection features Kelly performing songs from nine of his albums, along with the previously unreleased track "True to You" and a cover of Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" to new interpretations by Grabowsky.
Alone with Blues is the fifteenth studio album by Australian rock musician, Diesel. The album was announced in May 2021, alongside the release of the single "Six Steel Strings", and was released on 16 July 2021. the album was supported with the Greatest Hits & Alone With Blues Tour. The album was recorded during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in Australia and Diesel played every instrument on the album.
The Wait is the seventh studio album by Australia vocal duo Vika and Linda Bull, released on 17 September 2021. It is their first album of original music since Love Is Mighty Close in 2002. In a statement, Linda Bull said "It took us three times to make this record, it kept getting delayed and we've been waiting 19 years to make this record... waiting for more songs. Waiting for the right opportunity."