| 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 Australia vocal duo Vika and Linda Bull and was released on 11 September 2020. [6]
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". [7]
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. [7]
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." [8]
The songs originate from list of 175 gospel songs music 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. [7]
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". [9]
| 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) [10] | 2 |
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 11 September 2020 [11] | Bloodlines | BLOOD78 | |
| Australia | 25 September 2020 [12] | 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 of the 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 a traditional African American spiritual.
Down Bound Train is a song written by Chuck Berry. It was inspired by Berry's fire and brimstone religious upbringing. Both of his parents were staunch Baptists and sang in the Antioch Church Choir, which rehearsed at his home.
"Didn't It Rain", sometimes given as "Oh, Didn't It Rain", is an American gospel song. It originated as a Negro spiritual or work song, and appeared in sheet music for piano art song form in a 1919 arrangement 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.
About Us is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop singer G Flip. The album was released on 30 August 2019.
"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 six studio albums, two compilation albums, four live albums and 15 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.
Dragonfly is the eleventh studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers. It was released on 20 January 2017.
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.
'Akilotoa 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.
Nyaaringu is the debut studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Miiesha, released digitally on 29 May 2020. Following its physical release in August 2020, the album peaked at number 28 on the ARIA charts.