Wow! That was one of their biggest hits as a Gospel group. The song has held up better than those coats. It's nice to hear them singing more Gospel again.
Thanks for this post. Bunch of us went to brother Criders. He wanted to sing this on his deathbed. He could hardly talk and was weak, we played real soft to hear him and all he could raise was his pinky to praise Jesus. He sang it in church every time he was asked. Jumping and singing all over the church with this song. Now he's praising Jesus face to face.
God bless the "Oaks"...I used to listen to them on WWVA Wheeling West Virginia in the 1960s! They would always bring the house down! Still a FABULOUS group!
All of us in "gospeldom" had heels like that in those days! In fact, the Oaks were the trendsetters as far as clothes and fashion were concerned... and we tried to get away with letting our hair grow that long as well. Didn't work out most of the time though.
Yes, the second verse was "Not long ago at an old fashioned meeting I knelt on my knees there in prayer, He lifted my burdens sin shackles fell from me his presence was so real everywhere, Now that the load I carry is lighter and he's changed my gray skies to blue, my steps are now higher for I have this assurance that his sweet love will carry me through.
This song was my favorite when i was a little boy,because my first cousin shirley jean was married to the original tenor singer,willie wynn,who is on the original album cover that this song was written for in which i still have.
I was a HUGE fan of ORB back in the late 70's a nd early 80's This is GREAT!! But yeah those were the days, we all were trying to look cool and yes folks that was cool for their style. I mean we had the hippies too, but these were the dashing, young clean types! Does this make sense I am writing this as I just get up at 7 in the morning lol! I LOVE the 70's!!!! :-D (Maybe cuz that is when I was a teenager, who knows, I am NOT a psychiatrist lol)
Actually, I was three at the time. I am 41 now. I kind of equate it with 80's styles compared to now. I guess we all have periods of times that we can look back on and say "What was I thinking?"
I was gonna suggest that Joe was singing arrangements that were written for Willie. Seems weird and unlikely that Joe and his massive ego would consent to being over-dubbed by Willie.
Willie is alive and well and living in south Florida. We saw him at an ORB concert in Melbourne FL a few years ago... he was staying at the same hotel that we were and we had a chance to talk with him for a bit. He went to HS in Moultrie GA with a couple of my uncles and we reminisced a little about that, and we also had some other history with him. He's appeared on a couple of the Gaither videos since that time and was in good voice. To my knowledge he is not doing any singing these days.
yeah,ur right i look back & say,i can't believe i did that,but i guess i'll just look at it like,"this is the first day of the rest of my life,i hope i do better,...take care..
This era was around 1973 or after because Richard Sterban was with JD Sumner and the stamps until 1972 and Joe Bonsall didn't join the group until 1973
i know you kidding,but did you know the bass singer sung with(backup) Elvis,..look up "the lighthouse",by Elvis,..r.sterban is on it..have a blessed day...
@omarhloose there is a 2009 version of them singing this song stupid youtube wont let me post the link,just enter oak ridge boys a gospel journey,and the video should be on there
With the camera work you would think there was only one "star" and the others were just some backup guys. Also with what little camera time that William Golden got he looks much more animated than in later years. Today he never seems to smile or be happy with what he is doing, even in current interviews. He seems to have become much more inward looking and everything seem to be deeply philosophical.
Wonder if they ever look back at old footage and pictures of the early days and cringe when they see the way they looked? I know it was the style back then.
Wonderful singing, but the hair style back then 😂😂 I remember this style...my son wanted to try it but thank goodness he has a lot of American Indian in him and cannot grow the facial hair good😂😂
Wow! That was one of their biggest hits as a Gospel group. The song has held up better than those coats. It's nice to hear them singing more Gospel again.
I absolutely love this song. Always have. I’m hoping my great granddaughter learns and sings this! Just beautiful 🥰
Thanks for this post. Bunch of us went to brother Criders. He wanted to sing this on his deathbed. He could hardly talk and was weak, we played real soft to hear him and all he could raise was his pinky to praise Jesus. He sang it in church every time he was asked. Jumping and singing all over the church with this song. Now he's praising Jesus face to face.
The Gospel of the oak ridge boys is great I love their Gospel music
I saw them in Boone, NC.2013. I left the concert feeling good inside!
you must be mighty young,it was in 71..have a blessed day...i was in 63...
God bless the "Oaks"...I used to listen to them on WWVA Wheeling West Virginia in the 1960s! They would always bring the house down! Still a FABULOUS group!
All of us in "gospeldom" had heels like that in those days! In fact, the Oaks were the trendsetters as far as clothes and fashion were concerned... and we tried to get away with letting our hair grow that long as well. Didn't work out most of the time though.
Yes, the second verse was
"Not long ago at an old fashioned meeting I knelt on my knees there in prayer,
He lifted my burdens sin shackles fell from me his presence was so real everywhere,
Now that the load I carry is lighter and he's changed my gray skies to blue,
my steps are now higher for I have this assurance that his sweet love will carry me through.
That was probably Joe's highest note he ever hit at the end. Gotta love the oaks!
One of my favorites!
This song was my favorite when i was a little boy,because my first cousin shirley jean was married to the original tenor singer,willie wynn,who is on the original album cover that this song was written for in which i still have.
Surely we are on our way to heaven someday
Awesome !! Great Footage. They had a great Band back then. The great John Rich on Lead and Steel Guitar.
Later than 1970, Joe Bonsall joined in late 73.
It held a record in the Singing News magazine for the longest song at #1.
I was a HUGE fan of ORB back in the late 70's a nd early 80's This is GREAT!! But yeah those were the days, we all were trying to look cool and yes folks that was cool for their style. I mean we had the hippies too, but these were the dashing, young clean types! Does this make sense I am writing this as I just get up at 7 in the morning lol! I LOVE the 70's!!!! :-D (Maybe cuz that is when I was a teenager, who knows, I am NOT a psychiatrist lol)
Great song .they did it great
I remember the all night singings at War Memorial Auditorium. I had such a crush on Bill back then!
Actually, I was three at the time. I am 41 now. I kind of equate it with 80's styles compared to now. I guess we all have periods of times that we can look back on and say "What was I thinking?"
That may be Joe in the video, but the sound is Little Willie Wynn on the Audio. I would know his voice anywhere.
You might be right. That sounds a little light, thin for Joe. Both great tenors.
I was gonna suggest that Joe was singing arrangements that were written for Willie. Seems weird and unlikely that Joe and his massive ego would consent to being over-dubbed by Willie.
That’s Joe singing.
Willie was on the album version. That was Joe on the live video. Willie literally could sing twice as high.
Remember these guys.
I saw them about that time period.
THEY ARE MY ALL TIME FAVORITE GROUP SINCE 1971 I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO ATTEND 2 OF THEIR CONCERTS IN HUNTSVILLE,AL
This looks like late 1973 just after Willie Wynn left.
Late 1973, early 1974
I remember that Pentecostal double hand clap!
Hermoso Cuarteto !!!
Those sideburns !!
I sincerely hated to see them go country, but I was surprised. They were that good!
Willie is alive and well and living in south Florida. We saw him at an ORB concert in Melbourne FL a few years ago... he was staying at the same hotel that we were and we had a chance to talk with him for a bit. He went to HS in Moultrie GA with a couple of my uncles and we reminisced a little about that, and we also had some other history with him.
He's appeared on a couple of the Gaither videos since that time and was in good voice. To my knowledge he is not doing any singing these days.
yeah,ur right i look back & say,i can't believe i did that,but i guess i'll just look at it like,"this is the first day of the rest of my life,i hope i do better,...take care..
This era was around 1973 or after because Richard Sterban was with JD Sumner and the stamps until 1972 and Joe Bonsall didn't join the group until 1973
Well, they better check those coats at the door!
i know you kidding,but did you know the bass singer sung with(backup) Elvis,..look up "the lighthouse",by Elvis,..r.sterban is on it..have a blessed day...
@omarhloose there is a 2009 version of them singing this song stupid youtube wont let me post the link,just enter oak ridge boys a gospel journey,and the video should be on there
I also want to get the soundtrack of he's gonna smile on me
@csbsdj on the 2009 version they sing that verse,not too shabby either
laverne tripp wrote this song and it was #1 for something like a year. i dont remember the exact time frame but its something unreal. just an fyi.
How can I get a soundtrack for this song done the way the oak ridge boys do it here?
@takingtoolong1 better yet input oak ridge boys i know and it should show up
Joe Bonsall goes back that far?
With the camera work you would think there was only one "star" and the others were just some backup guys. Also with what little camera time that William Golden got he looks much more animated than in later years. Today he never seems to smile or be happy with what he is doing, even in current interviews. He seems to have become much more inward looking and everything seem to be deeply philosophical.
Luchi Sm he does seem to be a Deep thought person. He’s always been my favorite.
He’s my favorite also. I’ve heard Joe say, in an interview, that Golden was a deep thinking person.
He could be sad, thinking about all the alimony he’s paid, and is still paying.
@relimes he kinda looks like elvis there :D
Wonder if they ever look back at old footage and pictures of the early days and cringe when they see the way they looked? I know it was the style back then.
I wonder if this is when they started tryin' to love two women...
Wonderful singing, but the hair style back then 😂😂 I remember this style...my son wanted to try it but thank goodness he has a lot of American Indian in him and cannot grow the facial hair good😂😂
LOL
I can't help but laugh at those heels! I would not have liked seeing them in the '70s.
Where was the beard?
circa 1970
Mark Bales circa 1973 lol
Probably 73 or 74-- to be more realistic