People's Temple Choir (mp3s)

(12 MP3 files below the fold)

Do you remember Reverend Jim Jones and the People's Temple? I guess most of you do, but for those who don't here is a quick recap of the history: In the 1950s, Jim Jones started People's Temple in Indianapolis as a church affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, a mainline protestant denomination. Looking for a safe place in case of a nuclear war, the group moved to California in 1965. Due to their left-wing political and social views and focus on racial integration they attracted many new members, especially in their time in San Francisco. Beginning in 1974, the People's Temple started preparing a move to Guyana, where most of the group relocated in 1977, to an agricultural settlement more commonly known as Jonestown. Unfortunately, Jim Jones grew increasingly paranoid and mentally unstable, and a visit by US congressman Leo Ryan in 1978 first lead to the murder of Ryan and a few hours later to the infamous mass suicide and murder of more than 900 cult members, including Jones himself. You can read much more about People's Temple, including many first-person accounts, at this excellent website.

The motto above the altar at Jonestown was "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it". There is a photograph of this sign with several dead bodies lying on the floor in front of it. Yes, reality frequently is more cynical than art or comedy could ever try to be. My own advice for cult members is this: If your leader thinks he is "the only true heterosexual" in the whole world, you should get suspicious. If he starts doing mass suicide drills, get the fuck out immediately.

In 1973, still in California, the People's Temple Choir recorded a gospel LP called "He's Able". In 1999 Grey Matter Records re-released this album on CD, adding some Jim Jones audio from Guyana as a bonus track. Here is the music from the album in mp3 format: Welcome | Walking With You Father | Set Them Free | Walk A Mile In My Shoes | Hold On Brother | Down From His Glory | He's Able | Something Got A Hold Of Me | Because Of Him | Black Baby | Will You

The last track "Mass Suicide" is pasted together from two different sources. The first part is an incredible rant/sermon by Jim Jones, where he points out that the phrase "Love is the only weapon" is bullshit (I have to agree with him on this), and vows to "kill them if they come". Listen to the mp3 here.

The rest is the chilling and sad documentation of Jones' discussion with his followers where he tells them why they have to kill themselves. His last words on the tape are "We didn't commit suicide, we committed an act of revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an inhumane world". The audio on the CD is of pretty bad quality, but there is a much better version over at the Internet Archive, so I did not feel the need to post the CD version. You can also read some transcripts of the tape.

Comments

[Manuel Langer]

I am a fan of mp3, I would like in the next months this technology also use my Shop to insert. My software producer means that in the next update would be possible. I want to be at the newest conditions. beautiful greets from Austria Manuel

[AntiMusick]

the band Death In June covered four songs by the People's Temple Choir on Death In June's 1992 release "BUT WHAT ENDS WHEN THE SYMBOLS SHATTER"

"The tracks He's Disabled, Because of Him, The Mourner's Bench and Black Angel are covers of songs originally released on an album by The People's Temple Choir (of Jim Jones fame.) Lyric changes were made on He's Disabled (originally He's Able), The Mourner's Bench (originally Something Got A Hold of Me) and Little Black Angel (originally Black Baby)."

thank you for the posting the mp3's

[norelpref]

I am also fan of mp3 and dittohead par excellence and my shop interested most interested in producing technology making kill-aid hey kill-aid more good. Pulchritudinous salutations from genetic throwback decreasing surplus population. Love darwin eggbeater

[bennett]

Transparency is set to release audio from the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, which was a 15 minute shortwave radio presentation done from Jonestown. This will include conspiracy theory stuff on the King assassination and other pertinent weirdness. What a coincidence to see this now on the FMU blog.

[Loki]

excellent...just been teaching about this today! general guff on obedience and conformity in Psychology AS Level (UK gold standard blah...) but now i can scare them as well... always wanted that limited edition (the no. of dead? i think so.) release on PTV's TOPY label that featured the speeches...

[Aerick Duckhugger]

Perfect! I was actually planning on doing a terror/noise/mixing show on Jonestown later this year on my Super Secret Lodge Show.. November 18th on the anniversary of the mass-suicide... all this will definately be useful!

[andreas voldenheimer]

Hey,
me mp3 fan like this technology. My software producer means that in the next update would be possible.
Is that sweet or what , dude?
I want to be at the newest conditions. beautiful greets from Oregon!!!

[berker]

Great idea!! Greetings from Germany!

[Shar Johnson]

I was at a garage sale and found the album "He's able" - the cover is a bit worn but the album shows no scratches and has the lyrics on a sheet inside. Is there any value to this item?

[kathleen]

I have a lp recording entitled Messages for the Total Man recorded by Jim Jones for his Christian Crusade.

[Joelle]

I would like to buy any choir recordings by Jim Jones/peoples temple please e-mail [email protected]

[jean]

anyone noticed that the Pointer Sisters song I'm So Excited makes use of a few of bars that sound like a part of He's able!?

[jean]

meant to write _walking with you father_

[Fielding McGehee]

To Shar of the 9/15/2006 post: It's a totally (!) different Jim Jones.

[David Turner]

The original LP contained the song 'Simple Song Of Freedom'. This is missing from the MP3's. Any chance of uploading it or anyone telling me where I can get it?
Thanks!

[joey]

Is there value to the record, HE'S ABLE????

IF it was still sealed, $20-40.
They arent really rare.....
Some people sell them on ebay....some even think they will get $100 or more...never happens.....

[email protected]
http://q875.makeforum.org/

[taft]

someone's selling the "he's able" album on ebay as of today. asking $500.00 or submit a best offer.
seems suspect to me. http://cgi.ebay.com/Peoples-Choir-Jim-Jones-Hes-Able-Vinyl-Mint_W0QQitemZ250157188614QQihZ015QQcategoryZ306QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

[joey]

It wont sell for $500......they are out of their minds

[Richard]

So was this guy a SINGER? Walk a mile in my shoes-the same song as the one Joe South wrote and where I always hear the voice of Peggy Little who made the only girl version.
I seem to think Elvis also had a go at this one

[Richard]

With a name that sounds like a garage band JIMMY WOFFORD & the CHURCHMEN come up with a song which sounds like it could have been something Shirley Ellis could have done.
But what's he talking about? Who is Murillo?

[Richard]

I don't know about the Devil's Music but some of this stuff sounds like genuine rock'n'roll.The CHRISTONES are ascloseasthis to a doowop group of the 60s especially the Sensations' hit LET ME IN.
Got to love it!

[Richard]

Interesting to note that the World's first rock'n'roll star to chart on the Hot 100-PAT BOONE-should have done a cover of this one Gospel Boogie which was the subtitle for his 1958 hit A wonderful time up there

[Toaster]

I'd REALLY love to get a copy of the missing song, "Simple Song Of Freedom". Can anyone please help me out?

All the best

[KOBV Behindertenverband Pöchlarn]

The disability movement is a social movement of disabled people who perceive their interests to themselves. They also want the company to raise awareness of disability-specific needs, the self-image of disabled people and thereby reinforce the exclusion of people with disabilities in society to prevent the long term.
Local Pöchlarn of KOBV's

[mike hansen]

MICHAEL HANSEN HERE-this is what I know.
"The last track "Mass Suicide" is pasted together from two different sources. The first part is an incredible rant/sermon by Jim Jones, where he points out that the phrase "Love is the only weapon" is bullshit (I have to agree with him on this), and vows to "kill them if they come". Listen to the mp3 here."

that 'first part' is parts of 2 different 'sermons' edited together.

the cd re-issue with the 'mass suicide' track seems to have been taken from either a Vagina Dentata Organ picture disc, or the "Thee Last Supper", in which that full track-poor quality- is on that record. The audio was taken from the record, cleaned up of audio & surface noise, and put onto the cd.