SONG OF THE DAY Vivian Hill – Turn on Your Love Light

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Though I’ve scanned the internet for information about Vivian Hill, there just isn’t much out there about her, so today’s offering is something of a mystery!

Turn on Your Love Light b/w Let Me Sing My Song (which isn’t available anywhere online, so if anyone has a copy they can upload?), was released on Nashville label, S.B.I Records Inc in 1969…I think! This seems a bit of guess work, but a few places indicate 1969 as a release date.

It’s a great song, contrasted by its slinky melody, Hill’s cutting vocals and twinkling piano…Check it out above.

**UPDATE TO POST – 21.5.22**

Thanks to a reader getting in touch and reaching out with some interesting information about this artist, I can now share some more about Vivian Hill – I’ll paste it below, but this is also in the comment section! Thanks again!

Vivian Hill died in 2013. She was the sister of Gina Hill (d. 2014), who cut “Help Me Solve This Problem” for Jill Records. Both siblings were probably two of The Smith Gospel Trio who recorded a 45 in 1970 for the same label. It’s alleged that all of the Hill kids, six of them, cut a gospel 78 in their youth, though no hard evidence of it has yet surfaced.

The S.B.I. single above is incredibly rare; only a few copies are known in collections. Due dlilgence has been done sourcing masters, but they may well be long gone. The group on the session sounds like Billy Ball’s Upsetters. That staggering kickdrum is a telltale sign.