The gospel spirit fills the history of country music... For many country and bluegrass fans, the constant Jesus-isms can be a real turn-off, yet, like many kinds of religious music, it can bring out amazing, powerful performances and an emotional conviction that is rarely matched in secular pop culture. I'm hardly a preacher man, but there is some of this stuff I love, and having had the opportunity to hear a lot of country gospel over the years, I decided to take the chance to share some of my thoughts and impressions of the genre with y'all... Ready? Here we go!
Barbara Fairchild "The Son In My Eyes" (Benson, 1993)
Barbara Fairchild & Roy Morris "All Is Forgiven" (Daywind, 2000)
Barbara Fairchild & Roy Morris "For God And Country" (Daywind, 2001)
Barbara Fairchild "Wings Of A Dove" (Daywind, 2001)
Barbara Fairchild/Connie Smith/Sharon White "Love Never Fails" (Daywind, 2003)
Barbara Fairchild "Forever Friend" (2003)
Donna Fargo "Brotherly Love" (Songbird, 1981)
Includes some modern material such as "You Can't Be A Beacon (If Your Light Don't Shine)" and the delightful novelty song, "I Knew Jesus (Before He Was A Star)," as well as some more traditional material, like "Amazing Grace."
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs "Songs Of Glory" (Columbia, 1960)
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs "When The Saints Go Marching In" (Columbia, 1966)
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs "Sacred Songs" (Columbia Harmony, 1966)
A budget-line LP that includes some material from the albums above, as well as several songs that came from the Columbia vaults.
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs "You Can Feel It In Your Soul" (County, 1981)
Lester Flatt "Flatt Gospel" (Canaan, 1975)
Red Foley "Lift Up Your Voice" (Decca, 1952)
Red Foley "Beyond The Sunset" (Decca, 1956)
Red Foley "He Walks With Thee" (Decca, 1958)
Red Foley "Let's All Sing To Him" (Decca, 1959)
Red Foley "Songs Of Devotion" (Decca, 1962)
Red Foley "I'm Bound For The Kingdom" (Vocalion, 1965)
Red Foley "Songs For The Soul" (Decca, 1967)
Red Foley "I Believe" (Decca, 1969)
Red Foley "The Old Master" (Decca, 1969)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Hymns" (Capitol, 1956)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Spirituals" (Capitol, 1957)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Nearer The Cross" (Capitol, 1958)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Star Carol" (Capitol, 1958)
Tennessee Ernie Ford & The Jordanaires "A Friend We Have" (Capitol, 1959)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing A Hymn With Me" (Capitol, 1960)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing A Spiritual With Me" (Capitol, 1960)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Hymns At Home" (Capitol, 1961)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "I Love To Tell The Story" (Capitol, 1962)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "xxxxxxxx Favorite Book Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1962)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "We Gather Together" (Capitol, 1963)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Story Of Christmas" (Capitol, 1963)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Great Gospel Songs" (Capitol, 1964)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The World's Best Loved Hymns" (Capitol, 1964)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Let Me Walk With Thee" (Capitol, 1965)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing We Now Of Christmas" (Capitol, 1964)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Wonderful Peace" (Capitol, 1966)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "God Lives" (Capitol, 1966)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Faith Of Our Fathers" (Capitol, 1967)
Tennessee Ernie Ford & Marilyn Horne "Our Garden Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1968)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Best Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1968)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "O, Come All Ye Faithful" (Capitol, 1968)
Front Range "One Beautiful Day" (Sugar Hill, 1995)
A sweet, simple bluegrass gospel set, with an impressive set of all-new material written by lead vocalist Bob Amos. The material tilts towards the "judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged" brand of religious piety, which is fine by me. Nice harmonies, decent picking -- nothing dazzling, bur heartfelt and effective. Recommended!
Hick Music Index
cd = 11/21/03