Sacred Steel

by SACRED STEEL GUITAR / VARIOUS

Overview

Sacred Steel is one amazing collection. Subtitled "Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music in Florida," this multi-artist chronicling of this seldom-heard genre is a musical and emotional delight. The electric lap steel guitar has been the instrument of choice in both the Jewel Dominion and Keith Dominions (both African-American Holiness-Pentecostal churches) since the late '30s, replacing the traditional church organist. This collection showcases the pioneering work of five of its best known and most influential sacred steel practitioners: Willie Eason, Sonny Treadway, Glenn Lee, Henry Nelson, and his son, Aubrey Ghent. Their individual approaches to this style range from crude blues-based slides and slurs (blues table steel master Hop Wilson is called to mind more than once here) to highly technical flourishes bordering on country pedal steel sounds, with all of it played with a sincerity and spirit indigenous to the music, which is nothing short of heartfelt and energetic. Split evenly between instrumentals and the instrument interfacing with the congregation and choir at live religious services, the music runs the gamut from still and beautiful (Sonny Treadway's instrumentals) to the wild and abandoned playing of Aubrey Ghent. This is 75 minutes of music that will appeal to blues and gospel and even retro-minded rock & roll fans willing to take the time to explore this fascinating genre. ~ Cub Koda

Product Details

Release Date:	01/21/1997
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297045022
Rank:	101123

Tracks

1. Don't Let the Devil Ride  -  Berry  - Oris Mays  - Sonny Treadway
2. In the Garden  - C. Austin Miles  - Sonny Treadway
3. At the Cross  -  Traditional  - Sonny Treadway  - Isaac Watts
4. Call Him by His Name  - Glenn Lee
5. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour  - Fanny Crosby  - William H. Doane  - Glenn Lee  -  Public Domain
6. Joyful Sounds  - Fran King  - Glenn Lee
7. Just a Closer Walk with Thee  - Willie Eason  -  Traditional
8. Little Wooden Church on a Hill  - Thomas A. Dorsey  - Willie Eason
9. Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Poor Man's Friend  - Willie Eason  -  Meal Ticket
10. This Is a Holy Church  - Sonny Treadway
11. At the Cross  -  Traditional  - Sonny Treadway  - Isaac Watts
12. Amazing Grace  - John Newton  - Sonny Treadway
13. God Be with You  -  Traditional  - Sonny Treadway
14. Closing Prayer  - Sonny Treadway
15. Praise the Lord Everybody  - Henry Nelson
16. Amazing Grace  - Henry Nelson  - John Newton
17. Praise Music  - Aubrey Ghent  -  Traditional
18. Father in Jesus' Name  - Aubrey Ghent  -  Traditional
19. House of God March  - Aubrey Ghent  -  Meal Ticket
20. God Be with You  - Aubrey Ghent  -  Traditional

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Aubrey Ghent   Primary Artist,Guitar (Steel)
Glenn Lee   Primary Artist,Pedal Steel
Sonny Treadway   Primary Artist,Guitar (Steel)
Willie Eason   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Steel)
Henry Nelson   Primary Artist,Guitar (Steel)
Carlos Fox   Keyboards
Alvin Lee   Bass (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
John Hampton   Guitar (Electric)
Benjamin Beckford   Drums
Terrence Elliot   Bass (Electric)
Lejena Manning   Drums
Fayette Coney   Vocals
Timothy Williams   Drums
Francine Jones   Keyboards
Ronnie Mozee   Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Chris Strachwitz   Executive Producer
Public Domain   Composer
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey   Composer
Willie Eason   Composer,Performer
William H. Doane   Composer
Fran King   Composer
Robert Stone   Text,Engineer,Producer,Photography
Fanny Crosby   Composer
Michael Stapleton   Engineer
Paul Butterfield   Engineer
Traditional   Composer
Sonny Treadway   Performer
Berry   Composer
John Newton   Composer
Isaac Watts   Composer
Dix Bruce   Graphic Design,Layout Concept
Meal Ticket   Composer
Rev. Oris Mays   Composer
C. Austin Miles   Composer
Glenn Lee   Composer,Performer
William Dudley   Engineer
Fayette Coney   Arranger
Hubert C. Depree   Liner Notes
Sherry S. Depree   Liner Notes
Teresa Hollingsworth   Re-Release Coordinator
Aubrey Ghent   Performer,Arranger
Henry Nelson   Arranger,Performer