The Gospel of the Blues

by Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Overview

With 18 Decca tracks from 1938-1948, this CD is not only a good survey of some of Tharpe's best work, but one of the best compilations of any sort to illustrate gospel's crossover into blues, R&B, and secular music in general. Admittedly that's not the busiest cross-fertilization of popular music, but it's not one that's given much attention. And if you think you might not like this because Tharpe is sometimes described as a gospel artist, think again, for this is fine stuff on any terms, mixing the devotional exuberance of gospel with first-rate accompaniment blending blues, early R&B, and at times some swing jazz. In truth, sometimes you won't think of this as gospel at all, such is its rhythmic verve, even on the half-dozen numbers with nothing but guitar in the backup. Some other tracks find her backed by the groups of Lucky Millinder and Sammy Price, and the jubilant "Shout, Sister, Shout!" comes off as a missing link between gospel, jazz, blues, and the birth of rock & roll. "Trouble in Mind," "This Train," "Down by the Riverside," and "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air" are other highlights of a set with no shortage of them. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	09/16/2003
Label:	Decca / Mca / Mca/Decca / Universal Music
UPC:	0602498001363
Rank:	54555

Tracks

1. My Man and I
2. This Train
3. Sit Down
4. Trouble in Mind
5. Shout, Sister, Shout!
6. Rock Me
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine
8. I Want a Tall Skinny Papa
9. God Don't Like It
10. What Is the Soul of Man?
11. Singing in My Soul
12. Strange Things Happen Everyday
13. Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread
14. Jonah
15. Didn't It Rain
16. The Natural Facts
17. Down by the Riverside
18. Up Above My Head, There's Music in the Air

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sister Rosetta Tharpe   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Marie Knight   Primary Artist
Sam Price Trio   Primary Artist
Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Lucky Millinder   Primary Artist
Sammy Price Trio   Primary Artist
Ed Bourne   Drums
Floyd Brady   Trombone
Eli Robinson   Trombone
Ernest Purce   Sax (Baritone)
Herbert Cowans   Drums
Edward Morant   Trombone
Ted Barrett   Sax (Alto)
Benny Moten   Bass
Billy Bowen   Sax (Alto)
Joe Britton   Trombone
Panama Francis   Drums
Trevor Bacon   Guitar
Kenny Clarke   Drums
Dependable Boys   Vocal Group
Clyde Hart   Piano
Walter Bishop, Jr.   Drums
Nelson Bryant   Trumpet
Buster Bailey   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
George James   Sax (Alto)
George Stevenson   Trombone
George Duvivier   Bass
William Scott   Trumpet
Bill Doggett   Piano
Don Cole   Trombone
Stafford Simon   Sax (Tenor)
Freddy Webster   Trumpet
Sammy Price   Piano
Pops Foster   Bass
Billy Taylor, Sr.   Bass
Harold "Doc" West   Drums
Archie Johnson   Trumpet
Abe Bolar   Bass

Technical Credits

Andy McKaie   Compilation Producer,Producer
Ryan Null   Photo Research
Thomas Dorsey   Composer
Sister Rosetta Tharpe   Arranger,Composer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Lasker   Disc Transfers,Digital Restoration
Bernie Hanighen   Composer
Lucky Millinder   Leader,Composer
Mary Katherine Aldin   Liner Notes
Richard M. Jones   Composer
Mark Omann   Assembly
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup   Composer
Muddy Waters   Composer
Bunk Johnson   Composer
Big Bill Broonzy   Composer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Stafford Simon   Composer
Vartan   Art Direction
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey   Composer
Tommy Dorsey   Composer
Mike Fink   Design
Beth Stempel   Production Coordination