Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways

Product Review

Spirituals, guitar evangelists, "shout" bands, quartets, and choirs sing out the sacred sounds of African American gospel music. This Smithsonian Folkways "Classic" spans over a half century of select recordings to paint a broad panorama of this cherished American musical creation. Reverend Gary Davis, Sister Ernestine Washington, Sonny Terry, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Elizabeth Cotten are among those featured on these 24 tracks of soulful song. 32 page booklet, 75 minutes.

Title Tracks for Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways

1. Jesus Going to Make Up My Dying Bed - Horace Sprott
2. Oh Lord, I'm So Glad I Got Good Religion - Starlight Gospel Singers
3. Thank You, Lord - Alvin Dockett and Blessed
4. When I Was Sinkin' Down - The Fisk Jubilee Singers
5. Just Got Over At Last - Little Brother Montgomery
6. Moses Smote the Water - The Thrasher Wonders
7. Soon, One Mornin' - Rev. Willie Gresham
8. Dry Bones: Ezekiel Saw the Wheel - The Missionary Quartet
9. Holy Ghost - Juanita Johnson and the Gospel Tones
10. Where Could I Go - Sister Ernestine Washington with Bunk Johnson
11. Oh, What a Beautiful City - Sonny Terry
12. You've Got to Move - Two Gospel Keys
13. Let the Church Say Amen - Elder Charles Beck
14. I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - Bishop Bowen and the Combined Gospel Choirs
15. If I Had My Way - Rev. Gary Davis
16. Low Down Death Right Easy - Dock Reed
17. He's My Rock - Brother John Sellers
18. Hallelujah, It Is Done - Elizabeth Cotten
19. We Praise Your Holy Name - Mississippi Mass Choir
20. Don't Let His Name Go Down - First Independent Holy Church of God and Unity
21. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Fannie Lou Hamer
22. Been in the Storm So Long - Mary Pinckney
23. Every Time I Feel the Spirit / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / They Hung Him on the Cross (medley) - Lead Belly
24. It's Time to Make a Change - Madison's Lively Stones

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(5 customer reviews)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Great variety, great sound quality, February 12, 2008

D. Corl (Fukuoka Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways (Audio CD)

I heard about this CD on NPR and ordered it as soon as it came out. What a bargain for such a great collection!! The styles it covers include just about everything one could hope for, except for the lack of any ring shouts. The sound quality is excellent,too. The liner notes, while good, could have been even more extensive, but then there are other venues for following up one's interests that may be piqued by this compilation. All in all, a great selection at a very affordable price.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

When you can't hear it live . . ., November 16, 2011

Teach (St. Augustine, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways (Audio CD)

On Sunday mornings when the weather is nice, I can take coffee out in the back yard and, depending on the hour, listen to the choirs at the nearby A.M.E. church (traditional and solemn and uplifting), the First Baptist down the block (sanctifyin', testifyin', holy rollerin'), the St. Benedict the Moor Catholic church around the way (temptation and forgiveness and salvation). When the weather fails me, I put this collection in the CD player and can experience the same range of powerful gospel music. This is a great representation of of widely diverse styles, with great sound quality and at a great price. Blues fans will love it as much as gospel music fans with less earthy tendencies. Can't go wrong here -- some thangs even the guvmint gets right -- thanks, Smithsonian.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian, December 14, 2009

William de Quick (Cambridge, England) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways (Audio CD)

This is one of the best CD's I have bought and recommend it to all those who love Gospel and Spiritual music.