Recorded in New York in 1956, this album marked Tharpe's comeback after a five year hiatus, during which time she was gaining rightful recognition as one of the foremost forerunners of rock and roll.
In the 1930s, Tharpe had emerged as gospel music's biggest star, using electric guitar to accompany her spiritual songs and, in so doing, blazing a path that would influence such luminaries as Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash and Little Richard. On this album, she's joined by the Harmonizing Four Quartet. As the name suggests, it's a gospel album but one that carries within it blues signatures that would continue to resonate in the music of garage bands across the USA and Europe in the 1960s.
Released more widely via Mercury, the Verve Vault edition is in 180 gram vinyl and is something you need - trust me.
If you need further convincing, I'm playing tracks from the reissue in my Dandelion and FSK shows this month. Click on the links to hear the shows on-demand.
No comments:
Post a Comment