Angels Are Singing: Women's Bluegrass Gospel

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B00006EXG8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,624 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An anthology that wears well, very well, May 26, 2003

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angels Are Singing: Women's Bluegrass Gospel (Audio CD)

This collection begins with an old standard by the Cox Family setting a familar tone which is quickly broken. "Wayfaring Stranger" is the only other standard Gospel number but its execution with a bluesy clarinet is anything but standard; bluegrass clarinet works splendidly. Hazel Dickens provides a mother/memory piece in "Faded Pressed Rose" - she delivers an intensely emotional piece without ever sounding sacchrine. The Stevens Sisters' bluesy rendition of "In My Time of Dying" balances death and faith in well balanced close harmony. And OlaBelle Reed cuts us all down to size in a riveting performance of "Six Feet of Earth Makes Us All of One Size".

This anthology provides the high quality variety that allows one's favorite to change with each change in your mood, providing a good introduction to several of Rounder's bluegrass women.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluegrass angels sing gospel as only they can, May 3, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Angels Are Singing: Women's Bluegrass Gospel (Audio CD)

This is different from most other gospel collections and not just in style. With the exception of Wayfaring stranger, it avoids all the obvious gospel songs like Amazing grace and Precious memories. Brilliant as they are (and I'm sure that the ladies featured here could do wonderful versions of the gospel standards), it is refreshing to hear a gospel album without them.

Some of the songs were written by or for the featured singers, but where traditional songs have been covered, they are obscure to say the least, except Wayfaring stranger, on which the group that named themselves after the song adds a clarinet to traditional bluegrass instruments - but don't panic - it's lovely.

The finest modern bluegrass ladies - Claire, Rhonda, Alison, Lynn, Laurie and the Stevens sisters -are represented, but you also get to hear Hazel Dickens, Wilma Lee Cooper and other pioneering bluegrass ladies. Many of these ladies are also featured on the same label's secular music compilations, O sister and O sister 2, so if you enjoy those you will also enjoy this.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Angels, yes indeed!! Sweetest sounds in Bluegrass, October 29, 2003

By 

LtCol Richard L. Jones (USAF-Retired) (Warner Robins, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels Are Singing: Women's Bluegrass Gospel (Audio CD)

It's really about time the women got their due. For many years men seemed to dominate bluegrass music, but with the resurgence caused by "O-Brother.." and "Down From The Mountain", the ladies are making their way to front and center.
Several years before, I saw Claire Lynch and her Front Porch Sting Band at a Georgia bluegrass Festival at Hillside bluegrass park in Cochran, GA. I met her afterword, and my first comment to her was "you sing like an angel". So do the rest of the ladies, and you will really enjoy this CD, as well as the "O Sister" CDs.