Customer Reviews

Essential Mahalia Jackson

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The quality of sound on this CD is excellent. My favorite disc is #2 because of several toe tapping songs back to back. The placement of the songs in a certain sequence makes a CD very enjoyable. Of interest, the date of the recording is given & we are told if the song is a single & on what other albums it can be found if applicable. I wish the lyrics were printed out. I was very glad that I purchased this particular CD. I love all of Ms. Jackson's music. I am very fortunate to be able to obtain a new Cd 38 years after her death at the age of 60.

I'm only giving 4-stars to THE ESSENTIAL MAHALIA JACKSON because of the song section on this two CD set.

Most of the songs are slower-tempo gospel songs and, although they show off Jackson's immense vocal prowess, they just didn't really move me like another Mahalia Jackson CD that I own (The World's Greatest Gospel Singer).

Even though a lot of the tracks are performed live they don't capture the excitement of a live performance and Jackson sounds like she's holding back some on many of these songs.

On the plus side you do get some live performances and Jackson sounds really good and even hits some really high notes every now and then. And as far as the poor audio quality on "I've Been Buked," I believe this is the live performance that Mahalia did at the "march on Washington" where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have A Dream..." speech.

Anyway, it's not a bad CD but for my taste I like the rocking gospel songs that make me want to move and tap my feet.

This CD was gift to my spritual mom & she listens to it all the time. She also has said to me that she listens to this Cd before going to church & it has made her get happy.
The quality of this CD is excellent.
Thank you for putting the songs together for this CD of Mahalia Jackson.

a great Collection from One of the Most Powerful voices to grace us.Mahalia Jackson truly left a strong uplifting element within Her work.you feel the Gospel&where she is coming from in this Collection.this is a Must have Set.

If you like gospel, specifically Mahalia Jackson this is a very respectful compilation of her best work -- some done live.

I remember listening to Mahalia Jackson growing up. I bought this particular cd for my grandmother and she listens to it several times a week. It makes her happy so it makes me happy.

Mahalia Jackson has the voice of an angelic true believer. The first volume of this collection is exquisite. Sound quality is only fair but the power of the voice and the conviction and the soaring solos makes up for it.

The second volume seems unnecessary and to have fewer cuts that I felt were really powerful.

I didn't except great sound due to the age of some of the original recordings but...the quality is often comparable to what you hear on the discounted CDs available at the quick service gas stop.

Too bad...Jackson really is the Queen of Gospel and had an incredibly powerful sound. One would never know that from hearing this.