Preachin' the Gospel: Holy Blues { Various Artists }

Blind Willie Johnson (Performer), Washington Phillips (Performer), Arizona Dranes (Performer), Joshua White (Performer), Elder Charlie Beck (Performer), Blind Gary Davis (Performer), Jessie May Hill (Performer), Reverend Johnny Blakey (Performer), The Blue Chips (Performer), Sister O.M. Terrell (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000008G4J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,965 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mother's Children Have A Hard Time - Blind Willie Johnson

2. I'm Gonna Run To The City Of Refuge - Blind Willie Johnson

3. Denomination Blues - Washington Phillips

4. Denomination Blues, Pt. 2 - Washington Phillips

5. God's Got A Crown - Arizona Dranes

6. He Is My Story - Arizona Dranes

7. Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed - Joshua White

8. While The Blood Runs Warm In My Veins - Joshua White

9. Drinking Shine - Elder Charlie Beck

10. Lord, I Wish I Could See - Rev. (Blind) Gary Davis

11. Untitled - Jessie May Hill

12. Sunshine In The Shadows - Rev. (Blind) Gary Davis

13. You Can't Stop A Tattler - Washington Phillips

14. You Can't Stop A Tattler, Pt. 2 - Washington Phillips

15. King Of Kings - Rev. Johnny Blakey

16. Jesus Was Here On Business - Rev. Johnny Blakey

17. Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord - Blue Chips

18. Stay On The Right Side Of The Road - Blue Chips

19. Bible's Right - Sister O.M. Terrell

20. I'm Going To That City (To Die No More) - Sister O.M. Terrell

Editorial Reviews

20 SONGS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An amazing slice of Americana, February 29, 2000

By 

Alex Riggle (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Preachin' the Gospel: Holy Blues { Various Artists } (Audio CD)

I never knew this music existed -- until I got this CD. What great stuff! I especially like the "Denomination Blues" played on the rare pianola. It has an amazingly delicate sound, with lyrics sometimes funny, sometimes quite poignant. Also great is "City of Refuge" (what a gruff voice!), the fabulous harmonies of "Stay on the Right Side" (did Take 6 study the Blue Chips?), and the calmly confident "Jesus Gonna Make up my dying Bed." This is "religious" music sung by people who really believed what they were singing - and it shows!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh YEAH!, December 29, 2002

By 

Owen Kelso (Plattsburgh, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Preachin' the Gospel: Holy Blues { Various Artists } (Audio CD)

It's real! It's raw! It's gut-level! There is no slick production work. They didn't clean it up so it'll go down easy. It's down home cookin' - none o' this fancy white tablecloth eats. It's from the soil and you can taste the dirt! You ain't gonna like it at first, but it's gonna become part o' yo' soul an' then you gonna crave it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Raw Blues Recordings of Faith, November 16, 2011

By 

J. Bynum (the southwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Preachin' the Gospel: Holy Blues { Various Artists } (Audio CD)

Preachin' The Gospel/Holy Blues: This is a great introduction to the genre. This CD contains some of the finest examples of Gospel Blues from the 1920's and 30's. Here you find such great artists as Blind Willie Johnson, Joshua White, Washington Phillips and more. One of the songs here ("Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed") was covered by Bob Dylan very early in his carrier and it's great to hear the original. There ain't much fooling around in these songs...they have a message to tell and they tell it straight. They want folks to make a decision "While the blood runs warm in your veins". These are raw recordings, but fascinating ones.