Customer Reviews

Shakin the Rafters

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading Tom Wait's list of music you should hear on amazon, I decided I had to hear this album. I was expecting a lot, and I can say that my expectations were met. This was truly one of the best works of spiritual music I've heard. The choir has harmony that seems impossible considoring the fact there are 120 members! How many rehersals must this have taken? For some odd reason, nobody sings out of sync it seems. There is much passion in the delivery, these people seem to want to give it their best for the album they are cutting. Or maybe this was just an average day for them. The greatest spiritual album by far, this is certainly a must by for any fans of the genre. I wish all churches were like this!

This gospel selection had my feet tapping, and my heart up and praising God! "Shakin the Rafters" is gospel at its best, and a must for any collection. The first four cuts are all up tempo selections, and I was especially taken with these.

I love classic Black Gospel Music and have been a collector of such for more than 20 years. This CD takes me back to the time when I first attended a Holiness church. One can feel the Spirit through the songs, especially Heaven Belongs To You, Said I Wasn't Gonna tell Nobody, He Stays In My Room, and He Is Such An Understanding God. One feels the genuineness, sincerity, and soulfullness in the voices. Prof. Alex Bradford is in a class with such foundationary greats as Roberta Martin, Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey, and Clara Ward. For any serious lover of choir albums, this CD is a must for your collection.

I agree with a previous reviewer who wished he could give it ten more stars. This CD will get you going whether you want it to or not---even my teenagers, who usually groan when I put my music on, like it. One of the other things I really like about it is what you hear after the song is over--they laugh and talk and you can tell they are having just as great a time as it seems. When I listen to this CD I feel like I've just gone to church, but I also feel like I've just been to a really good party. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Although this large choir must rehearse a lot, this album is not a studio recording. This is live church and every ounce of their joy, love and praise to God is poured into it.

If "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody" doesn't lift you out of your seat, you should check your pulse to see if you're still alive.

The rest is a sure testimony of comfort strength and love.

The music is the best of call and response style, with ample improvisation, hand clapping and the sound of over 100 voices in full strength makes this one of my favorites.

I'm sitting and working and have this on full blast right now and can't wipe the smile off of my face.

This is a great CD! I bought this about 7 years ago after listening to it at a music store. The more I listened to the songs, particularly "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody" and "Gonna Ride That Glory Train", the more I couldn't help but think, "Wow, these people are singing about something!" It was one of many, many things that I think God used to grab my attention and now I am a Christian. Praise the Lord!

If you're into Gospel music, this CD is a must.

Wonderful music and uplifting (even for me a non-believer).

Brilliant.

I've always really appreciated the energy of a good gospel choir, but this my first whole album of it, and coming from musical, secular perspective, it's a pretty good album. Tons of energy and emotion, but i can't say i'd ever put this on over a great soul record. The highlights, for me, of a great soul record are often when the artist can't help but sing their hearts out. Shakin the Rafters is an entire album of that, and, for me, it gets tiring. Even the ballads seem too on the nose. The highlights, for me, of this record are purely musical and emotional. I know this is a ridiculous comment for a gospel record, but take out the preaching and i'd probably put this on regular rotation.

I found my way here through Tom Waits' recommendation. He calls this the greatest Rock 'n Roll Album but that's probably only because he's allowing for a much broader spectrum, one that allows for rock music's roots to be included. Your category might be smaller and more exclusive. If that's the case go with his other recommendation - "Little Richard/The Specialty Sessions"

Now onto "Shakin' The Rafters". You don't have to be a Christian to appreciate the music. What you have to like is hearing people's joyousness shine through their work and you would have to look past the flaws in the recording and the occasional "who stepped on a duck?" notes that can happen when one isn't concerned with making the "ideal" record, where imperfections are digitally re-mastered away, but rather with capturing the spirit of the occasion.

Basically, if you like Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Ottis Redding, Irma Thomas or Smokey Robinson then you'll like this. And you can like it just fine without being a Christian.

Gospel music, as anyone who's visited the gospel tent at the N.O. Jazz Fest knows, can be amazingly rockin', and this, my friends, rocks like a big dog. "Shaking the Rafters" is about right. And, it isn't about technical excellence in singing - it's about the, if you will, spirit...

No matter your religious affiliation, you will be sweating, shouting, foaming at the mouth and writhing on the floor in ecstasy. Then, wait till you put on the disc...(rim shot)...Just kidding - this music will do all of the above, and in the privacy of your own living room...