Slide Guitar Gospel, 1944-1964

Rev. Utah Smith, Rev. Lonnie Farris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Document
• ASIN: B000000J8A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #820,650 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Want Two Wings

2. God's Mighty Hand

3. Two Wings

4. Take a Trip

5. I Got Two Wings

6. Glory to Jesus, I'm Free

7. Walk to Thee

8. Soldiers of the Cross

9. What Mother Can Do

10. Golden Street

11. A Closer Walk to Thee

12. It's a Blessing to Call His Name

13. Peace in the Valley

14. I'm So Happy and Free the Lord Save Me

15. They Are Ringing Them Bells

16. Walk Around

17. In Your Kingdom

18. In the Clover Field

19. A Night at the House of Prayer

20. Wondering Child Mother Is Dead

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful precursor to steel guitar gospel, June 23, 2001

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Slide Guitar Gospel, 1944-1964 (Audio CD)

With the current sacred steel guitar craze - the Campbell brothers, Aubrey Ghent etc. - this album ought to be a required prerequisite. Rev. Utah Smith's "God's Mighty Hand" is occassionaly included in anthologies; this piece, which has a sound similar to the more commonly anthologies "Memphis Flu", is what led me to this album. In fact, only the first six cuts are Smith's. Three of those are variations on "Two Wings" ... so the complete recorded works of Smith are interesting - his early use of the electric guitar is wonderfully raw - but not the best reason for this album.

Rev. Lonnie Farris, who was unknown to me prior to this album, is a wonderful find. His use of the Hawaiian guitar over very basic bass guitar riffs creates a unique sense of energy and calm. The songs themselves are an interesting introduction to questions of what constitutes a "song". For example, "It is no secret what God can do" appears as "what mother can do". Throughout the interplay of the familar and unfamilar catches you attention and forces you to become involved in the music - something crucial in good Gospel. The Farris cuts also have memorable saxophone parts - the Hawaiian guitar is used easily as a backup instrument.

This album needs promotion ... again document records has done us a wonderful service. Thank you.