Souls' Chapel

Marty Stuart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal South
• ASIN: B000AA7I14
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,020 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the grand tradition of the late Roebuck "Pops" Staples--patriarch of the Staple Singers, whose influence permeates this project--Marty Stuart's selection of classic and original spirituals is also his bluesiest release to date. Stuart's guitar carries the familiar Delta sting of his native Mississippi, as the harmony-laden choruses soar toward heaven. A revival of Staples's "Somebody Saved Me" sets the album-opening tone, while a duet with Mavis Staples on her father's "Move Along Train" provides the climactic epiphany. The vocal support of bandmate Harry Stinson--a drummer known as one of Nashville's finest high harmony singers--and the bedrock B-3 organ of Barry Beckett contribute to the music's saving grace. On "Way Down," Stuart sets an inspirational lyric to an insistent guitar progression that blues fans will recognize as "Baby, Please Don't Go," while "I Can't Even Walk (Without Holding Your Hand)" sounds like a timeless country waltz. Even those who don't share the faith will find it tough to resist the power and emotional purity of this music. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul Chapel Live, September 4, 2005

By 

John A. Gregorio (Castalian Springs, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Souls' Chapel (Audio CD)

Marty Stuart went back to MS. to return to his roots and I believe to heal, physically and spiritually. Three cd's will be issued which are a result of this trip, I read somewhere. Soul Chapel is the first. The previous Amazon reviews tell why this cd is excellent.

I saw Marty perform, yesterday, on the Grand Old Opry and he performed two of the songs from this album. The instruments and vocals soared but it was the feeling, the spirit from the stage that blew the crowd away, and caused us to rise to our feet. I think standing ovations have become pat and usually meet nothing except the crowds bums are soar, but this one was heartfelt and was not "pre programed in the music." If you don't know what that means watch the reactions to music on "American Idol."

Marty looks and sounds great. I am glad Marty's MS retreat was a blessing.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars walking up the high mountain, September 9, 2005

By 

Jerome Clark (Canby, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Souls' Chapel (Audio CD)

This has to be equal, maybe even superior, to any recording Marty Stuart has ever done. His last album, Country Music, was uneven, its high points stellar, but too often marred by inferior material. Here the material is excellent, but it's Marty's soulful singing -- has ever he sung better? -- that draws the listener into these stirring songs of the spirit. On the first cut, "Somebody Saved Me," Stuart puts forth a song written by the late African-American gospel legend Roebuck "Pops" Staples; not just that, he's playing Staples's guitar. Daughter Mavis Staples, a gospel luminary in her own right, shows up elsewhere. Make no mistake about it: in this company, you're walking with the Lord up the highest mountain.

Maybe the best thing to happen to Stuart was getting away from major-label craziness and putting his whole focus on the music. With Marty free at last, let us hope we're in for -- if Souls' Chapel is any indication (and how can it not be?) -- the for-the-ages American music Marty Stuart has always had in him.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, September 3, 2005

By 

John B. Carlson "JBC" (Nashville,TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Souls' Chapel (Audio CD)

Do you remember the first time a DJ played a Stapes Singers record on the radio and you thought what great music that is and later realized it was not soul music but gospel? This CD has the same wonderful music. The harmonizing is magnificent. The people who worked on this record obviously love this music and had fun recording it. They cover a couple of Staples songs, a soul gospel written by Steve Cropper and William Bell, some old time gospel and some rocking gospel. In other words, it is American music. If you want to hear something rare in these days and times, heartfelt music that is sung and played by people who care for their music, this is a record for you.