The Word

North Mississippi Allstars, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, John Medeski, The Word | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rope a Dope
• ASIN: B00005M98F
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,289 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Joyful Sounds

2. Call Him By His Name

3. Blood On That Rock

4. Without God

5. Waiting On My Wings

6. At The Cross

7. I'll Fly Away

8. I Shall Not Be Moved

9. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Burning

10. Untitled

11. Joyful Sounds Reprise

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NO WORDS REQUIRED, August 13, 2001

By 

Patrick Earley (Edmond, Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Word (Audio CD)

The WORD is an all instrumental cd of some of the most inspirational gospel music these ears have ever heard. The band was put together by Luther Dickinson of the good young blues band the North Mississippi Allstars, and John Medeski from the cutting edge jazz group Medeski, Martin, and Wood. These two also recruited the services of pedal steel guitar player elite Robert Randolph. When I first listened to this cd, I thought it was Luther Dickinson who was doing the primary guitar leads here. But I recently saw this band play on a late night television show, and as it turned out, all these great guitar sounds were coming from the pedal steel guitar of Randolph. This kid is incredible! What a find this guy was. In reading the liner notes to this album, it sounded like it was divine intervention how Randolph's and Luther Dickinson's paths even crossed. This guy had never even performed "live" outside his pentecostal church before joining up with this band. It's a great story in itself, and after hearing this cd, I can see where they think there might me a little extra something going on here. The first song off the album JOYFUL SOUNDS is a real grabber that, if it don't make ya wanna get up, clap your hands and dance, you might want to check yourself for a pulse. This is the same song I saw them perform on television. Randolph's playing here sounds much like the early Eat A Peach era Allman Brothers guitar sound. And it's that good too. Another standout track on this is WITHOUT GOD, which offers up some incredibly fast steel guitar playing, complimented by some very tasty Luther Dickinson guitar work. This tune is fantastic. It's 6:48 of pure gospel music that you wish would never end. Not to be overlooked in this mix is the keyboard work of John Medeski. This guy is a world class player who offers up enough sizzling organ work that really makes this cd go. Except for a couple tunes the band wrote, all the music here is old standard public domain goodtime gospel music, updated for the 21st century. I hope this band does more of these projects in the future. It's obvious they have some great chemistry playing together. As for this album, I smell a Grammy Award in it's future. Outstanding!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The word about The Word, August 28, 2001

By 

Morgen Selmer (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Word (Audio CD)

Both the name of the album and the name of the band, The Word is some of the most impressive instrumental blues I've ever heard. The brainchild of North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson and keyboardist (read: unbelievble B3 chops) John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin & Wood fame), coupled with a hand-of-fate collaboration with the heretofore unknown pedal steel wizard Robert Randolph, this album is being billed as a Gospel record, but don't let the appellation fool you. Anyone raised in a church going family is likely to recognize a few of the tunes on the record, but their interpretation is like nothing you've ever heard. Nonetheless, the album is likely to move you. It is raw and it is beautiful; it is jubilant and it is soulful. It is blues that will make you shout for joy and it is instrumental music that will make your heart sing. Robert Randolph is already being hailed as the next-big thing in blues (an expectation he most likely resents) and his unbelievable pedal steel guitar work belies his 22 years. If you want something a little different, something that will reach down into your soul and pull out a feeling, pick up The Word and let yourself be moved.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hear The Word!, August 2, 2001

By 

Brooks Williams "So. Awesome." (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Word (Audio CD)

First, let me say that Robert Randolph is a monster. I've never heard pedal steel guitar played so well. The North Mississippi AllStars and John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin and Wood) team up with this amazing guitar player to create a great mixture of gospel and blues. Each musician is a master of their instrument and the songs are amazing.
I was a bit hesitant about John Medeski as I don't really like his other band (MMW) because they get a little too far out there and it sounds more like noise than music to me. I was surprised to hear Medeski playing great keyboards and never really offending my ears.
This album grooves and it screams. Hear The Word and be healed!