Customer Reviews

The World's Greatest Gospel Singer

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This magnificant work of art, produced by Geroge Avakian in the mid 1950's, contains one of the finest vocal performances ever committed to record, irrespective of musical genre. Accompanied brilliantly by the jazz/blues influenced Fall-Jones Ensemble, Jackson delivers a remarkable reading of African-American spirituals, including some of her own compositions. A recording for the ages, delivered superlatively by one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. In short, a masterpiece.

In this recording, you get mono sound only, but who cares? It displays the absolutely sizzling talents of a jazz-inflected gospel backup band, including the redoubtable pianist Mildred Falls whose genius is more or less inseparable from Mahaliah Jackson's genius.

No doubt about it, these players cook bacon while they juggle musical chairs. If the hair stands up on the back of your neck all the way through this CD, then good for you. It just means you are getting it. Of course, center of the holy musical storm is Mahaliah Jackson herself.

With her incredibly physical, mezzosoprano-range voice, she can do whatever she wants. She can trumpet, lift, pray, whisper, or shout with the best of them. She is living the life she sings about in her song, and she is singing the life she lives. Many of these versions of these songs have never been better sung, or captured in gospel recording history.

Listen to what she and the group do on a song called, "Didn't it rain". And when the woman Jesus met at the well goes running into town to talk about her encounter, the music embodies the rush of her inner necessity. This music got feet.

When MJ moves on up a little higher, you simply must trust her to carry you with her. At least let your sad eyes follow her upwards. This song is one of the two that she early recorded as an unknown African American Baptist church singer. It was backed on a two-sided 78 disc with the other big MJ signature song, How I Got Over. I have heard MJ attributed as the author of both songs, but I cannot say that for sure. Whoever wrote either one of them, it is safe to say that MJ made each her own in the most unique and powerful way. In its first release, that 78 rpm disc must have been bought by just about every African American Baptist in the USA, because she sold 3 million copies. All of a sudden, the music/money people were sniffing down highways and byways to find out who this amazing singer was. It is so characteristic that they had never hear of her. The USA was even more segregated in those years than it can be today. Indeed, one of the key concerns of the big label Columbia, once it signed its contract with MJ was: how can we set her peformances, so that they don't sound too black, so that they cross over successfully to white america?

This early album, however, will have none of that nonsense. The group (including Mildred Falls)is probably the most brilliant backup that MJ ever had on a recording. The only other recording that offers us the pure, unadulterated musical Mahaliah Jackson in her live in Europe concert CD, also (probably temporarily) available on CD. There, she and Mildred Falls are like super-heroines in a Marvel comic, with all sorts of musical magic up their sleeves.

If you have both of these, you have Mahaliah Jackson. This recording is like a drink of cool well water in the back country on a very hot, humid day. You never knew how good pure water could be. In fact, pour me another glass. I am sitting in the shade for a while, feeling the breezes, and listening to the witness this lady sings about what God is doing in her life.

Unlike many forms of religion, MJ believes the kingdom is wide open. Hers is a generous spirit, and so a generous religion. She is not worried about keeping the heavenly treasures under lock and key, lest they be unfairly distributed to beggars or publicans who have not proved their worth in terms of human empires. She sings for anybody who will bother to listen. Like a prophet, she speaks her truth to power. She makes me wonder what life would be like, if we were all speaking more truth, more often, to power.

In any case, get this CD for the music. Its five stars shape some mysterious constellation that is rare and shining as the firmament circles above our heads.

The other must-have MJ recommendation is: MJ Live In Europe concert. It is newly (and probably temporarily) available. Get both. Now. You can learn many of life's lessons from MJ on these two CD's, and have a whale of a good time listening as you learn. Maybe other singers have, in their own ways, reached so high. But nobody has surpassed MJ. She is the real deal. I think I get just a tad more real, when I listen to her. If the destination is the journey, then MJ offers us the best kind of traveling music. Highly recommended. Get it before it's gone again.

This is quite simply the greatest album ever recorded by Mahalia Jackson, the greatest proponent of African-American gospel song who ever belted into a microphone. Mahalia had recorded for Apollo records when Mitch Miller, A&R maven at Columbia, offered to record her, promising to bill her as "The World's Greatest Gospel Singer". Anyone who can listen to this album and doubt the truth of that title, just wasn't listening.

At eleven tracks and 35 minutes, there is no filler here - not a speck of cereal. In a collection with no low-lights, I can point out just a few of the highlights: the full-throated testimony of "I Want to Live the Life I Sing About (In My Song)", the jumpin' album closer, "Didn't It Rain", and the anthemic "Move On Up a Little Higher", a re-recording of Mahalia's biggest Apollo hit.

About 20 years ago, I was giving a work-buddy a ride to the office. She was a twenty-something white girl given to black jeans, red lipstick and Doc Martens. The eclectic mix tape playing from the car stereo included Mahalia's "Walk All Over God's Heaven", with an eight-to-the-bar bass line, electric guitar, and Mildred Falls' Fats-Wallerish piano lines swinging like a young girl's hips behind the soul-stirring shout of the vocal. After the cut ended, my friend simply said, "Wow. I believe her."

I would recommend this album to anyone who loves music: Black or White, Christian or non, if you have any appreciation for vocal music, you will believe.

The great thing about Mahalia Jackson, is that you don't have to be a fan of gospel music to enjoy her work. Like a great Opera, or an abstract work of art, she is something to be appreciated on many levels...a pure, powerful voice...one of the greatest voices ever to be recorded.

"The World's Greatest Gospel Singer" is Mahalia Jackson as she was meant to be. This collection, with all songs performed with the Falls-Jones Ensemble, is the kind of bluesy, jazz-inspired and painfully heartfelt gospel music that made Mahalia one of a kind. This is her voice and talent in its purest form, before it was bought and sold to mainstream audiences in the late 1950's. Some of the recording quality isn't quite up to snuff, but it adds to the "rediscovered" feel of this unique style of gospel music, and her voice comes loud and clear no matter what.

Hightlights include:
Track 1: "I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing about in my Song"-a bold and powerful stance against hypocrisy.
Track 3: "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well"-a great old-timey tune.
Track 5: "I Will Move on Up a Little Higher"-a bluesier version of her most famous song.
Track 6: "When the Saints Go Marching In"-a great version of an old song that had even this non-Christian tapping my feet and wanting to dance.
Track 11: "Didn't it Rain"-a definative display of her voice.

I got interested in learning more about Mahalia Jackson's music after seeing an Ovation TV special about her life and the fact that many great singers list her as an inspiration.

This led me to Amazon and to MAHALIA JACKSON: THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOSPEL SINGER CD.

At first I was wondering if I really needed another CD in my collection of over 500 or so, so I hesitated to buy this one. But I'm glad I did.

The CD, re-released in 2002, sounds really good and has been remastered. It contains some of Jackson's most popular hits like "When The Saints Go Marching In," "I'm Going To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song," and others.

Most of the songs on this collection are wonderful rocking type gospel tunes with Mahalia being backed by The Falls-Jones Ensemble. You can't help but get into the spirit and move. She has an incredible, full-bodied voice and sings with the utmost authority. She's commanding and it's no wonder many singers list Jackson as their mentor and inspiration.

Even if you aren't religious or go to church, Mahalia Jackson's music is a joy to listen to on merit alone. I also ordered The Essential Mahalia Jackson, but being back-ordered that hasn't arrived yet, to further explore this dynamic singer.

This was the first recording I ever heard of Mahalia Jackson. I must admit that this was so long ago that it was an album of 45's at a friend's house. Some times our memories play tricks, but not this time. I remembered the records as excellent and this CD confirmed the accuracy of my memory.

Who ever you are; if you are looking at this album, and looking at this review, do yourself a favour, buy it. There are very few songs that really touch you and even fewer great voices. On this album you have both.

Well, this is in my opinion the best period of Mahalia's carrer (1955). Her voice is still strong and too expressive. The songs let her "touch" us in a special way. It's a good oportunity for young people to listen the background's soul singers.

If you like gospel music please take the time to sample Mahalia Jackson. From the depths of her soul she sings like she knows what she is singing about. Laugh and cry with her but most of all listen to the words.