Sacred Steel Live! [LIVE]

Sacred Steel Guitars (Series), Various Artists - Gospel

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 21, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Arhoolie Records
• ASIN: B00000K2C5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,192 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

"Sacred steel" refers to the electric-lap- and pedal-steel-guitar playing found in House of God churches across the United States. This rambunctious, blistering, and sanctified live recording bears witness to the wide appeal of this music; it's totally pure and unaffected stuff that blues and rock fans are bound to enjoy as much as anybody. --Mike McGonigal

Amazon.com

Thanks to Arhoolie Records' sacred steel series, we now get to hear one of the least publicized, most fascinating forms of gospel music around: the electric-lap and pedal-steel-guitar playing found in House of God churches across the United States. Influenced by Hawaiian music, blues, R&B, and loaded with soul, this is gospel like you've never heard before. And heard live, the effect of these rambunctious spirituals is all the more stirring. The Campbell Brothers steal the show here--from the almost Hendrix-y "God Is a Good God" (with Katie Jackson doing the vocal work) to "Celebration in Giving," a stirring blend of Chicago blues-meets-gospel. Willie Eason's "Take Your Burden to the Lord" may lack the guitar pyrotechnics of the Campbell boys but its message is just as touching. If you like your gospel charged with electricity--literally and figuratively--this is a must-have disc. And, though no small task, it's arguably the most awe inspiring of the entire Sacred Steel collection. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Chris Strachowitz, January 4, 2002

By	Sam Hammond (El Cerrito, Ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Arhoolie Records is a fundamentally important record company. Thanks to Chris for this and all the other records he's put out over the years.

By the way, this record rocks (and screams and cries and everything else!)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my church!!!, September 20, 2000

By A Customer

I am extremely proud of this album because my husband is a dedicated House of God musician who plays his steel guitar in the same fashion as the young men on this album. We are personal friends of Chuckie, Phil, Derrick Campbell, Calvin Cooke and other musicians and singers on this recording. The music is true House of God style. If you don't have it, definitely buy it!

Rev. Chara Williams-Hampton Ridgeville, South Carolina

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Thing, September 6, 2002

By	Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This compilation is the real thing. Unlike some othersthat simply feature the music (which is cool also), this CD gives you a solid look at the House of God services featuring the steel guitars that enhances the worshipping.

One tune called "Hollering" is one such example. The actual sermon is mixed in with the joyous music. Willie Eason, the pioneer of this kind of music, makes several appearances that preserve his genius.

Recently, this CD has become of added interest since it was the recording debut of the now-rising star Robert Randolph. His rendition of the hymn "Without God" led to his being signed to do the CD "The Word", which jump-strated his career. This version of this song (which later appeared in its entirety on "The Word") is wonderful, but it fades out as Randolph really starts to
cook. This is also the case with some of the other songs. But what remains is still a joyous experience.