Search - Various Artists :: Greatest Gospel Gems 1 & 2

A raw and powerful collection

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 01/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Specialty records was best known as the folks who brought the likes of Little Richard to the fore in the 50s, but it's rawest and most powerful work of the era was with Black Gospel music. Unknown to almost everyone but Black churchgoers at the time, these were unquestionably the strongest and most emotional Black records of that time. No matter what your religious beliefs are, you will be awed and blown away by tunes like "Lord Lord Lord" by Alex Bradford, "My Rock" by the Swan Silvertones, the eerie "Prayer for the Doomed" by the Chosen Gospel Singers (don't listen to this one alone in a dark room, folks), and any of the selctions by Sam Cooke's Soul Stirrers, Dorothy Love Coates, and The 5 Blind Boys of Alabama. This is the high-energy stuff with the feeling that Soul Singers and rock & rollers have tried to capture ever since. A good companion piece to this is "The Great 1955 Shrine Concert" featuring many of the same artists. Only complaint about this collection-no liner notes telling us about the songs and artists. Either way, behold and be awed."

Listen to this soul stirring singing by Sam Cooke

Lisa Holmes | MD USA | 06/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sam Cooke is a great legend. He sings with such an anointing. He feels what he sings and that is what makes this album a great one. I just get chill bumps when I hear him sing because he has a sweetly anointed voice. If you want to be sung to sleep physically or spiritually this is the perfect CD."