Various Artists - A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Shout, Sister

Title: A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Shout, Sister Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 8/12/2003 Label: M.C. Records Album Type(s): Various artists collection, Enhanced CD-ROM UPC: 607735005029 Genre: Rock Styles: Soul, Modern Electric Blues, Blues-Rock, Gospel, Country-Rock, Urban Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Black Gospel, Southern Gospel, Alternative Pop/Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Folk-Blues, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Folk, Contemporary Gospel, Contemporary Blues, Spirituals, Alternative/Indie Rock, Anti-Folk, Alternative Folk, College Rock Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Nobody's Fault But Mine :: The Holmes Brothers, Joan Osborne
2. My Journey to the Sky :: Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt
3. Rock Me :: Toshi Reagon
4. Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread :: The Holmes Brothers, Odetta
5. Strange Things Happening Every Day :: Michelle Shocked
6. This Train :: Janis Ian
7. Shout, Sister, Shout :: Marcia Ball, Maria Muldaur, Tracy Nelson, Angela Strehli
8. Beams of Heaven :: The Holmes Brothers, Phoebe Snow
9. Precious Memories :: Sweet Honey in the Rock
10. I Want a Tall Skinny Papa :: Marcia Ball
11. My Lord and I :: The Holmes Brothers, Victoria Williams
12. Stand by Me :: Rory Block
13. Up Above My Head :: Maria Muldaur, Tracy Nelson
14. Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend :: Joanna Connor
15. That's All :: Angela Strehli
16. I Looked Down the Line (And I Wondered) :: Maria Muldaur
17. Didn't It Rain :: Marie Knight
18. Down by the Riverside [Audio/Video Clip] :: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Year Type Label Catalog # 2003 CD M.C. Records 50

Shout Sister Shout: A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe

This tribute to the underrated gospel/soul/blues guitar-playing star of the '40s (and later, when she was rediscovered in the '60s) is a labor of love from MC Records label owner Mark Carpentieri and singer Maria Muldaur. It was Carpentieri's concept, but Muldaur -- a huge Tharpe fan -- had the industry connections and clout to recruit some of the marquee names. The disc's title refers not only to Tharpe's song, but to the predominantly all-female cast who cover 17 tracks associated -- but not necessarily written by -- the gospel/soul singer. Production is shared by Muldaur along with Carpentieri, and the classy cast, which includes Rory Block, Tracy Nelson, Odetta, Joan Osborne, Michelle Shocked, and Phoebe Snow -- often singing with each other -- does a terrific job interpreting these tunes. Almost all of the participants have performed spiritual and secular material, so their connection to Tharpe, who was similarly inclined, is obvious. The fabulous Holmes Brothers add brotherly gospel harmonies to Osborne's sensational "Nobody's Fault but Mine," Victoria Williams' "My Lord & I," and Phoebe Snow's "Beams of Heaven." The arrangements are generally stripped down, like Michelle Shocked's haunting "Strange Things Happening Every Day." But horns bring a '40s jump blues feel to the title track, which features dazzling vocals from Muldaur, Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, and Tracy Nelson harmonizing on the chorus and swapping verses. The last three, along with the horns, also contribute to a frisky "I Want a Tall Skinny Papa" ("He's gotta be tall/And that ain't all"), clearly one of Tharpe's secular tracks. There isn't a weak cut here, with all the women contributing fiery performances that will hopefully spur a major label to release a comprehensive Tharpe career overview and encourage listeners to search out original recordings from the singer. The disc appropriately closes with "Didn't It Rain," a track sung by Marie Knight, Tharpe's duet partner. It's a wonderful touch that adds even more authenticity to this stirring, beautifully performed, and long-overdue album. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aisha Kahlil Vocals Angela Strehli Vocals (Background), Vocals Anthony Palmer Guitar (Rhythm) Bernice Johnson Reagon Vocals, Arranger, Producer Bonnie Raitt Guitar Catherine Carpentieri Executive Producer Chuck Webb Bass Dave Mathews Piano Dave Pearlman Pedal Steel, Producer, Engineer Del Rey Guitar Dewayne Pate Bass Floyd Waites Piano Fred Guarino Engineer Gayle Wald Liner Notes Janis Ian Vocals, Arranger, Producer, Guitar Jeff Lewis Trumpet Jim Rothermel Saxophone Jimmy Vivino Guitar Joan Osborne Arranger, Handclapping, Vocals Joanna Connor Guitar, Vocals, Arranger John Jacob Engineer Kat Dancy Vocals Larry Eagle Drums Lawrence Lewis Drums Marcia Ball Vocals, Vocals (Background) Maria Muldaur Producer, Vocals Marie Knight Vocals, Tambourine Mark Carpentieri Executive Producer, Arranger, Producer, Liner Notes Michael Merritt Bass Michelle Shocked Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Arranger Mike Griffith Engineer Nitanju Bolade Casel Vocals Odetta Vocals Phillip Clark Engineer Phoebe Snow Vocals Popsy Dixon Drums, Vocals, Handclapping Rory Block Vocals, Producer, Guitar Sean Dancy Producer, Keyboards, Arranger, Vocals Seth Farber Keyboards, Organ Sherman Holmes Bass, Vocals, Handclapping The Holmes Brothers Arranger Tim Bright Mixing, Recording Toran Yon Engineer Toshi Reagon Arranger, Producer Tracy Nelson Vocals (Background), Vocals Victoria Williams Vocals Wendell Holmes Piano, Handclapping, Vocals, Guitar Ysaye Barnwell Vocals