Mahalia Jackson (Various Products) - Reviews

Mahalia Jackson
Various Products

There has been a spate, of late, of products that relate to the singer who many still consider to be "the world's greatest Gospel singer" —Mahalia Jackson.

We've pulled together the following descriptions of some of this material:

Mahalia Jackson
The Essential Mahalia Jackson
Sony Legacy

Columbia makes a worthy addition to its respected Essential series with The Essential Mahalia Jackson, a double-disc collection of 37 songs pulled from archives that encompass her material on Apollo, and of course, the vast collection she recorded for Columbia.

This collection is assembled by Nedra Olds-Neal, who organizes the songs (both familiar ones such as "I Found The Answer", and lesser knowns such as the previously unissued live take of Thomas Dorsey's "I'm Goin' To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song") without deference to chronology.

In fact, this generous set spans from the early 1950s (before Jackson signed to Columbia) through to 1967.

If you ever wanted to understand why this singer has rightly been called "the world's greatest Gospel singer", here is your answer. Glorious tones, a spiritual depth that defies description and captivating musicality, the music of Mahalia Jackson will never go out of style.

Laborious liner notes detail the musical personnel on each track, and reference the original LP and Gospel historian Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer writes the liner notes.

Lynda Randle
A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson
Gaither Music
DVD

If anyone has a voice to compare with Mahalia Jackson, it might be Lynda Randle. Known for her rich, warm and deep voice, the Gaither Singer (and sister of DC Talk's Michael Tait), brings the right sound and the correct approach to this studio album of mainly Mahalia Jackson songs. As pointed out in the companion DVD, it's not a matter of mimicking, it's a matter of deep down passion put into song.

Standards such as "I Found The Answer" and "Precious Lord Take My Hand" populate the album. Randle knows how to handle them, adding the right inflection, the perfect turn of phrase, never overdoing it, and yet not quite restrained either.

On "If I Could Hear My Mother Sing", Randle's own mother, Maxine Tait, lends narration at the opening and closing of the song. Jessy Dixon guests on his own song, "God Is Standing By", and then Gaither regular Guy Penrod joins with Randle on a rousing version of "A Little Bit of Heaven".

Production from the famed Barry Beckett (Bob Dylan, Staple Singers, Paul Simon) enhances the project, lending a polish to it. A small crew of backup singers (Nirva Dorsaint, Melinda Doolittle, Jason Eskridge, Shane McConnell) lends just the right touch of intimacy, helped too by judicious use of organ, keyboard, guitars and drums.

The DVD version of the album brings the cameras into studio, honing in on Randle, her singers and band, along with a small and enthusiastic crowd. Interspersed between songs are some interesting one-on-one chats with artists such as tobyMac and Nicole S. Mullen, putting the focus on breaking barriers in Gospel music —something that Mahalia Jackson certainly did. Gloria Gaither also explores with Randle some of the inspiration behind the project.

There's also a great split-screen segment where Randle 'duets' with Jackson on "Down By The Riverside". It is hear where you find evidence of how astoundingly complimentary these two voices are to each other.

Big Doowopper
Feel The Spirit — A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson
Delmark

To say that Big Doowopper (aka Cornell Williams) sits behind the piano and sings a litany of Mahalia Jackson songs in tribute to the Gospel legend would be wrong.

It's not just singing, and on hearing the record, you know he can't merely be sitting.

Big Doowopper has had a hard life, and that is an understatement —you can tell that in his music before you even dig into the album liner notes (written by the esteemed Opal Nations) to find out a bit of his history. Vocals are sometimes harsh and gritty, but that somehow makes things all the more appealing on this 19-song project from Delmark.

Pouring his heart and soul into his music, the artist tackles such heavyweight numbers as "In The Upper Room" and "Didn't It Rain" with such gusto as to cast aside comparisons to the original, and instead make it clear that these songs are his own testimony too. From the plaintive "Soon I Will Be Down With The Troubles Of This World" and "Come To Jesus" to ultra swing of "Walkin' To Jerusalem", the authenticity of this artist's work is undeniable.

Doowopper handles piano, Hammond B3, lead vocals and backing vocals as well.

Mahalia: A Life in Gospel Music
Author: Roxane Orgill

Roxane Orgil writes the perfect companion book for the recent slate of Mahalia Jackson re-issues and tribute albums.

Nicely bound in large hardcover (144 pages) and generously filled with expressive black and white, full page photography, Orgil presents an easy-to-read biography of the Gospel singer, writing her words in near poetic style. She traces Jackson's life, her trials and her hardships, as well as her joys and successes, in a succinct manner that is perfect for the format of this keeper.

Pour over Mahalia: A Life in Gospel while listening to songs such as "In The Upper Room" and "Precious Lord" and you'll find that it adds just that much more to the experience.

Check here for more on Mahaliah Jackson.

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— review by Stan North —