Dorothy & George Jackson:

Old Time Spirituals:(1988)

This album cover says all you need to know about the music on this record. Piano, Guitar, Bass, and a strong voice is all you need for a good gospel album. There's an intimacy to these performances that reverberates with sincerity.  

Mahalia Jackson:

The World's Greatest Gospel Singer:(1955)

Newport 1958:(1958)

Great Gettin' Up Morning:(1959)

I Believe:(1960)

The Power And The Glory:(1960)

Great Songs of Love and Faith:(1962)

Bless This House:(1963)

Sings America's Favorite Hymns:(1977)

Mahalia Jackson, there is no more powerful a voice. If she doesn't make you feel something, well, maybe there's something dead inside you. She is one of my favorite singers of all time, second only to Mavis Staples. One of the many things I find most amazing about Mahalia's voice is how soulful, powerful, and ground shaking she could sing in the quietest of voices. Now she could certainly get loud, but she had this otherworldly ability to sing at barely a whisper, and still move mountains. I'll keep this simple, she was awe inspiringly amazing.

Dixie Hummingbirds:

Who We Are:(1974)

Like the Blind Boys, and few other groups, The Dixie Hummingbirds have been together since the 1920's. Gospel harmonies like these cannot be bred quickly, they take years, and that's what comes across in the Hummingbirds. This is rich deep music as Earthy as the dirt itself. Check out Space Ships. And remember, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."

Shirley Caesar:

The Best of Shirley Caesar and The Caravans: (1968)

As I said from the beginning, this blog would be somewhat in alphabetical order, and here is an example, miss filed in the "C" section. The power and the glory in Shirley Caesar's voice is staggering, just staggering. Like Mahalia before her Shirley has stayed in the gospel world as a singer and minister. The first time I heard her was when she participated in a compilation album of Bob Dylan's religious songs with a steamroller performance of Gotta Serve Somebody. If you've never heard Shirley's magnificent voice check these out.

  

Louis Armstrong:

...and The Good Book: (1958)

Not enough good can be said about Louis Armstrong. He was a Master that's still leading the charge even though he's been dead for over forty years. Proof that if you do things to best of your ability, and at the top of your game, your memory cannot die. This album is a cool collection of hymns and spirituals in Satchmo's singular style. But, I'll tell ya, he could sing me the phonebook, and I'd be happy.