VARIOUS ARTISTS
A Tribute To Gospel (Peacock)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The influence of gospel music on R&B, rock, jazz and pop music is ever-present, if not always fully acknowledged. In some cases, artists have established themselves in the gospel field before crossing over. For some, the process is reversed, and a good many cross back and forth between the sacred and the secular. Those varieties of crossover are possible because of the undeniable influence of the gospel form on any music with Afro-American roots.

A Tribute To Gospel presents the efforts of ten acts who have achieved success in the rock, jazz and soul arenas, but who have acknowledged their gospel roots over the years. From the New Orleans strut of Louis Armstrong's "When The Saint's Go Marching In," to Little Richard's handclapping gospel shout to the sanctified blues of Bobby Blue Bland, there's definitely something in the air that surrounds the sound.

Track List: Louis Armstrong/When The Saints Go Marching In * The Mills Brothers/Bringing In The Sheaves * Carmen McCrae/His Eye Is On The Sparrow * Little Richard/Search Me Lord * Bobby Blue Bland/Ain't God Something * Earl Grant/Lead Me Guide Me * The Ink Spots/It Is No Secret * Johnny Nash/I Want Jesus To Walk With Me * Della Reese/If I Never Get To Heaven * The Impressions/Amen

(C) 1998 - Shaun Dale