Mississippi Fred McDowell - Amazing Grace

While I am not a believer in any sense, I have come to truly love early gospel music, for the same reasons that I love most music - because it is made with true passion - and that comes through in the best of any style.

Mississippi Fred McDowell is not a virtuoso, but has a terrific bottleneck style that truly does talk to you. Here he is joined by his wife, Annie Mae, along with three other women from the congregation, who performed regularly at their church, Hunter's Chapel.

Fans of Areosmith will recognize where they got a couple of tunes for their Honkin' on Bobo album, "Jesus Is On the Mainline" and "Back Back Train". These versions are much rawer than that rock group (though I really do like what they did with them, as well), with just Fred on guitar and he & the women vocalizing. These are a couple of highlights here.

I will never understand why some overtly religious folks will disdain secular music since the only difference in many cases are the lyrics. It is sometimes amazing just how much - and how closely - gospel tunes have influenced blues, rock'n'roll, doo-wop, country and every other style of secular music. This record is a great example - musically, this is a terrific blues record, but lyrically, this is pure gospel.

Every song here is a real gem - this is one of my favorite buys in recent memory. There is a re-working of the classic "You Got To Move" that is changed dramatically with the extra vocals. When Fred sings by himself, it is haunting, when the women work together, it is invigorating and joyous.

I really cannot speak highly enough of this album - it is pretty damn magical. You will be a better person for owning this!