Sister Rosetta Tharpe

• LIMITED SEA GLASS BLUE VINYL LP

Not only did Sister Rosetta audaciously lead black gospel out of the church and into nightclubs and concert venues during the late 1930s thus broad- ening its demographics exponentially if risking the wrath of the pious--she saw no conflict in singing holy material for the duly converted and an occasional earthy blues for the rhythm and blues market. Whether she was belting out a joyous invitation to hop aboard the Gospel Train or announcing her yen for a tall skinny papa, Tharpe emoted from the very depths of her soul, deftly accompanying her booming, melismatic pipes with a blistering, single-string-permeated guitar technique that rivaled that of blueswoman Memphis Minnie (or any axe-toting male on the scene, for that matter). Displaying a dazzling stage presence that radiated star quality, the Sister was wowing crowds across the nation well prior to Mahalia Jackson’s ascendancy to the throne as gospel’s queen.

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Can't Sit Down
• A2. Every Time I Feel The Spirit
• A3. Down By The Riverside
• A4. Precious Memories
• A5. Up Above My Head
• A6. Didn't It Rain
• A7. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
• A8. Can't No Grave Hold On My Body Down

• SIDE B
• B1. This Train
• B2. Travelin' Shoes
• B3. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands This Train
• B4. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
• B5. Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho
• B6. When Jesus Was Born
• B7. Jesus Is Everywhere
• B8. Mansions In The Sky
• B9. Go Tell It On The Mountain

Recorded in Europe 1957-1970