# The Essential Music Library: Gospel **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950 "2005-11-14T04:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/1 "2005-11-14T04:24:13Z")
The Essential Music Library project is an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library. There will be roughly 20 threads detailing a variety of genres so that we can get the depth that would be missing from a single-threaded discussion and the breadth necessary to cover what’s out there. This thread’s topic is gospel music. Previous threads: [Project Planning](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335665) | [Classical](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336834) | [Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337956) | [Jazz](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339051) | [Modern Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340081) | [The Blues](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341203) | [Punk/Post-Punk/New Wave](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342310) | [Opera/Choral Music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343551) | [Rap/Hip-Hop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344056) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/2 "2005-11-14T15:52:04Z")
Just to try to get the discussion started, here’s AMG’s list of the top albums for traditional gospel (as opposed to contemporary Christian music): Mahalia Jackson, 16 Most Requested Songs The Fairfield Four, Angels Watching over Me The Dixie Hummingbirds, Complete Recorded Works (1939-1947) Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1938-1941) The Swan Silvertones, Do You Believe: The Very Best of the Swan Silvertones Dorothy Love Coates & The Original Gospel Harmonettes, Get on Board Mahalia Jackson, Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns Shirley Caesar, Her Very Best Various Artists, Jubilation, Vol. 1 (Black Gospel) Various Artists, Jubilation, Vol. 2 (More Black Gospel) ---
**Author:** ![max\_yasgur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@max\_yasgur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/max_yasgur)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/3 "2005-11-15T01:34:47Z")
**The Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke** ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/4 "2005-11-15T02:39:31Z")
Second the absolutely magnficient **Dixie Hummingbirds**. Also, second the _Jubilation!_ compilation series on the Rhino label. Sorta jazz meets gospel: **Steal Away** with Charlie Haden & Hank Jones ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/5 "2005-11-15T03:26:15Z")
You’re going to need some [Blackwood Brothers](http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/) in there (I aplogize in advance for the godawful–_hee hee_–photo on the main page of that site). I’m not familiar enough with them to name specific albums, but I do know there’s a live concert recording of them that’s supposed to be some kind of a high-mark. I’ve heard it, and I loved it, but then I’m no gospel connoisseur. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/6 "2005-11-15T05:29:43Z")
An absolute must have is the amazing soundtrack to the excellent documentary about Gospel, **Say Amen, Somebody**. It’s beyond vital. I’m as heathen as they come but boy, do I love that movie and that music. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/7 "2005-11-15T06:31:54Z")
The double CD of Elvis Presley’s gospel work is rated very highly, and that’s by that all-Jesus all-the-time magazine _Rolling Stone_. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-gospel/330950/8 "2005-11-15T07:52:13Z")
I’d second **The Blackwood Brothers** and **Elvis’s** Gospel music. Johnny Cash also did some awesome gospel work.