Various Artists – Sacred Soul of North Carolina [2xLP] – New LP

And on the ninth day, they rested...eleven artists getting down, including Little Willie and Big James, what else you need to know...well don't feel bad, I did not know them neither...but once you know them, you will never forget them...gospel labels have been putting out amazing records for 100 years, but while they were still great in the 1980s, that's when the digital production really got in the way of the power and punch...but that is not the case here, ah-oh here we go, this has got punch and power to spare...American music comes from black music, and you can't understand black music without understanding gospel music, whether it's Ray Charles, Elvis, Bo Diddley, Allen Toussaint, Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Impressions, Aretha, Etta James...whether you call it rock n roll, soul, funk, R&B, garage, punk, or pop, almost everything that followed clearly came out of them folks, and them folks clearly came out of gospel...and often as you look at the map of American music influence growing up from New Orleans, rooted like a tree in Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and growing like a trunk into Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, branching out to LA, New York, Philly, Boston...North Carolina is often neglected, but three of the most important people in the world of music were born there, Nina Simone, George Clinton, and Thelonious Monk!  Say what?!  What a legacy!  And now make way for North Carolina today, from Dedicated Men of Zion with "Can't Turn Me Around" to a concluding "Amazing Grace" by Melody Harper, 11 groups and 18 cuts, bend your knees or jump on your toes.  -- winch (green noise)

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