Souls are stirred in and out of church for the next set of reissues by Avid…
One of the most influential of blues singers and guitarists, John Lee Hooker is in vintage form on these four albums. 1960 records him in just acoustic guitar and voice for rural blues for riveting takes of “How Long Blues,” “Water Boy” and “I’m Prison Bound”. The same year he records for the jazz label Riverside Records and is again in Spartan form, but also team sup with jazz bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes on “I Need Some Money” and a slinky “I Want To Talk About You”. House compiles material from his early 50s, such as “Leave My Wife Alone”, the harrowing “Sugar Mama” and “Ramblin’ By Myself” and “High Priced Woman” with guitarist Eddie Kirdland. 1961’s album has him driving and stomping his foot to “Wandering Blues” and oozing with venom on “Thinking Blues” and “Blue Guitar Blues”. This is the stuff of legend and legacy.
Back in the 50s and 60s just about every singer had to release a gospel album. Elvis Presley in 1960 feels quite reverent and believable on this classic release, delivering “In My Father’s House” and “His Hand In Mine” like a member of the choir, while “He Knows Just What I Need” as inspiring as it gets. “Gentleman” Jim Reeves uses his mellifluous voice for down home sermonettes of “In The Garden”, “Evening Prayer” and “God Be With You” like a Wednesday Night Bible Study. The famed vocal backup group The Jordanaires swing a bit on “Rock My Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham” and spirituals such as “Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho”. Pat Boone reinforces his squeaky clean image in this 1959 classic that includes hymns such as “Rock Of Ages,” “Nearer My God To Thee” and “Blessed Assurance” . Son of a preacher Nat “King” Cole teams up with the First Church of Deliverance Choir, but still sounds unconvincing on “Sweet Hour Of Prayer” and “Go Down, Moses” while “Oh, Mary Don’t You Weep” is better fit for a Christmas album. Still, not a bad way to get ready for church on Sunday.