Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2006
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, Gospel
[Tracklist]
01 We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder (2:16)
02 Life's Evening Sun (2:40)
03 Church in the Wildwood (2:45)
04 When God Dips His Love in My Heart (2:39)
05 I Can't Feel At Home (3:10)
06 Farther Along (3:21)
07 I'll Fly Away (2:31)
08 In the Sweet By And By (2:51)
09 Kneel At The Cross (2:23)
10 Turn Your Radio On (2:20)
11 Beautiful Bouquet (2:46)
12 Take Me In The Lifeboat (2:28)
13 If We Never Meet Again (3:46)
14 Swing Low Sweet Chariot (3:03)
[Credits]
Rose Maddox (vocals) Delbert Williams (guitar/vocals) Keith Little (guitar/banjo/vocals) Vern Williams (mandolin/vocals) Ed Neff (fiddle/mandolin) Kevin Thompson (bass)
Producer: Chris Strachwitz, Photographer: Kim Ecclesine, Engineer: Michael Cogan
[Notes]
In her prime, Rose Maddox was known as a country and rockabilly singer. But as she got older she spent more and more time singing with bluegrass bands, and this fine album (originally released on LP in 1983) was recorded over the course of two days with the Vern Williams Band. The program consists entirely of gospel songs, and the combination of Williams' slightly gruff high tenor and Maddox's powerful, brassy voice is a surprisingly effective one. The band itself is, for the most part, fairly workmanlike, though there are several sparkling moments of inspiration. They show a particular affinity for songs with tricky and irregular rhythms -- "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder" is more difficult than they make it sound, and their hocketing vocal arrangement is lots of fun. They also manage to make the extra beats in "Turn Your Radio On" sound completely natural. Other highlights include an appropriately soaring version of "I'll Fly Away" and a soulful rendition of "Church in the Wildwood," but "I Can't Feel at Home" is given a slightly plodding treatment here and the title track is a bit maudlin, even by bluegrass gospel standards. Even with its minor flaws, though, this disc is a welcome reminder of one of country and bluegrass music's most powerful female voices. -- AllMusic Review by Rick Anderson
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