For the Living of These Days
There's no sacrilege intended in terming this spiritually minded collaboration a match made in heaven. Kate Campbell has won a loyal folk following with her purity of tone, literary inspirations, and depth of moral vision. Spooner Oldham has supplied soulful keyboards behind artists ranging from Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin to Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and has further distinguished himself as songwriting partner of the great Dan Penn. This collection of hymns and contemporary material in a Christian vein benefits from the stripped-down intimacy and one-take immediacy of their performances as a duo. "If I Ever Get to Heaven," a Campbell-Oldham composition, speculates on the afterlife, but the most pointed material concerns the religion's radical message for life on earth, with Woody Guthrie's "Jesus Christ," Bobby Braddock's "Would They Love Him Down in Shreveport," and Kris Kristofferson's "They Killed Him" each suggesting that a second coming could result in another crucifixion. Whereas some of the more traditional-sounding material, such as the Irish "Be Thou My Vision" and "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy," stresses the comforts of religion, original material from Campbell--including "Dark Night of the Soul" and "Terrible Mercy"--explores the complexities. Whatever the message, Oldham's gospel piano and bedrock organ are worth hearing on their own.--Don McLeese