Spirit of the Century
Long known as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, this venerable gospel institution has seen its ranks fluctuate in recent years. Rarely, however, have the soul-stirring harmonies of the group, recording here as a quartet, benefited from such stellar support. Producer John Chelew (best known forJohn Hiatt's breakthroughBring the Family) has enlisted guitaristsDavid LindleyandJohn Hammond, bassistDanny Thompson, drummer Michael Jerome, and harmonica aceCharlie Musselwhitefor a set that celebrates the bluesy underpinnings of gospel.The selection of material mixes the traditional spirituals the group has been performing for more than a half century ("Nobody's Fault but Mine," "Motherless Child") with soulful readings from the more contemporary songbooks ofTom Waits, theRolling Stones, andBen Harper. Harper's "Give a Man a Home" receives a majestic vocal fromClarence Fountain, while the album's most audacious cut pairs the lyrics to "Amazing Grace" with the melody from "House of the Rising Sun."--Don McLeese