Album Essentials: Blind Boys of Alabama "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (2003)
By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
The Blind Boys of Alabama are an American institution, keepers of the flame of a musical tradition and cornerstone. Founded in 1939 in Talladega, Alabama, the ensemble has, obviously, changed members several times over the decades, all the while maintaining the legacy established way back when. Over those years, they were always there, if mainly in the shadows of the larger music world. At some point in the early 1980s, it was like a light switch went on, and suddenly, the praises of these legends were being sung. Established rock and rollers and blues acts like Lou Reed, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, and Bon Iver collaborated with the group, and mainstream success was calling.
In 2003, their Christmas collaborative effort, Go Tell it on the Mountain, was released to much fanfare and success. Among those making appearances on the album were soul legends Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, and Aaron Neville, who, alongside rockers Chrissie Hynde, Tom Waits, and Richard Thompson, brought the spotlight to the project. Toss in the jazz artistry of Les McCann and the contemporary styles of Me'Shell Ndegeocello and Shelby Lynne, and it is no wonder why the album became a touchstone of modern gospel, blues, and soul. It won a Grammy that year for best contemporary gospel recording while charting at number one on the gospel charts.
The core band on the recordings was equally a powerhouse: Duke Robillard on guitar, John Medeski on organ, Danny Thompson on bass, and Michael Jerome on drums, all A-list players. Their take on Christmas classics like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “White Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Joy to the World” presented those standards in a new light, while the collaboration with Tom Waits on the title track was nothing short of brilliant.
Since their acceptance in the mainstream, they have had their music used in countless films and television shows, performed for two US presidents, won more Grammy awards, and kept a connection to rock and soul artists via more collaborations. They even recorded their own versions of rock and roll/soul classics from the Rolling Stones, Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.
The album in discussion here, Go Tell it on the Mountain, is a joyful soundtrack to any given Christmas. It rings out with joy, hope, and love and seems to gain ground with each passing year.