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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Blind Boys of Alabama are one of the longest-running popular music ensembles on earth--vocalist Clarence Fountain has been leading their exuberant gospel harmonising since 1939. However, Spirit of the Century sounds anything but a museum piece. It is, in fact, as fresh and vital a record as could be imagined. This is partly down to a judicious selection of material--just as Johnny Cash has reaffirmed his worth by turning his hand to material by relative upstarts such as Nick Cave and Will Oldham, so the Blind Boys of Alabama cover Tom Waits ("Jesus Gonna Be Here", "Down in the Hole"), Ben Harper ("Give a Man a Home") and The Rolling Stones ("Just Wanna See His Face"). Splendid though their versions of all of these are, the real strength of Spirit of the Century is the impeccably delivered gospel standards. The venerable antiques "Motherless Child", "Good Religion" and "Amazing Grace"--the latter arranged to fit the guitar riff from "House of the Rising Sun"--all sound as sprightly and vigorous as if they were written yesterday. --Andrew Mueller
fRoots, June 2001
Although American gospel music per se doesn't enjoy the widest of popular bases on these shores The Blind Boys Of Alabama have managed to carve out a particular niché with their regular visits and barnstorming performances. They are such an awesome live act that much of their recent recording hasn't quite done them justice. Not so with Spirit Of The Century which in every way is a great album. The Blind Boys (on splendid form) are backed to perfection by an inspired choice of musicians who create a shimmering backdrop to the vocalisation. The mellow sound of Danny Thompson's double bass kicks off the first track, Tom Waits's "Jesus Gonna Be Here", before the recognisable growl of singer Clarence Fountain pitches in with the first verse. Drummer Michael Jerome catches the beat followed by Charlie Musselwhite and John Hammond who lock into a simple riff with harmonica and dobro. As the break arrives David Lindley makes his entrance on electric slide guitar and takes a glistering solo. Clarence returns with the remaining verses before Charlie oozes a harmonica outro. Much of the album utilises these musicians, all who play brilliantly, in basically the same combination, while different tracks feature the lead vocal of either Clarence Fountain or his long time associates Jimmy Carter and George Scott. Whoever is singing lead gets backed by the other two augmented by vocalist Joey Williams. It's the power and precision of the harmonies, honed by the years working together, that is the quality hallmark of The Blind Boys. A wonderful a cappella version of "The Last Time" closes this album. Let's pray Spirit Of The Century, with its energising mix of traditional gospel songs with compositions by Tom Waits, Jagger & Richards and Ben Harper is not the final chapter in the long and glorious career of one of the greatest gospel groups of all time. Formed in 1939 with both Fountain and Scott in the original line-up (Carter used to sing with the rival group the Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi) they made their first record in 1948. Over 50 years later their creative energy is still a mighty force.
© fRoots Magazine all rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You've got to take your hat off to a band who produce their best work after being together for over 60 years. This album combines undiluted gospel with a real blues feel and with plenty to remind you of Ry Cooder. The production is second to none, the session band has a number of heavyweights including John Hammond and Charlie Musselthwaite and the result is phenomenal. The music goes back to traditional stuff - Amazing Grace but to the tune of House of the Rising Sun and Nobody's fault but mine (Hat's off to Blind Willie Johnson)as well as more recent - a cover of the Stones Just wanna see His face - but the message and the music is uncompromising - Run on (you'd better leave that woman alone - a stark reminder of the 7th commandment) The vocal capacity and energy of these guys - whether in the studio or live (one of the best concerts I've ever been too) is stunning esp. when they must be knocking on 80 years old. Somebody must be looking after them!! A must for every serious music fans collection. I've played this to a number of my friends with the same result-they've all been knocked out!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Spirit of the Century" is a Gospel music treasure, full of some of the most soulful singing you're ever likely to hear. Recorded in L.A. and released on Peter Gabriel's Realworld label, the album combines a number of traditional Gospel songs with a few newer tunes written by the likes of Ben Harper, Tom Waits, and the Rolling Stones. But don't worry - the Blind Boys aren't singing "Start Me Up" here. In the hands of these vocalists, even the contributions from secular artists are given a new spiritual dynamic that makes each song sound like it was pulled directly from an old southern hymnal. The bluesy, acoustic-bass driven backing music is decidedly rough around the edges. It is this up-front, almost reckless spiritual abandon that puts "Spirit of the Century" miles ahead of most of the calculated, market-savvy Christian music coming out of Nashville. Standout cuts include "No More," which contains echoes of the traditional "Amazing Grace," and "Amazing Grace" itself, which is set to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun." Uplifting message; awesome music!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fans of current pop idol Moby's best-selling CD "PLAY" should not fail to listen to this album. I agree Moby is great, and he has certainly stimulated a lot of new listeners interest in gospel. But make no mistake, Blind Boys version of "RUN DOWN" blows Moby totally away. The album also highlights the genius of some modern blues writers like Tom Waits, proving that his best songs are as timeless as the best traditional gospel songs.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Way Down In The Hole
After hearing the Blind Boys version of Tom Waits ' Way Down In The Hole ' I decided that it was about time that I got around to searching them out some more. Read more
Published 10 months ago by The Right Reverend
Spirit of the Century: Blind Boys Of Alabama - Amazing grace and...
Having first come across this group on one the Jools Holland `and friends' albums, I fell in love with their distinctive sound and determined to hear more of their music. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Victor
Genius - pure and simple
I bought this after hearing the uplifting track "Rock Me" on the second Jools Holland Friends album. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by Keith
Blind Boys of Alabama
This is an excellent CD, with tracks spanning over forty years, taken from The Blind Boys of Alabama's wide and varied career. Read more
Published on 2 July 2002
One that almost got away
I only bought this album because I liked the look of the backing band. Great musicians one and all including one of my favourite guitarists, David Lindley, and the great Charlie... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2002
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