Blues  •  Country Blues

Blues Gospel

There has always been a point, both stylistically and philosophically, where the sacred (gospel music) and the profane (blues, the devil's music) strike an uneasy alliance. Consisting almost entirely of performers who are lay preachers or street-corner evangelists, Blues Gospel features use of blues guitar patterns that are tightly interwoven to the most heartfelt statements of religious conviction. Embracing everything from ragtime fingerpicking and knife-edged slide techniques to crudely strummed rhythm patterns, the style owes less allegiance to a particular kind of guitar than to using the instrument's possibilities to propel its lyrical message. Though its proponents are few, there are few sounds in the blues that are as alternately spiritual or as bone-chilling as blues gospel music.

Blues Gospel Album Highlights

Country Gospel (1946-1953)
Various Artists Country Gospel (1946-1953)
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 5
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 5
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 7
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 7
American Primitive, Vol. 1
Various Artists American Primitive, Vol. 1
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 3
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 3
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 8
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 8
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 4
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 4
Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 6
Various Artists Black Vocal Groups, Vol. 6
Amazing Gospel
Various Artists Amazing Gospel
Sounds of the South [4 CDs]
Various Artists Sounds of the South [4 CDs]
Kentucky Gospel
Various Artists Kentucky Gospel
The World of Gospel, Vol. 2
Various Artists The World of Gospel, Vol. 2
The Stax Blues Brothers
Various Artists The Stax Blues Brothers
Great Gospel Women, Vol. 2
Various Artists Great Gospel Women, Vol. 2
Gospel Sound of Spirit Feel
Various Artists Gospel Sound of Spirit Feel
The Gospel Sound
Various Artists The Gospel Sound
Worried Life Blues
Various Artists Worried Life Blues