LABOR RECORDS TO Re-RELEASE HISTORIC RECORDING OF
LEGENDARY GOSPEL SINGER MARIE KNIGHT

A powerful showcase for one of the greatest American gospel artist; the legacy of a formidable voice, now nearly forgotten

(The original review/March 1978)
Marie Knight rose to fame some 30 years ago as the late Sister Rosetta Tharpe's singing partner. After several years as one of gospel's top stars, she defected to r&b,quickly fading after a handful of early successes. Little has been heard from her in the past two decades, though talent as enormous as hers is too valuable to go to waste.

Her bounteous contralto is as strong and sure as ever, particularly on slow, traditional-styled moaners like Today and Where He Leads Me, which show off her graceful tremolo, unostentatious embellishments, and sincere, deep-felt soulfulness. If you have been looking for a successor to Mahalia Jackson, listen to the heart-rending In My Home Over There, the moderately swinging Jesus Met The Woman At The Well, the acutely soul-stirring His Eye Is On The Sparrow, and her zealous wailing of Mahalia's theme, Move On Up A Little Higher, and your search may well be over.

Knight receives perfect, unfaltering support from a highly adept, wholly compatible combo. The keyboard work is superb, with sensitive idiomatic chords by pianist Floyd Waite and tastefully pertinent, bright-toned organ by Virgie Knight. Blues guitarist Louisiana Red is listed as "special guest," but he thankfully subdues his personality in favor of the group identity. Ex-Larry Coryell bassist Mervin Brunson and drummer Earl Williams could hardly be better.

Not only is the music choice, the engineering is just about the best I've ever encountered on a gospel album. The sound is clear, the balance well considered, and the surface clean. The only problem is perceptible pre-echo on those tracks accompanied by keyboards only. - Tom Bingham, AUDIO

 

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