Sacred Steel
(first one)
Live - Various
Arhoolie – 472
available from Arhoolie
visit the band's website
Warning, it is very loud!
also available on amazon
Incendiary would be one good word to describe this disc which is one of those rare gems that come along every now and again that works on many different levels. It features various artists captured spreading their joy and faith with their passionate celebratory music. The electric steel guitar is the dominant instrument in the music of these groups affiliated with the House of God, Keith Dominion. Before you form a mind set about ‘church’ music open your ears to what this disc has to offer. There disc contains some of the most dynamic playing I have heard in ages, it will have you up out of your seat and dancing (I can’t listen to this one while driving) from the shear joy that is transmitted through the fervent rhythms that come through the speakers. Yes it is music in celebration of God, but where did rock and roll come from? It is a marriage of the blues with country music and both trace strong roots to the music that comes from the churches, both black and white and the lineages that they draw upon. This disc was recorded at 2 different House of God churches, a coffeehouse and the Strawberry Spring Music Festival and the sound quality is of the high quality that you have come to expect from Arhoolie. Speaking of them a big round to Chris Strachwitz for taking the chances to bring us this particular dynamic disc (for that matter all the other edgy discs he risks his money on) that others are afraid to touch. The pedal steel guitar is the king on this disc, yet in support of it the singing is equally as strong and unrestrained. Particularly notable is the inspired singing of Katie Jackson and Denise Brown. Then there is Ted Beard making his pedal steel mimic a train in appropriately enough “The Train”. The sharp and biting blues guitar of Phil Campbell stretching out on “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”. The whole disc from top to bottom is highlight after highlight. This is one you will be more than very happy you took a chance on.
Produced by Phillip Campbell, Charles Campbell, and Robert L. Stone
Songs, times and musicians
1 God Is A Good God – 8:08
Katie Jackson – vocal
Carlton Campbell – drums
Charles “Chuck” Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
2. The Storm Is Passing Over – 4:28
Denise Brown – vocal
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar (lead)
Phillip Campbell – guitar
3. By and By – 3:15
Katie Jackson – vocal
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
4. No Ways Tired – 3:30
Calvin Cooke – vocal and Melobar lap-steel guitar
Rico Beard – bass
Carlton Campbell – drums
Jay Carver – guitar
Charles Flenory – guitar
5. The Train (Maurice Beard) – 5:23
Maurice “Ted” Beard – pedal-steel guitar and vocal
Rico Beard – bass
Darryl Brundidge - keyboard
Carlton Campbell – drums
Phillip Campbell – guitar
6. Without God – PD arr. Robert Randolph – 5:55
Robert Randolph – pedal-steel guitar
Rico Beard – bass
Darryl Brundidge - keyboard
Harvey Shaw – guitar
Ivan Shaw – drums
7. When The Saints Go Marching In – PD arr. Willie Eason – 1:55
Willie Eason – lap-steel guitar
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
8. Celebration In Giving – Phillip and Charles Campbell – 3:24
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar (lead)
Phillip Campbell – guitar
Bishop Charles Campbell – vocal
9. Take Your Burden To The Lord – 3:57
Willie Eason – vocal and lap-steel guitar
Carlton Campbell – drums
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
10. Sit Down If You Can – 5:10
Elwood Haygood – vocal
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
Carlos Fox – keyboard
11. He’s Sweet, I Know – 6:38
Brother Sam Baldwin – vocal
Bishop Larry Boston - organ
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar (lead)
Phillip Campbell – guitar
12. While The Spirit Is Moving – Darick and Phillip Campbell – 2:58
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar (lead)
Darryl Brundidge – keyboard
Jay Carver - guitar
Carlton Campbell – drums
Charles Flenory – guitar
13. Calvary – 3:05
Katie Jackson – vocals
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar
14. Don’t Let The Devil Ride – 6:42
Denise Brown – vocal
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar (lead)
Phillip Campbell – guitar
15. Hollering – 6:02
Reverend Craig Pringle – preaching
Darryl Brundidge -
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – bass
Jem Pagan – guitar
16. Near The Cross – 2:05
Willie Eason – lap-steel guitar
Carlton Campbell – drums
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel guitar
Darick Campbell – lap-steel guitar
Phillip Campbell – guitar