Sacred Steel
(second one)
The Second Sacred Steel Convention - Various
Arhoolie – 502
Released 2002
available from Arhoolie
visit the band's website
Warning, it is very loud!
When you put searing, passionate pedal steel guitar, with heart-felt fervent vocals, with a belief inspired by an impassioned religious belief, you have the ingredients for a work that ascends far beyond any work that is missing the crucial heart component for inspiration. The music and playing here transcends the disc made at the first convention (which was a choice for disc of the year), the playing and singing if anything is more powerful, and comes through with more feeling. We are introduced here to talents of Lisa Lang, the first woman showcased on the pedal steel guitar at this event, she more than holds her own with the men. Robert Randolph, who is making a big name for himself in the secular music world, a number one disc on the Billboard blues charts, is heard here with playing his 13 string steel with The Family Band. The band features his cousins Marcus Randolph on drums and Danyel Morgan on vocals and bass, and rips it up with an inspired version of You’ve Got To Move. Dan Tyack and Chuck Campbell pair up for a truly stunning version of Amazing Grace, that keeps building and pushing the limits of the song until the tension created seems about to burst and the push it that one step more to explode the depth of the song. The sound quality on this disc is of a consistent high quality, and there is not a weak cut on the disc. It is from opening notes to the closing strains a shear joy to hear. Whether you are a gospel fan, blues fan, rock n’ roll fan, or just a fan of music that is played exceptionally well and inspired heartfelt music, this is a disc that should not be missed. Incendiary is the characterizing word for this disc.
Songs, all are public domain except where noted
1 Where Could I Go But To The Lord –
2 Sign Of The Judgement -
3 You’ve Got To Move – (McDowell, Davis)
4 Then Comes Joy -
5 I’ll Just Wave My Hand -
6 What He’s Done For Me -
7 Amazing Grace -
8 Praise The Lord Everybody –
9 If I Couldn’t Say A Word -
10 Footie’s Melody –
11 In The Morning When I Rise -
12 I Need Thee -
13 What Is This -
14 God Wants Your Soul To Be Holy -
Musicians as listed
“Brother” Sam Baldwin –vocal
Darick Campbell – lap-steel
Chuck Campbell – pedal-steel
Phil Campbell – guitar
Carlton Campbell – drums
Marcus Randolph – drums, pedal-steel
Duane Snelling, Sr. – vocals
Danell Snelling – guitar
Michael Randolph – bass
Carlton Talley – drums
Robert Randolph – pedal-steel
Danyel Morgan – bass and vocals
Elton Noble – lap-steel and vocals
Jay Carver – guitar
Dante Harmon – drums, pedal-steel
Calvin Cooke – lap-steel
Grace Cooke – vocals
Jay Carver – guitar
Lonnie “Big Ben” Bennett –
Cherlyn Sierra - vocals
Sherrie Bennett - vocals
Levi Bennett - drums
Daric Bennett - bass
Day Tyack – pedal-steel
Brian Render – guitar
Keshia Hunter – bass
Brian Bush - drums
Lamar Nelson - pedal-steel
Kinton Johnson – guitar
Andy Mims – bass
Reggie “Footie” Covington – lap-steel
Darryl Blue – lap-steel
Ann Jacobs – vocals
Duane Snelling, Jr. – drums
Otis Thames - vocals
Lisa Lang - lap-steel
Cythnia Posey - keyboards
Chris Brinson – drums
Elder Jerry Taylor – vocals
Bryan “Josh” Taylor - lap-steel
Chris Strachwitz - Producer