The World's Greatest Gospel Singer

The World's Greatest Gospel Singer is Mahalia Jackson's debut album on the Columbia label, recorded in 1954.

The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
Studio album by
Mahalia Jackson
ReleasedMarch 14, 1955
RecordedNovember 23, 1954
GenreGospel
Length34:54
LabelColumbia
ProducerGeorge Avakian
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide[3]

Overview

Original record sleeve, written by George Avakian: "The recordings in this collection were made in the course of two consecutive evenings at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City. For Mahalia's debut on the Columbia Label, Mitch Miller had asked her to prepare some new songs for single record release, and I had hoped to get a start toward making an album of spirituals and gospels songs of her own choice. Mahalia surprised and pleased us mightily. In a few hours, she made half a dozen single sides for Mitch and almost an album and a half for me. The only reason we quit was that there was limit to the amount of material we could absorb all at once."

Recording session

November 23, 1954, Columbia, New York City, with The Falls-Jones Ensemble: Mildred Falls (piano), Ralph Jones (organ), Jack Lasberg (guitar), Frank Carroll (bass), Bunny Shawker (drums), and Mahalia Jackson (vocal). Columbia CL 644; Originally Released March 14, 1955.[4]

Track listing
TrackSong TitleComposerTime
1.I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My SongThomas A. Dorsey2:37
2.When I Wake Up in GloryTraditional; arranged by Mahalia Jackson4:20
3.Jesus Met the Woman at the WellJames W. Alexander, Kenneth Morris2:28
4.Oh Lord Is It I?Robert Anderson2:51
5.I Will Move on Up a Little HigherRev. William Herbert Brewster5:26
6.When the Saints Go Marching InTraditional; arranged by Mahalia Jackson3:54
7.JesusAaron Coleman2:18
8.Out of the DepthsThelma Gross3:43
9.Walk Over God's HeavenThomas A. Dorsey2:38
10.Keep Your Hand on the PlowTraditional; arranged by Mahalia Jackson2:31
11.Didn't It RainRoberta Martin2:32

Footnotes
  1. AllMusic review
  2. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 534.
  3. The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 246.
  4. Columbia Record CL 644: The World's Greatest Gospel Singer Archived 2008-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
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