Blind Boys of Alabama - Go Tell it on the Mountain : Live in New York

Description

The Blind Boys of Alabama have spread the spirit and energy of pure soul gospel music for over 60 years, ever since the first version of the group formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. Today, founding members Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter and George Scott joined by more recent arrivals Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie, Bobby Butler, and Tracy Pierce are on a mission to expand the audience for traditional soul-gospel singing while incorporating contemporary songs and innovative arrangements into their hallowed style.

In December 2003, the band came to New York City to perform a special holiday concert at the famed Beacon Theater with Aaron Neville, John Medeski, Duke Robillard, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staples, Michael Franti (Spearhead), Robert Randolph (Sacred Steel player), and Charlie Musselwhite (Blues harmonica icon). This show aired on PBS in December 2004 as part of their pledge drive with the individual band members appearing in pledge breaks.

Track Listing:
1. Opening
2. Run On
3. Go Tell It On The Mountain w/John Medeski
4. Little Drummer Boy w/Michael Franti
5. If I Had A Hammer w/Michael Franti, Charlie Musselwhite & Robert Randolph
6. Nobody's Fault But Mine w/Mavis Staples
7. Born In Bethlehem w/Mavis Staples & Duke Robillard
8. Joy To The World w/Aaron Neville
9. People Get Ready w/Aaron Neville
10. In The Bleak Midwinter w/Chrissie Hynde
11. Higher Ground w/Chrissie Hynde & Robert Randolph
12. Amazing Grace
13. Look Where He Brought Me From
14. Someone Watches Over Me
15. Soldier
16. Down By The Riverside w/Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

A gospel Christmas with Joy to the World, from The Blind Boys of Alabama........2006-01-06

It is a wonderful suprise to hear for the first time a group whose core members have been performing together for over 60 years. The Blind Boys of Alabama's current tour brought them to my attention, though I was unable to attend their Christmas concert at Disney Hall. So I decided to check out their Christmas 2003 DVD, "Go Tell It On The Mountain, Live In New York". Oh my God! With various special guest accompaniment on about half these gospel and Christmas songs, they literally blow the roof off the Beacon Theatre, and before the concert reaches the halfway point almost everyone is on their feet, jumping up and down. For me the high point in a concert that was chock full of them had to be the collaboration with Mavis Staples on Nobody's Fault But Mine, and Born In Bethlehem. No doubt that the Blind Boys' Grammy Award winning 2003 studio CD of the same name that just preceeded this live concert DVD may be more technically perfect, but it's the rough edges of these live performances as they work themselves out that spice up the songs, and they rock! The spiritual magic that infuses their music is never in doubt, and the ecstatic crowd lets it wash over them like a waterfall.

DVD:

DVD

DVD