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Mahalia Jackson rewrote the rules for singing gospel in the late '40s by bringing blues phrasing and other secular elements into sacred song, and with her powerful alto, she sang with an immediacy and conviction that are still startling when they break out of the speakers some 30 years after her death. This two-disc set collects tracks from Jackson's long stay at Columbia Records, as well as a few tracks from her previous label, Apollo Records, where she recorded from 1947 until signing with Columbia in 1954. What makes this set feel like more than a greatest-hits collection is the inspired sequencing, which doesn't move chronologically but instead is paced like a concert, helped by the placement of key live tracks, including several from her historic appearance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Highlights are almost too many to mention, but her elegant version of "Come Sunday" with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra is majestic in scope, and her interpretations of a pair of Thomas A. Dorsey compositions, "It Didn't Cost Very Much" and "I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song" are definitive. The funky "Let the Church Roll On," featuring some wonderful stop-start stuttering piano work from Mildred Falls, rocks the house, as does the rousing, jazzy version of "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" that is included here. A beautiful and heartbreaking reading of "I've Been Buked" from Columbia's tape archives is another obvious high point. No one could worry over a note like Mahalia Jackson. The Essential Mahalia Jackson makes a marvelous introduction to the Colombia Records era of this powerful and soulful singer, and coupled with the earlier three-disc Apollo Sessions, paints a complete picture of an American treasure.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
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Mildred Falls, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Matt Carpenter, Mastering Engineer - Edward Robinson, Organ - Clara Ward, Composer - Clara Ward, Lyricist
Originally Released 1962 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - George Avakian, Producer
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Tom Bryant, Bass - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Traditional, Lyricist - Traditional, Composer - Geoffrey Love, Adaptor
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Irving Townsend, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - H. Ellis, Guitar - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - B. Preston, Organ - K. Mitchell, Bass - M. Jackson, Lyricist - M. Jackson, Composer - E. Robinson, Piano - S. Manne, Drums
Originally Released 1963 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Jo Jones, Drums - Joe Palmaccio, Mastering Engineer - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Edward Robinson, Piano - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - Charles Clency, Guitar - Charles Clency, Tambourine - Charles Clency, Organ
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - James Cleveland, Composer - James Cleveland, Lyricist - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator
Originally recorded 1963 & released 1991. All rights reserved Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Civilla D. Martin, Lyricist - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator - Charles H. Gabriel, Composer
Originally released 1958. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Johnny Lange, Composer - Johnny Lange, Lyricist - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - T.A. Dorsey, Composer - T.A. Dorsey, Lyricist - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
George Avakian, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Arranger - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
Originally Released 1956 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Tom Bryant, Bass - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Albert Hay Malotte, Composer - Albert Hay Malotte, Lyricist
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
The Falls-Jones Ensemble, Performer - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Thomas A. Dorsey, Composer
Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Cal Lampley, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Kenneth Morris, Composer - Kenneth Morris, Lyricist
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Ralph Jones, Organ - The Falls-Jones Ensemble, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Gus Johnson, Drums - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
Originally Released 1963 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Jo Jones, Drums - Joe Palmaccio, Mastering Engineer - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Edward Robinson, Piano - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - Charles Clency, Guitar - Charles Clency, Tambourine - Charles Clency, Organ
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Tom Bryant, Bass - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
J. Cleveland Chorus, Arranger - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Ralph Jones, Organ - The Falls-Jones Ensemble, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Gus Johnson, Drums - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - M. Jackson, Arranger
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
R. RODGERS, Composer - R. RODGERS, Lyricist - O. Hammerstein II, Composer - O. Hammerstein II, Lyricist - Mildred Falls, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer
Originally Released 1962 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
DISC 2
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - L.E. Campbell, Composer - L.E. Campbell, Lyricist - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator - M. Jackson, Arranger
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Arranger - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator - Traditional, Composer
Originally released 1963. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jo Jones, Drums - Joe Palmaccio, Mastering Engineer - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Edward Robinson, Piano - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - Charles Clency, Guitar - Charles Clency, Tambourine - Charles Clency, Organ
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
R. Martin, Arranger - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
A.B. Androzzo, Composer - Harpo Marx, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Performer
Originally Released 1964 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Tom Bryant, Bass - M. Jackson, Composer - M. Jackson, Lyricist - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Lilton Mitchell, Organ
Originally released 1958. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
T.A. Dorsey, Composer - T.A. Dorsey, Lyricist - Cal Lampley, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer
Originally Released 1958 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Britt Woodman, Trombone - John Sanders, Trombone - Sam Woodyard, Drums - Harry Carney, Baritone Saxophone - Russell Procope, Alto Saxophone - Russell Procope, Clarinet - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Cat Anderson, Trumpet - Paul Gonsalves, Tenor Saxophone - Ray Nance, Violin - Ray Nance, Trumpet - Jimmy Woode, Bass - Duke Ellington, Composer - Duke Ellington, Lyricist - Duke Ellington, Performer - Harold Baker, Trumpet - Irving Townsend, Producer - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Piano - Jimmy Hamilton, Clarinet - Clark Terry, Trumpet - Bill Graham, Alto Saxophone - Quentin Jackson, Trombone
Originally released 1958. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
Originally Released 1963 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lilton Mitchell, Organ - Gary Pacheco, Director - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Milt Hinton, Bass - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Mildred Falls, Piano - Penny Armstrong, A&R Coordinator - H. SMITH, Composer - H. SMITH, Lyricist
Originally released 1960. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
John Hammond, Producer - M. Jackson, Arranger - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
T. A. Dorsey, Composer - T. A. Dorsey, Lyricist - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer
Originally Recorded 1961 & Released 2004 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
The Falls-Jones Ensemble, Performer - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - Unknown, Producer - Terry Gilkyson, Composer - Terry Gilkyson, Lyricist
Originally Released 1955 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Mildred Falls, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Mahalia Jackson, Vocal - Mahalia Jackson, Performer - J. Hairston, Composer - J. Hairston, Lyricist - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer
Originally Released 1962 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
Mahalia Jackson rewrote the rules for singing gospel in the late '40s by bringing blues phrasing and other secular elements into sacred song, and with her powerful alto, she sang with an immediacy and conviction that are still startling when they break out of the speakers some 30 years after her death. This two-disc set collects tracks from Jackson's long stay at Columbia Records, as well as a few tracks from her previous label, Apollo Records, where she recorded from 1947 until signing with Columbia in 1954. What makes this set feel like more than a greatest-hits collection is the inspired sequencing, which doesn't move chronologically but instead is paced like a concert, helped by the placement of key live tracks, including several from her historic appearance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Highlights are almost too many to mention, but her elegant version of "Come Sunday" with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra is majestic in scope, and her interpretations of a pair of Thomas A. Dorsey compositions, "It Didn't Cost Very Much" and "I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song" are definitive. The funky "Let the Church Roll On," featuring some wonderful stop-start stuttering piano work from Mildred Falls, rocks the house, as does the rousing, jazzy version of "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" that is included here. A beautiful and heartbreaking reading of "I've Been Buked" from Columbia's tape archives is another obvious high point. No one could worry over a note like Mahalia Jackson. The Essential Mahalia Jackson makes a marvelous introduction to the Colombia Records era of this powerful and soulful singer, and coupled with the earlier three-disc Apollo Sessions, paints a complete picture of an American treasure.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 37 track(s)
- Total length: 02:26:09
- Main artists: Mahalia Jackson
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz Gospel
Originally Released Prior to 1972 Couch and Madison Partners, Originally Recorded 1963 & Released 2004 BBC Worldwide, Originally Recorded 1961 & Released 2004, Originally Recorded 1963 & Released 1991, Originally Released 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959
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