Blind Boys of Alabama
Down in New Orleans (Time Life Music)
ESSENTIAL "Make a Better World"
It's no secret that the Blind Boys of Alabama have strongly reshaped gospel and soul music in recent years. While known for revitalizing traditional songs, they have even dabbled in some hip-hop. This time they strut into New Orleans, capturing the city's flavor with the help of Crescent City stars Allen Toussaint, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the youthful Hot 8 Brass Band. The guests apply a swinging, horn-driven New Orleans sound to such gospel standards as "Uncloudy Day" and "I'll Fly Away." But the uncanny vocal harmonies of the Blind Boys still lead the way. They affix a heavenly interpretation to Earl King's secular "Make a Better World," marked by these uplifting lines: "You got to put some love in the air/ And when your neighbor is down, pick him up." It's an appropriate message for the revival of that hurricane-ravaged city, and more good-neighbor aid is voiced in "If I Could Help Somebody." The Blind Boys, however, don't get bogged down in self-righteousness. They know how to make gospel fun; witness the funky "You Better Mind," with laughter punctuating exclamations about Judgment Day. The Blind Boys are old enough to be your grandfather's idea of gospel, but they've also miraculously learned how to bridge generations. [Steve Morse]
