Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This latest compilation of vintage tracks from the Queen of Gospel will show you that Christian companies aren't alone in releasing box sets with little or no information to divulge the source of the tracks presented. I can't for the life of me think why the label involved here, Documents, couldn't have given us more info as they specialise in putting into boxes albums by well known musical figures whose recordings have slipped out of copyright. Anyway, despite this frustrating lapse, this box set is one many gospel fans wanting to investigate the music's history will be keen to check out both for its quality (most of the tracks here were made in the '50s when Mahalia was at her creative peak) and for the quantity ('Amazing Grace' offers a staggering 158 tracks spread over 10 CDs. Sides here range from the first recordings Mahalia made for Decca back in 1937 through to the tracks recorded by Columbia Records at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. The latter are particularly fine and though the many sides featured here from her Apollo Records days have been re-issued on far too many CDs there is still sufficient new-to-CD material here to make this cheap-and-cheerful box set a good purchase though collectors will probably will need to investigate the comprehensive Mahalia Jackson discography published on the net at www.edwin-gersbach.alpha-host.ch/eg to get more details on what precisely they are listening to.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.