Search - Sister Rosetta Tharpe :: Up Above My Head

Great Variety

CC Smith | 06/29/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With the many releases of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's music, this particular one on the Snapper Music label covers a large variety of Ms Tharpe's styles. It also has a quick but thorough biography on this performers ups and downs in her life. Although she is known mostly in music of gospel,Sister Tharpe added a touch of rock,blues and jazz. These styles are all included on this release. The first cut,"When I Move To The Sky"; starts right off with a big band sound and a steady beat. Along with recruiting Marie Knight from Mahalia Jackson,Sister Tharpe and Ms. Knight provided hits such as "Up Above My Head", "Didn't It Rain", "Precious Memories" and one of my personal favorites on this release "My Journey To The Sky". These and quite a few more (22 cuts to be exact)are all included on this release. After a rocking rendition of "Didn't It Rain", the acoustic guitar and piano take the lead on "Oh,When I Come To The End Of My Journey" which has beautiful harmony singing. Another stand out song for me was "Two Little Fishes And Five Loaves Of Bread". The vocal arrangement on the chorus for this song seems to be purposely accented so the thought of only two little fishes and five loaves of bread for the multitudes is understood. This album closes out with more pleasant piano in "I Heard My Mother Call My Name",nice vocals again on "My Journey To The Sky" and "Family Prayer", a rocky "Jesus Is Here Today" and more great harmony on the closer "My Lord And I".If you are a fan of Sister Rosetta Tharpe or would like a very good variety of her music, this release could be for you."