The Lost Recordings: The Church Is In Mourning

Review

What are you gonna say -- this budget comp of Shirley Caesar's vintage gospel material only contains ten cuts. Some of the recordings are a bit rough, since Calvin Records is not as much interested in remastering as in reissuing classic material. This is Caesar fronting the choir on such stompers as "The Bride of Jesus," "Oh, Yes," "I Gave My All to the Lord," "Have You Got Good Religion," and more. While it's only half an hour long and there are no liner notes to speak of, the music here will literally move you into an entirely new head-and-heart space. This is raw, post-Thomas Dorsey gospel performed by one of the music's greats -- and it's way, way cheap to boot.