Friday, April 18, 2014

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord


15 comments:

YoungHegelian said...

The older women on the screen right is Mother May Belle Carter of the Carter family fame &, later, Johnny Cash's mother-in-law after he married June Carter.

YoungHegelian said...

A great black gospel interpretation from The Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke.

Shouting Thomas said...

Great hymn. I've performed it in church frequently.

ricpic said...

It was the Roman soldiers did it, not me!

KCFleming said...

That was real perty.

Darcy said...

Beautiful.

Lydia said...

Mahalia Jackson does it beautifully as well.

john said...

I thought this was a commercial for The Maids.

The Dude said...

Mahalia had a transcendent voice. I have been listening to her sing for 50 years and she still gives me chills - natural sevenths, sly and beautiful grace notes, little fillips on the ends of phrases - man, she had a gift that has not been heard since she left this earth.

Thanks for posting that - she was a woman of immense talent and steadfast committment to using her vocal gifts to praise the Lord. That kind of character, sadly, has passed from this vale as well.

Her accompanyists were amazing, too.

Dad Bones said...

I enjoyed watching Johnny sing that. I wouldn't expect a guy in his early thirties to be able to sing that song with such conviction but he's always been good at surpassing expectations.

edutcher said...

Hmmm, sounds like the line from "The Robe", "Were you out there?".

deborah said...

Lydia and YH, thanks for the alternate versions!

Sixty, her voice is exquisite. I don't really know anything specific by her. Will you tell me one of your faves?

The Dude said...

Because one must know these songs. Once again, the accompaniment is top notch. Her vibrato is a balm from Gilead.

Elijah Rock. This is my favorite version of this song by Mahalia. Some of them are over-produced - this is one is spare enough (I only hear a piano) to allow her voice to be heard loud and clear.

Knowledge of Mahalia is crucial to any music education. She had many imitators, some students, but no one could match her power and overall awesomeness. Yeah, that's the word.

Dad Bones said...

Tom Waits once recalled a favorite moment of driving through Texas listening to Mahalia Jackson on a tinny AM radio. She could project.

deborah said...

Thanks, Sixty :)

High praise, indeed, DB!