Souls' Chapel (CD - 2005)

Marty Stuart: Kenny Vaughan, Marty Stuart (vocals, guitar); Brian Glenn (vocals, bass guitar); Harry Stinson (vocals); Barry Beckett (Hammond b-3 organ); Glenn Worf (bass guitar); Paul Griffith, Chad Cromwell (drums).

Country star Marty Stuart's gospel album, SOULS' CHAPEL, bears not the slightest whiff of dilettantism. Every cut shines with the intensity of Stuart's passion for both the sound and the message of gospel music. Half the tunes are originals, and half come from the old-school gospel playbooks of Pops Staples, Albert Brumley, et al., but they all boast an undeniable power. Utilizing classic vocal-harmony arrangements and a twangy, reverb-laden guitar once played by the late Staples himself, Stuart lovingly adds the touch of gritty blues that is at the heart of all the greatest gospel music. The results are a fair distance from what one might call "country," but they stay close to the heart of American roots music, and consequently remain right in line with Stuart's inclusive musical vision. minimize