Gospel Nights is a live album by American singer Maria Muldaur. It was recorded in 1980 at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. It was originally released on the Takoma Records label. Maria was joined by the Chambers Brothers, The Burns Sisters, and friends.Listing of Gospel Nights in Allmusic.com https://www.allmusic.com/album/gospel-night-mw0000195618Review of Gospel Nights in The Pittsburgh PressChristgau Record Guide Review "In the end I'm not won over by this Rock and Roll for Christ, but I do want to note that Muldaur has never sung with more confidence. Page 284
Muldaur had been a staple on the folk circuit in the 1960s, originally with the Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band. She married fellow Jug Band member Geoff Muldaur, and after the Kweskin group broke up and after two albums with Geoff, she went solo and had a hit on Warner Bros. with "Midnight at the Oasis" in 1973. In 1979, her daughter sustained serious injuries in a car crash, which led to a religious awakening:
Shortly afterwards, during performances in Southern California, she was invited to a Black Gospel church and had a spiritual experience, "That her conversion experience occurred by way of the Black church sets Muldaur apart from the droves of entertainers who were embracing Christianity" at the time.
Muldaur had always performed gospel music, and connected with fellow Christian, T Bone Burnett to perform a catalog of gospel styles at a concert at McCabe's Guitar Shop. Burnett recruited fellow Alpha Band members Steven Soles and David Mansfield to help with backing, and Maria brought in old friends The Burns Sisters and the Chambers Brothers to help with vocals.
Track listing
"Brothers And Sisters" "My Jesus Is All" "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations" "Bright Morning Star" "Daniel Prayed" "Nobody's Fault But Mine" "Just Like An Eagle" "Did You Remember" "Traveling Shoes" "People Get Ready" "Said I Wasn't Going To Tell No One" "Guide Me, O Great Jehovah"
Personnel Maria Muldaur – vocals, co-producer The Chambers Brothers – vocals The Burns Sisters – vocals Ron Tutt – drums Steven Soles – acoustic and electric guitar Stephen Bruton – electric guitar David Mansfield – electric guitar, fiddle, mandolin Leon Gaer – bass Jon Monday – co-producer T-Bone Burnett – liner notes John Van Hamersveld – art direction Ron Marks – engineer
References