Gospel music is big business these days. With the success of the Sacred Steel players from Florida, like Robert Randolph; the gospel quartets like the Dixie Hummingbirds, Fairfield Four and the Blind Boys; and the recent explosion of contemporary sounds coming from the Contemporary Christian labels...it seems like a good time to be making music which contains the "good news." Ken Whiteley, folk/blues singer and guitarist extraordinaire, loves this music, and makes no bones about that fact. This is his third collection of gospel music, and he states in big letters on the front cover Gospel Music Makes Me Feel Alright!

Me too!

The liner notes tell us that "this recording was done in a series of three Sunday Gospel Workshops in 2003, the performances went round robin and people freely joined in with each other..." It's a loose, joyous celebration of the music, the songs, and the source of all the attention...Jesus Christ. Whiteley (who plays 6 and 12 string Laskin guitars, National guitar and electric dobro) is joined by his brother Chris (on harmonica, trumpet and Gibson J200 guitar), George Koller (string bass), Bucky Berger (drums) and the marvelous Colin Linden (Gibson 330 electric guitar, Regal electric dobro, and Ken's Apitius mandolin.) Almost everybody sings, and so too do Melissa Devost, Ginny Hawker, Amoy Levy, Ciceal Levy, Pat Patrick, Jackie Richardson and David Wall. Not all at the same time though!

They weren't all together at one time, but some of them appeared on more than one night, and the notes list who, when and where.

The songs are mainly brand new originals from Ken's pen, supplemented by the bluesy "No Ways Tired" (by Curtis Burrell) and the traditional "I Don't Want to Be Lost" learned from Mahalia Jackson. "Wilderness" (which Ken recorded on his first gospel album back in the vinyl days) was learned from Fred McDowell.

"Let My Life Be Prayer" was composed after Whiteley attended a folk music conference in Florida. He was moved by the sacred steel players, and finished this thoughtful song by the time he cleared customs in the airport. It sounds hymn-like, traditional, with the choral vocals, and some tasty electric slide from Mr. Linden. George Koller's stand up bass serves as the foundation for "Bring Peace" and Ken's acoustic bottleneck introduces the title song. Whiteley's voice is a delightful instrument, a natural tenor which he pushes to achieve a rugged bluesy growl. He makes use of both voices throughout the album. Chris Whiteley's harmonica is the highlight solo instrument on "Gospel Music (makes me feel alright)". He sure can blow!

Whiteley's songs are not simply paeans to his God, they are also comments on the political and social ills of our country and our planet. His is a social gospel, and a welcome one. The guest vocalists take their turns, Ginny Hawker superb on "Traveling On," Jackie Richardson outstanding on "I Don't Want to Be Lost." Whiteley's blues "Moses' Last Miracle" simmers in Mississippi heat. This is a vital and exciting collection of tunes, good playing throughout and well worth a listen!