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From official bio
: "For over 60 years, the Blind Boys of Alabama have
traversed "higher ground" together. Since forming
their group at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind
(Talladega Blind School) in 1939, they have kept alive the
spirit and energy of pure soul gospel music. Founding members
Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter and George Scott -- along
with more recent arrivals Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie
and Bobby Butler -- have drawn upon gospel's river-deep
reflections on life's trials, and mastered its haunting
falsettos and vibrant, muscular harmonies. And at ages when
most men have retired from life's spotlight, they continue
to command the music's heart-pounding vigor as meditation
erupts into foot-stomping, rollicking celebration.
Remarkably, the Blind Boys not only represent the highest
standard of a charismatic American musical tradition --
they also extend that tradition. Gospel has always nourished
blues, rhythm-and-blues and rock’n’roll, so
it seems only natural for the Blind Boys to have found a
calling in transforming popular song back into consecrated
writ.
That’s been a favored aspect of the group’s
albums and concerts in recent years. Since first reaching
toward a wider audience with their roles in the 1983 production
of "The Gospel at Colonnus", (Bob Telson and Lee
Breuer’s Obie Award-winning Off-Broadway and Broadway
smash), the singers have repeatedly reinvented material
associated with artists from the world beyond the church.
They’ve transformed Bob Dylan ("I Believe in
You") and Richard Thompson ("Dimming of the Day"),
illuminating the spiritual message inherent in these soul-searching
songs. On last year’s Grammy Award-winning “Spirit
of the Century” (Real World), they applied that same
knack to an eclectic array of tunes drawn from the Rolling
Stones, Tom Waits and Ben Harper, with a band that boasted
such potent instrumentalists as blues guitarist John Hammond,
string maestro David Lindley and harp virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite."
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Spirit
of the century
2001 - Real World Records
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
05 - Give A Man A Home
Written by Ben Harper
Clarence Fountain: Lead Vocal - Jimmy Carter, George Scott,
Joey Williams: Vocals - Michael Jerome: Drums - David Lindley:
Electric Slide Guitar - Charlie Musselwhite: Harmonica -
Danny Thompson: Double Bass.
Produced by John Chelew - Executive producer: Chris Goldsmith
- Recorded by Larry Hirsch at Capitol Studio B, Los Angeles,
USA. 21-24 March 2000.
2001 - Solid Productions, LLC and The Blind Boys Of Alabama. |
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From official website
: "The Blind Boys’ willingness to work with
artists from the world of contemporary rock music marks
a refreshing openness, and Ben Harper’s presence on
several tracks is a prime example. "The performance
of the song 'Higher Ground' is so amazing, says producer
John Chelew, who returned to guide the sessions after his
previous work on 'Spirit of the Century'. "There was
some great guitar interaction between Ben and Robert on
the tune. It sounds like something off a Cream record. Ben’s
got a very psychedelic sound, and there’s Robert,
playing like he’s off in the Florida Everglades, just
grooving. It was a big jam." |
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Top : Bobby Butler, Ben Harper, Joe
Williams - Middle : George Scott, Clarence Fountain, Jimmy
Carter, Ricky McKinnie - Bottom : Robert Randolph.
Photo © Robert Leslie Dean
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Higher
Ground
2002 - Real World Records
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
01. People Get Ready - originally
by Curtis Mayfield - performed with Ben Harper on vocals,
guitars and Leon Mobley on percussion.
07. Higher Ground - originally
by Stevie Wonder - performed with Ben Harper on guitar (right
channel), wah-wah guitar and Leon Mobley on percussion.
08. Freedom Road - traditional
- performed with Ben Harper on guitars and Leon Mobley on
percussion.
09. I May Not Can See - performed
with Leon Mobley on percussion.
10. You and Your Folks/23rd psalm
- originally by George Clinton - performed with Leon Mobley
on percussion.
11. I Shall Not Walk Alone
Written by Ben Harper
Clarence Fountain: Lead Vocal - Jimmy Carter, George Scott,
Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie, Bobby Butler: Vocals. On
all tracks Blinds Boys are backed by "Robert Randolph
and The Family Band".
Produced by John Chelew - Executive producer: Chris Goldsmith
- Recorded and mixed by Jimmy Hoyson at Capitol Studio 'B',
Los Angeles.
2002 - Solid Productions, LLC and The Blind Boys Of Alabama
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The
Blind Boys Of Alabama / Ben Harper Live
Source : benharper.net
05/03/01 - State Palace Theater: New Orleans, LA
Making a surprise special appearance, The Blind Boys of
Alabama shared the stage and sang on "Nobody's Fault
But Mine" through "I Shall Not Walk Alone."
05/26/01 - Greek Theatre: Berkeley, CA
The Blind Boys of Alabama made a suprise appearance and
sang backup on "I Want to be Ready", "Give
a Man a Home" and "I Shall Not Walk Alone."
05/27/01 - County Bowl: Santa Barbara, CA
The Blind Boys of Alabama joined Ben once again for "I
Want to be Ready", "Give a Man a Home" and
"I Shall Not Walk Alone."
05/28/01 - RIMAC Field, UCSD: La Jolla, CA
They sang harmonies on "I Want to be Ready" and
"I Shall Not Walk Alone." The real highlight,
however, was a true gospel version of "Give a Man a
Home", which featured Ben, sans the Weissenborn, trading
verses with the Boys.
07/18/01 - Arenes de Nimes: Nimes, France
support: Blind Boys of Alabama
Blind Boys of Alabama joined the band once again for gospel
versions of "Give a Man a Home" and "I Shall
Not Walk Alone".
07/19/01 - Les Arenes: Bayonne, France - CANCELLED
support: Blind Boys of Alabama
notes: The show was cancelled due to severe weather. |
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Arenes de Nimes - France - July 18, 2001
Photos by Marie Morisset - click on thumbnails |
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The
Blinds Boys on the DVD "Pleasure And Pain"
| more
info
Bonus > Live Tracks
Give A Man A Home
Studio performance - Vocals : Ben harper (lead) - The Blind
Boys Of Alabama (George Scott, Clarence Fountain - lead,
Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams). Weissenborn "Teardrop"
: Ben Harper, Bass : Juan Nelson, Keyboard : unknown.
Director, Producer, Editor : Matt Bass - Executive producer
: Michael Zakin - June 2002.
I Shall Not Walk Alone
Studio performance - Vocals : Ben harper (lead) - The Blind
Boys Of Alabama (George Scott, Clarence Fountain - lead,
Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams) - Acoustic Guitar : Ben Harper.
Director, Producer, Editor : Matt Bass - Executive producer
: Michael Zakin - June 2002. |
| :: www.swer.net :: 1999-2006 | credits
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