What Harry Smith does so adeptly here is he shows us how the line was crossed from Christian music and the Blues, almost as if there was no line at all.

As time went on, gospel music would become something that belonged almost exclusively to the church, and the blues would be considered as the devil’s music by certain quarters, but this episode plainly lays out evidence that gospel music belonged to anybody interested in saving their soul, including, most especially, sinners.

There are quite a few artists in this show who refer to themselves as ‘sanctified’, but perhaps poignantly, there are more who do not. Perhaps Harry Smith had the subtle intention of reminding us that there isn’t - and never was - any color line where God is concerned.

Feature Tracks:

Judgement – Sister Mary Nelson

He Got Better Things For You- Memphis Sanctified Singers

Since I Laid My Burden Down – The Elders McIntorsh and Edwards’ Sanctified Singers

John the Baptist – Rev Moses Mason

Dry Bones – Bascom Lamar Lunsford

John the Revelator – Blind Willie Johnson

Little Moses – The Carter Family

Shine on Me – Ernest Phipps and His Holiness Singers

Fifty Miles of Elbow Room – Rev. F.M. McGee

I’m in the Battlefield for My Lord – Rev. D.C. Rice and His Sanctified Congregation