Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Mahalia Jackson was one of a kind. She has had more influence in gospel music than anyone else, inspired thousands of voices, mentored Aretha Franklin and was close friends with Martin Luther King Jr, incidentally provoking him to give his famous "I have a dream" speech in 1963. She was born in 1911 and was singing from the age from the age of four, performing all throughout her life until her death in 1972. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that she refused to perform any secular music throughout her life, yet still managed to create such a huge impact in the music world. 'Dig A Little Deeper' contains a selection of songs from her remarkable career, and even though the production is ancient and these sides have been reissued on numerous occasions, the music here is timeless. From the bluesy opening title track to the tender closing song, "The Lord's Prayer", you are transported to another era. The songs are unapologetic in their spirituality, with tracks such as "There's Not A Friend Like Jesus" and "God Spoke To Me" being typical examples. If you are already a Mahalia fan, the chances are that you won't find anything new on this album. But if you are looking for an introduction to Mahalia's fantastic voice, 'Dig A Little Deeper' is a good place to start.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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