Sorrow Come Pass Me Around: A Survey of Rural Religious Black Music

A rare and powerful collection of spiritual and gospel songs performed in informal, non-church settings between 1965 and 1973.

Unlike most compilations of Black religious music that focus on gospel choirs or church congregations, this anthology highlights the intimate, personal styles of active and former blues artists whose voices carried the sacred into everyday life.

Field recordings by David Evans, John Fahey, and Al Wilson capture everything from the raw power of Ephram Carter’s fife and drum band to the deeply moving guitar-backed hymns of Babe Stovall and Robert “Nighthawk” Johnson.

“Most records of black religious music contain some form of gospel singing or congregational singing recorded at a church service. This album, though, tries to present a broader range of performance styles and contexts with the hope of showing the important role that religious music plays in the Southern black communities and in the daily lives of individuals.” — David Evans, from the liner notes

What’s Included

16 audio tracks recorded 1965–1973

View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]

32-page booklet (PDF) featuring:

• Liner notes by ethnomusicologist David Evans
• Biographical sketches of performers
• Contextual essays on the role of religious music in Southern Black communities

Praise & Reviews

“…A reissue of a collection of field recordings made between 1966 and 1976 by Dave Evans, John Fahey and AI Wilson that highlights the variety of styles at play in Southern rural areas. There are fife and drum bands, gospel folk stylists, informal vocal groups, artists such as Babe Stovall and Robert ‘Nighthawk’ Johnson, and, most remarkably, a version of ‘Glory, Glory Hallelujah’ using a lard bucket, diddley bow, pot and Clorox bottle for instrumentation. All the major themes of black religious folksong are explored here, and the album is a virtual primer of rural gospel.” — Wire Magazine