Spirituals

by Paul Robeson

Spirituals cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: May 1946
  • Label: Columbia
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 14:41
  • Community rating: 3.78/5 from 5 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Showcasing his resonant bass-baritone voice, this collection interprets deeply rooted African American religious material within a concert hall framework. The arrangements are stark and dignified, allowing the immense emotional gravity of the performances to carry the narrative. It solidified Robeson's status as a global ambassador for American traditional music.

Genres

Descriptors: christian, acoustic, minimalistic, biblical, male-vocals, a-cappella, traditional, spirituality, vintage

Tracklist

  1. Go Down Moses - Arr. by H. T. Burleigh (2:45)
  2. Water Boy (2:28)
  3. Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho - Arr. by Lawrence Brown (1:50)
  4. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen - Arr. by Lawrence Brown (2:41)
  5. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child - Arr. by Lawrence Brown (2:28)
  6. John Henry - Arr. by H. Johnson (2:27)

Credits

  • Balance Of Terror - primary artist
  • Paul Robeson - primary artist, baritone vocals
  • Lawrence Brown - accompanied by, piano, accompanied by, vocals, arranged by
  • Harry T. Burleigh - arranged by
  • Alex Steinweiss - cover
  • John Ball, Jr. - liner notes
  • Avery Robinson - written-by

More from Paul Robeson: full discography